《Genesis Locorum》 Chapter 0: Somnus Where¡­am I? The sound of clanging metal rings in my ears. The darkness obscures my vision. Where are my arms? Where are my legs? ¡°Hmm. This one needs more work.¡± I can hear voices among the clanging steel. Faint and distant, but there. ¡°¡­you sure this soul¡­¡± I hear a masculine voice. Gruff, yet gentle. ¡°She is¡­¡­certain that she would make¡­¡± I hear a feminine voice. Calm, caring, yet sad. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. ¡°¡­met a¡­end¡± I hear another masculine voice. Dour and reserved. ¡°¡­la would¡¯ve loved¡­¡± I hear a different feminine voice says. I fear what the clanging metal means. It is the only think I could think of. What¡¯s going on? I struggle to remember what happened before I found myself here. I suddenly feel an rush of water pouring over me. ¡°Eresh¡­¡­she¡¯s read.¡± The first masculine voice says. ¡°Perfect,¡± the first feminine voice says. ¡°¡­a fine du¡­¡± The voices fade in and out, barely audible over the clanging and the water flooding me. What are they talking about? ¡°¡­had recently perished,¡± the other masculine voice says. ¡°¡­expected for all Messengers.¡± ¡°¡­Dungeon.¡± I hear from the other feminine voice. Messengers? What are those? Is this place a dungeon? Uggh, my head. The pitch black that dominates my sight is soon replaced by a white void. I struggle to stay awake. But am¡­I even awake? Is this¡­a dream? Can I wake¡­up now? My thoughts are getting¡­muddy. What is¡­ Chapter I: Arche A young man waits at the Rosenkruz guildhall for his party. The sunlight shining through the ornate windows in this warm autumn day. He looks around the cabin¡¯s lobby and the people within. He witnesses a young dwarven girl arguing with another guest over the craftsmanship of her hammer. He finds a shy elf cleric looking at the receptionist as she talks to a man with a serpentine tail. He sees a horned man pass by, eating a hamburger as a peculiar girl approaches him. ¡°Sarah says she¡¯s ready.¡± The purple-haired woman says. ¡°And Felicity?¡± the man asks. ¡°She says she¡¯ll be out in a few minutes.¡± The man looks at his reflection in the mirror. His staff in hand as he dons a baby blue suit with matching slacks. His brown hair contrasted both the suit and his verdant eyes. ¡°You never gave me your name,¡± the purple-haired woman said. The boy realizes that he forgot to introduce himself. ¡°So I didn''t,¡± he says. ¡°Name¡¯s Maurice¡± ¡°You may call me Amelia,¡± the girl said. Maurice notices something about Amelia that is strange. Her hair, done in a bob reminiscent of the flappers in Noir, gleamed with a metallic sheen. Her eyes were similar in luminescence. Maurice can tell that something is off with the woman, but his contemplation is interrupted when Sarah arrives. ¡°So Felicity¡¯s still taking a while huh?¡± The dwarfette says. ¡°Indeed,¡± Maurice says. ¡°Remind me again, why do you want to go to that strange building in the woods?¡± ¡°Been wanting to test this baby out,¡± Sarah wields her hammer. The black and silver weapon matched her dark skin and silver pigtails. ¡°I see,¡± Maurice says. ¡°And you?¡± Amelia tries to recall her reasons. Eventually, she says ¡°I heard that this Dungeon carries some interesting materials.¡± ¡°That is what the rumors say,¡± Maurice says. ¡°I was sent here by Fallow¡¯s Technomancer¡¯s Institute to confirm them. ¡°You guys talking about the dungeon,¡± a swordsman clad in bronze armor asks as he approaches them. ¡°About time you got here, Joe,¡± Maurice says to his friend. ¡°Sorry about that, traffic¡¯s been a pain,¡± Joe says. A young woman approaches them, the shy cleric from before. Her pointed ears pick up the conversation. ¡°I¡¯m sorry it took so long,¡± the elf says. ¡°No worries, Felicity,¡± Maurice says. ¡°Yeah it¡¯s not like we can start without Sir Runs-Late-a-Lot,¡± Sarah says. ¡°So are we ready?¡± Amelia says. ¡°Guess we are,¡± Maurice says. The party of five makes their way towards their destination. A gigantic black building in a nearby forest, visible from the village. ??? The building, huge and featureless, has wind ululating through its few orifices. Branches rap on the exterior as sunlight reflects off its gloss. It is unlike anything ever seen, yet Amelia and Sarah are unfazed. ¡°So, guess we find an entrance first,¡± Maurice says. The group searches the exterior for ingress. Maurice has little luck, as he was unable to discern any doors from the black building. Felicity and Joe ended up distracted by a passing beast. Sarah and Amelia eventually find an entrance. ¡°This way,¡± Amelia says. The group enters the dungeon, and discovers an even more alien landscape. Glowing purple designs line and illuminate the glossy black walls. The rooms were filled with strange machines and the walls shifted their position every several minutes. ¡°Guess that matches the rumors,¡± Joe says. Amelia notices that Felicity is intimidated by the sight of the beings here. ¡°Are you sure we are able to survive?¡± the elfin cleric says. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Sarah says. ¡°It¡¯ll be fine.¡± ¡°I hope so,¡± the swordsman says. ¡°I ¡¯eard this place had chewed up many an adventurer and spat them out in the past month.¡± ¡°Apparently,¡± Maurice says. ¡°This dungeon, called the ¡®Black Box¡¯, is home to what experts dub ¡®nanotechnology¡¯.¡± ¡°Nanotechnology?¡± Felicity says. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Some advanced stuff,¡± Joe says gruffly. ¡°Even what we gleamed from the Messengers¡¯ records claims it only existed in theory where they came from.¡± ¡°Shame we can¡¯t ask them to specify,¡± Maurice says. The group ventures forward into the dungeon. They find and encounter several machines, clad in ebon metal with silver highlights. Amelia and Sarah defeat them. After the fight, Felicity invoking the Administrator Hausos to heal their wounds. The group then makes their way through the shifting walls, and encounter more of the Cells. The machines were defeated by Joe. As they fall, they leave behind some coins, resembling the black and violet walls. Maurice stares at the coins as Joe approaches him. ¡°Think this is enough for their expedition?¡± Amelia and Sarah gaze at the two men, anticipating his response while Felicity notices webs on the wall. ¡°I don¡¯t think the Institute would be satisfied with just this,¡± Maurice says. ¡°Let¡¯s keep moving.¡± Amelia and Sarah exchange a glance. The party ventures forward. They soon find more webs. Maurice is reminded of something. ¡°I heard that some Arachne had relocated after the fall of Tarantulapolis,¡± Maurice says. ¡°Some left the nearby town of Websdale as well,¡± Amelia says. ¡°We should be on our guard,¡± Joe says. ¡°Their poisons are nasty.¡± ¡°Tell me about it,¡± Sarah says, recalling an incident where she encountered several Arachne. ¡°You know they can hear you, right?¡± Amelia whispered. The dwarven girl is startled by the response. Later they end up in a room covered with webbing. There they are ambushed by several Arachne. Although Maurice, Felicity, and Joe fight ferociously, Amelia and Sarah are pulling their blows, as if they do not want to harm the guardians. The Arachne meanwhile fight the party with their poisons and webs. ¡°Ignite!¡± Marice says as he slams his staff onto the ground. A fire sparks from the magical tool and lands on the webs, sending the silk ablaze. The Arachne are forced to disperse by the spell. The group finds more coins and makes their way forward. As they venture forth, Amelia looks back and notices a man clad in crimson behind her. The black and purple walls shift around him and he vanishes behind them. She then looks back to her party, only to find they are unaware of the knight¡¯s presence, as they begin gossiping about the Black Box. Sarah glances at Amelia and approaches her. ¡°How¡¯s my brothers handiwork?¡± Sarah says. ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Amelia says, knowing that she¡¯s referring to her outfit. ¡°He wasn¡¯t kidding when he said I¡¯d be unrecognizable.¡± Maurice overhears them and joins in. ¡°Unrecognizable huh?¡± he says. ¡°Yeah,¡± Amelia says while thinking of a more proper response. ¡°He is a tailor and goldsmith. Said to want to be the kingpin of fashion.¡± ¡°Sounds interesting,¡± Maurice says. He gestures to his suit. ¡°I bet he¡¯d be pretty keen on Noir¡¯s duds.¡± ¡°Oh he sure is,¡± Sarah says. She then notices a shadow at a corner behind them, seeming to be of similar stature to her. ¡°Perhaps you can introduce me later?¡± Maurice says. ¡°Doubt it,¡± Sarah says. ¡°He¡¯s a very busy man, isn¡¯t he Amelia?¡± ¡°Oh, yeah. He is, he shouldn¡¯t be around, last I heard.¡± The shadow vanishes before Maurice could notice it. The trio then hears Felicity scream and make their way to her and Joe. Only to find they had found a giant spider. Clad in a silvery metal. The party realizes that this is a ¡°Sentinel¡±, a boss, and prepare to confront it. ??? In a different dungeon, two men fight a hoard of arisen skeletons. ¡°Haha, looks like the dead had come out for play, cher,¡± the older man said. He fends off the undead with a throw of his shield and a plunge of his longsword. ¡°Wonder whose to blame,¡± the younger man said, as he assumed a horse stance. ¡°You were the one complaining about this being too easy.¡± He shatters some skeletons with well-timed shoulder and hip strikes. His orange and black hair flowed in the wind. ¡°Am I wrong Tim?¡± The knight says. ¡°Treasure this valuable shouldn¡¯t be left unattended. I was worried someone beat us to the loot.¡± He strikes down more of the hoard with his sword, blocking their counterattacks with his shield. ¡°You never did say what we came here for,¡± Tim says. He positions his fist into a rake-like form and strikes the knee of a skeleton, causing the bone to be displaced and the undead to fall. ¡°Later, cher,¡± The man says. ¡°We have to clear this room out first.¡± ¡°Of course, Heathcliff,¡± Tim says. ¡°Of course.¡± The two coordinate their attacks to defeat the horde. With Tim¡¯s well timed strikes paving the way for Heathcliff¡¯s sword to cut through the assassins and Heathcliff¡¯s shield blocking projectiles and attempts on the knight and his page. Soon the undead were no more. Heathcliff sheaths his sword and takes a rest. His red hair framed his satisfied smile. ¡°We¡¯re here for a ring, y¡¯see? The Guild had said there were rumors of enchanted rings in this place. And it turns out that someone with what we really after wanted to trade it for one of them.¡± ¡°What we¡¯re really after,¡± Tim says. ¡°You mean the Heartstone?¡± Heathcliff gets up, revealing the scratches on his well-worn leather armor. ¡°Of course,¡± he says. ¡°The last piece we need for an avatara.¡± ¡°You mean besides a dungeon that needs one, of course,¡± Tim says. ¡°We¡¯ll find ourselves for that in due time, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°In fact, I heard rumors of a Divine Dungeon popping up just outside Rosenkreuz!¡± ¡°So,¡± Tim says, ¡°Remind me again why you¡¯re looking to be a Dungeon Master?¡± Heathcliff walks towards a door. ¡°Felt a change a pace was needed. Things were getting rather stale around here lately.¡± The two men open the door and soon find several rings, each of them tended to by the crypt¡¯s keeper and dungeon¡¯s core. A neurotic man clad in a cloak who obsessively enchants the rings of his fallen victims. The necromancer notices the two challengers and panics before gaining composure and attempting to put on a bombastic display of threats and power. ¡°They never make it easy,¡± Heathcliff says as he and Tim prepare for battle. The sorcerer summons another mob of undead to assist him, but the hoard was no match for the experienced knight and his bajilquan-trained page. The necromancer then attempts to casts spells, but Heathcliff¡¯s shield blocks them, and eventually melts from the number of magical attacks. The core is soon knocked out by Timothy launching a vital blow on his nape. With the necromancer knocked out for now, the two men help themselves to as many rings as they can and leave the crypt. Later at a bar Heathcliff meets with his client, a wealthy man who is interested in the necromancer¡¯s rings. Upon verifying the quality of the loot he agrees to trade his heartstones for them and hands Tim a bag of small heart-shaped rocks. Timothy notices they glow incandescently, as if filled with energy itself. The patron also threw in a gold coin as a bonus before leaving. The two men celebrate their triumph over food and for Heathcliff, some alcoholic beverages. ¡°That is gonna end well,¡± Tim says. ¡°I can see the radios telling of how the Crimson Knight got drunk and started a fight in the pub.¡± ¡°Cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°I¡¯m insulted, when''s the last time I made a brouhaha?¡± ¡°Last month,¡± Tim says, ¡°after you claimed about the state of Charlemagne.¡± Heathcliff remembers that event. ¡°Ol¡¯ Charlie. Place is still hanging on by a thread. I know a sinking ship when I sees it, but damn if I wish it hadn¡¯t gotten to that point.¡± The liquor begins to sets in, which is Tim¡¯s cue to ask for the check and escort Heathcliff out of here before he gets them into trouble. ¡°We have heartstone,¡± Tim thinks. ¡°We have poppetwood and we have a mind gem. That means we have all the avatara parts.¡± He takes a drunken Heathcliff to an inn to rest. The morning after, Tim greets Heathcliff, who is suffering from a hangover. ¡°I asked our rouge friend to give us a lift to this ¡®Black Box¡¯,¡± Tim says. ¡°Figured you wouldn''t let the side effects get in your way.¡± ¡°Yer a dependable one, Tim,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°And so is Esteban.¡± The two soon hear the honking of a car horn outside, their ride is here. They begin to make preparations to embark towards the Dungeon, where Heathcliff hopes to find its core and land a position as the Dungeon Master. ??? The mechanical spider assaults the party with fierce blows, but Maurice stuns it with a lightning spell, and Joe and Amelia use their blades to chip at its joints. Sarah meanwhile gets the boss focused on her and only her as Felicity supports with healing incantations. Amelia throws one of her two swords, aiming it at one of the joints on the tall construct, cutting it clean off. Maurice notices the feat and aims another spell at another joint, stunning it. ¡°How did you know that was its weak point?¡± Maurice asks. ¡°Lucky guess?¡± Amelia says. With two of the boss¡¯ eight legs incapacitated the mech calls for help. Multiple Arachne emerge from the walls with a battle cry of ¡°For the protector!¡± As they aim to assist the boss. Among their ranks is a small girl with white hair, greeting the party with a peculiar sense of familiarity. The walls shift and separate the group, with Amelia and Sarah in one pair, Felicity and Joe in another, and Maurice is left all alone. Three of the construct¡¯s legs strike the ground near each group, flanked by two or more Arachne. Joe protects Felicity as she prepares an incantation. ¡°O¡¯ Obsidian,¡± She chants. ¡°He who forges the armor of the land, please protect us!¡± The spell coats Felicity and Joe in a ward that protects them against the attacks of the Arachne and the weapons in the construct¡¯s leg. Joe and Felicity climb up the monster¡¯s leg to the weak point, and with a mighty swing, Joe cleaves it clean off. ¡°This is gonna be bumpy ride!¡± Joe yells as he protects Felicity as they fall. Felicity prepares a spell that beckons the air to move beneath them and cushion their fall. Maurice meanwhile prepares an ice spell to freeze the air around them, preventing the Arachne from moving and creating a slope for him to slide on. As he ascends his icy road the weakness of the leg is in full view and Joe uses a lightning spell to disarm it. The wall receded to give way to the sight of Sarah slamming another leg down, with Amelia¡¯s blades jammed in its joint. With a mighty blow, the fifth of eight legs is disabled. The giant mechanical spider unleashes a flurry of beams at the party, but they evade them as Maurice creates another ice road. Sarah ascends the frozen path and with a mighty leap, slams the sixth of the construct¡¯s legs down, severing it with the force of a hundred tremors. The construct has only two legs left and could barely support itself with them. The disc that was once beyond reach is now hanging near the ground, unable to reach its previous height with only two legs holding it up. Its attacks are easily dodged as its vantage point was lost. Amelia carefully observed the location of the last two joint and uses Maurice¡¯s ice path get closer to them, from its peak she combines her two blades into a chakram and enchants them with a wind spell. She throws the blades at the joints. The weapon slices both legs off as it arcs around the arena. The construct felled, a compartment of its disk pops open to reveal a treasure chest. The chakram returns to Amelia as Maurice opens the chest. The party finds hundreds of the same ¡°coins¡± they found earlier as well as a swarm of nanomachines converging to create a longsword, a suit of armor and a clerical staff. The party stuff their pockets with a fifth of the coins found, but Amelia is shocked to learn that they fall straight through her pockets. ¡°Huh, but I was certain there were no holes there!¡± Amelia says. ¡°Now that¡¯s is some bad luck,¡± Joe says as he takes the longsword. ¡°Must¡¯ve gotten torn in the trip.¡± Felicity takes the staff. ¡°The Arachne¡¯s leg nails were pretty sharp,¡± she says as she observes the gashes on her sleeves. ¡°That¡¯s to be expected,¡± Maurice says. ¡°Their talons and teeth were among their most dangerous weapons when it comes to fighting. ¡°My brother will fix it later,¡± Sarah says. ¡°For now, I¡¯ll keep a hold of your loot.¡± ¡°Thanks, Sarah,¡± Amelia says. ¡°Hope you didn¡¯t keep anything important in dem pockets,¡± Joe says. What was thought to be a wall shifts and reveals itself to be a door way, granting further entry into the dungeons¡¯ depths. The party ventures further into its mysterious depths. ??? The purple hues of the patterns on the black walls fade into a more indigo color as the party descends. The group observed a sickly scent in the hallway. A scent that Felicity realizes is miasmic. Joe, Maurice, and Sarah start coughing, having realized they were caught in a poisonous trap. Felicity prepares an incantation. ¡°O¡¯ hallowed Halcyon. She who is served by the storms and the seas¡­¡± Felicity says. The group is coated in a mist that overrides the poison as the elven priestess finishes. ¡°This should help us get through this poison.¡± Maurice observed the source of the mist and found vents lining the walls around them, spewing the poisonous haze. He sees that there are too many of them to obstruct. ¡°How long can this boon last us?¡± He says. ¡°Thirty minutes,¡± Felicity says. ¡°Better act quickly,¡± Joe says. The group fights their way toward the end of the hallway, fighting beasts along the way. They observed that the wolves and large rats are different from those outside, having parts of them that are mechanical and fluid. With only minutes to spare, the party boards an elevator and descends further, the miasma clearing from the chamber as it makes its descent. Out the window, Amelia and Sarah sight the shadows of two Alraunes tending to the monsters. One of them looks like a young child. The two shadows recede behind a wall as the other three approach the window. The elevator doors open to reveal a seemingly empty room. The only thing to note is an unguarded treasure chest. ¡°On your guard,¡± Joe says gruffly. ¡°This could be another trap.¡± ¡°O-on it,¡± Felicity says meekly. ¡°Don¡¯t have to tell me twice,¡± Sarah says. Amelia and Maurice approach the chest together and find that it is locked. The room suddenly dims to darkness as the party hears the giggles of children around them. ¡°Foolish intruders,¡± a mysterious voice says. ¡°You had done well to get this far, but your journey ends here!¡± A spotlight turns on as the voice finishes their sentence, directing the party¡¯s attention to a young Lamia girl. Her salmon-pink hair is tied in poofy pigtails as she spins her baton around. Her outfit is black with accents of a similar hue to her hair and tail, with a design and aesthetic that evokes a princess¡¯ dress. More spotlights shine, revealing more figures. A periwinkle mermaid with a clionid tail, a lilac-purple girl with wolf-like ears, a mint-green girl with antlers and wings beneath her arms, a minatouroid girl with orange hair, a cyan girl with glasses, a red girl with fiery wings also beneath her arms, and a yellow centaur. The room is illuminated with colored lights as the party finds themselves outnumbered. ¡°Challengers,¡± the pink girl says. ¡°You face heroines of justice!¡± ¡°From the streets of Noir,¡± The yellow centaur says cheerfully. ¡°We smite the wicked and the corrupt,¡± the firey-winged girl says with passion. ¡°To defend the innocent,¡± the minotaur says, brandishing her axe. ¡°We¡¯re the aegis of the crumbs of society!¡± the antlered child says. ¡°Protectors of the weak,¡± the bespectacled girl says with a deadpan tone. ¡°Only those of the light can best us!¡± the wolf-eared girl says. ¡°You face¡­ the Coloraturas,¡± the mermaid says. The party is surprised to find what looks like a crew of magical girls as a dungeon boss of all things. ¡°I-is there any way we can talk things over?¡± Felicity asks. ¡°Curiouser and curiouser,¡± Maurice says. ¡°Perhaps we should find another path.¡± He turns and finds the elevator is gone. The party has no choice but to fight these magical girls. ¡°Well,¡± Joe says, unsheathing his new broadsword. ¡°Brats are askin¡¯ fer it!¡± The party begins a battle with the Coloraturas. The pink leader of the magical girls opens by calling a barrage of lightning from above and striking the ground. Shocking Sarah as the black-and-orange-clad minotaur clashes with Sarah. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. The mermaid practices her comedic material with Amelia as she launches water attacks at her and Felicity, who manages to deflect them with a well-timed ward. The mermaid swims around the arena. ¡°Try not to kill them!¡± Sarah says, still locked in combat with the minotaur. ¡°Sentinels or no, they are still kids.¡± ¡°She¡¯s right,¡± Maurice says. ¡°I¡¯d rather not have to explain child murder to the guild and the Institute.¡± ¡°Tch,¡± Joe says. ¡°Fine.¡± He turns his broadsword to the blunt edge, aiming to instead knock them out. He tries to strike the black-and-yellow-clad centaur, but her light magic blinds him in the process and his blow misses. The black-and-green-clad antlered girl uses wind magic to distract Felclity and redirect Maurice¡¯s ice spells away from her. Amelia sees the bespectacled and black-and-cyan-clad girl summon a freezing snowstorm and signals Maurice to cast a fire-based counterspell. Maurice¡¯s spell managed to prevent ice from forming around them. The minotaur disengages with Sarah and instead charges at Marice but the spell-caster anticipates that and dodges. Felicity finds that no one is targeting her and makes preparations for a high-level ritual. ¡°O¡¯ Halcyon. Mother of marine life, nay all life,¡± she chants. ¡°Bring us your aid!¡± Rain falls on the battlefield as Felicity¡¯s ritual continues. ¡°I make this offering of holy water in thy name.¡± The black-and-pastel-red-clad girl notices Felciity¡¯s attempt and dashes forward with her blazing wings, but she is intercepted by Amelia. The rain makes the lightning attacks of the lamia hazardous to her friends as everyone is rendered wet from the ritual¡¯s effects summoning rain. Maurice senses an opportunity and casts ice spells at the bespectacled and minotaur girls, freezing them solid. ¡°Wow,¡± the mermaid says, ¡°Talk about the cold shoulder.¡± Marice freezes the mermaid after she utters that pun. ¡°Stay clear,¡± Maurice says as he casts another spell at the antlered girl. He is careful not to turn the rain into a blizzard. Amelia and Sarah get out of the way as he lobs another spell at the wolf-eared girl. The centaur tries to blind Maurice, but Joe hits her back with his sword, the blunt edge causes enough pain for her to misfire and instead reveal her location to Maurice, and she is encased in ice for her troubles. All that is now left is the phoenix-winged and lamia girls. But they are determined to see the battle through and avenge their friends. ¡°This is your last chance,¡± Maurice says. Offering the Coloraturas a chance to surrender, but the magical girls refused. The red-winged girl swoops in, but Maurice already prepared the spell and froze her in midair. Amelia notices that the lamia child is now summoning lightning bolts left and right, a desperate effort for one trying to seize victory while her friends are frozen, and with childish disregard for the harm done to herself in the process. Amelia jumps in front of her and gives a stern but frightening glare, surprising and distracting the girl long enough for Maurice to finish preparing his ice spells. Amelia jumps out of the way and the last thing the Lamia sees is a sheet of ice encapsulating her small serpentine frame. The rain stops and the party takes the opportunity to dry off as the chest suddenly unlocks. Inside lies a shield, a magician¡¯s rod, and a robe tailored for both clerical and arcane spell-casting. Maurice hands Felicity the robe as a token of appreciation for the rain spell. The shy elf blushes as she accepts the gift. ¡°Fire, Ice, Lightning,¡± Amelia says, ¡°interesting repertoire.¡± ¡°You noticed?¡± Maurice says as he grasps the magician¡¯s rod. ¡°My studies into the arcane elements had yielded much fruit, but I admit that I am unable to channel the other seven.¡± ¡°Eight you say?¡± Amelia says. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you forgot,¡± Sarah says. ¡°Fire, Water, Ice, Electricity, Earth, Wind, Darkness, and Light are the common eight elements.¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± Maurice says to the tanned dwarf. ¡°And it is said there are two rarer ones besides, rumored to encompass the cosmos and all Mana.¡± ¡°Never expected someone as hardheaded as her to grasp magic fundamentals,¡± Joe says. ¡°I try to be above average as far as blacksmithing goes,¡± Sarah says. ¡°Besides, I dabble in engineering and magic is plenty involved in that!¡± ¡°Come to think of it,¡± Maurice says. ¡°Those magical girls, they seem able to wield one of the common elements each.¡± Amelia is reminded of something and approaches the lamia girl, still frozen. Her eyes reflect a lack of consciousness. Out of earshot of the others, she says ¡°No hard feelings?¡± to the frozen child, and the other frozen girls by proxy. A path soon opens at the side of the chamber. While Sarah and Joe bicker. Maurice observes Sarah¡¯s weapon and mentally compares it to the weapons, he and Joe acquired, and to Amelia¡¯s blades. He noticed similarities in the aesthetic and designs of them. He begins to wonder, but Joe breaks his musings. ¡°Hurry up,¡± the swordsman shouts. He and the others are already far ahead of Maurice as they travel down the emerging path, illuminated in a blinding light. ??? A fairy wakes up from a cocoon attached to a black and blue wall. Emerging as a young woman about fourteen years of age. Her pink hair and wings contrasted with her mostly black surroundings. As she flies around, knowledge and memories begin flooding her mind. She knows who this place is, and what her role in this dungeon is. At the same time, a consciousness rouses. The mind of a teenage girl who groggily wakes up and realizes she cannot feel her arms, her legs, her everything. Her senses are overloaded by simultaneous sensations, yet she could not see anything, and could barely hear the ambient sounds of machinery whirring. ¡°Where am I?¡± The consciousness asks. Her seemingly disembodied mind struggled to see anything, blinded, the mind wanders. ¡°What happened.¡± She vaguely recalls a strange dream, a dream of hearing strange voices and feeling hammers pound in on her. The fairy soon arrives at a large crystal. Taking the form of two cones, connected by a ring. ¡°So this is the core,¡± the fairy says. She attunes herself to the frequencies and makes contact. ¡°Hello?¡± The consciousness heads a clear voice. She tries to pinpoint the location, but her blindness prevents her from seeing anything and she feels sessile and unable to move. Her vision is soon clear of darkness and she sees a pink-haired fairy talking to her. ¡°Attunement¡¯s complete,¡± the fairy cheerfully says. ¡°Now then, do you remember your name?¡± ¡°My name?¡± the consciousness says. She struggles to recall, but her memory only goes as far back as the hazy memories of the dream. Yet one detail stuck out from those vague recollections. A single word, a name. ¡°Emily,¡± she answers. ¡°Emily. Got it,¡± The fairy says. ¡°Mine¡¯s Elizabeth. Nice to meet you.¡± ¡°Do you know,¡± Emily says tiredly. ¡°Where we are?¡± Elizabeth realizes that Emily is not quite aware of what her circumstances are. ¡°Well you see, we¡¯re inside you. If that makes sense.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± Emily asks. ¡°You had been among the lucky few souls to be reincarnated as a Dungeon, congrats!¡± Elizabeth says with a huge grin. Emily is left further confused but as she processes the response she begins to realize that she has been transformed into a place. She tried to scream, but no sound was heard. The walls and floor go berserk, shifting chaotically around the core and Elizabeth. ¡°Yeah,¡± Elizabeth thought, ¡°Forgot to lean her into it. Oopsie.¡± She tries calming down the panicking girl. A while later, she managed to calm Emily down. ¡°Okay, now that we got that existential panic attack over with,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°We should go over the basics. First off, you had been chosen by the Administrators to become a Divine Dungeon, which means your job is to help circulate mana over the world. You do that by generating arms, armor, currency, and material to entice adventurers to raid you. Got it?¡± The mental image of strangers invading her body combined with her newfound alien senses begins to cause her to panic once more. Elizabeth calms her down again. ¡°Let¡¯s try it another way,¡± she says. ¡°This place is you, and you are this place. You are still an organism, but not one of flesh. Does that make sense?¡± ¡°I think?¡± Emily says. ¡°Good,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Until you can get an avatara, it is best to not think of yourself as an organic creature for now. You are still mortal however as your life depends on how much mana you can spread throughout the land, and how much you absorb from it in turn. Where the adventurers die or escape with loot from you and your personally, you would be able to take mana from them to use towards sustaining yourself as well as the creation of new gear. The more people die, the better, the more people live to tell the tale and attract more people, the even better.¡± Emily is disturbed by the fairy¡¯s words. Yet she is calm enough to satisfy Elizabeth. ¡°Now dearie,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°As a living dungeon, you have some control over how the structure of the place is laid out, you can move walls, generate chests for loot, and create cells.¡± ¡°Cells?¡± Emily says. ¡°Autonomous entities that are beholden to your subconscious. They are among the many constructs you can craft.¡± ¡°So um,¡± Emily says. ¡°Why are you here then?¡± ¡°Me?¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°I¡¯m your dedicated guide. Here to show you the ropes of being a dungeon.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Emily says. ¡°Anything else.¡± ¡°Well,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°You can try generating an object. Divine Dungeons usually have a resource unique to them, a selling point, a lure for adventurers seeking novelty.¡± Emily concentrates a little focusing on an object, any object. A stuffed bear is formed out from the walls. Visible mechanical pieces and glowing lines decorate the attempted plush toy. Elizabeth looked carefully at the doll, but couldn''t find anything unusual. She decides to focus Emily¡¯s vision on the doll. Elizabeth focuses Emily¡¯s vision deep into the toy until she sees things at a microscopic, no, nanoscopic level. ¡°What do you see?¡± Elizabeth asks. ¡°I see,¡± Emily says. ¡°Robots? Huh? They seem to be linked to each other.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Elizabeth says. She muses on it before realizing something. ¡°Are you sure that is what you see?¡± Emily observed the small construct in place, each other physically connected. She could not remember how she learned of machines, but she knew they existed and she assured Elizabeth that she was seeing tiny robots. Elizabeth uses her attunement to fix Emily¡¯s vision back on her. ¡°I see,¡± she says. ¡°This could potentially change Titania as we know it,¡± she thinks. ¡°Emily, do you know what nanomachinery is?¡± Emily thinks for a bit before realizing that she does. ¡°Do you think that is my ¡®selling point¡¯?¡± ¡°If what you said is true,¡± Elizabeth says, ¡°Then yes. Though we¡¯ll probably have to get it verified soon. For now, the rumors will have to do!¡± Throughout the weeks, Elizabeth has instructed Emily on the creation of weapons and items, as well as the coordination of cells to prevent intruders. In this time Emily has contended with several novice raiding parties, each of them successful to such a degree, that she is rendered sickly. One day, Elizabeth tries to address Emily¡¯s condition. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Terrible,¡± Emily says. It has been a few months since they met each other, and Emily has lost so much Mana that she is barely keeping herself together. ¡°Did you find anything that could help?¡± ¡°Unfortunately no, dearie,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Heartstone is difficult to find ¡®round these parts, and there were no mind gems either.¡± Elizabeth finds the blue hues have given away to a bloody red, as has Emily¡¯s core. ¡°We need to get the avatara made, posthaste,¡± Elizabeth thinks. At the same time, Heathcliff and Tim explore the Black Box. They see the machine Cells melting and malfunctioning, making their trek easier. ¡°Well,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°This place had seen better time, cher.¡± Tim notices the oddly decrepit state of the dungeon. The walls creak as they haphazardly slide along the rails. The sounds of jammed machines fill the air. ¡°Is this place even alive anymore?¡± he asks. ¡°They better be,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Much as I prefer otherwise this is a golden opportunity for us.¡± ¡°Care to clarify?¡± Tim says. ¡°I¡¯m a fair man,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°I prefer to make fair deals. A dungeon in dire straits not a fair deal. It a one-sided contract with us unfairly advantaged. At the same time, would be trouble for the locals if a divine dungeon up and croak.¡± ¡°Surprisingly considerate of you,¡± Tim said. ¡°Maybe you are still as the tales claimed you were.¡± Heathcliff notices a faint glimmer in the distance. ¡°Allons!¡± he says. At the end of the hallway, they find the dungeon¡¯s core as well as a panicking fairy. The fairy is so caught up in her worries that hadn¡¯t noticed the two men near her, expressing her fears that she is unable to get an avatara in time. She is then alerted by the core that they have ¡°guests¡±. Elizabeth sees the two men and panics, before assuming a defensive stance, declaring ¡°No!, I will not let anyone harm Emily in this state!¡± before realizing that that the two men do not brandish their weapons. ¡°Sounds like you in need of an avatara, mon amie,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Well, you¡¯re in luck!¡± He presents Elizabeth with the mind gem, heartstone, and poppetwood. ¡°Get the place a body, then we can talk.¡± Elizabeth is surprised but she knows Emily¡¯s health is more important at the moment and gets to work assembling the avatara body. She assembles the heartstone and mind gem in appropriate locations, then lays out the poppetwood. ¡°Alright Emily,¡± she says. ¡°These gentlemen had provided us materials for an avatara. Try to visualize a form for yourself and your body will do the rest. ¡°Okay,¡± Emily says. She focuses on the form she wants to take. A human form, one similar to what she recalls of a past self. As she concentrates, the materials are absorbed into the floor and a pod emerges where they once were. The pods draws in mana from the surrounding land, somewhat healing the dungeon as a humanoid form is made visible in the pod. The red of the walls and lights soon changes to a calm yet lively blue. She can feel arms and legs again, she can feel the breath she takes. The process is draining her consciousness. She struggles to stay awake but soon falls into a deep sleep. The next morning she awakes in her pod. Greeted by Elizabeth and the two gentlemen from last night. The armored man introduces himself as Heathcliff Ford. The pretty boy gives the name Timothy Howard. Emily thanks the two men. ¡°Don¡¯t mention it, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Now let get down to business.¡± ¡°While you were sleeping,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Heathcliff here told me that he was looking to be a Dungeon Master. A person that specializes in helping us manage the dungeon better. Most of the more renowned Dungeons have Masters.¡± ¡°I do be a good adventurer,¡± Heathcliff adds. ¡°I know a lot about how to navigate their places, so I know the tricks they be angling to use.¡± ¡°The fact that he was able to the materials in such qualities speaks to his talent,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°At the very least his expertise would ensure we would retain enough mana to sustain your actual body.¡± ¡°My body,¡± Emily thinks to herself. ¡°That reminds me,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°The avatara will take a while to incubate. We can discuss his terms in the meantime¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Emily says. She is grateful to the two men. Elizabeth explains that Heathcliff is offering her services in exchange for relatively minuscule terms. Simply wants a place for him and his page Tim to stay, and is even offering a ¡°Lagniappe¡± in the form of getting her registered to a local guild, ensuring among other things that more people are able to visit her, as well as having Tim serve as her very first Sentinel. ¡°Don¡¯t we have enough visitors as it is?¡± Emily says. ¡°I can understand your concerns,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°But there are benefits to them that are related to the avatara, and besides while we had issues with too little mana, problems begin to arise when we hoard too much of it as well. A dungeon cannot perform effectively if its offerings do not spread beyond their walls.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Emily says. She thinks about the offer for a while before remembering a certain detail. ¡°What is a Sentinel?¡± ¡°A protector of the dungeon,¡± Tim says. ¡°Though they can be constructs, my experiences can attest that hired adventurers are more common.¡± ¡°Civilizations tend to form around dungeons,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°For various reasons, certain people had taken it upon themselves to guard the dungeon. These are called sentinels, and by all accounts, Tim here seems pretty decent.¡± Emily thinks about the deal some more, the two men seem very skilled as far as Elizabeth is concerned and she could use the help. She also feels a desire to repay them for helping her. ¡°Okay,¡± she says. ¡°I¡¯ll take your deal Mr. Ford.¡± ¡°Pleasure¡¯s all mine, cher,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°Of course, just ¡®Heathcliff¡¯ will do. Formalities don¡¯t feel right to me.¡± ¡°Of course, Heathcliff,¡± Emily said politely.¡± The young girl feels tired again. ¡°Sorry about that,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°Normally you should be sleeping to conserve mana, but I found that matter needed to be addressed immediately.¡± ¡°That¡¯s alright,¡± Emily said as her mind drifts further towards sleep. ¡°Could really use a good rest about now. Goodnight.¡± With Emily asleep, Elizabeth turns to the two men. ¡°I¡¯ll lead to to rooms you can use while you¡¯re here. Not really a good place to make your lodgings.¡± ¡°Fair enough,¡± Heathcliff says. The three leave the core room, and the sleeping Emily. ??? The party goes further down the new path. Maurice¡¯s mind is still on the dungeon¡¯s loot and the eerie similarities to the weapons wielded by both Amelia and Sarah. He approaches the two. ¡°Excuse me,¡± he says. ¡°By any chance did you visit this place before?¡± ¡°Not until today,¡± Sarah says. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I was wondering about those swords you wield,¡± Marice says. ¡°They seem very unusual.¡± ¡°Oh, those?¡± Amelia says. ¡°They were a gift from a friend.¡± ¡°A friend?¡± Maurice says. ¡°Yeah,¡± Amelia says. ¡°She was something of a mentor to me. She had handed these weapons to me a while back. Likely had got them from this very dungeon.¡± Maurice intuits that this friend of hers had recently perished. ¡°How did she die?¡± ¡°Rather nosy fella, aren¡¯t you?¡± Sarah says. ¡°She was slain by Noir¡¯s mob,¡± Amelia says. ¡°She had died trying to protect me from them.¡± ¡°The mob huh?¡± Maurice said. ¡°Was it the Voorhees gang? The Frankenstein family?¡± ¡°The Vanishers,¡± Amelia says. ¡°Fascinating,¡± Maurice says, aware that the invisibility magics they use make it difficult to avoid their attacks, and also how difficult it is to track them. Joe and Felicity notice the other three are lagging and grab their attention. The group reconvenes at the end of the path. There they find an unusually ornate room, its golden hue contrasting with the now blue patterns on the glossy black walls. ¡°Is this¡­¡± Felicity says. ¡°Looks like it leads to a treasure room,¡± Sarah says. ¡°Could be guarded by a mighty foe. ¡°We need to be careful, our time in this dungeon is limited,¡± Joe says. ¡°Huh?¡± Felicity says. ¡°Divine Dungeons have a time limit on ¡®visitors¡¯,¡± Joe says. ¡°Indeed,¡± Maurice says. ¡°We¡¯ve only a half hour left before we are expelled. One of several features designed to both protect the core and make room for other raiders.¡± ¡°Guess we ought to stop dawdling then,¡± Sarah says. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Sarah begins to slam the door wide open, to everyone¡¯s shock. ¡°Sarah!¡± Amelia says. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Sarah says with a cheeky grin. ¡°The dungeon will repair herself anyway.¡± Amelia scowls at the dwarf. Maurice leads the group in, thinking it futile to debate the lost element of surprise. They find a large amount of coins, different from the black ones they have encountered thus far. More familiar. As the party looks through the treasure, taking what they can get, Amelia looks back and spots four shadows in the distance behind her. The shadows move about, one has ears pointed out in a feline shape, two fade from sight with what seems to be romantic gestures, and the fourth leaps above the walls. The feline-eared shadow winks at Amelia before leaving. As if on that shadow¡¯s cue, ninja emerge from the treasures, to everyone¡¯s shock. ¡°Oh, ninjas,¡± Joe sardonically says. ¡°Even this place had to have effing ninjas!¡± Felicity invokes the Administrator Ereshkigal to confer the ability to see the unseen. Maurice uses lightning spells to repel the shadow warriors while Sarah and Joe thwart attempted assassinations. ¡°Why are there ninja here?¡± Maurice says. ¡°This is far away from Yae Shoto!¡± ¡°Is now really the time for questions?¡± Sarah says. Amelia has an idea. ¡°Felicity, can you create a shroud of darkness?¡± ¡°I-I can try,¡± Felicity says. She prepares an invocation. ¡°Oh holy Astra, spirit of everywhere and every-when. Ruler of the cosmos¡­¡± The shinobi surround the party but are held back by Sarah and Maurice¡¯s efforts. ¡°Grant us the protection of hallowed darkness¡­¡± Amelia and Joe locks blades with a ninja each, attempting to poison them with imbued swords. They manage to repel both assailants. ¡°Enshroud us in night¡¯s aegis!¡± Felicity finishes her spell. The elven cleric is coated under a dark veil, as is the rest of the party. They are invisible to the ninja, while the opponents are in turn exposed by the prior enchantment. One by one, the ninja fall to attacks from invisible assailants. In due time, the ninja falls. Twenty minutes left on the clock. The effects of Felicity¡¯s enchantments fades. A door appears, with a timer showing how much time the party has left before the Black Box ejects them. The unclaimed treasure in the room melts into the walls, sans one chest. The party prepare for another fight as the door opens and a man enters the room. ¡°Your last challenge is here,¡± the man says, clad in a black outfit with orange accents. His black and orange hair billows in the wind as he points his spear at the party. ¡°En garde!¡± The man jumps high into the air and thrusts his spear down from on high. The shockwave pushes everyone but Sarah, who reflexively slams her hammer into the ground and embeds it into the floor, back. Joe attempts to slash at the man, but his spear easily blocks his sword and deflects it with ease. Sarah dislodges her hammer and tries to smash him, but he steps to the right and lets her pass, creating an open that he exploits with a shoulder strike. Felicity tries to prepare another incantation, but finds that her ritual items had been exhausted from the previous two spells. Amelia tries to intercept the Sentinel¡¯s attack, but she was unable to make it in time and Felicity is knocked out cold by a hip strike from the man. Only Amelia and Maurice are left standing against this man. ¡°This man is,¡± Maurice thinks. ¡°He knocked out three with a single blow each. Come on, get a grip!¡± He knows that he has to do something soon. He rapidly speaks the words for a barrage of spells of all three arcane elements, but the man simply spins his spear and deflects the spells. Ten minutes are left. The man approches Maurice to knock him out with his spear. He thrusts it forward, but it doesn''t hit Maurice. Instead it stabs Amelia, who got in-between the mage and the spearman. Blood spurts out from Amelia¡¯s abdomen as she takes the man by surprise. While he is shocked, she grabs his weapon and remove it. She turns to Maurice. ¡°Now!¡± Maurice understands that there is an opening and lobs a magic fire missile at the spearman, forcing him back. Amelia covers her wound and throws one of her swords at the spearman. The blade manages to hit his shoulder, wounding him for a moment. The three continue to fight. After four minutes Maurice and Amelia had prevailed. The spearman defeated, he simply laughs, and congratulates the party. He then tosses the key to Maurice and vanishes. With five minutes left, Maurice hurriedly opens the key and claims all the loot. A thousand silver coins, ten gold coins, a composite longbow, a pair of breeches and five cubes. A blinding light engulfs the party. ??? The Party finds themselves at the entrance of the Black Box again. The light was bright enough to rouse Sarah, Joe, and Felicity from unconsciousness. ¡°Did we lose?¡± Sarah says in a daze. ¡°Quite the opposite,¡± Maurice said, presenting the items, including the cubes. He then splits them even with the party, before Amelia reminds them of her sliced pockets. ¡°I¡¯ll find a tailor for us when we return to town,¡± Maurice says. ¡°No, it¡¯s okay,¡± Amelia says. ¡°I¡¯ll fix them later.¡± The party heads to the nearest town and the nearest guildhall to sort out their winnings. ¡°Dibs on the pants!¡± Joe says. The breeches went to Joe, to go with his armor. ¡°Um, I know this archer, ¡°Felicity says. ¡°He has been complaining about his bow lately so¡­¡± The bow went to Felicity. ¡°So that leaves the cubes,¡± Maurice says. ¡°There are exactly five here so¡ª¡° ¡°Not interested,¡± Sarah says, interrupting him. ¡°You could''ve let me finish!¡± Maurice says. ¡°Five cubes, five people,¡± Sarah says. ¡°Its not hard to see where that is going. Hard pass.¡± She then gazes at her weapon. ¡°Was only here to test this bad boy, remember?¡± ¡°I think you should have mine,¡± Amelia says. ¡°You said the Institute wants to research the Dungeon¡¯s items.¡± ¡°That is true,¡± Maurice says. ¡°I¡¯ll take mine,¡± Felicity says. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, that is.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t really care what it is,¡± Joe says. ¡°But I ain¡¯t leaving money on the table like that.¡± He takes his cube from the table. Maurice splits the coins into five piles as well. ¡°I¡¯ll hang onto Amelia¡¯s share ¡®til we get home,¡± Sarah says. ¡°Guess that is it then?¡± Joe says. ¡°I guess so,¡± Felicity says. ¡°T-thank you!¡± ¡°No problem,¡± Sarah says. ¡°It was fun. ¡°Are we gonna see each other again?¡± ¡°I have to go report to the Institute,¡± Maurice says. ¡°After that it would probably be years before I return.¡± ¡°Have another job in back in Mezzoville,¡± Joe says. ¡°Can¡¯t keep the boss waitn¡¯¡± With their quest finished the party disbands. They bid farewell to each other as Joe and Maurice leave Felicity, Sarah and Amelia alone. ¡°Maybe we can meet up again soon,¡± the shy elfin girl says. ¡°I-if you want that is.¡± ¡°Sounds fun,¡± Sarah says. ¡°Maybe you can introduce your archer friend to us next time,¡± Amelia says. ¡°I¡¯ll be s-sure to,¡± Felicity says. Amelia checks the time. The clock on the guildhall reads 3:50 PM. ¡°Guess it time for us to go,¡± she says. The three part ways for now. With Sarah and Emily leaving the town. The human and dwarf girls chat a bit about the events of the day as they traverse the forest. ¡°So that was a nice group huh?¡± Sarah says. ¡°Seems like,¡± ¡°Amelia¡± says, having a more energetic mood than before. ¡°Though there were some close calls.¡± ¡°Maybe Richard can get us some poison-proofed suits,¡± Sarah says. The two soon approach the black box again. Sarah says, ¡°We¡¯re home!¡± as the two approach the dungeon. ¡°Amelia¡± touches the walls and a hole appears. Entering the dungeon. ¡°Amelia¡± begins to feel a little lethargic. ¡°I¡¯ll check to see what¡¯s on the menu tonight. I¡¯m starving!¡± Sarah says as she leaves ¡°Amelia¡±. ¡°Amelia¡± enters a daze as she moves further into the dungeon, growing more tired with each passing step. Eventually her body collapse on the ground, motionless, lifeless. A certain fairy arrives and approaches the body. ¡°Welcome home,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Emily.¡± ??? A moment later, Emily wakes up, in her original body. By now the alien sensations are as familiar to her as the sun and the moon. She feels the wind blowing through her halls. The footsteps on her floors, she could hear everything and everyone inside her. She could fee. She focuses her sight on her avatara, which is being placed in its pod for recharging, and for returning to its normal form. She then focuses her gaze on another room, where Atsuko is praising her ninjas for their showmanship earlier, a strange machine sitting nearby her. She then shifts her gaze towards Esteban and Julia, who are preparing to return to their home in the city Noir. She then gazes at the Alraunes, who had just finished thawing out the Coloraturas. The magical girls were given blankets by Sarah¡¯s brother Richard to warm up. ¡°Sorry about that,¡± Emily says to the young girls. ¡°Meh,¡± Rose, the leader of the magical girl troupe, says. ¡°We¡¯re used to it by now.¡± She sneezes. ¡°Not like Sentinels could be killed like that,¡± the minotaur, Strelitiza says as she shares her blanket with Clover, the antlered and winged girl. ¡°Was a chilly reception, though,¡± Azalea, the clionid mermaid says. ¡°That mage was pretty strong, I thought you said they were beginners!¡± Raine, the other winged girl says. ¡°They are,¡± Emily says. ¡°At least Felicity is!¡± Hydrangea, the girl with glasses, opens a book, as she is wont to do. While Lily, the centaur, plays with Nina, an Arachne child with silver hair, and Anemone, the wolf-eared girl. Emily turns her eyes to another room, where she finds Carla and Charlotte tending to the wild beasts. The two Alraunes greet Emily. She then looks at the treasure room and finds Tim practicing his spear work. ¡°Hello,¡± Emily says. ¡°You picked an interesting group today,¡± Tim says. ¡°And here I thought this was an easy sparring session.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s Heathcliff?¡± Emily says. ¡°¡®Making groceries¡¯, he says,¡± Tim says. ¡°He¡¯ll be home soon.¡± A while later Emily notices the presence of her dungeon master, Heathcliff Ford. ¡°Welcome home,¡± she says. ¡°How was your trip?¡± ¡°Went quick, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Traffic a pest. So mind reminding me of how you and Sarah led your party on the tour?¡± ¡°The adventure went well,¡± Emily said. She giggled as she sensed the bemusement on Heathcliff¡¯s face. ¡°But certain people were that close to revealing themselves¡± She manifests two pillars that nearly touched each other. ¡°Wanna talk to them about it, or should I?¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Maybe later,¡± Emily says. ¡°Who¡¯s cooking tonight?¡± ¡°Elizabeth,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Said she wanted to try new chocolate recipes.¡± ¡°The kids will probably like that,¡± Emily said. ¡°Rose had always mentioned how she likes ¡®to go all the way¡¯¡± Heathcliff sighs as he recalls how not that long ago, he and Tim were mere wanderers. ¡°Half of a year it¡¯s been since we got you from death¡¯s doorstop, cher. Lot has happened since then.¡± Heathcliff¡¯s words sparked a sense of realization in Emily. ¡°Has it been that short? Thought it was more than a year.¡± Heathcliff laughs. Elizabeth arrives to greet him and to demand the groceries. ¡°Dinner¡¯ll be ready in an hour, Em,¡± the fairy says. ¡°Looking forward to it,¡± Emily says.¡± Later that night. As everyone else is asleep, Emily begins to reminisce about the times before today. Beginning with her registration at the guild¡­ Chapter II: Barrenlands One night, several months ago. Heathcliff and Tim provided Emily with parts for an avatara. This had given Emily both a humanoid form and more importantly, enough mana for a few weeks. A few days later, the avatara body is now fully ready. And by extension the day Emily awakens from a torpor. As she wakes up, Emily¡¯s mind is still groggy from the past week of unconsciousness. She realizes that she is now able to see without Elizabeth¡¯s help. Her gaze surveys the various rooms of her dungeon body, now a little more vibrant than before. She sees rooms and halls patrolled by her cells but with little else inside them. ¡°Morning sleepyhead!¡± Emily is startled and tries to find the source of the voice. She turns to the cheerful Elizabeth. ¡°Elizabeth?¡± ¡°Today¡¯s the day, sweetheart!¡± Elizabeth¡¯s voice is brighter than before. No hints of panic remain from before her coma. Emily then realizes what occurred before her slumber. ¡°Where are the other two?¡± ¡°They are waiting for the avatar to be finished. Follow me.¡± Emily¡¯s vision follows Elizabeth to a room where the pod housing her other body lies. There she finds both Timothy and Heathcliff as well. ¡°Hello?¡± Emily says. The two men heard her. ¡°Hah, so the sleeping giant finally wakes,¡± Heathcliff says with a pleasant tone.¡± ¡°Sleep well?¡± Tim says. ¡°A little,¡± Emily says. She looks around the dungeon, finding that it looks different. The halls are sleeker, and vibrant blues, indigos, and purples replaced the crimson hues of her sickness. The black walls are lined with patterns of circuitry and geometric shapes. ¡°No, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°We didn¡¯t redecorate you.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Emily says. ¡°While you were sleeping,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Your body took the extra mana from the avatara materials and the mana conserved by your dormancy to fortify itself. Your dungeon body was changed, and you had developed new abilities.¡± Emily recalls that she can move her ¡°eyes¡± without Elizabeth¡¯s help this morning. ¡°The avatara is almost ready,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°I¡¯ll prepare the upload posthaste!¡± Elizabeth approaches the pod and attunes with it. Before Emily knew it, her vision shifted to within the pod. She moves her arms and legs as fluid drains from the pod. The pod opens and she walks out. Elizabeth brings out a mirror for Emily. She looks at it and sees a young woman, with purple hair tied in two pigtails and donning a black-and-purple dress, in the reflection. ¡°How do I look?¡± Emily says as she does several poses. Despite not having a human body for a few months, she finds that she retains acute motor function. ¡°Like a fine mademoiselle, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. Now that we gots you a body, today the day to get you registered.¡± ¡°Registered?¡± Emily says, confusion as plain on her new face as a full moon. ¡°The adventurer¡¯s guild, dearie,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°I mentioned before that there are certain perks with an avatara, the most obvious is the ability to move outside your own halls. A dungeon is a living place, but it is still a place, rooted to where it was constructed.¡± ¡°Uh-huh,¡± Emily says. ¡°With an avatara,¡± Emily says. ¡°You can move outside these boundaries. Dungeons that have them often use this newfound freedom to adventure with other people, be it their Sentinels or other people entirely. In fact, the most impenetrable Dungeons tend to be ones that can raid other dungeons and absorb their own treasures, gaining both mana and knowledge from them.¡± ¡°Knowledge?¡± Emily says. ¡°Specifically ¡®blueprints¡¯,¡± Tim says. ¡°For either creating new weapons or armor or enhancing existing ones.¡± ¡°Tim, my boy,¡± Heathcliff says with shock. ¡°How did you know that?¡± ¡°I taught him,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Thought it might be good if he knew some of the basics as well.¡± ¡°Fair enough,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Now Emily, come see the outside world with us. Allons!¡± ¡°Right,¡± Emily says.¡± She takes her first steps outside ¡°herself¡±. The first steps into the wider world of Titania. Following Heathcliff, Elizabeth and Tim to a nearby town. ??? Emily is taken aback by the sight of the town. So many people gather on the roads and buildings as the sunlight shines down from a clear sky. It¡¯s almost as disorienting as the sensations she felt when awakening in a dungeon. Heathcliff leads the group towards the guildhall. One of the larger buildings is decorated with roses in a cross shape. ¡°Hey, Pauline,¡± Heathcliff says in a voice that almost booms across the lobby. ¡°Come see, we gots a new girl here!¡± An elven girl approaches the girl. Her blue hair drapes down to her waist. Her grey suit obscures her figure as her glasses reflect the light. ¡°Oh, a new adventurer wants to join our humble guild? We¡¯re honored really,¡± the woman says with a drawl. ¡°Now what is your name, sweetie.¡± ¡°E-Emily,¡± the purple-haired girl says. ¡°Mine¡¯s Elizabeth,¡± the fairy says, ¡°I¡¯d like to register too.¡± Pauline sizes up the two and notices their peculiar dress and Emily¡¯s fairy wings. ¡°Stop the presses,¡± she thinks. ¡°Did he¡­¡± Her gaze turns to Heathcliff, already taking the opportunity to get some booze from the built-in bar. She is no stranger to the occasional dungeon joining the guild, but still. ¡°I¡¯ll be sure to get you two signed up right away!¡± Pauline says. ¡°Be back in a jiffy.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Emily says. Emily stumbled on the way to their table. While waiting for Pauline the group talks about the guild and town at a table secluded from the other visitors of the guildhall. ¡°The Rosenkreuz Guild,¡± Tim says. ¡°It oversees the adventurers of the eponymous own in Nova Virginia. It is a far away off from Noir, though.¡± Emily is surprised to learn there is a city nearby. ¡°Noir? What¡¯s that?¡± she says. ¡°Largest city ¡®dis side of Libert¨¦, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Practically a dungeon unto itself with all the things that get down there.¡± Pauline arrives with the paperwork, asking Emily and Elizabeth to give their signatures in several lines. She also hands them a small book about the guild¡¯s rules and membership fees. ¡°Now then,¡± Pauline says. ¡°We¡¯re gonna need your place of residence, sweetie. The other adventurers here at Rosenkreuz might want to visit you if ya catch my drift.¡± ¡°Want me to handle it, cher?¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°No, I¡¯m good,¡± Emily says. ¡°I-it¡¯s just.¡± ¡°Oh yeah,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Pauline has got good peepers. She can know a dungeon avatara when she sees ¡®em, Emily.¡± With some help from Elizabeth, Emily writes down the location of her dungeon body. Heathcliff adds the name ¡°The Black Box,¡± to the paperwork. ¡°The Black Box?¡± Tim asks. ¡°¡®Parenlty,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Messengers use the term for certain objects they do not know the workings of. Besides, it fits Emily herself, don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°Why do I need a new name?¡± Emily says, her quizzical expression apparent on her face. ¡°Actually,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°It is a good idea. We don¡¯t want people here finding out Emily is a Dungeon.¡± ¡°But why?¡± Emily says. ¡°Well, sweetie,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°A Dungeon¡¯s treasures serve as a reason to raid them, but the most valuable treasure they have must not ever leave their halls. The very core itself.¡± ¡°Okay?¡± Emily¡¯s confusion increased. ¡°Right now,¡± Elizabeth says in hushed tones. ¡°You control an avatara, and you perceive it as if it is your body. There is some truth to that, but the larger truth is that it is a puppet, controlled by your consciousness. And that is still inside your core, Emily. A Dugneon¡¯s core is both its brains and its heart. Without it the dungeon cannot live, and yet adventurers and other dungeons seek to use these cores to empower or enrich themselves, for they also hold a large amount of the mana they generate.¡± ¡°Fact of the matter is,¡± Tim says. ¡°If people know you¡¯re a dungeon, they could try to exploit the time you are piloting the avatara to come to the dungeon and steal the core form beneath your nose.¡± ¡°Okay then,¡± Emily says. ¡°Do not reveal myself to strangers, got it.¡± She wonders why that is possible before recalling her inability to see her rooms after her mind was linked to the avatara Avatara. ¡°Etrangers aside,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°The other reason is that the guild needs a nom de guerre for dungeons in their ranks. As they prefer having them be described as the places they technically are. A descriptive name useful for for both landmarking and tourism. Adventurers tend to make pretty good tourists.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Emily says. Emily and Elizabeth finishes the paperwork and hands it off to Pauline. ¡°Welcome to the Rosenkreuz Guild¡± Pauline says. ¡°Hope you enjoy your time with us.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Emily says. She return to Heathcliff and Tim. ¡°There is one last thing, but we¡¯ll need to do it back home,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Give me a few minutes.¡± He heads off to talk to Pauline about some matters. After their chat, the group returns to the newly aliased Black Box. ??? At the Black Box, Emily¡¯s avatara rests inside its pod. She notices that Heathcliff has brought in several objects from outside, including some rocks and wooden planks. ¡°Okay, Emily,¡± Heathcliff said as he placed the wood such that it stood upright. ¡°Guild¡¯s gonna need some items to bait adventurers here. What¡¯ve you got, cher?¡± Emily observed the various Cells guarding her halls, she noticed that several of them seemed to melt into the structures or emerge from them at times. ¡°Elizabeth thinks I can make something called ¡®nanotechnology¡¯. Do you have any idea what that is?¡± ¡°Nanotech, huh,¡± Tim says. He ponders on it for a while. ¡°Seems like we stumbled onto a real game-changer Tim,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Things like that only existed in theory.¡± Emily thinks of something to make, before recalling Elizabeth says something about dungeon loot earlier. She concentrates on the image of a sword. As she thinks about the weapon, a chest suddenly emerges from the floor. Inside lies three swords. Their blades were as long as a dwarf is tall and the edges as thin as a sheet of paper. ¡°How¡¯s these?¡± Emily says. Heathcliff takes one of the swords and gives it some good swings. He finds the blade lighter than his weapon. He turns to one of the planks and slices it. Despite cutting through the wood, the sword seemed to not affect it. Heathcliff approaches the plank and touches it near the top. The plank collapses in two as the pieces fall to the ground. ¡°Not bad,¡± Heathcliff says as he looks back at the nanotech sword. I found not a single scratch on it. He tries it again on the nearby rocks, but it can¡¯t completely cut through the stone, instead getting stuck midway. ¡°Gonna need a blacksmith to appraise it, but it already looks better than the swords I used,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Can we get a shield to match?¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Emily says. ¡°Right.¡± She focuses on the image of a shield and another chest emerges a few minutes later. At Heathcliff¡¯s suggestion, she allows one of the other planks to sink and embed into the floor as Heathcliff mounts one of the three shields. ¡°Your turn, Tim,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Let¡¯s give this board a stress test.¡± ¡°Very well,¡± Time politely says. He leaps towards the shield and extends his arms toward it, striking the shield with his palms. The defensive arm holds firm, he then uses a combination of kicks, fluid arm movement, and other moves to try to break the shield. He found it can take a lot of punishment before eventually breaking into dust. ¡°Maybe these are too¡­high-end?¡± Emily says. ¡°Yeah, we gonna save stuff of that caliber for later, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Rookies plus these equals problems for everyone involved. And I don¡¯t think we¡¯re ready to take on the kind of adventurers that can handle these babies.¡± Emily tries making weaker swords and shields. ¡°Try using less mana,¡± Elizabeth says. Emily heeds the fairy¡¯s suggestion, but the resulting items prove too fragile. After some iterations, she managed to create versions that were closer to the standard for novice adventurers. She then crafts other weapons, spears, axes, staves, bows, hand cannons, and even some basic armor and robes. Heathcliff appraises the items, finding them good enough for the guild. Despite this, he felt like something was missing. ¡°Hmm,¡± he says. ¡°We have enough to supply adventurers that enter the place now, but there is still a missing je ne sais quois. Something that can fuel quests.¡± Emily ponders on how to address that. As she thinks about ideas on what to make, chests start popping out, each containing various trinkets. She presents the first one ¡°Maybe this would do it?¡± She says. ¡°Aww,¡± Elizabeth says as she gazes at the rabbit sculpture. ¡°How adorable!¡±. Tim however scoffs at the trinket. ¡°I don¡¯t think lapin chers like that would cut it, Emily,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°But then again, I¡¯ve been wrong before.¡± While Heathcliff considers the rabbits. Emily conjures another object. This one resembles a trophy. ¡°I think it gives a sense of pride and accomplishment.¡± Tim looks at the gaudy trophy. ¡°It doesn¡¯t give me a sense of either if we¡¯re being honest.¡± Emily is growing annoyed with Tim¡¯s behavior, ¡°Okay then, what would you want to get from here?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here to train,¡± Tim says. ¡°To master my skills with my body and Qiang both.¡± ¡°That isn¡¯t helpful!¡± Emily says. ¡°Well, neither are the rabbit statues!¡± Tim says. The two argue for a while, during which Emily creates a chest with an ornament in the form of an upside-down bird. ¡°Kid¡¯s got some sass,¡± Heathcliff says with a laugh. ¡°Shame that this particular object wouldn¡¯t go over well with the guild.¡± Emily, still angry at Tim looks at the shapes of her chests. She notices their blocky appearance and flat sides. The top half of their cubic exteriors are decorated partially in glowing lines on their black hues. The bottom half of them are entirely blue. The sights of these chests gave Emily an idea. A moment later, one last chest appears. Tim opens the chest and finds¡­an object that resembles it in miniature. ¡°You think questers would want nesting doll-like boxes?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a token, you dummy,¡± Emily says. ¡°What do you think?¡± Heathcliff and Elizabeth look at the small cube and notice it carries intricate qualities. Heathcliff smirks. ¡°Well, that might be the banger we¡¯re looking for, Emily.¡± ¡°How so?¡± Elizabeth asks. ¡°We give these trinkets to the guild,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°They were in turn hand them to several curious people, who in turn would be driven to find the source. The less resources they have, the more direct the clues, the more resources the more obscure they are. This way we can ensure the only ¡®visitors¡¯ are folks that we know little Emily can handle.¡± ¡°And if Emily can¡¯t handle them?¡± Tim says. ¡°That¡¯s where we come in, remember?¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Making sure that never happens. Besides by the time word reaches the head honchos, she¡¯d surely would be able to take on whatever they send her way. Right cher?¡± ¡°Um,¡± Emily is unsure if she really could take them on whatever they send her way. ¡°Maybe?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the spirit!¡± Heathcliff says. Tim sighs. ¡°I¡¯m sorry about my mentor. The Crimson Hound is very¡­eccentric¡± ¡°That much is obvious,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°And yet we¡¯re here now thanks to him.¡± The group decides to go along with Heathcliff¡¯s plan, using the cubs to lure in Adventurers. Emily mentally prepares herself for the coming days. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ??? A few days later, the Black Box is visited by a group of adventurers. A knight in training, a novice spellcaster, and a clerical amateur. The three make their way to the Black Box. At the same time, Heathcliff and Emily look on at their prey. They see several traps Heathcliff had laid out, as the novices fight through some cells. The spellcaster ends up tripping one of them, opening a trapdoor that separates them from their party. Without the mage¡¯s backup, the cells became too sturdy for the others to overcome, and by the time they were able to regroup, they were ejected from the dungeon, with nothing to show for their efforts. The next day, an archer, thief, and scout party, aided by a rookie gladiator, traverses their walls. They soon find themselves in a shifting maze. The winding and twisting paths had them running around in circles until they were ejected. ¡°Maze your idea, cher?¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Yeah,¡± Emily says. ¡°I had those walls change more frequently for that effect.¡± ¡°That¡¯s pretty clever, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. Later a third party of more experienced folk had managed to make their way through the labyrinth and past the trapdoors and made it to Tim. Alas, they were soundly defeated by the expert spearman and martial artist. But at least they left with some robes, an ax, and a bow. A fourth party arrived the next day, a dwarf cleric, a lamia spearman, and a human friar. They too, fell to Tim and his more skilled arts. A fifth party was lost in some puzzles Emily had set up, leading them to the maze f they failed. A sixth ended up separated and assimilated by the dungeon, to Emily¡¯s disgust. ¡°I knew I forgot something! Sorry.¡± Elizabeth said, referring to what happens to adventurers who die within a dungeon. ¡°Usually when someone dies, the dungeon absorbs their mana, leaving no corpses behind. Sentinels however can respawn instead.¡± Another party ended up dying to the Cells as their tank ended up warped to another puzzle. A foolish man then decided to venture into it alone and was torn apart for it. Slowly but surely, Emily was gaining mana from these ventures and even more from the few items that were able to be claimed by her visitors. ??? One day, after a long streak of attempted raids on the Black Box. Elizabeth greets Emily ¡°How do you feel?¡± the fairy says. ¡°I feel¡­¡± Emily says. Her health has been improving since getting an avatara and since Heathcliff and Tim were taken on as the dungeon¡¯s Master and Sentinel respectively. ¡°I feel great!¡± That day, a group arrives at the dungeon. One was a knight clad in shining brass armor. One was a cleric clad in well-kept white robes. Two were a pair of twins, one being a sniper and the other a wizard, both wearing identical ornate clothing. Lastly, two were a couple, both versed in melee combat. They had managed to make their way past the tricks Heathcliff and Emily had set up and navigated the treacherous maze and puzzles and were face to face with the dungeon¡¯s lone Sentinel. ¡°You had done well to come this far,¡± Tim says. ¡°But your quest ends here!¡± ¡°Please try not to kill them,¡± Emily says to Tim, inaudible to the adventurers. ¡°Absorbing their corpses feels icky.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll get used to it,¡± Tim says. ¡°But fine.¡± He engages the party head-on. The knight intercepts his charging attack and tries to grab him, but Tim deftly deflects the grapple and moves the knight¡¯s armored arm away. The moment causes the knight to stumble forward, leaving his back exposed for a shoulder strike. The attack left Tim open to ranged attacks and he takes several arrows and magic missiles to the chest afterwards. With the knight stunned he moves in front of the sniper and is knocked out. The cleric heals both the knight and sniper while Time knocks out the wizard with a spinning lick. Before he can attack. The boyfriend intercepts him and the tow exchange blows. His girlfriend follows suit. The three are locked in a struggle as Tim deflects several of their attacks and counters with flowing arm movements and punches. This continues until the knight emerges behind Tim and puts him in a bear hug before suplexing the Sentinel into the ground Tim is shocked to find how competent this crew is compared to his previous encounters as a boss. ¡°Impressive,¡± he says before scoffing at the party. ¡°Ready to give up?¡± the knight says. ¡°Hardly,¡± Tim says as he takes his spear and summons a whirlwind. He uses the Qiang in tandem with his techniques to take out the sniper and couple. Before locking blades with the knight. His weapon parries the knight¡¯s sword and Tim uses the momentum to strike the knight, exploiting chinks made from prior blows to stop them. Tim grows exhausted from the battle, his opponents standing their ground longer than he imagined, even with the tornado he summoned. The wizard manages to cast a spell that deal a critical blow to him, taking Tim out of the fight. For the first time in a while, he lost. Succumbing to his wounds, Tim vanishes with a scowl on his face. His arrogant facade lasts until he vanishes and a chest takes his place. The party leaves with sic cubes, as well as a spear, a shield, a sword, two sets of armor, and enough rings for a pair of hands to wear one on each finger. ??? A while later, a swarm of nanomachines jut out from the floor of the core room and take the shape of Tim, nanobots transforming into flesh and bone by magic. Shortly after, the swarm crystallizes into a body for Tim¡¯s mind, mana, and soul to inhabit. The defeat is still fresh on his mind. He punches the wall, leaving a small crack that is promptly healed. ¡°Ouch,¡± Emily says, feeling as though she was just pinched. ¡°That hurt!¡± Tim doesn¡¯t care, he ruminates on his loss, his first loss since he met Heathcliff. I was certain,¡± thoughts raced through his mind as he tried to figure out how he lost. He knew he was outnumbered, but that didn¡¯t matter before. He was able to dispatch them easily. Emily notices his distraught state. ¡°Um, can I help?¡± ¡°No,¡± Tim says. He thinks back to his previous mentor, a combat instructor and friend of his mother. He is the one who taught him all he knew of fighting with body and Qiang both. He recalls the sting of a loss he felt when he lost to a fellow pupil. Emily is insistent on helping him. ¡°You know it doesn''t do either of us good sulking around like that,¡± she says. ¡°Cheer up.¡± ¡°Easy for you to say,¡± Tim says. The dungeon sighs, ¡°Look, I get it. You¡¯re not a people person, but if you¡¯re going to be my Sentinel, then we have to understand each other. So c¡¯mon, tell me what¡¯s the matter.¡± ¡°Rather nosy for a dungeon, aren¡¯t you?¡± Tim says with a playful tone. ¡°Well it doesn''t help that you¡¯d want to be moody while inside me,¡± Emily says, unaware of the potential misunderstanding of that phrase. Tim sighs. ¡°Alight, fine, you win.¡± He then sits down on the floor. ¡°But you first. Do you remember anything before becoming a dungeon?¡± Emily tries to remember, but nothing aside from her name comes to her mind, even the dream has become a haze to her. ¡°I¡­got nothing,¡± she says. ¡°Why do you ask?¡± ¡°You know what Messengers are, at least?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± Tim shakes his head. ¡°Administrators?¡± He says. ¡°Nada.¡± ¡°This is gonna take a while,¡± Tim thinks. He says, ¡°For now, know that there are people claimed to be from otherworlds, they are called ¡®Messengers¡¯, Divine Dungeons, like you, are claimed to universally be Messengers.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Emily says. ¡°Really,¡± Tim says. ¡°These people are said to be servants of gods, their messengers, hence the name. Yet they are also claimed to have lost much of their memory of their past life.¡± ¡°You say that as if they don¡¯t exist,¡± Emily says. ¡°I have reason to believe they do,¡± Tim says. ¡°But I also have reason to believe that most ¡®messengers¡¯ are pretenders. After all such a status tends to confer a grandiose destiny and with that comes plenty of clout seekers. As for Divine Dungeons, some Natural Dungeons tend to get mistaken for them.¡± ¡°Is there any difference?¡± Emily says. ¡°You¡¯ll find out later, that fairy might know more about the distinctions,¡± Tim says. ¡°Now if you¡¯ll excuse me¡­¡± ¡°Oh no you don¡¯t,¡± Emily says. ¡°You seriously think you can distract me and just run off like that?¡± ¡°Heh, Tim says. ¡°You¡¯re smarter than I thought.¡± ¡°Excuse me?¡± Emily says, to Tim¡¯s bemusement. ¡°Alright,¡± Tim says. ¡°Ahem, I am a traveler, one seeking invincibility in a sense. I was trained in several styles of combat to that end and became an adventurer under Heathcliff¡¯s wing for a few years. During which I had fought and won in many battles and prevailed over many dungeons.¡± ¡°And you¡¯re feeling salty because you lost to a party of adventurers?¡± Emily says. ¡°It is rather petty,¡± Tim says. ¡°Yet there is more to that. I feel like I¡¯ve been stagnating for a while, that I wasn¡¯t progressing. I thought that meant that I was ready and able to take on the world. Then two people of lower skill arrived with four compatriots and well, you know the rest.¡± Elizabeth approaches the two, without Tim noticing her. ¡°You feel frustrated, then?¡± Emily says. ¡°I guess,¡± Tim says. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if dungeons can feel something like that.¡± ¡°It feels pretty frustrating dealing with you,¡± Emily says in a playful tone. ¡°Someone¡¯s got jokes,¡± Tim says. ¡°You bet I do,¡± Emily says. They both laugh. Elizabeth¡¯s heart melts at the sight of her ward getting along with her Sentinel. She startles Tim. ¡°Agh,¡± Tim says. ¡°Elizabeth! When did you get here?¡± ¡°Five minutes,¡± the fairy says. ¡°Nice to see you two getting along.¡± Tim is annoyed by the remark. ¡°Shut up,¡± he says. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Emily says. ¡°Heathcliff got a quest from the guild,¡± Elizabeth says ¡°We¡¯re going on a trip to another dungeon! Isn¡¯t that exciting?¡± Emily realizes what this means, and has a pressing concern. ¡°But what about me, um I mean my body? My core?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Heathcliff had already arranged for that. The guild will help ensure intruders won¡¯t enter you while your avatara joins us.¡± ¡°Of course he has,¡± Tim says. ¡°Never expected him to take the ¡®dungeon master¡¯ bit so seriously.¡± ¡°Why did he want to become one anyway?¡± Emily says. ¡°He says he needed a change of pace,¡± Tim says. The three make preparations for their first quest. ??? The Arcane Tower, a Natural Dungeon in the dunes of la Prairie Inconnue. Once a thriving skyscraper where mages had gathered to share knowledge, not a ruin that spires above the rest. A monument to lost knowledge. Archaeologists had sought to explore the place for arcane secrets, and it is for that reason that Rosenkreuz was sought out to clear the tower of threats. And through them, why Emily and her group are at the tower. Emily approaches the entrance, wielding twin blades, Modified from the first swords she had generated. ¡°So, um, what are we doing here again?¡± ¡°Well, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Guild¡¯ wants to do some pest control for some archaeologists. The monster population a dangerous hazard for them.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Emily says. A sense of uncertainty washes over her face. ¡°Should we fear anything from the tower itself?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so,¡± Elizabeth says, resting between her wings. ¡°Natural Dungeon cores, usually tend to wander their dungeons to avoid adventurers.¡± Emily is reminded of what Tim has said about them. ¡°Can you tell me what exactly is a Natural Dungeon?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t told you already?¡± Elizabeth says, her mouth agape with the realization that she has forgotten an important piece of information. ¡°Darn. Better late than never. A Natural Dungeon is the result of a place being mutated by the presence of a dungeon core that has inhabited a native of the land and mutated them, such creatures end up being merged with the core but retain their form, whereas Divine Dungeons need an avatara to perceive the world beyond their walls and move around.¡± ¡°Maybe we can save this talk, for until we¡¯re inside the tower?¡± Tim says. Trying to wipe the sand away from both his eyes and clothes. ¡°Oh, right,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Sorry.¡± The group enters the ruin. The decaying walls provided shelter from the dusty winds blowing outside, as sunlight peeks through the windows and the holes in the crumbling spire. Parchments are seen strewn about the floor as disheveled bookshelves line the walls. Rats are seen scurrying about the place, using the dilapidated paper to nourish themselves. ¡°Should we take care of the rats as well?¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°I think the clients are more concerned with what is above the ground,¡± Tim says. As they approach the stairwell, the group is accosted by wraiths. The spirits of people that had perished in the calamity that ruined the surrounding landscape, trapped in delusions and illusions of the past and seeing the group as intruders. The specters¡¯ natures make them immune to physical blows as they phase right through them, but Elizabeth has prepared for that and sings a small song. ¡°Winds of the North,¡± Elizabeth sings with confidence, ¡°blowing fast and true. Please grant us the strength, to carve a path anew.¡± Her bardsong abilities enchant the party¡¯s weapons with the element of light, allowing them to touch the wraith and defeat them. As Emily fights the wraiths, she trips on her legs and falls on the floor. A spirit lunges at her and she panics. Tim defeats the one lunging for her and helps her up. With the group of spirits quelled, they ascend the stairs. On the second floor, they find several rooms filled with ruined books and desecrated tomes as well as several coyotes that had made the upper floors home. Tim dispatches the beasts with charging steps into snap kicks and elbow strikes, using his arms to deflect fang and claw both. Another room has a combination of wraiths and wolves. After Elizabeth wreathes their arms in lightning, Heathcliff uses his sword to slice the specters while Emily takes care of the animals with graceful sword dances. With the room cleared, the party takes some time to explore the room. They find an intact tome written in a language few could understand. Heathcliff takes it with him. ¡°Might as well make it easier for them,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Plus even if they don¡¯t want it, someone else might.¡± Emily looks around the room, her eyes darting around in fear of hidden enemies. She soon breathes a sigh of relief, realizing that there is no chance of an ambush. Heathcliff notices Emily¡¯s behavior. ¡°A little jittery, cher?¡± Emily nods. Her eyes clearly shows a sense of uncertainty in their safety. ¡°That¡¯s normal,¡± Heathcliff says. His expression brimming with confidence that Emily lacks and the experience of a seasoned adventurer. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, over time you¡¯ll learn when things are safe.¡± Emily notices Heathcliff¡¯s relaxed tone in his voice. ¡°Can you tell me something?¡± ¡°Of course, cher,¡± the knight says. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m ready for this sort of thing?¡± Emily asks. ¡°You mean dungeon raiding? Oh course you are!¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°If you weren¡¯t we wouldn¡¯t be here now, would we?¡± Emily¡¯s face shows an uncertain look. Heathcliff places his palm on her shoulder. ¡°Look, cher,¡± the knight says. ¡°I know you can do this, and so does the guild, they wouldn¡¯t have tasked us with this otherwise. Besides you got me, Tim, and Liz on your side! Clearing out this place will be a cinch, cher. Trust me.¡± Emily smiles. ¡°Thank you,¡± she says. Heathcliff sees her face brighten as she makes those words. ¡°Girl¡¯s gotta have some more faith in herself,¡± he thinks. The group leaves the room to venture deeper into the tower. They enter and clear out a third room, and then make their way to the stairs leading to the third floor. There they find a sandy specter in a sand-logged room. The first boss, it seems. The sight of the specter causes Emily to quiver before composing herself and preparing for battle. Heathcliff grabs the ghast¡¯s attention, while Tim and Emily coordinate their attacks. Emily¡¯s Blade dances in tandem with Tim¡¯s martial arts and qiang techniques, all enchanted by the light of Elizabeth¡¯s songs, which deal damage to the ghost. The spirit attempts the buffet and blinds the party with sand, but it proves futile as Tim counters with a whirling cyclone and Heathcliff distracts it long enough for Emily to rush forward and strike it with her two swords. Her attack is strengthened by the monument of the cyclone as she runs along its path. The ghost soon falls, succumbing to the wounds Emily landed on them, and fades away, leaving behind a chest made of sand in a now still room. Emily breathes a sigh of relief at her first defeat of a Sentinel. Her expression changes to one of joy and confidence as she realizes she has just defeated a tough foe. She opens the chest and sees it has some surprisingly immaculate robes. They also find an axe inside, but since no one here can use it, they decide to sell it to the guild. ¡°Forgot to mention,¡± Elizabeth says, ¡°The gear generated from all dungeons is protected by the mana that forms them. They will not age or tarnish as long as they are in the chests. The protection only lasts until they leave the dungeon, however.¡± Emily examples the clothes and finds they are best suited for herself and Tim, melee fighters. ¡°Do you need them?¡± Emily asks. ¡°You don¡¯t want them?¡± Tim figures Emily was more deserving of them as her attack was the one that felled the boss. Emily in turn feels that it wasn¡¯t possible without Tim¡¯s cyclone and that he was more deserving of them. Tim takes the robes. ??? On the third floor, the dungeon grows more dangerous as poison dart traps are strewn about the area. The traps were hindered by some of them malfunctioning and the sand corroding their mechanism. More concerning however is the presence of sand ghouls similar to the boss. The party was left battled by several encounters with these ghouls, but Emily uses some potions Heathcliff had stocked up on to heal the group. ¡°These remedies come in handy in a pinch,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Shame they taste vile.¡± ¡°That is a feature, not a bug,¡± Elizabeth says. Tim maintains a stoic demeanor through the battle, in contrast to Emily who visibly expresses feelings of concern and fright. He approaches the avatara. ¡°I understand, the first one is always the most difficult.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Emily says confused. ¡°I know you are quite green to the life of an adventurer, and that you were only on Titania for a few months at most,¡± Tim says with a calm smile. ¡°But you can trust us to protect you, and trust yourself to carry on.¡± Emily is a little surprised that Tim says words like that. ¡°Thank you, but um¡ª¡° ¡°But what?¡± Tim says. ¡°I¡¯m just surprised, you struck me as more of a battle maniac, to be honest,¡± Emily says innocently. Tim frowns and glares at Emily, scaring her for a few moments before he chuckles. ¡°I¡¯m sorry!¡± Emily says expecting some retribution. ¡°I ju¡ªhuh?¡± Tim laughs a little, a rare sight. ¡°You¡¯re rather easy to mess with you know?¡± ¡°Hey!¡± Emily says. ¡°I¡¯m not!¡± ¡°But you are wrong about me,¡± Tim says. ¡°I take some pleasure in fighting, yes. But it is not for the thrill of it. I simply seek opportunity to train myself, to prepare for what¡¯s to come.¡± Emily is surprised by Tim¡¯s candid response. In their short time together she had seen him as someone who seemed rather arrogant and aloof. A man who would be better suited as a rival to a different type of martial artist. A man who seemed like he didn¡¯t care about her, yet the interaction showed her a glimpse into another side of Tim. The group continues deeper into the dungeon, with Emily ruminating on the man she now knows a little better. They make their way to another room, guarded by three skeletons. A familiar sight to Tim and Heathcliff, but their earthen magics provided a new challenge. Emily manages to weave past them and snag the chest while they are distracted by Heathcliff. Tim gets up close to them and uses a kick to shatter a skeleton, a stomp on a second¡¯s femur, and a palm strike on the third¡¯s ribcage. But the skeletons reformed their bodies afterward, using the nearby sand to pull themselves together. Emily uses sword slices to knock them to pieces, but they immediately reform again. Emily notices the room has a window on it and lures the monster towards it. Heathcliff takes the opportunity to defenestrate the three skeletons, causing them to land far outside the tower and be buried by the sand. ¡°Got to make a note of those to the diggers,¡± Heathcliff says. The group finds another similar tome which Heathcliff takes. The Chest Emily had taken from the monster opens to reveal a suit of robots fit for ranged fighters and some armor. Heathcliff decides to take it, but for want of a place to change his clothes decides to wait until after they leave. It also contains a staff and a hand cannon, but the former seemed to be incompatible with Elizabeth¡¯s skillset for now. They soon ascend to the fourth and fifth floors, fighting several monsters along the way. They eventually reach the tip of the tower, guarded by a dangerous dire coyote. The last boss of the dungeon. The beast proves a fearsome opponent as its large size and intangibility make it difficult to deflect its claws and it wields control over the sand much like the first boss. Tim tries using a cyclone to clear the sand away, but the coyote manages to leave it. Tim anticipates the attack dodges, and uses a shoulder strike to slam the boss into the wall. With Elizabeth¡¯s lightning enchantments ensuring the blow strikes true and stunning the beast further. The beast crippled it lets out a howl to summon ghouls as its allies, Heathcliff gathers up the spirits and leads them towards a window, using an acrobatic maneuver to dodge their charges and cause them to walk outside the edge. The coyote limps around still unfinished. But Emily combines her blades into a chakram and throws it at the beast. Wreathed in radiance, the weapon hits the sand-cloaked coyote and leaves a gashing wound on it. One of the blades is removed and sent into the air by the impact, but lands on the beasts front paw, pinning it to the ground as it succumbs to its wounds. The coyote fades into the aether, part of its mana going to Emily as it fades. ¡°Was that the core?¡± Emily asks. ¡°I don¡¯t think so,¡± Elizabeth says. A chest soon emerges. Within is a pair of blades, similar to what Emily wields, and a grimoire. ¡°Twin blades, Haven¡¯t seem those in along time.¡± The party turns to find the source of the voice, and sees a cloaked man where the coyote once stood. The party knew they were the only people in the tower until now, so that only ones one possibility for the cloak¡¯s emergence. ¡°Are you¡­¡± Emily says. ¡°I am,¡± the voice says. He wistfully looks around the spire. ¡°Are you here to consume me?¡± he asks. Emily is confused by the question. ¡°We¡¯re here to help clear the place of monsters,¡± Tim says. ¡°Archaeologists be wanting to explore the place,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°I see,¡± The cloak says. ¡°The attempt is futile, but I understand the intent.¡± ¡°Hold on, what do you mean ¡®consume¡¯?¡± Emily says. The cloak turns at Elizabeth, and then back at Emily. ¡°She seems like a fresh dungeon,¡± he thinks. He approaches the girl and hands her a few books he¡¯s been carrying. ¡°My fate matters not, but if what your friend says is true, then this spire is still of some value to the land. Here are the few tomes that had not been lost to the sands of time. The tomes I was able to recover.¡± Emily struggles to hold the heavy stack of books. Heathcliff takes two off the stack and Elizabeth and Tim to take one each. Emily is elft carrying a more manageable load of three tomes. ¡°Thanks? ¡°She says. ¡°My pleasure young one,¡± the cloak says. He nostalgically recalls the time before where wizards studied here with joy, a time before catastrophe took their lives. He has stood as the sole surviver, a relic of a bygone era. ¡°Farewell,¡± the cloak vanishes in the sands. Elizabeth is concerned for the core of the tower, but that was subsumed by the sense of triumph the other three feels. And the sense of dread at explaining to Emily certain details later. ¡°Alright, cher,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°Quest over, let¡¯s head to the guildhall tout suite!¡± ¡°Rather impatient,¡± Emily says, ¡°aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°You¡¯d be impatient too when you have to deal with such a heavy load,¡± He says. ¡°Should¡¯ve gotten a car ¡®fore we got here.¡± The group makes their slow and long descent down to he tower and make their way through the desert and back to Rosenkreuz¡¯ guild hall. Along the way, Emily thinks about the adventure and the friends that helped her through it, and who would continue to help her through many more. Her face beams with the confidence of a girl ready to take on the world. Chapter III: Crawling Spaces ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡°Ow!¡± she yelled as she accessed the pain in her head. Only too late did she realize that she had gotten the attention of several Arachne. She takes out a hammer and prays that she can fight her way out. ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡°Least it ain¡¯t a dust bowl,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°I¡¯m gonna get a ride set up, I¡¯m am not hoofing it!¡± ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Chapter IV: Die Spinnen ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Chapter V: Experience A week later, As Emily¡¯s avatara rests, she is directed to look at a certain structure in her core room. Elizabeth shows her a flat circle on one of its walls. Attached to the circle are four jewel spheres: magenta, yellow, orange, and green. ¡°Those are the Elementalist¡¯s spheres we have?¡± Emily says. The dungeon¡¯s ¡°eyes¡± stare at the spheres. Entranced by their crystalline beauty. She notices that there are six other slots in the circle, with the magenta Electrosphere, resting at its north, flanked by two of them. Adjacent to the empty slot on its left is the orange Geosphere, itself with another slot next to it. The yellow Photonsphere and Green Aerosphere stand adjacent to each other, with two more empty slots between them and the Electrosphere. At the structure¡¯s center is one more void. ¡°Correct!¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Isn¡¯t it exciting? In just a short amount of time, you¡¯ve gained power over four elements.¡± ¡°Would¡¯ve gone by a lot sooner if you told me I could use¡ª¡° Emily¡¯s sentence is interrupted by involuntary giggling. ¡°That tickles!¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t me,¡± Elizabeth says, her wings fluttering in midair. Emily checks around her dungeon body searching for the source of the ticklish sensations, and finds several of her new residents burring between her floors. ¡°Hello?¡± Emily calls to one of the Arachne presents. ¡°Oh?¡± the Arachne woman searched around but couldn''t find the source of the voice. ¡°I¡¯m over,¡± Emily says. ¡°Actually you¡¯re inside me right now.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re the dungeon we now live in?¡± the Arachne says. ¡°Pleasure to meet you. I¡¯m Lydia Sezsee! I¡¯ll be the broodmother of our humble community. Thank you for taking us on.¡± ¡°Broodmother?¡± Emily asks. ¡°We help take care of the local youngins y¡¯see? They say it takes a village to raise a child, so we help take care of the young spiderlings. I provide, nursing, preschooling, mass babysitting, and pediatrics! I¡¯m just setting up a place for the kids to sleep.¡± Emily looks around the room. The floor contains several small tunnels beneath it, being dug by some Lycosidae and Atypidae Arachne. She then sees several Araneidae Arachne weaving their webs on the walls. ¡°You don¡¯t use beds?¡± Emily asks innocently. ¡°The types with mattresses? Some of us do,¡± Lydia says. ¡°But most of us prefer to sleep on the walls attached by cocoon blankets made of one hundred percent natural silk. Others, mostly the Lycosidae, prefer to sleep nearly buried in the ground.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Emily says. Lydia realizes that Emily doesn¡¯t know much about Arachne. ¡°Where¡¯s Minerva? She should¡¯ve told you all about us.¡± ¡°I think she went to the guild to get some people inducted.¡± ¡°Ah right,¡± Lydia says. ¡°She did mention come Ctenidae wanted to become adventurers.¡± They suddenly hear a loud noise. Emily looks at the next room and sees little Nina on the ground. In her small arms is a sword. ¡°Nina,¡± Lydia says. ¡°Didn¡¯t we tell you not to play with a dungeon¡¯s weapons? They¡¯re dangerous.¡± ¡°But I wanted to be an adventurer too,¡± Nina says. ¡°Like she¡¯d survive in that lifestyle.¡± An Arachne boy mockingly says to Nina. ¡°She couldn¡¯t even break herself out of a cocoon.¡± ¡°Like you¡¯re any better!¡± Nina says to the lad. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you go with mommy?¡± ¡°Heh, got better things to do than risk my life out there,¡± the lad says. ¡°Besides, everyone knows adventurers and Sentinels are lame.¡± ¡°They not lame!¡± Nina says. ¡°You¡¯re lame!¡± ¡°Am not.¡± ¡°Am too!¡± ¡°Am not.¡± ¡°Am too,¡± Nina repeats. ¡°Alight, break it up,¡± Lydia says. ¡°You two shouldn¡¯t be arguing. The contrarian Arachne tries to argue with her but she notices Lydia is staring intently at him, he backs down before uttering a word. ¡°It¡¯s getting late,¡± Lydia says. ¡°We¡¯ve finished setting up the boudoir.¡± The two Arachne children leave the room and prepare for a night¡¯s sleep. ¡°Are they always like this?¡± Emily says. ¡°Ah don¡¯t mind them,¡± Lydia says. ¡°He always bickers with the rest of the kids. Be seeing you.¡± Lydia returns to the boudoir. ??? The next day. Emily sees Richard and Sarah getting used to their new lodgings in her. ¡°How did the dress go?¡± Emily says. ¡°We managed to finish it thanks to the silk the Arachne gave us!¡± Sarah said. ¡°The client loved it!¡± Richard looks over the items they relocated from their former home in Eastshire. All their tools, materials, and works. ¡°Let¡¯s see, the suit from last summer is intact. The leftover jade from the Necropolis is also here¡­¡± ¡°Brother¡¯s been getting a little paranoid about missing items recently, ¡°Sarah says with a teasing tone. ¡°I am not paranoid,¡± Richard said. ¡°I just want to be certain there are no more missing objects, especially after what happened last time.¡± ¡°That reminds me,¡± Sarah says. ¡°Can you make us sentinels? I can swing hammers with the best of them.¡± She branches her newly forged hammer around, nearly missing a mannequin donning a hat and dress combo. This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. ¡°Sarah, be careful!¡± Richard says. Emily giggles. ¡°I understand you want to repay me for helping you, but¡ª¡° ¡°But nothing,¡± Sarah says. ¡°Fighting with you and helping you with how artisanal skills would be the least we can do after all you did.¡± ¡°Sarah,¡± Richard says. ¡°Please don¡¯t pressure Emily.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not pressuring her,¡± Sarah says. ¡°I¡¯m surprised at you brother, you usually take debts seriously.¡± ¡°I do,¡± Richard says. ¡°But we¡¯ve already agreed to lend our expertise in the crafts towards refining the arms and armors Emily generates. That is already sufficient enough.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± Sarah says. ¡°I saw you practicing your marksmanship. You sure you don¡¯t want to go out and explore, to take risks?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure, Sarah,¡± Richard says. ¡°Emily you agree with me right?¡± ¡°Umm,¡± Emily says. She is unsure which dwarf to side with her. She agrees with Richard that being a Sentinel is a risky role. But she also knows she only has Tim as her only sentinel. Before Richard could press her for a response, the three heard a clamor from outside the entire room. The dwarves head outside and see several Arachne, as well as Elizabeth looking at an entity that resembled the Tarlantulapolis Core, except smaller and more metallic in texture. Emily looks at the construct. ¡°What is that?¡± she says with a surprised tone. ¡°A construct, it looks like,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°A what?¡± Emily says. ¡°They are like Cells,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°But instead of a generic form, they take one derived from the dungeon¡¯s memories. Guess the dungeon left an impression on you, Emily.¡± Richard is not amused at the sight of a replica of the monster that the ritualist cult nearly fed Sarah. ¡°Can we get rid of that unsightly thing?¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid not,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°The process of creating Constructs is mostly involuntary. Only very powerful Dungeons can disintegrate their Constructs. But they can be used as Sentinels as well.¡± ¡°Does this always happen when I absorb a core?¡± Emily says. ¡°Of course not,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Constructs are created from strong memories, regardless of the source. That does remind me. You noticed the new looms lately?¡± ¡°New looms?¡± Emily says. ¡°Guess not, oopsie,¡± Elizabeth says. Meanwhile, Heathcliff looks over the various looms in a room. Seeing them automatically weave threads of what looks like nacreous silk. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if the Arachne will like this,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°I heard there were new looms here?¡± Emily says. ¡°Yep,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°Did you get some beneath my notice?¡± Emily says. ¡°Mais non, cher. Why would I run down to a store or dungeon to get a bunch of random looms?¡± Heathcliff says. Elizabeth flutters to Heathcliff. ¡°Emily,¡± she says. ¡°These looms seem to be created by you.¡± ¡°Huh,¡± Emily confusingly says. ¡°When you absorbed the core,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°You gain access to the ¡®recettes¡¯ it has. These recettes allow you to make new items and materials, and to synthesize them with the ones already native to you. It appears that these looms were a byproduct of that, creating a type of cloth from the nanotechnology you possess.¡± ¡°Have we verified it is nanotechnology?¡± Emily says. ¡°Like I¡¯d think I¡¯d be able to like I dunno, turn my avatara¡¯s arms into swords or something.¡± ¡°Shapeshifting is a different matter, dearie,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Emily¡¯s right, though,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°The nanotech thing is still a hunch, we¡¯re gonna need to get some experts on this soon.¡± ¡°The rumor at least is enough to get some people to me at least,¡± Emily says. Elizabeth looks at the iridescent threads, she sees a spool of already-formed cloth and takes it to her hands. ¡°Maybe Richard will find out what to do with it,¡± she says before flying away. ??? The next day. Heathcliff gets some ideas on how to improve his traps. While looking for suitable ideas for placing venom dart traps he notices some tunnels that weren¡¯t there before. ¡°Emily,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Yeah?¡± Emily says. ¡°Can you explain the new construction work, cher?¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Oh,¡± Emily said. ¡°Elizabeth told me that the mana I absorbed had caused me to expand. She says I now have an entrance close to Websdale now.¡± ¡°Fascinating,¡± Heathcliff says. Tim soon arrives, seeing the tunnel as well. ¡°Should we be concerned about biting off more than we can chew?¡± Heathcliff laughs boisterously. ¡°You don¡¯t trust me to not keep raids at a minimum, cher?¡± ¡°You did nearly let some adventurers pass your new Arahcne-based defenses.¡± ¡°Growing pains are to be expected,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°¡¯Sides, you made short work of them anyway.¡± ¡°We probably shouldn¡¯t be relying on Tim all that much,¡± Emily says. Tim recalls the loss he suffered at that party. As well as the time he got himself petrified saving Emily from the Tarantulapolis Core¡¯s beam. ¡°Besides, the Arachne are still adapting to their new home. Give it time and they¡¯ll be fending off adventurers left and right.¡± Emily¡¯s mind wonders about the necessity of fending off adventurers if she benefits from her items being spread throughout Titania. In another room, she sees Elizabeth flying in the hallways. She had finished speaking with Minerva and Lydia about Arachne¡¯s roles in the dungeon. ¡°Elizabeth?¡± Emily¡¯s disembodied voice echoes through the halls. ¡°What is it, sweetie,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°I¡¯m wondering why we need to repel adventurers,¡± Emily says. ¡°Ah,¡± the kind fairy says. ¡°It is known that the Forgemaster, Obsidian, wants his best works to be spread across the world. But he wants to make sure they are worthy of his more powerful gifts. It is commonly believed that Dungeons were created to these ends, to test worthy adventures for gear in addition to circulation of mana.¡± ¡°You lost me,¡± Emily says. ¡°A common belief stemming from that,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°If the treasures of a dungeon become denser in mana the longer it remains in the dungeon, and that dungeons should be as powerful as they could be to make the treasures more powerful and therefore spread mana when they are eventually claimed.¡± Emily mulls on these words. ¡°So the longer the treasure is unclaimed, the more mana it spreads?¡± ¡°Correct!¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Hold on,¡± Emily says. ¡°Who is Obsidian?¡± ¡°One of the Administrators,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°Gods that are said to have created Titania and the cosmos. Obsidian especially is said to be the creator of all arms and armor, the spirit of the volcanoes, and the core of the planet itself. He is joined by the Flood, Halcyon, and the Giver, Anesidora. These sisters, in turn, are respectively the spirits of the seas and land.¡± ¡°Spirits, of the land and seas?¡± Emily says. ¡°Yes,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°There are several Administrators. Hausos, Stratios, Stella, Tranquilitas, Elpis, but the most important, even more than the three that govern Titania, is Astra, believed to be the origin of everything and the spirit of everywhere. You recall the Astralite from the Blackbolt miens right? As I shall remind you they are named after that Administrator.¡± ¡°Wow,¡± Emily is surprised. ¡°Can you tell me more about them?¡± ¡°Gladly, sweetie,¡± Elizabeth says. Throughout the next few hours, Elizabeth tells Emily about the myths and legends surrounding them, from the tales surrounding the childlike sun, Stella, to the songs of tricks pulled by Claudia, to the birth of Bardsong with the advent of Melodia, to the emergence of other forms of magic in the wake of her daughter¡¯s fate. As the sun sets, Elizabeth yawns. ¡°Nighttime already?¡± Emily says, enraptured by the fairy¡¯s myths and stories. ¡°Looks like,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°I¡¯ll go prepare dinner. Good night Emily.¡± ¡°Night,¡± Emily says as Elizabeth flutters away. Emily¡¯s dungeon body rests, awaiting a new day, and all the wonders that comes with it. Chapter VI: The City Noir Within the land of Libert¨¦ are several vast city-states. Among the most glamorous is the City Noir. The megalithic buildings pierce the sky with rumors claiming that people could see nacreous clouds from the roofs of these buildings. The Empyreans live lives of luxury at the penthouses of these peaks. Rarely descending to the roads below. An elevator opens in one of the decadent towers lining the skyline. Clad only in a dark blue suit. His tanned features and dark blue hair mark him as belonging to a demographic rarely seen in the Empyreans¡¯. He exits the elevator and lurks around the penthouse suite. He passes by several works of art, proudly displayed on the walls. Paintings, sculptures, jewelry. If this were a Dungeon, they could be among its treasures. Yet the man expresses no interest in these beauties. For her is here for one reason. The blue-clad man steps into the office. He finds a cigar-comping man, who appears to be in his late forties, with an alderman that reveals his avid interest in cuisine. ¡°So you¡¯re Esteban of the Rouge¡¯s guild?¡± the man says. ¡°Yeah,¡± Esteban says. ¡°It unusual to see an Empyrean come to the Rouges over the Ebony Guards.¡± ¡°I think we have a common interest,¡± the man at the desk wore a suit that was as white as the driven snow. His mahogany deck matches the other furniture of the building and the walls of the office itself. The floor is dyed red. The wall behind the desk is instead a gigantic window with the skyline of Noir in view. The sunlight illuminated the entire office. ¡°So what¡¯s the quest then?¡± Esteban said. ¡°I have it on good faith you have a history with the Voorhes gang?¡± the Empyrean said. ¡°I do,¡± Esteban said. ¡°Dastards killed my family. Turned my children into monsters.¡± ¡°The Ruzlav term ¡®vor¡¯ is very appropriate of them,¡± the white-suited man says. ¡°Unlike you, they do more than merely steal, they consume. They and the rest of the Syndicate ruin the lives of the Eligere and Exsecratii.¡± Esteban is skeptical of the man¡¯s concern for the lower two classes. ¡°Let¡¯s cut to the chase. What do you want me to do?¡± The white-suited man beckons him closer. Esteban looks out the windows of the office and sees the marvelous skyline. ¡°The view is different at night,¡± the man says. ¡°The lights of the cities outshine the stars, casting them into darkness.¡± He hands him a manilla folder. ¡°These ever-distant brothers and sisters of this star, these suns and daughters of Astra are shrouded by our brilliance. Their cries won¡¯t reach us, much like how the Emperyans are deaf to the pleas of the underground.¡± Esteban pours over the contents, revealing maps of Syndicate activity in the abandoned subways and images of vampiric mobsters at the scenes. Clad in bowler hats and ashen-tattered suits. ¡°Broadway,¡± the man said. ¡°Heliosphere avenue. There were reports of them scouring local dungeons for something.¡± Esteban closes the folder and begins to leave the office. ¡°As an aside,¡± the man says, ¡°I want to congratulate you on your marriage.¡± Esteban stops his egress. ¡°How do you know about that?¡± ¡°Unlike the other Emperyans,¡± he says. ¡°I¡¯d like to keep a close eye on the underground. Someone has to keep watch over them. A friend from a high place.¡± Esteban isn¡¯t sure what to make of the man, he remains suspicious of him as he leaves the office and decides to return to more familiar ground. ¡°Friends from high places huh?¡± Esteban takes the elevator and reminisces about his time with the Crimson Hound. His time as a thief working with a famous knight from Charlemagne. He soon exited the tower, on the ground floor. Where the middle-class Eligere populate the streets. His journey is not yet over as he searches for one of his usual exits into the underground. In a remote alleyway, he sees a familiar door door and approaches it. He knocks on the door. The man on the other side opens a slit in it, revealing a haggard expression. ¡°What¡¯s the password?¡± the man says. ¡°I know the moon,¡± Esteban says. ¡°And this is an alien city.¡± The door opens and Esteban enters, he sees that the doorman is a dwarf standing a top of a stool. ¡°Welcome back Esteban,¡± the dwarf says. His face is as youthful as ever despite his tired expression. Free of both wrinkles and facial hair. Esteban descends the steps downward, the entrance to what others consider hell, the place where the Exsecratii live, where the most unlucky of souls tread. The Underground. ??? Within the Underground. A young girl fights a monster in one of its many Dungeons. A lamia lass with a pink tail. Her fluffy salmon-pink pigtails flow with the wind that blows through the dungeon. ¡°Ugh,¡± the girl says. Of all the places to visit. The sewers surrounding her reek with the stench of both the dead and the droppings of the damned. The monster she faces is a man who was mutated by the dungeon into a rat-like monster. ¡°Fool, You dare enter my magical realm?¡± The ratman said. ¡°Unfortunately,¡± the girl said. She was given a quest by the Rouge¡¯s Guild to rescue someone who was abducted there. ¡°Time to magicalize!¡± She takes out a wand and transforms into a new form. Her salmon-pink hair grows slightly longer and poofier as her clothes change into a frilly dress, with a skirt forming around the beginning of her serpentine tail. Her wand grows into a staff. She uses the magical weapon to shock the ratman with lightning magic. The terrified man flees after taking one too many volts of electricity from the lamia¡¯s attacks. A chest soon appears, containing gloves and boots. ¡°Of course, Rose,¡± she says to herself. ¡°You had to take the quest leading you to a dungeon with stuff you can¡¯t wear.¡± She takes the gloves and leaves the boots behind. ¡°At least those are clean, you can never tell with a place like this.¡± She slithers forward into the sewers. Rose soon finds and encounters more normal vermin. Being careful not to let them make contact with her. She also fights putrid plant life in the waterways, with breath toxic enough to poison her with a single whiff. ¡°Poisonous plants,¡± Rose thinks to herself. ¡°Of course.¡± It didn¡¯t used to be like this. She was once a happy girl living a charmed life as a Eligere living on the ground floor with her parents. She soon finds the second Sentinel, a larger version of the plants. She tries to fight while keeping her nose shut. But the ferocious flora¡¯s putrid breath wormed its way into her lungs anyway. Rose, now poisoned, struggles to defeat the boss as it proves resistant to her lightning strikes. The mass of putrid plants and Rose struggle to defeat each other. A battle that is soon interrupted by the plant suddenly igniting. ??? Earlier, in another part of the sewers. A crimson-clad little girl wanders the sewers. Her fiery temperament scares away the rats and other vermin. Her chest-length hair moves as if it were flame itself. Her fire spells serve as both illumination and offense as the red wings beneath her arms allow her some ability to fly above the wastewaters. She encounters several putrid plants, breaking in their fumes. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter,¡± she thinks. ¡°Not like death means anything to me.¡± She recalls the first time she had died. Crushed by falling debris from an explosion. Her death made news in the underground. She works up nearby a day alter. The second time she died, someone had shot a crossbow in her chess. The building she was in spontaneously combusts, and she woke up in its charred remains. The third time? An entire park was scorched when a car ran her over. Every time she dies, something burns and when the ash clears she is reformed and rejuvenated. She knew not why that was. Only that most people who know of her avoided her like the plague. She soon hears signs of a struggle nearby and follows the noise to the source. The toxic fumes grow more noxious as she draws closer, she sees a little lamia slithering away from the tendrils of a gigantic mass of poisonous plants. ¡°Rose?¡± she thought as she recognized the other girl. With an impulse, she takes out her staff. ¡°Magicalize!¡± she calls out. Her normal attire metamorphoses into a dress similar to the other girl¡¯s with with a crimson hue and stockings. Her hair becomes tied by a ribbon that glows with an incandescent orange. Her staff changes as she uses it to set the boss ablaze. Sparks fly as the plant mass is engulfed in flames, burning to ash as it falls into the sewage below. Rose tries to dodge the spacial of wastewater but is caught in a wave of the gross fluid. ¡°Eww,¡± Rose cries out. She soon sees the other girl. ¡°Raine? What are you doing here?¡± Raine approaches Rose with a grumpy expression. ¡°The diner guy said that someone needed help here. Guess they didn¡¯t trust you to handle it alone,¡± Her condescending tone slightly irks Rose. ¡°Very funny,¡± Rose says. A chest soon spawns. Rose opens it and finds several cubes of rubber. A common dungeon substance, used for proofing against electric currents, much like the plant mass. Rose takes some time to dry off. ¡°I¡¯ll need to take a bath after this, thanks a lot meanie!¡± She coughs. ¡°Here,¡± Raine says, tossing her a phial of antidote. Rose consumes half of the medicine and is cured of her ailment. ¡°Thanks,¡± Rose says. ¡°Things like that are useless to me any¡ª¡° ¡°Oh no you don¡¯t, Raine Carnation Cadenza¡± Rose says. ¡°You know Whisper gets mad every time you die and sets the place on fire.¡± ¡°Ugh,¡± Raine says. She takes the other half of the antidote. Her poison is purged from her body. ¡°And I don¡¯t know why Whisper had to choose that stupid name.¡± ¡°It beats ¡®Goo-goo Gaga¡¯,¡± Rose teasingly said. Raine thinks back on her demises. Every time she dies, every fire sparked by these deaths, an egg is formed from the ashes. Slightly bigger than the last. Within that egg her body reforms and it hatches. She tries to think of the first time that has happened, her true birth, but there is nothing but a haze. ¡°Just what am I?¡± Raine thinks. A thought that had recurred every day, and each and every time she hatched from her eggs. The pair of magical girls soon venture forth into the sewers¡¯ depths. There they find more vermin, but also people that are hidden from their sight. A shot is fired and Raine protects Rose from the bullet. Her arm bleeds from the wound but is rapidly healed. Another ability of Raine¡¯s that allows her to regenerate lost tissues and close wounds instantly. ¡°Tch, it¡¯s had to be the Vanishers,¡± the phoenixian girl says. The two girls fend off against the invisible mobsters, aided by their shared ability to sense the mana of nearby lifeforms, and perceive it. One by one, they rout the mobsters from the sewer tunnel and fight their way to a large room. There they find a captive tied up, a male Arachne. A Nekomata swordsman and a Minotaur are on the other end of the room. ¡°All right,¡± the minotaur says. ¡°You better talk or you gonna get a taste of Yaenese steel.¡± ¡°I told you,¡± the captive spider says. ¡°I don¡¯t know nothing about The Shattered! Honest.¡± The cat-man solemnly and silently stands, his katana glistens in the dim light. His wavy black hair and two tails frame him as a foreign man to Noir. ¡°You sure picked a dud, Alonso.¡± ¡°Tch,¡± Alonso says, his nose ring gleaming with the shine of the rings on his horns. His suit distinguishes him as a man of wealth and taste that would be out of place in the underground if not for the fact he is connected with the Vanishers. The two girls realize what is going on and who the captive is. They proceed to rush forward. ¡°Alright Akira,¡± Alonso said, ¡°Let¡¯s send this a-hole to the big sleep!¡± Akira sighs and moves towards the captive Arachne. He lifts his sword into the air. The Arachne pleads with the mafioso for his life. But as he is about to swing the katana, a bolt of lightning strikes his hands and he drops the blade. The two men turn around and see the source came from two little ladies. ¡°What the?¡± Alonso said. ¡°So you¡¯re the fiends that kidnapped an innocent man?¡± Raine says. ¡°We will not permit it,¡± Rose says. ¡°For in the name of justice, we will stop you!¡± ¡°Grr,¡± the minotaur says. ¡°Vanishers, take care of these brats!¡± But nobody heeded Alonso¡¯s call. ¡°Vanishers!¡± ¡°It seems they had been vanished,¡± Akira wryly says while reclaiming his blade from the floor. ¡°If you want something done right¡­¡± Alonso and Akira engage the small girls in battle. Rose makes the first attack, holing her staff high into the air as bolts emerge from it and strike the mobsters. The energy of the lightning charring one of Akir¡¯as tails. Akira lunges forward and tries to cut Rose down, but she leaps out of the way. Alonso charges at Raine, but she sets his feet on fire with some well-placed spells. Alonso tries to put out the fires on his legs, giving Raine time to free the captive from his binds. ¡°They¡¯re taking the spider!¡± Alonso says. ¡°Yeah, yeah,¡± Akira says, ¡°I got it.¡± He tries to fight Rose and Raine, but their command over fire and lighting combined with Raine¡¯s wings and Rose¡¯s serpentine tail grant them the advantages they need to prevail over the feline swordsman. The two begin or realize that these little girls are somehow stronger than they expected. ¡°Cheese it,¡± Alonso says as he flees. Akira knows that his swordsmanship is insufficient against them and sheaths his sword. ¡°It appears you have won this day¡± before calmly walking away. The girls are left confused by Akira¡¯s behavior. The sewer serves a significant victory happened and manifests a third chest. This time it contains a pair of staves and more rubber. The Arachne thanks the kids for freeing him and leaves the room. Rose and Raine leave the dungeon to report their accomplishment to the Rouges. ??? A while later, Rose and Raine head to a diner. There they find some of their friends as well as the waitress. ¡°Welcome ba¡ª¡° Lily says. Her four hooves clopped on the floor. ¡°P.U. what stinks?¡± Her wavy blond locks frame her freckled face as it cascades down her shoulders. Her horse-like ears move down in revulsion of the smell. ¡°Don¡¯t ask,¡± Rose says. ¡°Seems like you two ran into trouble at the sewers,¡± the waitress said. ¡°You know where the shower is.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± Rose says as she climbs the stairs to the side of the diner. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. The radio tells of a development near the town of Websdale as a Dungeon core was felled and absorbed. ¡°So you want the all-the-way special again?¡± the waitress says to Raine. ¡°Yes please,¡± Raine says. Her sweet tooth is well noted among both the Coloraturas and the patrons. ¡°Better you than me,¡± a blue-haired mermaid says. ¡°I¡¯d choke if I had to swim in the sewage.¡± A cyan-haired girl reads a book at one of the tables. ¡°We got it Azalea,¡± she says with a deadpan tone. ¡°Where¡¯s Whisper?¡± Raine said. ¡°I think they¡¯re out there looking for folks willing to adopt you again,¡± the waitress says. A green-haired girl prances around outside, intrigued by the few butterflies that flutter around the underground. Her hooves make a tapping sound as she moves, and her wings block some of the rain from touching the ground. A wolf-eared girl enters the diner. ¡°Clover found more butterflies again?¡± she says. Her purple lupine ears on her purple hair had picked up the sound of her giggling from a mile off. ¡°Yep,¡± the bespectacled girl says. ¡°How was your day Anemone?¡± Lily says. ¡°Terrible,¡± Anemonie says. Her lupine tail swishes left and right. ¡°The Rouges had me move to the surface to find a missing woman¡¯s purse.¡± Her lavender ringlets crowned by a hat decorated by her eponymous flowers exhibit both a regal innocence, while the bangs obscuring her eye give an aura of mystery. ¡°Least you weren¡¯t tasked by the Rouges to go into the sewers,¡± Raine said. ¡°I¡¯m gonna guess you met people calling your dress out of date?¡± Azelia said. She swims through the air to the sink, using her magic to make a new bubble of water around her head. The orb of water surrounds her cerulean tresses and the large bow adorning it. ¡°Those were the tame comments!¡± Anemone said. ¡°Can¡¯t go one day without people calling me a witch.¡± ¡°Well my day went swimmingly,¡± Azelia said. ¡°I visited the aquarium and met some nice friends.¡± A Minotaur girl enters the diner with Clover. The latter holding a jar of pretty butterflies in her antlers. The minotaur girl sits on one of the seats only for a noise to be heard as she sits down. Azelia giggles as the minotaur blushes and checks the seat to find a whoopee cushion. ¡°Azalea!¡± the horned girl said, her wavy orange hair brushed against the table as she turned to the mermaid. ¡°What did I say about leaving your pranks around the diner.¡± ¡°Sorry,¡± Azelia said in a sing-song tone. ¡°But Strelitzia, you have to admit that is funny.¡± ¡°No I do not!¡± Strelitzia says. Rose finally slithers back to the diner, having finished her shower and putting on a fresh set of clothes. Her hair left down and reached her waist. ¡°Anything new happen guys?¡± Rose says. ¡°Look at these butterflies,¡± Clover says as she shows Rose the jar. ¡°Aren¡¯t they cool?¡± Clover¡¯s beaming smile is framed by her green hair, tied up in small pigtails, and adorned with both ribbons and a deer¡¯s antlers. The waitress places two slices of chocolate cake with fudge icing atop, and a strawberry to finish the pastry. ¡°Rose, your treat¡¯s ready!¡± she calls. Rose slithers down to the pastry and eats it. The sweet taste of the chocolate and fudge nearly makes her forget the sewer. The children chat with each other and the waitress for a bit. They talk about their day. After a while the diner doors open, and a small more light enters. ¡°Welcome back Whisper!¡± the waitress says. Whisper floats around the room, being greeted by the Coloraturas. The wisp, taking the form of a phantasmal grey squirrel, had arrived after a fruitless day of failing to get the eight girls in their care adopted. ¡°The Eligere are as uninterested as ever,¡± they grumble. ¡°How long has been now?¡± Clover says. ¡°About two years,¡± Hydrangea says, putting down her book. Her bob and glasses denote her learned nature. The single snowflake on her newsboy hat evokes associations with winter, ice, and cold. Rose sighs. She knows they are all orphans, and that none of the orphanages are unwilling to take them in for reasons. The Eligere brand them witches, the Empyreans are too high up their ivory towers to notice them and even some of their fellow Exsceratii seek to exploit them. The only ones that had given them any succor were the Rogues Guild Collegia and Whisper. Azelia tries to cheer the group up with some jokes, which eventually gets everyone laughing. Though the sun never illuminates the underground, as most of its rays do not pierce the subterranean buildings and structures that comprise that layer of Noir, the dimming of the few rays of light that do through as well as the city lights turning on tell the diner that night has fallen. Whisper dismisses most of the Diner¡¯s staff for the night, with the only remaining employees being a janitor and the waitress, who leads the girls to their rooms on the floor above the diner. There, the Coloraturas prepare for another night. ??? A woman walks down the streets of Noir. Surrounded by both Eligere and the occasional Empyrean. She walks past a store window plastered with advertisements. One depicts a guild hiring adventurers, another is a wanted poster for an escaped criminal, and another still an image of a blacksmith¡¯s services. Her indigo suit and hair flow with the winds as she walks down the city streets. The cars, centaurs, carriages, and buses passed her by. She stops at a street corner, the traffic blocking her path. She looks back fondly on the day she met a blue-clad man. She meets a Nekomata woman at the street corner. Her cyan hair and ears and teal blazer let the woman know she is of university age. The girl is assisted by several people of Eastern attire. The light turns red, the traffic stops and the woman leaves the university-age student without exchanging words. ¡°That girl,¡± she says. She looks back on the day she transferred from the syndicate to the Rouges Guild. A previous night, months ago, she traversed the underground, chasing some men who had the misfortune of enraging their boss with constant failure. Her movements were swift and silent, her leaps graceful and elegant. She soon corners the poor men. Daggers out, she slices the poor men down. ¡°Curse¡ª¡° the last word one of the poor sods uttered as he succumbed to his wound. The woman leaves the alleyway as quickly as she can. Returning to her employer. ¡°Excellent work, Julia,¡± the mobster said as he handed her a sack of silver. Julia accepts the payment and leaves. That was her life, an assassin, a hitwoman for hire. An agent of death that served the invisible hand of the Syndicate. A murderer with a ledger as stained as her blades. Yet all that changed when she encountered a man. When the Voorhees Gang had tasked her to slay someone. She had met a suave man. The Azure Rouge, Esteban. He had foiled her attempts on the lives of her mark time and time again. Questioning her on why she had to kill innocents. With each mission, she had asked those same questions. At the other side of the road, she recalls a proposal, and also a trip to a dungeon. The dungeons once an abandoned jewelry store, became known for the production of enchanted golden bands. Traversing the dungeon, Julia fights the gremlins that cover their precious precious rings. She recalls the day she quit the Syndicate and joined the Rouge Guild as she fought them. The feelings of tiredness and guilt consumed her with each soul she sentenced to the hereafter. The same song and dance, at least here she is assured that the monsters she slays in dungeons would live again afterward. Still, she prefers stealth to direct combat. She moves around the shadows of the dungeon until she fights the first boss. A gigantic Constrct in the shape of several rings. ¡°Someone thinks too highly of themselves,¡± Julia says as she stares at the creature. The construct, resembling what some people think is the true form of certain Messengers, attacks the assassin with beams of light. Julia dodges and throws her blade into one of the ring¡¯s myriad eyes. Though it seemed to have felt no pain, one of the golden bands¡¯ eyes was rendered unable to fire its beams of light. She uses her knives to blind it even more, blocking its attacks from firing and in some cases, redirecting them backwards towards the center band. The construct eventually falls. A chest appears, and inside lies what she wanted to get. A single gold band, adorned with a diamond. She takes the ring and returns home. Julia then arrives at a mall, one of several places on the surface where the Rouges set up stealth guildhalls. She finds an elven barbarian claiming his reward for a quest he did, as well as a cyclops dancing to the music of a nearby radio and a satyr drunkenly and futilely trying to chat up a mermaid. Her mind looks back at the day after her trip to that dungeon. Ring in hand she approaches the who proposed to her, a man that she had met before time and time again. Clad in blue, her brown skin was merely a few shades lighter than his. ¡°Welcome back, Julia,¡± The man says. A tinge of warmth emanates from his voice. The voice of a man who had become very familiar to her. And she to him. ¡°Were you up to anything new lately?¡± Julia says. On the countertop lies a diamond ring sitting in its box. A ring that the man used to propose to Julia. ¡°Just the usual,¡± the man says. A dark blue suit stands on a clothes rack, one of several similar attire in the house. Over dinner the two talk about their day and lives. After the dishes are cleaned and tucked away, Julia presents to him a box. ¡°You¡¯ve no idea the trouble I went through to get this,¡± Julia thought. The man looks inside the box and sees the diamond ring Julia procured. A tinge of joy can be seen on his face. The man, normally unflappable, embraces and lifts Julia into the air in celebration of her answer to his proposal. A custom in Titania that involves both parties presenting each other with bands of eternal love. The acceptance of a proposal by in turn offering an equivalent item in response. Back in the present, Julia has returned home from her errands and quests. Her bag is filled with several items bought from stores as well as some loot obtained from dungeons. The man notices the presence of his recently wed wife, ¡°Welcome home, dear.¡± He says in a warm time. Julia places her items on the kitchen table. She sees a manilla folder that is already there. ¡°Found something interesting,¡± Julia says. ¡°Esteban?¡± ??? A Nekomata girl is sitting on her chair in her hotel room. She looks over the data she had gathered from several items she procured from Dungeons. One of her entourage hands her a letter. Her dark skin contrasts with her bleached blond hair. ¡°Akko-chan?¡± the dark-skinned girl says. The two-tailed and twin-tailed cat-girl turns around and sees the letter. The message turns out to be an invitation to a party in Gatsby Tower. ¡°A party?¡± she thinks. She is aware that that dungeon is home to many types of parties, usually either celebrations or people trying to raid the tower for its artworks. Further examination of the invitation reveals it to be the former, and that it would be held in a couple of months. The excuse du jour was the capture of an Excrasatii criminal who had made a habit of invading Emperyan homes and robbing them blind. ¡°Interesting,¡± the cat-girl says. ¡°Thank you, Hoshi.¡± The other girl leaves the room. The Nekomata looks at the mirror on the table. In her reflection, she sees a woman with long cyan hair, tied into two ponytails that swirl around in a giant ringlet each. The reflection dons a teal blazer suit, a gift from the university she graduated from. She notices that there is something on her pale skin, a bug, an insect, and swats it off her arm. Examining the items she finds nothing of use in her goals. ¡°Crap!¡± she says with frustration. ¡°Is there anything in this city that can help?¡± Her eyes return to the invitation. She knows that several Emperyans gather at Gatsby Tower regularly and that many of them are leaders in the study of Dungeons or are dungeons themselves. Another of her retainers arrives. His short black hair contrasted his with pale skin. ¡°Atsuko-san?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± Atsuko says. ¡°I bear word of a dungeon overseen by the Rosenkreuz collegia that is rumored to possess advanced technology as its treasures.¡± ¡°Saizo,¡± Atsuko sighs. Time and time again she has heard rumors of supposedly special dungeons, and each and every time, she has learned that they are more mundane than what the hype claimed it is or that their qualities are not germane to their goals. ¡°Do you have any proof of this?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, my lady,¡± Saizo says. ¡°I do not have any evidence, but if I am allowed to lead an excursion there¡ª¡° Atsuko interrupts him. ¡°Go ahead,¡± she says. Saizo is stunned. ¡°M-my lady?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve chased so many wild geese ever since we arrived at Noir,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°What¡¯s one more? Besides we haven¡¯t tried the New Virginia area yet. Take Noboru, Iyashi, and Suzume with you.¡± ¡°Of course, my lady,¡± Saizo leaves the room to prepare for his search. Atsuko looks back at the items and the instruments surrounding them. ¡°The dungeons within,¡± she muses on her thesis, her idea of a microcosmos inside every item generated by a dungeon. ¡°The theories are sound, I¡¯m certain of it, but,¡± she thinks. She looks back on the number of dungeons she visited, the ones she tested to see if they could withstand the experiences needed to venture into the microcosmos unscathed, and the ones that had failed these tests. The most promising ones she found so far were unable to withstand the voyage and their cores were left scarred by the process. Atsuko looks back at a portrait of her family from Yae Shoto, where she hails from. She knows she cannot return to her homeland now, not when there is turmoil and strife at the isles. She wonders if her research can help quell these tensions or make them worse. She ponders on the make-up of the dungeons. ¡°Most of the ones I tested thus far were Natural Dungeons,¡± she thinks. ¡°Maybe if I could find a Divine Dungeon¡­¡± Her time in Noir and her correspondents back at Yae revealed to her the existence of dungeons supposedly forged by gods. Deities that she was unfamiliar with back at Yale. She is familiar with the idea of Messengers, even encountering some in both Yae and Libert¨¦. ¡°A dungeon that is also a Messenger,¡± she ponders. Her musing is interrupted when a stewardess arrives with a cart. ¡°Room service!¡± the stewardess calls. Atsuko turns to the employee and learns that someone has placed an order for the hotel staff. ¡°Hoshi,¡± Atsuko calls. ¡°Your orders here!¡± ¡°Coming!¡± Hoshi says from another room. The dark-skinned girl clams her order and the stewardess leaves. ¡°At least we gathered a large amount of money from these excursions,¡± Atsuko says as she sees her lifelong friend eat her food. ¡°Make sure I get some next time,¡± Atsuko says. The night falls and Atsuko prepares to rest for the evening. ??? At the diner, Strelitizia has trouble sleeping. Her mind is haunted by a nightmare. She finds herself in a labyrinthine place, surrounded by the bones of the people unfortunate enough to be there. Demonic bulls prowl the maze, searching for her. ¡°Consume,¡± the bulls bellow¡ªthe command echoing through the halls of the labyrinth. Strelitzia suddenly finds herself at a table, her body bound to the chair as a server places a plate in front of her. As the food is about to be revealed, the dream ends, and the young minotaur wakes up in a cold sweat, her breathing labored as she realizes the true nature of her nightmare. The next morning, everyone arrives at the diner for breakfast. Whisper has already asked the employee to create food for the children. Rose is busy eating a towering stack of chocolate pancakes. Raine is greeted by waffles with a side of oranges. Lily gazes upon the usual display of muffins and orange juice. Hydrangea takes a bite of her bagel as she reads a novel about teenage detectives. Azalea has her usual order of fried fish with a side of cinnamon toast. Clover eats three slices of toast and Strelitzia has some scrambled eggs. As they eat their breakfast. Strelitizia looks at Clover with a pang of regret as she recalls the nightmare and what it represents. A distorted memory. She looks back on the day she escaped the dungeon where she was born and raised, a labyrinth, where people were sacrificed to it in offerings to one of the Administrators. ¡°Strelitizia?¡± Clover says. The minotaur is knocked out of her daze by the call of her name and looks to her peryton friend. The antlers of a deerlet adorn her verdant hair. With wings similar in shape and position to Raine¡¯s folded. Her two cloven hooves move around as she sits beside Strelitizia. This was the first friend the minotaur made in the labyrinth. ¡°Yes?¡± Strelitzia says to Clover. Clover noticed small bags under Strelitizia¡¯s eyes, a subtle but constant reminder of her trouble sleeping. ¡°Did you have a bad dream again?¡± she says. Strelitzia sighs as she moves her fork over her eggs. ¡°That obvious huh?¡± Her horns nearly touch the window as she rubs her eyes. The phantom squirrel moves to their table. ¡°Was it about the labyrinth again?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Strelitizia says. For as long as the minotaur has lived at the diner, Whisper had known about the nightmares. They had known since the night Strelitizia and Clover were discovered collapsed on the nearby street. They had tried to get help for her, but the local shrinks couldn''t find anything wrong with her brain. The children finish their food and begin to go about their day. Clover leaves with Strelitizia for one of the Rouge¡¯s guildhalls, used to educate young children. The green-haired peryton girl looks at her orange-haired friend. ¡°You didn¡¯t know,¡± Clover said, trying to soothe her tormented friend. ¡°I know,¡± Strelitizia said. ¡°But they¡­¡± She struggles to finish her sentence as they arrive at a subway station, one of many scattered through Noir, connecting the underground with the surface. The two enter a train as it stops to pick up its passengers. Strelitzia takes the first step with her bovine-like legs, and the two girls take their seats. The radio tells of the day¡¯s news, a breakthrough in insulin shock therapy was announced. The debut of a new automobile model. An incident involving a fire. A missing Dungeon core. All these and other stories were heard over the radio as Strelitzia and Clover looked outside the train¡¯s windows and into the dismal underground streets. Full of run-down apartments and people huddled over burning waste cans. An omnipresent and familiar sight, and a far cry from the clean streets and shining buildings of the surface. The train stops at its destination and the two girls leave. They walk the rest of the way to the guildhall and greet the older adventurers in its ranks. The two head to several classes, mathematics, language arts, spell practice, and for Streltiiza, axe handling. She practices with a hatchet as her weapon, slicing at several training dummies. The teachers were impressed by how cleanly she chopped through the wooden dummies, as were the other students. Others however could have been more impressed. ¡°Is it possible for someone so small to be so strong?¡± a dwarven lad says with a hint of lament at his inadequacies. ¡°She cut through that dummy like a knife through butter!¡± a boy says with surprise. ¡°Wouldn''t want to be the poor sap that has to fight her,¡± a young girl says. Strelitiza ignores these comments and looks at the dummy. Cut in two by her chops. Her skill with an axe is the only thing she knows she could be proud of, for it was what helped her escape the labyrinth. Yet she also knows it came at a heavy cost. She thinks about her deceased parents as she looks at the wooden remains. A while later, the axe class and school are over. The younger adventurers leave their classrooms. Clover greets Strelitizia. ¡°So how were the axe lessons?¡± ¡°They went well,¡± Strelitizia said. ¡°Teacher wants me to try with a battle axe next time.¡± ¡°Really? ¡°Clover says. ¡°That¡¯s awesome! Mine just looks at me and says ¡®That is not ladylike, young ma¡¯am¡¯. Like what does she think we are, Emperyans?¡± ¡°Must be nice to think we have a shot at life at the upper levels,¡± Streltizia says. ¡°Despite the Rouges¡¯ best efforts, only a few of us escaped this place for good.¡± She sighs as she wonders what life would be like if she had managed to break outside Noir. Her tail is stiffed by melancholic lamentations. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Clover says. ¡°I¡¯m sure Whisper will get us adopted in no time flat!¡± Azalea greets the two, having just exited her comedy club¡¯s room. ¡°Hey guys, want to hear my new jokes?¡± she says while floating in place. ¡°Does it involve fart noises?¡± Strelitzia says, still irritated at the whoopee cushion gag from the other day. ¡°Of course not!¡± Azalea says. ¡°That was a real stinker!¡± Clover laughs a little at the pun, but Strelitiza remains unamused. The three make their way to the subway station. As they enter they pass by a man clad in a pied outfit. The man uses his bardsong to manipulate the rodents in the train and drive them off. The train soon stops near the diner, the three girls leave the train as it departs. The pied man looks at a flier in his hand. An advertisement from a village in the New Virginia area that needs an exterminator. He thinks it could be his big break. The train stops at its destination again, a station on the surface that leads to other civilizations. Exsecratii is usually not permitted to use it to exit, but the pied bard had managed to get permission from the city council. He presents a slip of paper to the manager of the trains, having the name ¡°Stanley Piers¡± on it. The station manager directs him to the train leading to New Virginia. He enters his train and begins his month-long journey. Chapter VII: Clouds in the Blue Within the Black Box, Heathcliff is asking Emily to help with some structures. ¡°Alright, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Can you make some giant fans?¡± Emily concentrates on the image of turbines. The powers granted to her through the Aeropshere allow the dungeon to manifest the whirlwind-generating turbines. A large gust of wind billows from the floor that propels Heathcliff into the air. ¡°Whoo-hoo!¡± Heathcliff yells as he ascents through the room. He hangs onto a ledge to prevent his body from hitting the ceiling and climbs into an opening Emily constructs. ¡°Rather bold move, daredevil,¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoes through the hall. ¡°So why do we need wind turbines?¡± ¡°Same reason I asked you to add petri-beam traps yesterday,¡± Heathcliff says. The two were working on creating hazards to protect Emily¡¯s core from the more daring adventurers. ¡°You¡¯re sure these will work?¡± Emily says. ¡°These ought to,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Though there something missing for them lightning and light powers.¡± Elizabeth arrives with a smile on her face. ¡°How¡¯s the traps going?¡± ¡°So far so good,¡± Emily says. ¡°Say, how can we use the Photonsphere?¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°The light magics tend to be very effective against those using dark arts, but those are pretty rare around these parts.¡± ¡°Is there anything more¡­ general use?¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°We could try large beam cannons,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Ooh, how about photon beams?¡± Emily tries to create some in another room. Several large laster cannons emerge from the walls. Upon creation, the lasers fire upon the opposite walls. ¡°Ow!¡± Emily says, feeling burns from the walls that were hit. ¡°Oops,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Maybe those were too strong.¡± Heathcliff looks at the ditzy fairy. ¡°Your help is very appreciated, cher, but¡­¡± ¡°I know what you¡¯re implying,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°I¡¯ll have you know that I was given knowledge straight from the Forgemaster himself! I should know all there is to know about dungeons and magic!¡± ¡°Are you certain that any of the Administrators exist?¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Of course, they exist!¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°What makes you think they wouldn¡¯t?¡± Heathcliff considers responding to Elizabeth¡¯s question. On one hand, he prefers not to have theological debates, and there is some evidence that at least some of them existed. On the other hand, he is still uncertain if the myths attributed to them are actually true. Before Heathcliff could answer, Minerva arrives with Nina. The Arachne mother greets them. ¡°Hello, Minerva,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°I want to ask if you can accompany me to the guild hall, Emily,¡± Minerva asks. ¡°Of course,¡± Emily says. ¡°I¡¯ll prepare the avatara right now!¡± ¡°Here¡¯s hoping these three would hold down the fort,¡± Heathcliff thinks. ??? Emily, Minerva, and Nina walk down the town streets. For some reason, Emily behaves more timidly than usual as they walk down the sidewalks. ¡°It¡¯s strange walking down here without Elizabeth, Tim, and Heathcliff,¡± she thinks. Nina notices Emily¡¯s unusual behavior. ¡°Emmy, is something wrong?¡± ¡°Huh,¡± Emily says. ¡°Oh. It¡¯s nothing.¡± Minerva notices that Emily is acting strange as well. Gone is the confidence of the girl that saves her daughter and her from certain doom. At the Rosenkreuz guildhall. The trio talks with several adventurers. Minerva learns about the so-called heroic therapy breakthrough. ¡°Insulin-induced comas,¡± she scoffs. ¡°The charlatans do not know the risks that have.¡± The term ¡°insulin¡± causes a faint recollection in Emily, but she cannot explain why. Nina prods her again, certain that Emily is acting strange. ¡°Are you sure nothing¡¯s wrong Emmy?¡± Nina asks. ¡°I¡¯m sure,¡± Emily says. ¡°You haven¡¯t spoken a word since we got here,¡± Minerva says. ¡°You weren¡¯t a gabby gums, but you were at least talkative back at the diner in Websdale.¡± ¡°I guess,¡± Emily says. ¡°I¡¯m not used to strangers.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Nina says. ¡°We¡¯re not strangers! Are we mommy?¡± ¡°No, dear,¡± Minerva says. ¡°But there are strangers around us,¡± she says. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Emily says. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean you two, but this place, this world, it feels very alien to me.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± Minerva says with a knowing smile. ¡°Ah, what?¡± Nina says. ¡°Tell me! Tell me!¡± ¡°We¡¯ll talk about it when we get home dear,¡± Minerva says before turning to Emily. ¡°I know we¡¯ve only met for a short while, but I can see shyness and uncertainty a mile off. Tell me, is this your first time traveling without your companions?¡± ¡°I think so?¡± Emily says. ¡°That explains it,¡± Minerva says. She is unsure how to approach Emily¡¯s situation. She does have an idea. ¡°Nina, honey, can you check if Pauline¡¯s here?¡± ¡°On it!¡± the young Arachne scurries off to find Pauline. ¡°Emily,¡± Minerva says, ¡°Let¡¯s get to know each other better.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Emily says. ¡°So what do you do, Minerva?¡± ¡°I was a socialite of sorts,¡± Minerva says. ¡°Locals used to call me the Belle of Websdale before I decided to dabble in community organization. How about you? What were you doing before those people came into your life?¡± ¡°Being sick,¡± Emily says. ¡°Oh dear,¡± Minerva says. Nina and Pauline arrive at Emily¡¯s table. ¡°Heard you got a case of the shyness, Emily,¡± Pauline says. The four talk about various topics, as well as have Emily talk to various other guild members. To some success. By noon, Emily and the two Arachne leave the guildhall. ??? At the same time, Elizabeth helps Heathcliff set up the last trap. Using the Electropshere as the basis. ¡°Them stunners a fine addition, cher. Thanks,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°No worries,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Now let¡¯s give them a test.¡± Tim sets up a dummy in the distance and then moves a safe distance. Heathcliff trips a pressure plate on the ground. A small core is launched from the walls and attached to the dummy, giving a small amount of voltage to it, enough to render the dummy blackened with burns. ¡°So these stunners are supposed to deter adventurers, aiming for Emily¡¯s core?¡± Tim says. ¡°Oui,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Same as the other additions. The turbines would propel them to the air, the basters would burn and blind them and the petrification traps would keep them in place.¡± ¡°Doesn''t this seem¡­excessive?¡± Tim asks. ¡°Under normal circumstances yes,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°But Emily is the most vulnerable treasure of the dungeon, for she is the dungeon. The safety of her core is paramount here as the Black Box would not be able to function without it and the mana it generates and gathers. Thus we need to keep more daring adventurers away at all costs.¡± ¡°Except when it¡¯s another dungeon absorbing them,¡± Tim recalls seeing Emily finish absorbing the Taralantulapolis core. ¡°That¡¯s different,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°The mana is absorbed, not lost and it would eventually find its way towards the area where the previous dungeon once stood. Pillaged cores however are more prone to being tampered with and rendered damaged enough to hinder the natural flow¡± Sarah arrives in the room. ¡°Has anyone seen the training dummy? I want to practice with my hammer!¡± she accidentally steps onto a pressure plate. ¡°Sarah!¡± Heathcliff cries out, but it¡¯s too late. A taster wile is launched from the walls and narrowly misses her head. The force propels it to the opposite wall and it embeds itself there, unleashing a large amount of voltage on the wall. Sarah realizes what has just happened and angrily glares at Heathcliff, ¡°You could¡¯ve told me you booby-trapped the palace!¡± Meanwhile, on the way home. Emily experiences a small shock on her thigh. ¡°Yow!¡± she cries out. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Emmy?¡± Nina says. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Emily says. ¡°Prolly something happened back home.¡± Returning to the Black Box, Sarah talks with the others about the traps. ¡°So you used the Elementalist¡¯s Spheres to power special traps so people won¡¯t nab Emily?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Elizabeth says. Sarah looks at the stunner traps. She observes various attributes that seem haphazardly matched. ¡°Where did you get the reticulums? They seem clouded and unfocused.¡± Seemingly unaware that the defect is why she isn¡¯t spasming on the ground right now. ¡°That is a good question,¡± Tim says. ¡°I gots them at the local hardware store.¡± Heathcliff says ¡°They real cheap.¡± ¡°And that is the problem!¡± Sarah says. ¡°The glass of the reticulums messes with the targeting magic! You are risking inaccuracy by using this glass! I¡¯m gonna go talk to Richard about getting some better material.¡± Sarah leaves the room to talk to her brother. ??? Emily returns to the Black Box with Minerva and Nina. As she enters her dungeon body, she finds the two dwarf siblings are working on something. ¡°The glass is so clouded,¡± Richard says. ¡°Of course, they would miss.¡± Elizabeth arrives to greet the dungeon¡¯s avatara and the two Arachne with a great big smile. ¡°What are they working on?¡± Nina says, curious about the dwarves¡¯ activities. ¡°It turns out Heathcliff used some faulty parts for the stunner traps we installed,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Stunners?¡± Nina says. ¡°That shouldn''t concern you, dear,¡± her mother says. ¡°Now off you go, it¡¯s almost dinner time.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Nina says. The Arachne family leaves Emily and Elizabeth. Elizabeth then leads Emily¡¯s avatara to its pod. Along the way, Emily¡¯s avatara becomes more lethargic and limp with each passing step. A few moments later, the puppet¡¯s body collapses and Emily¡¯s consciousness returns to her original dungeon body. She feels parts of herself were altered by the installation of the stunner traps, and realizes that was the cause of her jolt from earlier. She senses Heathcliff instructing some Arachne to line some pits with adhesive silk. ¡°Hello, Heathcliff,¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoes to him. ¡°Welcome home, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°How was your trip, Emily?¡± ¡°It went well,¡± Emily says. ¡°Glad to hear it!¡± Heathcliff says. She then uses her vision to search for Tim across the dungeon. She sees him practicing his techniques. Specifiably his knee strikes and kicks. She then checks back on the dwarves, finding they had finished with several types of glass. ¡°We¡¯ll need to test them on the stunners later,¡± Sarah says. Richard wonders if he can test them on his crossbow. ¡°Hello,¡± Emily says. ¡°Ah, Emily! You¡¯re back already?¡± Richard says. He then checks the time and sees that night has fallen. ¡°Been up to anything new lately?¡± Emily says. ¡°Besides trying to fix the reticulums?¡± Sarah says. ¡°Not much.¡± ¡°Actually,¡± Richard says. ¡°I¡¯ve been considering an aesthetic upgrade for us. But Heathcliff is opposed to the idea.¡± ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure he¡¯s the type that prefers function over form,¡± Sarah says. ¡°If we could get better materials in¡­¡± ¡°Have you guys found out what to do with the rainbow fibers?¡± Emily says, referring to the new refocuses she now produces. ¡°I¡¯ve noticed the iridescence is rather unusual,¡± Richard says. ¡°Rather than changing just based on the angle, the color also seems to change over time. I decided to call it dreamcloth after a Messenger¡¯s tale of a prophet.¡± ¡°Dreamcloth¡¯s seems like something you¡¯d wear to bed,¡± Sarah says. ¡°It¡¯s better than the name you suggested!¡± Richard says. ¡°Saying ¡®this garment is made of rainbow fibers,¡¯ should go without saying!¡± ¡°Fine, fine,¡± Sarah says. ¡°Shame we couldn¡¯t get any bismuth here. I¡¯d love to make a set of armor that fits with it.¡± ¡°Anyway,¡± Richard says. ¡°We should stop for the day. It¡¯s already late.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Sarah says. ¡°You want anything to eat Emily?¡± Emily begins to answer but realizes something. ¡°Can I really eat anything as a building?¡± Sarah realizes her blunder and places her hand on the back of her head. ¡°Oops!¡± ¡°I think Elizabeth is rubbing off on her,¡± Richard says. ¡°Good night, Emily¡± The two dwarves head to the kitchen in their new atelier inside Emily. ¡°Night, ¡°Emily says. ??? A centaur priest and his young acolytes arrive at the Black Box, interested in the dreamcloth. As they wander the sleek black and blue halls. He turns to his younger wards. ¡°Now children,¡± the priest says. ¡°Let us review, do you know how Dugneosna re created?¡± A young elfin archer raises her hand. ¡°I know, they¡¯re forged by Obsidian, right?¡± ¡°Correct,¡± the centaur says. His squint tells of a more laid-back nature. ¡°He¡¯s the brother of Anesidora and Halcyon, yes?¡± A mage says. The centaur nods. ¡°The land and sea, and the fire they cover. These are the whole of Titania and among the many children of Astra.¡± Emily couldn¡¯t help but listen in on their conversation. She has a curiosity about the Administrators. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. The priest and his party make their way to the first of two sentinels. The construct tarantula. A young brawler is dismayed at the size of the construct. ¡°Did they have to make a spider that big?¡± The construct is but half the size of the Dungeon core it was modeled on, but it is still tall enough for the child to lament not being able to punch it. A child with a boomerang notices several obvious weak points on the joints and decides to fire its boomerang. The centaur chants an incantation. ¡°O Stella, sleeping sunlight, grant the innocent souls your benediction!¡± The boomerang glows with a radiant light before carving through one of the Tarantula¡¯s legs and returning to its wielder. Elizabeth watches the fight from afar. ¡°Is this kind of party, normal?¡± Emily says noting the young age of most of the members. ¡°Looks like,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°The guild has mentioned that some of the more clerical members like to teach students both scripture and adventuring at once. Especially used that want to use the clerical arts.¡± The centaur and his students felled the construct. Emily¡¯s immediacy creates a chest and a path for the pious pilgrims. Within lies several arms of more blunted quality, created by Sarah for such occasions, as well as staff for the centaur and several Dreamcloth robes. The nacreous threads glimmer in a myriad of hues. The priest notices that one of them can fit right over his current robes and so dons them. The students are amazed at their new colorful weaves. ¡°I¡¯ll go easy on them,¡± Emily thinks. ¡°Heathcliff won¡¯t mind, right?¡± ¡°Father Chiron,¡± the Archer says. ¡°These remind me of Melodia.¡± ¡°The Composer?¡± Chiron says. ¡°I see you¡¯ve been paying attention.¡± ¡°Teacher¡¯s pet,¡± the boomerang branding lad says. ¡°Who is Melodia?¡± A dwarven cleric in training says. Chiron beckons the students to follow him as he explains the story of Melodia. ¡°The Composer is a special Admisntrator. She hatched from her egg after the emergence of mortal kind.¡± As he speaks, several cells begin attacking the students, but the priest repels them with wind magic. ¡°She is said to be the source of Bardsong, with some claiming she is nearly equal to Astra herself.¡± Chiron leads them past some webs. ¡°From an early age, she had been said to be an original elementalist, manipulating the elements with the sounds she makes. As an infant, her first cries caused the earth to tremble, her first words turned a mountain pass into a glacier, and the winds and tides had been calmed by her cooing. She was said to be cared for by Anesidora, Halcyon, and Obsidian all at once.¡± His students come across an impassable gap. ¡°Dead end,¡± a young girl says. Chiron continues his tale, while also using his keen ears to hear the emotions of the Black Box. ¡°As Melodia grew older, she had been shaped by the sounds that intrigued and influenced her and also honed her voice to match them.¡± The priest senses Emily¡¯s emotions and her curiosity at his tale and begins to speak in a more poetic tone. He takes out a lyre and strums it as he continues. ¡°O Melodia, as she grew the sounds had shaped her. Her voice grew to shape them in turn. O Melodia, as she aged, the Mana had arisen. Her sound heralded the arrival of Administrators newly born. Oh Melodia, as she lived, she honed her craft. Sent by Astra herself to wander the world on the winds¡¯ draft.¡± Emily feels a strange feeling, a sudden urge to conjure a bridge by the Priest¡¯s resonating Bardsong. As Chiron takes his students across the bridge, show slow strumming slightly shifts in tempo, becoming a little faster. ¡°With all that she had learned, the fire inside burns. As she wandered the land and sea, at light and dark¡¯s heed. Though the snowmelt at glacier¡¯s peak, the Composer begins to speak.¡± ¡°Using all she learned, the world begins to turn,¡± Chiron and his acolytes reach the end of the bridge. ¡°From frost to flame, the elements tamed. With a hymn to those who nurtured her, for this, she was thus named. Melodia.¡± He finishes his song with a chord progression that shows as a door opens. ¡°Wow,¡± the students stood in awe at their teacher¡¯s performance. ¡°What was that?¡± ¡°My specialties lie in the Resonator¡¯s school of Bardsong. Through this power of resonance I can tell the dungeon itself was as curious about Melodia as you are.¡± The pilgrimage soon enters a room designed for a final sentinel enough, by this time they only have twenty minutes remaining before Emily kicks them out of her, and the priest¡¯s Resonating abilities can do little to stop that once it has passed. Tim stands inside the room, awaiting the priest. ¡°Leave the children out of this,¡± he coldly says, ¡°they are too young to face me.¡± The priest can tell Tim would rather avoid fighting the students and is merely looking for an excuse. ¡°A duel? Very well. My students, please keep your distance.¡± The kids agree and find a place away from the battle to ensue and Tim fights Chiron. Chiron sees Tim¡¯s expression, as similar to his yet with some differences. Instead of being the eyes of a more easygoing man like Chiron, those are instead the eyes of a man tinged with arrogance, or perhaps it is insecurity. Tim makes the first move charging forward and stopping just before the centaur to push him back with his palms. Chiron is unable to dodge and is forced back. ¡°Oh Melodia, she who sang to the heavens¡± Chiron utters. Tim tries to close the gap but is too slow. ¡°Grant me the aegis of wind.¡± Tim¡¯s attack became slowed by the winds, and his attempted stomp was easily dodged. The priest counters by using his wind shield to catapult Tim into the air. But Tim regains his composure and lands safely on the ground. He soon tries to use a shoulder strike, leaning into the Centaur¡¯s equine body, but the wind shield prevents that, and Chiron counters with some notes from his lyre. As he strums his instrument the soundwaves transform into arcs of light that fly into the air and attack Tim from on high. Tim was told to go easy on him, but he felt his pride get wounded by the priest¡¯s actions. He fights the priest for fifteen minutes, and he finds himself on the back foot. In the last three minutes, he summons his Qiang and tries to detect more weaponized notes. Chiron senses he has struck a nerve with Tim, but also that it was one so easily agitated. He also knows that after a few minutes, he and his acolytes would be spirited away unharmed. Tim tries to go for a thrust, aiming to skewer the priest, but the wind shield allows him to dodge it. ¡°I must thank you for your time, o divine dungeon.¡± He claps as he turns to his students. ¡°Tis time to go.¡± As if on cue, Emily ejects Chiron and his students from herself. Chiron protects his charges with a barrier created by a chord from his lyre as they are propelled outside the Black Box. Tim has technically emerged victorious, yet it didn¡¯t feel like it. ¡°Seems like the priest gave you a hard time,¡± Emily says. ¡°Shut up,¡± Tim says as he opens his eyes. He sighs at his failure to defeat the centaur priest. ¡°You know you weren¡¯t supposed to kill him, right?¡± Emily says. ¡°I know,¡± Tim says. Yet still he felt like there was something he needed to avenge on him. His frustration had gotten the better of him again. He takes a deep breath to calm down. ¡°Why did you decide to give him a shortcut?¡± He says. ¡°I-I was curious about the Administrators,¡± Emily says. ¡°Uh-huh,¡± Tim says ¡°She¡¯s not wrong,¡± Elizabeth arrives to greet them. ¡°Kinda interesting that he used the trip to discuss Harmonia.¡± ¡°Whatever,¡± Tim says, leaving the arena. Heathcliff returns with a newspaper and some groceries. He sees Tim walk past him with a mix of frustration and sadness. ¡°Tim got his derriere whooped?¡± he says. ¡°Yeah,¡± Emily says. ¡°Does he always take his losses poorly?¡± ¡°Sometimes,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°I¡¯ll give him a talk later.¡± He leaves for the local kitchen. ??? After dropping the groceries off, Heathcliff finds Tim sitting down on a ledge. He approaches his page. ¡°Heard you tied with someone back there,¡± the knight says. Tim sighs. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°Look, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°You got to learn that you can¡¯t win them all.¡± ¡°I know,¡± the page says. ¡°Want to talk about that fight?¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Not in the mood,¡± Tim says. ¡°Fine, fine.¡± Heathcliff is sued for this. In his travels with martial artists, he had noticed a streak of arrogance that popped up from time to time, as well as sore loser tendencies. ¡°You ever recall when we went to the Maze of Thorns?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Tim says. ¡°You had a lot of trouble with the brambles there.¡± ¡°I did?¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°Coulda swore my sword cut right through them!¡± Tim chuckles. ¡°No, you didn¡¯t you were complaining about being hit by needles and stingers every five minutes.¡± ¡°Fine, fine,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°What about the Hessonite palace? Pretty sure I was magnifique there, cher.¡± ¡°To be fair, that opinicus did have its wings clipped by that chandelier,¡± Tim says. The two men laughed about that as they reminisced about their past adventures. After awhile, Tim recalls something. ¡°My old mentor, back in Jiang-Wu. He said something when he¡­¡± Heathcliff was aware that Tim had trained under a master of martial arts in the Far East, and that the mentor had perished before completing his training. ¡°He left me this Qiang, and told me that it is up to me to master it,¡± Tim says. ¡°He says unlocking its secrets would complete my training.¡± ¡°I remember,¡± Heathcliff says. Tim looks at the old weapon. ¡°He said it wasn¡¯t an ordinary spear, that it was special, and that as long as he had it, he would eventually meet him again.¡± ¡°Sounds rather sentimental, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. After a pause, he asks if he has mastered it. ¡°I thought I did,¡± Tim says. ¡°You certainly were a dab hand with it,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Always skewering things with it and using it to channel your wind magic.¡± ¡°But is it enough?¡± Tim knows that Chiron had used wind magics, and had used it more effectively than him. ¡°Maybe there is still more to it than I realized.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll get there one day, little Timmy,¡± Heathcliff says teasingly. ¡°I told you not to call me that!¡± Tim says. ¡°Besides, you know as well as I do that ¡®Timothy Howard¡¯ is an alias.¡± ¡°Aye,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°The youngest prince of Fairborough, a small duchy back in Erebus, but still important enough for malignant folk to try to get their hands on. Small wonder you took to hiding your name.¡± ¡°What¡¯s it, not a real name?¡± Emily suddenly pipes up, being aware of the conversation. Tim realizes that she has been listening for a long time and is about to go ballistic before stopping and calming himself down. ¡°Forget it, I¡¯ve enough of a fowl mood for today.¡± ¡°Sorry,¡± Emily said. ¡°I¡ª¡° ¡°It¡¯s alight,¡± Tim says with a serene tone. ¡°I know dungeons could hear everything that goes on inside them.¡± ¡°Look on the bright side, chers,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°You¡¯re getting to know each other better now. Can you feel your bonds deepen?¡± Tim blushes a little bit and nearly breaks his calm demeanor again ¡°This conversation is over,¡± he says in a huff. ¡°Now who is making dinner tonight?¡± ¡°The dwarves volunteered this time,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Groceries I made should be useful to them¡­Oh, that reminds me. Emily, since we got some more mouths to feed, I¡¯ve asked the guild to supply us with some more grub, is that okay, cher?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Emily says. ¡°Thanks for the heads-up.¡± ¡°Great,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°First shipment¡¯s arriving at the morn!¡± Tim and Heathcliff leave the room. ??? A while later, Emily is asked by Lydia to help her babysit some of the children in her avatara form. Emily meets several of the spiderlines. ¡°Hello, My name¡¯s Emily!¡± the dungeon says to them. ¡°She helped save me from those scary men!¡± Nina says. Most of the children are in awe of Emily. She plays around with them, as Lydia tends to other brood mother tasks. The Arachne kids each ask Emily several questions about herself which the girl eagerly answers. As they play around the Arachne kids bond more with Emily. Elsewhere, Heathcliff, Elizabeth, and Minerva observe the children and Emily. ¡°Heard this is your idea, cher?¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Of course,¡± Minerva says. ¡°I wanted to help Emily get used to us a bit more, and to talking with less familiar people besides.¡± ¡°Oh yeah, You mentioned that Emily was acting withdrawn the other day,¡± Elizabeth says. Heathcliff sees Emily play with the Arachne kids. ¡°She seems to be quite good with the young¡¯uns.¡± Emily plays a game of hide and seek with the Arachne children, then tells them some stories. A while later, it is also time for the children to sleep. ¡°Alright, kids,¡± Lydia says. ¡°It¡¯s bedtime.¡± ¡°Aw,¡± several of the kids say. They were having so much fun that the day flew by quickly. Lydia and several of her assistants turn and place the spiders in special cocoons, that encompass all but their heads of warm comfortable silk. A few children, Nina included, feel restless as they want to play more with Emily. Lydia approaches Nina¡¯s cocoon. ¡°Now dear,¡± she says as she gazes intently into the young girl¡¯s eyes. ¡°You need your rest, and so does Emily.¡± Nina is unable to avert her gaze as her eyelids grow heavy. She struggles to complete her sentence and stops. Unconscious and with a half-lidded expression, she drools a little as the hypnotic trance takes hold and sends her off to slumber. ¡°Good night, Nina,¡± Lydia says as she closes her eyes for her ¡°You¡¯ll wake up in ten hours.¡± Finishing the trance. Nina and the other unruly children are now enchanted into a deep sleep, unable to wake until the allotted time elapses. Emily looks at the Arachne brood mother with confusion. ¡°Is this¡­normal?¡± ¡°Of course, dear,¡± Lydia says with a smile. ¡°One of the many uses of our eyes is to lull our young to sleep. It is a well-noted broodmother tradition.¡± The other adult Arachne voices their agreement to the dungeon. A few minutes later, Emily talks with Elizabeth about the use of bardsong in that manner and Elizabeth confirms that is the case. ¡°The kids seem to enjoy your company, ¡°Elizabeth says. As Emily¡¯s doll body collapses. ¡°Yeah,¡± Emily says. ¡°I haven¡¯t thought I would get used to kids.¡± ¡°How come?¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± Emily says. She struggled to recall her past life, anything beyond the dream of her being pounded by hammers, yet she still draws a blank. ¡°Elizabeth, is it normal to forget who you were?¡± ¡°Before you became a dungeon?¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Of course! Divine Dungeons always forget their past lives. Same as everyone else, really.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± Emily says, still harboring doubts. After all she could recall her name from the dream. ¡°Positive!¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Now it¡¯s getting late. Good night Emily.¡± She then flutters towards her bed, laid out on a raised platform near the core. ¡°Good night, Elizabeth,¡± Emily says. Before long she could hear the snores of the fairy. ??? The next day, Sarah, Emily, Elizabeth, and Tim head out to a Dungeon on a tip from the guild that has Bismuth ore. The Dungeon, the Nacreous Cliffs, is home to several rainbow-colored beasts and monsters. Sarah swings her hammer at several Argent Wolves, her sledgehammer managing to keep the beasts on her as well as Heathcliff¡¯s sword and shield. Emily and Elizabeth provide covering fore for her with their magic spells, pelting them with conjured stones and lightning strikes. As they travel the cliffs, Emily notices the beautiful nacreous clouds in the blue sky. ¡°Wow, they¡¯re so pretty,¡± she thinks. ¡°Okay,¡± Sarah says. ¡°We need to get five chunks of ore right?¡± ¡°Correct,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°That should be enough for Emily to learn the molecular makeup and recreate it.¡± ¡°I can do that?¡± Emily says. ¡°Of course, silly!¡± Elizabeth says with a big grin. ¡°Dungeons all can create materials and it is necessary to create more powerful arms and armor.¡± Emily recalls the time she first made swords and shields, and also how they proved to be too strong for the dungeon to dole out just yet. ¡°You recalled how you absorbed those weapons I and my brother made the other day?¡± Sarah says as she scouts around for Sentinels. ¡°It works the same way.¡± Emily is a little uncertain. It¡¯s the first time that Sarah went out with them and also the first time she went without Heathcliff. Tim notices the girl¡¯s concerns. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll be fine.¡± He says this with his eyes closed. Emily isn¡¯t sure if it is his overconfidence talking or something else. ¡°Thank you,¡± Emily says. They soon made it to the first sentinel, a large machine similar to the one in the Blackbolt Mines, but this time with a frame that was made out of angular, iridescent metal, and armed with a blade made of a silvery ore. The party fights the machine with some difficulty as the blade creates a wide arc that can cleave the ground beneath them and reveal steam from beneath. Tim uses his lance to vault into the air and onto the top of the machine, he lays down a mighty stomp on one of the joints, causing it to come loose. The mech tries to slam the ground with its loosened arm, but Emily lifts Sarah with her wings and Emily jumps into the air. The ground trembles as the arm is loosed further. Emily carves a flurry of slashes at the knew of the robot, causing it to come loose. As the tremour quells. Elizabeth drops Sarah as she prepares tan aerial Salma with her hammer, breaking the loose arm clean off. The dwarf is then knocked into the air by the elbow of the machine¡¯s other arm. The rainbow mech launches a shining beam of light from its sword aimed at the airborne Sarah. Sarah braces for the impact as she holds her sledgehammer out while spinning vertically in the air. Despite her best efforts, the bean hits her in the back and creates a small explosion. Sarah cries out in pain as she lands on eh ground. A wound appeared where the beam made contact with her. Elizabeth tries to heal Sarah as the dwarf stands. Adrenaline keeps Sarah conscious as she moves up, while Elizabeth prepares healing magic with her voice. Sarah looks intently at the machine. ¡°Okay, big boy! Can you handle this?¡± she shouts. The small but tough Dwarch charges forward at the mech. The rainbow robot used its arm to try to cleave Sarah in two, but its missing leg prevented it from hitting Sarah and with it distracted, Tim made it to the joint of the sword arm and loosened it with some short but potent punches and palm strikes. Sarah makes it to the machine and throws her hammer at it. The momentum carries it to the boss and it hits it with tremendous force. With only one leg still attached, the mech is easily toppled. As it falls to the ground, pieces of this Bismuth armor chip off. The mech is defeated. A chest soon appears, resembling the metal itself. Inside they find four chunks of the metal, as iridescent as the faces of the cliffs and the clouds in the sky. As well as some less colorful but ornate clothing for a bowman. ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± Tim says. Sarah looks at the chest¡¯s contents. ¡°Depends, Elizabeth can we take the chests itself?¡± ¡°It¡¯s possible,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°But they are usually very de¡ª¡°The fairy is shocked to see Sarah easily lift it from the ground, contents and all, and carry it on her small shoulder. ¡°Perfect,¡± Sarah says. ¡°We can have Emily ape the chest design as well. Let¡¯s go!¡± The group makes their trek to the entrance, but Sarah¡¯s stamina is soon betrayed by the long trip to the valley¡¯s ingress. Her stout body could only carry such a large and heavy object for so long before she was forced to drop it. ¡°I¡¯m pooped,¡± Sarah says. ¡°Can we take a rest here?¡± ¡°So much for little miss muscles,¡± Tim says. Sarah doesn¡¯t care for Tim¡¯s remark as she climbs on top of the chest and lies down, sleeping like a log atop of it. Her hammer drops to the ground as its wielder drops to torpor. While the party waits for Sarah to regain her energy, they soon find something peculiar. An unguarded chest, similar to the one that Sarah is now sleeping on. ¡°That¡¯s strange,¡± Tim says. Elizabeth inspects the chest, finding it as decorated with Bismuth as the other one. ¡°Seems okay to me. Let¡¯s open it!¡± Elizabeth says. Emily is uncertain, and Tim is still suspicious of the chest. ¡°Could it be booby-trapped?¡± Tim says. ¡°I would know if it is!¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°I know everything there is to know about Dungeons, remember?¡± ¡°Yeah, but¡ª¡° Emily says but Elizabeth is already in the process of unlocking the rainbow chest. Right as she does, the box begins to shake. Before they knew it, Elizabeth was swallowed by the chest. For in truth, it is a mimic. The mimic seals itself shut, locking Elizabeth in its confines. The fairy confusingly asks for help, complaining about her lack of vision. The chest begins to run away, causing Emily and Tim to give chase. Emily and Tim chase the mimic around the other chest with the still-slumbering Sarah. Tim leaps in front of the Mimic, but it simply turns around and moves to the left. Emily tries to use lighting spells, but the chest evades the bolts of levin. All while Elizabeth cries for help. The commotion causes the sleeping dwarf to wake up and rubs her eyes. She gets off the chest and sees the mimic toying with Emily and Tim. ¡°Another chest,¡± the half-awake dwarf thinks. ¡°Sarah?¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Can you hear me? Help!¡± Sarah is now alert enough to realize the second chest is the mimic it is and Elizabeth is its unwitting victim. She grabs her hammer. Tim and Emily draw closer toward the chest as it evades every attempt to catch it. The chest lets out a mischievous noise as it dodges its attacks, only to find that it cannot move. That something is on top of it. With it rendered Sessile, Tim and Emily use their attacks in tandem to attack the chest. The force of the attacks causes a hole to form in the mimic¡¯s back and Elizabeth quickly flies out from it. The mimic is defeated and it begins to float, Sarah falls off the levitating remains of the mimic as it transforms into a new pristine chest and drops. The open lid revealed several more ore of Bismuth, a crossbow made of the rainbow metal and three gold coins. ¡°Score!¡± Sarah says. Emily makes sure both chests are empty. With the weight lifted, Sarah stacks them on top of each other, ties them together, and tugs them along the ground. ¡°Do we really need to bring the chests?¡± Tim says. ¡°Of course!¡± Sarah says. ¡°I need more trunks for my materials!¡± Tim sighs of exasperation as the party finally arrives at the entrance to the Iridescent Cliffs. They then make a long trip back to the Black Box. ??? After Emily¡¯s party arrives back home, Emily¡¯s consciousness exists her avatara for her true body once more. The group looks over their obtained treasures. Richard eyes the crossbow with interest. ¡°Alright Emily, ¡°Elizabeth says. ¡°Focus on the metal.¡± She lays out five chunks of it in the center of the room. Emily focuses on the Bismuth and the floor swallows the metal chunks whole. The mana inside shows Emily the composition of the metal and allows her the means to create it herself, and to use it as part of other items. ¡°Now then,¡± Emily calmly says. ¡°Elizabeth, I thought you said that chest was safe!¡± Elizabeth stutters. Sarah explains to her that she was swallowed up by a mimic. ¡°A mimic?¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Elizabeth wound up crammed inside a chest mimic?¡± Elizabeth blushes from embarrassment. ¡°It was a particularly well-disguised mimic!¡± ¡°Well,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°Seems like you escaped in one piece, Elizabeth.¡± ¡°You have me to thank for it,¡± Sarah proudly says. ¡°Well yes, if you hadn¡¯t decided to try carrying a chest on your shoulder and then take a nap, Elizabeth wouldn¡¯t have been swallowed by the thing,¡± Tim says bluntly. Richard sighs. ¡°Sister¡¯s always been prone to wanting to show off her strength, and for overestimating it.¡± Sarah simply crosses her shoulders. ¡°Maybe I should carry the chests next time,¡± Emily says. The group then places the Bismuth away. ¡°Emily,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Keep in mind that it will take a lot more mana for you to make bismuth than it would for the Iridescent Cliffs. We cannot make it as easily as the dreamcloth.¡± ¡°Noted,¡± Emily says. The party then proceeds with the rest of the day. Chapter VIII: The Ballad of a Jonguler, the Ballad of a Knife A party of adventurers arrive at the Black Box, each one having their reasons. The first, a dwarf clad in well-worn plate armor. His beard is a sign of his age. Normally a crafter, he had recently embarked on a journey to find a lost family heirloom. ¡°So,¡± the dwarf says. ¡°This is the dungeon in question.¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± an elven bard says, his guitar at his back. ¡°Look how it contrasts with the forests.¡± ¡°Contrasts,¡± An elven druid says, ¡°but not invades, there is a difference, Thaddeus.¡± His leaf-like cloak moves with the wind as he observes the musician¡¯s pied clothing, his gun at the ready. ¡°Oh, right. You¡¯d know all about nature and its delicate balance¡± Thaddeus says condescendingly. ¡°Yer here to look for a way to restore a dead forest right?¡± the dwarf says. ¡°Correct,¡± the druid says. ¡°I want to see if this Divine Dungeon¡¯s blessings can assist with that.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think this one would be of any help,¡± a cold woman says as she approaches the men, by her side is a perky and exuberance lass. Their cloaks respectively adorned with patterns of frost and storm. ¡°Well if it isn''t the ice queen and the imp,¡± the bard says. ¡°I¡¯m not an imp!¡± the storm-cloaked child says as she takes out her grimoire. ¡°I¡¯m Elena!¡± The two girls are friends, one wants to create an icy domain, and the other wants to learn about the arcane arts. ¡°I¡¯m Isabella,¡± the snow-cloaked mage says. ¡°The first to the name of Frostheart, and it would do you well not to cross me, jonguler.¡± ¡°I can assure you I¡¯m not here to quibble with new mates. Name¡¯s Thaddeus. My strings will help hinder our enemies.¡± ¡°I am Thorn,¡± the armored dwarf said. ¡°Here to drink ale and search for my family¡¯s forge. And they had just banned the ale.¡± ¡°Well,¡± Thaddeus says, ¡°I wouldn''t say they banned it per se.¡± ¡°Kai,¡± the druid introduces himself to the ladies. ¡°Kai Wisperwind¡± Isabella looks at the sleek black structure. Her sky-blond hair drapes down to her chest. ¡°Rumors claim it has advanced technology as its treasure?¡± she says. ¡°People telling tall tales will say anything,¡± Thorn says. ¡°We¡¯re a little green here, aren¡¯t we?¡± Thaddeus says as he strums his guitar. ¡°Chances are whatever ambitions we have can¡¯t be done without money.¡± ¡°How astute,¡± Isabella sarcastically says. ¡°Can we go now?¡± Elena says with an eager smile on her face. Her blond hair tied in two pigtails at her neck bounces as she impatiently heads to the entrance. ¡°Elena!¡± Isabella says, following her protege. ¡°Time¡¯s a¡¯wasting!¡± Thorn says. Kai and Thaddeus follows suit. ??? Earlier that week, Heathcliff reads the current issue of the Vox Populi newspaper. The news tells of several incidents, including a criminal being apprehended by police after being found collapsed on the ground, a report of a missing schoolboy following his delivery of issues of the Daily Crier, and the creation of a new radio station dedicated to rumors of Messengers. Minerva approaches Heathcliff. ¡°I understand some of the Arachne wanted to volunteer to protect Emily from adventurers?¡± ¡°They are?¡± Heathcliff says with a smirk. Minerva suspects Heathcliff had something to do with this. ¡°Look, we¡¯re grateful to Emily for letting us stay here, and we understand that living here runs the risk of being attacked by errant adventurers. I just want to more if you have the means to try to keep them unharmed.¡± ¡°Elizabeth says that Emily can extend the ability to restore defeated Sentinels to guardians in general if that helps.¡± ¡°Resurrection comes with its risks,¡± Minerva says. ¡°Most can recall how they died, the pain, the trauma, the fear. Few are lucky that forget how they died.¡± ¡°Well, cheer,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°You should know that we working on supplying them with equipment as well. Should be able to do that much anyway. Richard and Sarah are helping with that as well.¡± Minerva is still skeptical of the notion of having her fellow Arachne serve in that capacity. ¡°Minerva,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°I understand if you don¡¯t want them risking themselves, but we¡¯re a little short-staffed here when it comes to defense. The Cells are adequate but they are only a tenth of the strength Emily is in the best of times. If you accept, you¡¯ll have my word that they will be well protected.¡± ¡°Is that on your honor as a knight?¡± Minerva says. ¡°Oui,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°I swear by the honor of an ex-paladin of ol¡¯ Charlie.¡± Minerva is a little assured. She is somewhat aware of his reputation as the once-famed Crimson Hound. ¡°I¡¯ll consider it. But I will let the prospective volunteers know that this is a dangerous job.¡± ¡°That¡¯s all I ask, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°One last thing,¡± Minerva says. ¡°My daughter, under any circumstance is not to be among these volunteers until she is of age.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Also,¡± Minerva says. ¡°Does Emily know of this?¡± ¡°I do,¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoes to the two, with a tone that indicates she is apprehensive of the idea as well. Minerva leaves the room to talk with her fellow Arachne about this. ¡°I suppose it would be fine,¡± she thinks. ¡°We also need protectors for the broods as well.¡± ??? The party of adventurers enters the Black box, they see sleek black walls lined with intricate and glowing blue patterns, as well as patrolling robotic Cells. ¡°We must needs be careful,¡± Kai says. ¡°This place¡ª¡° Elena ignores the warning and simply charges in, to Isabella¡¯s dismay. The young sorceress attracted the attention of several cells as she opened her tome and conjured up lightning. The patrollers are stunned by the electric attacks, but several draw near her despite that. Their attacks were blocked by an intercepting Thorn. ¡°Lassie,¡± Thorn says as he blocks them with his shield. ¡°You should heed the warnings.¡± The armored dwarf draws his sword and ignites it with flame magics. The young lass pouts at the armored dwarf as she draws more spells from her grimoire. The two slash through many of the opponents with thunder and flame, but several more draw nearer still. ¡°Guess this is my time to shine!¡± Thadeus says. He takes his guitar out and makes a sequence of several chords. His rocking causes the Cells to hallucinate doppelgangers of Thorn and Elena, and cause them to attack thin air. Kai uses his wind spells to propel into the fray and blow away several of the Cells, while Isabella lets loose a flurry of freezing winds that stop them in their tracks. Over the next several minutes, the party prevails over this group of Cells. ¡°Elena,¡± Isabella says in a stern voice. Elena looks away from her like a child aware she disappointed her mother. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Elena says. ¡°Is she always like this?¡± Thorn says. ¡°Seems like it,¡± Kai says. Indeed looking at Elena gives the impression of a brash and impulsive little lady. ¡°Just wait,¡± Elena says. ¡°When I unlock the secrets of the Manus Arcanum, I¡¯ll be one of the most powerful witches in Titania!¡± The jonguler and druid take note of the ornate book. Its cover gives the impression of a tome of vast arcane knowledge. The group continues their trek deeper into the Black Box. Along the way, they ask each other about their circumstances. ¡°I¡¯m a traveling jonguler, here to get me some money and inspiration for my songs. One day they will sing of me and my exploits.¡± ¡°I already told you,¡± Kai said. ¡°But for clarity¡¯s sake. I¡¯m here to restore a forest to life. The mana was drained straight out of it and left everything lifeless and fossilized. I¡¯m the only survivor I know among my friends and family.¡± ¡°I¡¯m simply here to form a kingdom of my own,¡± Isabella says. ¡°This is naught but a stepping stone.¡± ¡°I¡¯m here to¡ª,¡± Elena says ¡°Wait I already told you.¡± ¡°Pray tell, how did you two meet?¡± Kai asks. ¡°We simply crossed paths in the Iridescent Cliffs,¡± Isabella says. ¡°Tried to get rid of her at first, but she proved to be useful to my aims.¡± Thorn can tell that there is more to her tale but decides not to press the matter. The party soon arrives in a room filled with more cells. Several of them are patrolling the area in smaller groups. ¡°Alight,¡± Thaddeus says. ¡°Here¡¯s the plan, we puck out these Cells a little at a time. Thorn here will get their attention while we attack them from a safe distance. Got it?¡± Elena, not wanting to get scolded again, represses her desire to charge in and swallows her breath. ¡°Guess that¡¯s her answer,¡± Thorn says. He draws out his ignited blade and approaches the Cells. Three of the thirty cells notice and attack the dwarf as he uses the sparks from the blade to attract their ire. The others pelt them with attacks attuned to lightning, ice, wind, and earth. The second group of three is lured by the sound of sparks flying and immediately attacks the party, but Thaddeus plays a progression of chords that causes their movements to be slowed. A third group of five is pushed to the wall by Kai¡¯s winds and pinned down by his enchanted arrows. A fourth group numbering three is stunned by Elena¡¯s magic. A fifth group of five is broken by Thorn¡¯s sword creating an inferno. The sixth group, having the remaining eleven systemically taken down by all of them uniting their elemental powers. ¡°Not bad,¡± Thaddeus says. ¡°Shame we could get people versed in water, light or dark onboard.¡± The party makes their way to the first boss room. There they see the lone construct. The giant mechanical spider attacks them with four elemental attacks. But the party can ward them off with wards attuned to three of these elements. Thaddeus opens with a guitar solo, a cacophony that enfeebles the boss¡¯ toughness. Isabella then freezes its legs, trapping it in place. Thorn then uses his blazing sword to cut it, letting thermal shock do the rest of the work. This was enough to cut off sections of its legs. Kai aims with his arrows and snipes at the joints of one of them. With enough arrows, he was able to remove one of the legs. The party then repeats this process for the next three legs. Midway through the fight, the arena is suddenly lined with petribeam traps. One such beam turns Elena¡¯s leg to stone as the spider prepares to attack her. Kai moves swiftly to get her out of the way. ¡°It hurts!¡± Elena says. The pain from her petrified leg prevents her from focusing enough to cast her spells. Thaddius changes gears and changes the key of his notes. The wails of the guitar coat it in a layer of stone. ¡°This itsy bitsy spider wants to rock? Let¡¯s rock!¡± he leaps into the fray and attacks with his enchanted axe. Throughout the hour, the party manages to hold their own against the construct while dodging the new traps, with Thaddius¡¯ weapon being able to launch stones at the joints, aided by Kai¡¯s winds and arrows. With two legs severed again. The construct is left with only two and fails to balance itself. Isabella takes the opportunity and encases it in an icy prison, preventing it from moving. The stilled machine is unable to fight and the stunners and petribeams vanish. The floor swallows the Sentinel whole and spits out a chest. Thaddius opens the chest, finding a set of robes iridescent in hue, and gauntlets to match. He also finds a small dagger and several silver coins. ¡°Well done team,¡± Thaddius says. ¡°Showed that thing something.¡± Elena¡¯s leg heals as she takes the robes. Isabella takes the dagger and Thorn the gauntlets. The party then goes deeper into the dungeon, with less than sixty minutes left. ??? Thaddeus¡¯ party continues their trek down the dungeon. As they travel the now black and indigo halls. Thaddeus makes some small talk. ¡°So,¡± the guitar-wielding man says. ¡°Got any hobbies?¡± ¡°Save it,¡± Isabella says coldly. ¡°O come on,¡± Thaddeus says. ¡°This could make a great bonding experience for all of us. ¡°As if we wouldn''t part ways when we quit this place,¡± Thorn says. ¡°My ears are still bleeding from your instrument!¡± Elena says. ¡°Kids these days,¡± Thaddeus says. ¡°She has a point,¡± Kai says. ¡°I know Jongulers are geared towards using their Bardsong to hinder the enemy, but do you have to subject us to that noise in the process?¡± ¡°Just you wait,¡± Thaddeus says. ¡°One day they will be singing of me! That reminds me, I haven¡¯t gotten the lyrics down.¡± Isabella notices something. ¡°Jonguler, Thaddeus was it?¡± ¡°We¡¯re on a first-name basis now,¡± the bard says, ¡°Progress.¡± ¡°Ugh,¡± Isabella says. ¡°You ask for our reasons, but I don¡¯t think you gave us yours.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious,¡± the musician says. ¡°I, Thaddeus Stone, am a rhapsodist who aims to make chronicles of my little adventures.¡± ¡°And the guitar?¡± Elena says. ¡°My instrument of choice,¡± Thaddeus says as he strums it. ¡°I think the power of rock suits me, no?¡± ¡°If it only it was enough to stop my leg from being turned into a literal rock!¡± the young mage says.¡± Kai muses on the encounter with the construct, and the magic it uses. ¡°Light, Earth, Wind, Lightning.¡± ¡°Something wrong?¡± the armored dwarf says. ¡°Nothing,¡± Kai says. ¡°Pray tell, did any of us know anything about this place? ¡°Other than rumors?¡± Thaddeus says. ¡°Yeah,¡± Kai says. ¡°You suspect something about this Dungeon, Kai?¡± Isabella says. ¡°Quite so,¡± the druid says. ¡°I may not be a resonator, but I know life when I see it.¡± ¡°You say that like every dungeon isn¡¯t alive,¡± Thaddeus says. ¡°Forgive me,¡± Kai says. ¡°I suspect that this dungeon had grown rapidly.¡± The walls shift around them as Kai explains his hypothesis. ¡°The nature of Dungeons is that they amass mana and power as they grow, raid other dungeons, and leech mana from visitors like us. This is used to create treasures for us to raid them for, you know this right?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Isabella says. ¡°Anything else you wanna ¡®teach¡¯ us, Captain Obvious?¡± Elena says. ¡°You¡¯ve heard of Tarantulapolis?¡± Kai says. Thaddeus strums his axe. ¡°Ah yes, a dungeon near Websdale right?¡± ¡°The Arachne-populated dungeon had recently fallen. It was all over the local radio stations and papers. And it had even reached as far as Noir. The construct, it resembled a spider yes?¡± ¡°Cut to the chase,¡± Thorn says. ¡°You think this dungeon absorbed the webbed forest?¡± ¡°I do,¡± Kai says. ¡°I can sense similar mana as from that dungeon.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Elena says. ¡°But why are you telling us this? We already know Dungeons join our ranks to raid each other all the time.¡± Isabella expresses a silent disdain for the topic. Kai glances at her with a knowing expression. ¡°I suspect that if Tarantulapolis was absorbed by this dungeon,¡± Kai says. ¡°Then elements beyond the mana itself might have followed it here.¡± The party hears noises from the shifting walls. As they search the dark blue hallways they begin to find webs and drag-lines on the walls. ??? The party finds themselves ambushed by three Arachne, confirming Kai¡¯s hypothesis. ¡°Welcome,¡± One of them says, brandishing a sword and shield. ¡°Your journey ends here.¡± The leader of this trio of Arachne attacks the party. Though they outnumber them, the spiders used their knowledge of the Black Box to escape into the tunnels they carved and the webs they weaved. Elena takes out her tome, but one of the spiders fires a web at her head, sealing her mouth. The young mage tries to remove the silken obstruction from her mouth. Thaddeus brandishes his guitar and strums a few chords. Thorn tries to use his fire-enchanted sword to set the webs ablaze. Isabella helps Elena but freezing the webs in her mouth to a more fragile state. Elena then chomps at the frozen webs to break them and chants a spell from her tome. Lightning strikes one of the Arachne down. She disintegrates into a purple dust. ¡°Nice one, Elena!¡± Thaddeus says. Isabella turns her attention towards one of the other two. As the spider warrior lunges forward with an ax, Isabella uses her magic to freeze the ground beneath him and cause him to slip on his eight legs. He winds up crashing near Kai, who uses his powers to conjure wind-enchanted vines to trap the legs and arms of the spider. The defeated warrior turns into purple dust as Kai propels him into the wall with a bluster. The third Arahcne meanwhile lurks in the webs on the walls, aiming to cocoon the party from on high. She manages to trap Thaddeus and Elena in silken prisons. But Kai saw the direction the ensnarement came from and used wind spells to remove the web from that area of the walls. The Arachne escapes the second before the thread is dislodged. Thorn cuts Thaddeus and Elena from their cocoons and then uses his sword to illuminate the walls. ¡°The itsy bitsy spider went up the water spout¡­¡± the Arachne sings from the shadows. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t have to have a way to wash this spider out, would you?¡± Thaddeus says to Isabella. Isabella approaches the center of the room and signals Thorn to follow her lead. With a single stomp, the snow-cloaked mage unleashes a freezing shockwave that encases the floor and walls in a layer of frost. The last Arachne moves rapidly to avoid being frozen. Thorn watches the shadows on the webs and walls and soon catches something. He plunges his sword into the wall and uses it to melt the ice. The frost melts into water, drowning the webs and causing gravity to bring the Arachne down to the floor. She looks at the party and realizes that she is cornered. She attempts to flee, but Thaddeus stuns her with a few notes and Isabella encases her in a sphere of ice. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. The frozen Arachne soon dissipates into purple dust. A path soon opens. ¡°We make a great team!¡± Thaddius says. ¡°Say maybe we can start a band?¡± Isabella scoffs, but Elena and Kai are intrigued by the notion. The party soon follows the newly opened path. ??? Tim practices his techniques again. Anticipating the arrival of challengers. He soon sees some pillars and the walls and ceilings rapidly hitting each other, as if they were chattering teeth. ¡°Emily¡­¡± Tim says ¡°I can¡¯t help it!¡± Emily says shiveringly. ¡°It suddenly feels cold here.¡± ¡°Guess practice is over,¡± Tim says. Heathcliff arrives with a notice from the guild telling of the visiting party. ¡°A jongular, two mages, a druid, and a knight, huh?¡± Tim says as he reads the notice. ¡°Better not make a pouty face if they whoop you, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. Tim closes his eyes. ¡°I won¡¯t, for they won¡¯t have the opportunity.¡± He then leaves to face the challengers. ??? The party has thirty minutes left on the clock. Much of the previous half hour was spent on navigating the Dungeon and fighting the three Arachne. They soon arrive at a golden room. One that marks great bounty if they can defeat the Sentinel of the dungeon before time runs out. Thaddeus notes how empty it is. Kai senses the gentle breeze blowing through the room intensifying into a a more forceful wind. Before he could warn the party, they were all forced back by the wind and pushed to the walls of the room. A man lands in the center of the room, Qiang in hand. The man assumes a horse stance while his eyes remain closed. ¡°Chilly today, isn¡¯t it?¡± Isabella greets the man. ¡°Let me guess, you¡¯re our final opponent here.¡± ¡°Perhaps,¡± The man says. ¡°Not that you can best me.¡± The battle begins, and Thaddeus decides to test his lyrics out. Strumming his guitar as he utters his verse. ¡°Noble knight, that¡¯s forged in flames. The winds shall rise, to breaking dawn!¡± Thorn engages the martial artist in combat. The dwarf tries to land a hit on his opponent, but he dodges and counters with a shoulder strike from behind, seemingly unaffected by Thaddeus¡¯s music. ¡°Thunder roars and lightning strikes! The storm calls forth! The frozen heart!¡± Elena and Isabella use spells to attack the sentinel at range. The ice spells hit him and slow his movement and he is struck by levin bolts. The warrior notices that the spells had a higher-than-usual impact on him. ¡°Whispering in the wind of a wasteland. Frozen hearts thaw in the rays of the sun. Forged in iron and blood and flames,¡± Thaddeus sings. His verse ends with a sudden scream of ¡°The hallowed rock shall be your judge!¡± The jongular¡¯s music has the effect of making the Sentinel more vulnerable to the magic of everyone else. Thorn charges at the opponent with his shield. The sentinel dodges and uses his momentum to try to trip the dwarf, but he anticipates that and turns, and their weapons clash. ¡°This dungeon shall not become our tomb!¡± Thaddeus¡¯s chords intensify. He continues playing his weapon as the Sentinel clashes with Thorn. ¡°This is the pinnacle! Elemental miracle. Rocks fall as the judgment comes, and this is our victory. The song of storm and frost!¡± The martial artist grows annoyed, at the jonguler, at the dwarf parrying his attacks, at the sorceresses and druid pelting him with spells, and more tellingly, at the stricture of the room itself following the beat to the sound of drums. The sentinel knocks down Elena with a knee strike and uses his Qiang to trip Kai. He tries to cut off Thaddeus and his music but struggles to gain his footing with Isabella freezing the ground beneath him. Thaddeus warms up for a second verse. ¡°The dungeon calls, for us to rise. O mage of ice, time to roll the dice.¡± ¡°The fire burns, the steel forged. In this hour, we claim what¡¯s ours.¡± The sentinel knocks Kai out of the fight. As he moves towards Thaddeus he finds himself gripped by Thorn and thrown by a suplex. The sentinel makes an outraged leap and lands in the center with his Qiang, summoning a wind strong enough to push the dwarven knight into a wall and into unconsciousness. ¡°Whispering in the wind of a wasteland. Frozen hearts thaw in the rays of the sun. Forged in iron and blood and flames,¡± Thaddeus sings. His verse once more ends with a sudden scream of ¡°The hallowed rock shall be your judge!¡± Twenty minutes remain by the time Thaddeus sings ¡°This dungeon shall not become our tomb!¡± again. He prepares his second chorus. ¡°This is the pinnacle! Elemental miracle. Rocks fall as the judgment comes, and this is our victory. The song of flame and rock!¡± The sentinel finally gets close to Thaddeus, but the jongular sees the attack coming and evades it. As he strums his guitar, he dodges the opponent¡¯s snap kicks, wind strikes, and thrusts. Thaddeus gets a close enough look to see the boss¡¯ eyes have opened in an irritated expression. Isabella prepares to charge a powerful ice spell. ¡°This is the pinnacle! Elemental miracle. Rocks fall as the judgment comes, and this is our victory. The song of storm and frost. The song of flame ro¡ª¡± A lucky strike from the sentinel, combined with the growing tiredness of the jongular, brings the song to a premature final note. He then makes a charging step and knocks Isabella down before she can finish channeling the spell. Tim has emerged victorious. Time runs out, and the unconscious party is spirited away. ??? Outside the Black Box, Thaddeus is distraught. He had ultimately failed to defeat the Sentinel. The others stew over their losses. Elena approaches him. ¡°The song was mice,¡± she said. The jonguler turns to face the electrified mage. ¡°Thanks,¡± he sighs. ¡°We were so close!¡± ¡°Yer win some,¡± Thorn says. ¡°Yer lose some.¡± Isabella scoffs at the sulking bard. ¡°Much as I preferred otherwise, victory was never assured.¡± ¡°Quite,¡± Kai says. ¡°Still we had obtained some money from the excursion.¡± Thaddeus turns to the dagger, the bismuth blade shines with a nacreous weave of colors scattered across the stepped designs as it recedes into a sharp edge. ¡°We could sell this,¡± Thaddeus says. ¡°I¡¯m sure someone would be interested in it. Besides, knives aren¡¯t my thing.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve noticed,¡± Isabella says. She sighs, wondering why is she still doing here. ¡°Let¡¯s head to the guild,¡± Thorn says. ¡°Tis a more proper place for farewells.¡± ¡°Agreed,¡± Kai says. ¡°It¡¯s getting late, we should rest for the evening and then try our luck in the morn.¡± The party heads to the Rosenkreuz guildhall and stays there for the night. As the sun rises on the collegia, they talk with fellow adventurers about the value of the dagger, as well as divvy up the coins they earned. While looking for buyers, Thaddeus chanced upon a strange person. A girl with purple hair and an armored dress. She is accompanied by two dwarves. ¡°Looks like some artisans,¡± Thorn says from behind the jonguler. The three talk with Benoit, a receptionist of the Rosenkreuz guild. The purple-haired girl notices the party and excuses herself to talk with them. ¡°Excuse me,¡± the young woman asks. ¡°Did you by any chance visit a Dungeon yesterday.¡± Isabella scowls, ¡°we did, what of it?¡± The stranger notices their sullen expressions. Their lamentation over their failure yesterday. She also notices the bismuth dagger. Thaddeus lets loose a chord from his guitar, the strings weep as he looks at the girl. Kai and Isabella notice something strangely familiar about her. ¡°Can you tell me what you went up to there?¡± the girl says with a smile. ¡°I¡¯d love to hear about your adventure.¡± ¡°Might as well,¡± Thaddeus says. He strums his guitar and talks in verse about his dungeon. ¡°Five travelers venture forth. Their goals disparate. United only for one purpose. One wanted a dominion. One wanted knowledge. One wanted to reclaim what was lost. One wanted to restore what was lost. As for this one, well he simply wanted to live a life worth singing about.¡± He strums his guitar as he tells about how they had found each other and how they had prevailed over the construct and a trio of Arachne. ¡°At the home stretch, we were,¡± Thaddeus says. ¡°I have sung my heart out trying to weaken an opponent arrogant and fierce. Three of us were versed in spellcraft. One was a knight stalwart and bold. I am a jongular as you can see.¡± His chords take on a little more exuberance. ¡°You seem like you¡¯d have a nice party,¡± the teenager said. ¡°Please,¡± Isabella says. ¡°Elena, myself, and these fools made for a terrible group.¡± ¡°It didn¡¯t seem like that to me,¡± the purple-clad girl says. ¡°A terrible group wouldn¡¯t make it as far as you did.¡± ¡°That is true,¡± Kai says. Thaddeus¡¯ guitar strings slowly accelerate as he continues his ballad. ¡°The sentinel was fierce, armed with his body and an eastern spear. It came down to the wire a stroke of luck and fortune did not favor the bold.¡± ¡°Still,¡± Elena said. ¡°It was fun, at least.¡± Benoit calls the girl and she excuses herself from Thaddius¡¯ group. ¡°Fun, you say,¡± Thorn says. ¡°We got our keisters kicked at the last second and you call this fun.¡± ¡°Of course it was fun!¡± Elena says. ¡°Do not claim otherwise! We were at least enjoying ourselves!¡± ¡°That was under the delusion of potential riches,¡± Kai says. ¡°So?¡± Elena says. ¡°Are we seriously throwing in the tower over one bad trip?¡± ¡°Elena,¡± Isabella says her cold exterior melting. Thaddeus senses something welling in him as his chord progressions grow faster and faster. ¡°Are we seriously giving up?¡± Elena sternly says. ¡°No,¡± Kai says, but ¡°But¡ª¡° ¡°No buts!¡± Elena says. ¡°We¡¯re adventurers. We are not ones to just quit after a bad day.¡± ¡°The imp¡¯s right,¡± Thaddeus says as he stands. His hands still picking on the guitar. ¡°We aren¡¯t quitters.¡± ¡°What are you getting at, missy?¡± Thorn says. ¡°I think that regardless of what are striving for,¡± Elena says. ¡°We cannot do it alone. You saw our teamwork! If we are to succeed, our best shot is doing it together, as a team!¡± Thaddeus¡¯s strings take on a more triumphant melody. ¡°Hear hear!¡± ¡°Of course, he would be all for this teamwork nonsense,¡± Isabella says. ¡°I agree,¡± Thorn says. ¡°In all my years, I worked alone, always shunning the succor of others, it had cost me everything, and if I¡¯m to reclaim it, then I need people at my back. You have my sword, young miss.¡± ¡°I was the¡ª¡° Thaddeus says. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ve had enough of second fiddle, but I¡¯m not sure if I¡¯m already for the role of lead singer yet.¡± ¡°Very well,¡± Kai says. ¡°My bow is also yours. Elena turns to Isabella, the woman she accompanied. She simply chucked. ¡°No queen rules alone. Very well then Elena, my powers are yours.¡± ¡°So we¡¯re a ban now,¡± Thaddeus says. ¡°How do Thaddeus and the Dugneoneers sound?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t push your luck,¡± Isabella says. The others laugh. The young purple-haired girl returns and finds the party in high spirits. ¡°I found someone interested in your dagger! They¡¯d willing to take it off your hands if you want.¡± Thaddeus looks at the bismuth blade and back at the young woman. ¡°How much, young lady?¡± The girl leads them to a fellow adventurer, a rouge from Noir clad in blue, and a member of another guild. He observes the blade and offers five gold coins for it. The party accepts the offer and exchanges the pristine blade for the gold coins. Now a little richer and in higher spirits, the party sets off to prepare for their next adventure together. ??? A blue-clad rouge returns from his trip to Rosenkreuz, his newly acquired dagger in hand. The weapon is certain to catch the eye of those who see it. Its blade reflects an iridescent weave of kaleidoscopic colors. As he walks the streets of the surface layers of Noir. He chances upon a paperboy distributing the issue of the Lancea. The cover storytelling of a rebuking of a controversial narrative linking inoculation to neurodivergence. He soon finds an entrance to the Underground. ¡°They have watered the streets, it shines in the glare of lamps.¡± A mermaid at the other side of the door says. The blue-haired rouge says. ¡°Cold white lamps...¡± He looks around to ensure he isn¡¯t trailed before finishing. ¡°¡­and lies.¡± The mermaid lets him in. ¡°Tis rare you venture outside Noir, Esteban.¡± ¡°A friend of mine wanted to introduce me to someone,¡± he said. ¡°He also mentioned wanting to meet Julia.¡± The mermaid is shocked to learn that Esteban was recently married. As Esteban enters the Underground he keeps an eye out for mobsters as he enters one of the Rouge Guild¡¯s establishments. ¡°Welcome back, Esteban!¡± Julia is filling in for the normal recptionists at one of the guild halls. ¡°Julia,¡± he says to his wife. He presents her with the dagger. ¡°Someone wants this rainbow knife here?¡± The ex-assassin looks at the weapon, noting its handle is made of a soft but metallic substance. The blade itself is more harder and colorful than the handle. ¡°A client did seem interested in this, he hopes to use it for a ritual dedicated to Halcyon.¡± ¡°Ah, yes,¡± Esteban says. ¡°The Festival of Rains.¡± He has known that a group of people hailing from a desert region further south had migrated here to Noir long ago. ¡°Heard some the merfolk wanted to take part as well.¡± ¡°Honey,¡± Julia says. ¡°You are heading home tonight, right? I got this nice recipe I want to try out.¡± ¡°Of course, Julia,¡± Esteban says. ¡°I have some errands to run first.¡± He leaves the guildhall. Julia tells one of her fellow Rouges to take the dagger to the client. A man wearing a black cloak takes the weapon and puts it in a pocket on his cloak before he sets off. The blade creates a small hole in the bottom of the pocket. The brown-cloaked man travels the underground tunnels and passages that comprise the underground. Passing by several cheap apartments that Exsecratii dwell in, as well as various train tracks, sewage systems, and of course dungeons. One such dungeon stands between him and his destination. The Path of Ruin. So-called because of its dilapidated features, as it was once an abandoned district of the underground. The man sneaks around the guardians of the ruins and the sentinels, as his mission takes priority over the treasures it contains. Over the adventure, frictional causes the dagger to poke deeper into the pocket, and the hole it creates grows wider with the cut. Still, he is a rouge and is therefore willing to relive the Dungeon of some of its prizes if the opportunity presents itself. Such an opportunity does so when several mobsters irritated one of the Sentinels, a stone giant. The hapless criminals try to escape it, but the gigas blocks their way. The thief takes the time to pick the pockets of the goons as they flee, but in his haste to evade their notice, the dagger falls through the hole in its pocket and lands in a used treasure chest. ??? Some of the Colouraturas, Azalea, and Lily wander through the Path of Ruin the next day. They are looking for treasures. Azalea observes the ruins of the buildings. She uses a spell to filter out contaminants from her water bubble. Lily meanwhile canters across several piles of scrap. ¡°What a dump!¡± the young centaur says. ¡°And this is now a dungeon?¡± ¡°Whoever became this place must be down the dumps,¡± Azalea says. Lily giggles a little at the pun. ¡°So,¡± Lily says. ¡°What exactly are we looking for?¡± ¡°I dunno,¡± Azalea says, floating over the neglected area. ¡°The Rouges just said there was a dungeon here.¡± ¡°Is it safe?¡± Lily says. ¡°Of course it is!¡± Azalea says, her clionid tail nearly touching the dirty road before she swims upward in the air. ¡°The Rouges wouldn¡¯t send us somewhere that¡¯s actually dangerous here, right?¡± Lily perks up. ¡°Of course,¡± she says. The two explore the ruinous place. Azalea makes several quips along the way at the dungeon¡¯s expense. Soon, they come across a trail of corpses, each of them being slowly absorbed by the dungeon. The remains are surrounded by signs marking them as gangsters. Lily is a little disturbed by the sight. ¡°The sentinels here wander this dungeon, right? They don¡¯t stay in one place?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Azalea says with a great big grin. ¡°Pretty exciting right?¡± The centaur girl doesn¡¯t see things the same way as her friend, as she wonders if the dungeon is more dangerous than they realize. As they follow the trail of remains, they soon find several monsters of a furry nature. Azalea attacks with some orbs of water. The attack causes them to become wet. The monsters lunge forward and Lily blinds them with a spell of flashing radiance before kicking at them with her hind legs. Lily¡¯s spells cause the monsters to make each other for their targets and they wind up attacking each other. While the monsters attack each other, Azalea takes the time to do an impromptu stand-up routine. Talking about the ruins and the monsters themselves and making some jokes at their expense. As she swims among and chats with the confused monsters, she soon senses a large amount of mana, following it leads her to a small treasure chest. Inside it is an iridescent dagger. ¡°Oh, shiny,¡± Azalea says. The blade stands pristine in contrast to the mangy guardians and the surroundings being run down and grimy even by the standards of the Underground. The clione mermaid takes the weapon and swims to Lily. ¡°Look at this thing I found!¡± Azalea says, showing the centaur the dagger. Lily is in awe of the nacreous blade. ¡°What was it doing here?¡± Lily says aware that Dungeons usually generates gear and materials only after defeating a sentinel. ¡°Dunno!¡± Azalea says with a smile. ¡°Maybe someone dumped it somewhere.¡± The monsters end up killing each other from the confusion, their wet and decaying fur emits a rancid stench. ¡°Wow, Lily,¡± Azalea says. ¡°You really enlightened them!¡± The two venture further, hoping to avoid more encounters and search for more ¡°loose¡± treasures. ??? That afternoon. Lily and Azalea head to the Diner, their quest only yielding the dagger and some rusted gear. ¡°Welcome back,¡± The waitress says. Whisper notices the strange dagger. ¡°Where did you find that, young lady?¡± ¡°We found it in a dungeon!¡± Lily says. The waitress asks, ¡°Which dungeon?¡± ¡°The Path of Ruin,¡± Azalea says. ¡°It was even in a chest!¡± The waitress and the squirrel exchange a glance. ¡°I don¡¯t think that dungeon dabbles in bismuth weapons.¡± She whispers to Whisper. Whisper turns to the two girls. ¡°There is something I want to confirm with the Rouge¡¯s guild. Can you take care of the dagger until I return?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Lily Borea Legato asks. ¡°Sure!¡± Azalea says. ¡°Azalea?¡± Lily says. ¡°It¡¯ll be fine,¡± the mermaid says. ¡°As easy as cutting through butter.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be back later,¡± Whisper leaves the diner. At this time, Strelitzia, Anemone, and Rose arrive. ¡°Something happened?¡± Rose says. ¡°Look what we found!¡± Lily says, showing the other girls the dagger. ¡°It¡¯s so pretty,¡± Rose says in awe of the iridescent blade. ¡°They say they found it at the Path of Ruin,¡± the waitress says, keeping her suspicions to herself. The other three girls since a large amount of mana packed into the knife, more than what could usually be found in that dungeon. ¡°Isn¡¯t the Path of Ruin the dungeon that¡¯s blocking the section of the underground beneath the Quinn Section?¡± Strelitzia says. ¡°It is,¡± the waitress says. Anemonia wonders about the blade, feeling like it is out of place with any of the stuff usually found in the Underground¡¯s dungeons. ¡°Even its mana feels different,¡± she says. ¡°Whatever Sentinel that dropped this, must¡¯ve been a tough cookie!¡± Rose says. ¡°Um actually,¡± Lily says nervously, ¡°Azalea says she just found it in a chest.¡± ¡°We were fighting some monsters,¡± the clione mermaid confidently says. ¡°Or rather Lily had them fighting themselves.¡± Raine, Clover, and Hydrangea soon arrive. Azalea shows them the dagger as well. ¡°Cool dagger,¡± Clover says. ¡°Can I have it?¡± ¡°No way!¡± Azalea says. ¡°It¡¯s mine!¡± Hydrangea looks at the waitress and notices her expression. ¡°Where¡¯s Whisper,¡± she asks. ¡°They squirreled away to deal with roguish matters,¡± Azalea says. ¡°Anyway,¡± Clover says. ¡°Isn¡¯t it our turn for the neighborhood watch tonight?¡± ¡°Oh yeah,¡± Strelitizia says. ¡°It is!¡± Rose checks the time, finding it is 3:55 in the afternoon. ¡°It¡¯s almost time too!¡± She rallies the girls and they begin to set off. Azalea leaves her bismuth dagger on the nook in the diner. ¡°We¡¯ll be back later!¡± Rose says. ¡°Take care!¡± the waitress says, she keeps an eye on the rainbow weapon. ??? The Coloraturas set out for their neighborhood watch patrol. Already magicalized, they search the area around the diner and their sector of the underground, beneath the Frankfurt Sector. Looking for stray monsters from nearby dungeons and people in distress. They first spot a cat stuck on high, at the top of a series of pipes. Its owner, a boy about the same age is crying out for his wayward pet. Clover uses her powers to leap on top of the pipes and deftly retrieves the feline from its plight. With the cat in hand, she leaps off the pipes and safely lands on the ground. ¡°Thank you,¡± the tearful child says. The eight girls head off to find more signs of trouble. They soon find a fire in the nearby street, that threatens to set the neighborhood ablaze. Azalea uses her spells to douse the flames enough for firefighters to arrive to quell them. They then find a family of Arachne trapped beneath some rubble. The youngest among them were sleeping in a trance and were unable to escape. Strelitizia uses her powers over earth to lift the rubble enough for the family to escape. The mother carries the torpid children outside before the rubble collapses over their heads. ¡°Thank you, the father of the spiderlings says. But the girls had already vanished. They then see an elderly couple trying to pass through a crowd. Hydrangea makes an ice bridge above them and takes the elders across. Then Raine ignites a pile of wet wood to keep some people warm in the night, then Rose wraps her tail around a pipe to reach down to the bottom of the pit to retrieve a little girl¡¯s lost doll. Then Lily carries some pets on her back through a dark passage, using her powers to illuminate her path. Finally, Anenmoie helps a baker retrieve some stolen baked goods with her acute sense of smell. The girls find that their patrol is nearly finished and prepare to head back to the diner until they hear some screaming nearby. ??? At the same time, near the subway station. A group of mobsters had just dragged a family of merfolk out into an alleyway. ¡°What do you want?¡± the mother fearfully asks, ¡°We¡¯ve paid our dues!¡± ¡°Our financiers say otherwise, toots,¡± the gangster says. ¡°They claimed you¡¯ve missed three months already. Now then, if you want the aegis of our continued security, you better hand over the cabbage!¡± The father assumes a defensive stance, fearing an altercation is inevitable. He tells his wife and children to flee. The mother takes her sons and daughter and swims away from the mobster. Several of them chase after her. The chase is seen from the roof of a low-rise building, and several shadows descend on the surface. The chasing mobsters were struck down by several bolts of lightning and a sparking explosion of light. One was pinned to a wall by ice and another was carried away by a small flood. ¡°Picking on the defenseless?¡± a voice cries out. ¡°We will not abide that!¡± The reminder mobsters were faced by several brightly colored girls emerging from the shadows. The source of the voice is Raine. ¡°You guys seem very insecure to me,¡± Azalea says. ¡°Isn¡¯t it past your curfew, little ladies?¡± one of the gangsters says. ¡°Justice has no curfew,¡± Anemonie says. ¡°Really,¡± Hydrangea says. ¡°You¡¯re going along with that cheesy line?¡± ¡°It¡¯s better than having Raine say ¡®Justice rains from above.¡¯¡± Streitzia says. ¡°Hey,¡± Azalea says. ¡°I worked hard on that line!¡± ¡°Girls, focus!¡± Rose says. ¡°Oh, right,¡± Lily points at the mobsters. ¡°We, the Coloraturas, will stop you thieves.¡± ¡°Fine, then,¡± one of the mobsters says as he cracks his knuckles, ¡°Bring it on!¡± The Coloraturas fight the mobsters as the merfolk family hides behind a corner guarded by the young magical girls. Rose uses her tail to coil around some goons and pin them down as Hydrangea freezes them. Raine flies over some of the gangsters and uses a firey diving kick to push them back. Strelitizia uses her trusty labrys to block their ranged attacks and reality with wild swings. Azalea swims around them, water trailing behind her, and creates a geyser beneath the thugs. ¡°Cheese it!¡± one of the remaining gangsters says, they try to leave, but Anemone uses her shadow magic to pin them down. The mob is eventually subdued by the magical girls. ¡°Thank you,¡± one of the merfolk children says. ¡°Can you help Daddy?¡± she points towards the alleyway. The Coloraturs arrive there to find the merman father fending off some of the mob by himself. Clover creates a bluster to push the hostiles away from the merman, and Rose stuns them with lightning bolts. Lily then creates a glittery explosion that blonds them and covers their escape, as well as a shining pillar of light. The Coloraturas vanish with the merman and his family. Before the mobsters could find out what was going on, authorities from the Rouges guild arrived, having been alerted by the pillar of light, and arrested them. The merfolk family thank the Coloraturas for assisting them. The girls accept their thanks and leap to the rooftops, returning to the diner. ??? As the Coloratura approaches the diner, Azalea thinks about the bismuth dagger and wonders what she would do with it. ¡°Think I can train myself in knifeplay?¡± the clionid jokester says. ¡°I¡¯m a sharp girl you know? It almost makes me shiver.¡± All but Lily groans at the pun. ¡°I¡¯d get to the point,¡± Azalea says. ¡°But¡ª¡° she stops, seeing several figures through the diner¡¯s windows. Upon entering the Colorturas find that Whisper has returned and that a mermaid and a brown-cloaked man were also with him. Azalea sees the dagger in her mermaid¡¯s hands. ¡°Huh?¡± Azalea says. ¡°As it turns out,¡± Whisper says. ¡°Some had lost a bismuth dagger he was delivering to someone at the Path of Ruin.¡± The wispy squirrel points to the mermaid. ¡°I¡¯d want to thank you for retrieving this dagger,¡± the older mermaid says. ¡°Without it, I could not help to take part in the Festival of Rains.¡± ¡°I too want to thank you,¡± the cloaked man says. ¡°¡¯Twas my fault the thing got lost. Should¡¯ve checked to see if there were holes in these rags.¡± ¡°We¡¯re glad that Azalia had found the weapon,¡± the waitress says. ¡°Apparently, the Rouges had gone through a great expense to claim it.¡± ¡°The Festival of Rains,¡± Whisper says. ¡°An honor celebration from the people of the deserts below and of the merfolk of the seas to the east. A celebration of water, of life. Rarely does an Excresatii get to participate in this celebration.¡± ¡°Quite,¡± the mermaid says. ¡°When I found out I was chosen to open the festival, I was shocked. But the opening ceremonies require a special ornamental blade and so I asked the Rouges to try to procure one for me.¡± She looks at the Bismuth blade, its kaleidoscopic colors evoking the rainbow that comes after a rain storm. ¡°This one is perfect for me. I¡¯m so glad to have it recovered.¡± Azalea tries to protest the claiming of the dagger. ¡°It¡¯s mine!¡± she thinks. ¡°I found it,¡± yet something prevents her from getting the words out. She reluctantly parts with the dagger. ¡°I see your point,¡± she says. ¡°And I hope your performance is a cut above the rest.¡± The older mermaid chuckled. ¡°Thank you dear, you¡¯re very sweet.¡± She leaves with the man with the knife. Whisper notices the mermaid¡¯s sorrowful expression. ¡°Chin up,¡± the squirrel says. ¡°Sometimes these things happen.¡± ¡°Yeah, I guess,¡± Azalea sighs. ¡°How was I supposed to know it was someone else¡¯s?¡± ¡°Well,¡± the waitress says, ¡°it helps that you remember that treasure chests don¡¯t typically spawn until someone defeats a sentinel. That reminds me. What exactly were you and Lily doing in a place so dangerous, Azalea Adagio?¡± Azelia gulps. ¡°Busted,¡± she thinks. Chapter IX: Woods of Whspering Shadows It was a quiet day in the Black Box. Heathcliff left to talk to Pauline about the recent performance. Time is busy practicing his techniques. The dwarven siblings are working on designs for arms and armor for Emily to create. Elizabeth is helping the Arachne with tending to their brood and Emily herself is standing still. Not having any reason to use her avatara recently. She then notices a strange presence within herself. She looked at her halls to find the source and noticed a surprising amount of fauna had made some parts of her their new home. Including the cordyceps-infected deer they encountered in Tarantulapolis. For some reason, she feels a sense of unease with the animals now inside her, especially the fungal ibex. ¡°Elizabeth?¡± she calls out to the fairy. ¡°Yes?¡± The fairy says. ¡°I know I should¡¯ve expected to find animals inside me,¡± Emily says. ¡°But?¡± Elizabeth knows what she is talking about. She had already seen several beasts and critters in the halls of the Black Box for the past few days, several of which had interfered with her activities. Minerva had helped to ward them off, but as long as the dungeon remains rooted in this patch of wilderness, then the animal kingdom will continue to make ingress after ingress into the dungeon, into Emily. At the same time, Heathcliff is at the Rosenkreuz guildhall, talking to Pauline about the Dungeon. Pauline looks at the report, learning that five of the thirty parties that had gone into the Black Box had bested the dungeons¡¯ two sentinels and that two more had gotten as far as the second one but were eventually defeated there. ¡°Impressive,¡± Pauline says. ¡°Not bad for the first month and a half. You can stand to do a little better.¡± ¡°Thank you, Pauline,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Now, cher, there is one other matter I want to discuss.¡± ¡°You¡¯re here to look for a specialist for the animals, right?¡± Heathcliff is not surprised. ¡°That obvious huh?¡± ¡°We both know the game well enough to know that uninvited guests of the furred kind would make the dungeons their homes, especially as said dungeon grows and grows,¡± Pauline says. ¡°Unfortunately our animal experts had all been hired, dear. Sorry.¡± ¡°Real darn shame,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Don¡¯t suppose you can find anyone that can help?¡± ¡°Well?¡± Pauline says. ¡°I heard someone had been hired to visit Hamlet in the north to deal with a rat problem.¡± ¡°Hamlin?¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Isn¡¯t that like way out of the way here?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Pauline says. ¡°While isolated, the village has supplied the guild with several Adventurers, all of whom decided to send the money made back to the town to help fund its infrastructure. Their goal is to find people in Noir willing to carve a tunnel through the Brokeback Mountains and a highway to ensure a more stable income.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°As for why they are using the money to solve a rat infestation,¡± Pauline says. ¡°The rodents were claimed to have been infected by a disease that would threaten a localized plague if left unchecked, something that could hinder their plans. Again as our animal experts were already taken, they had to resort to the Ebony Blades and the Rouges in Noir for assistance.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯re aware of my buddy in Noir, right?¡± ¡°The rouge in blue?¡± Pauline says. ¡°That one?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard he got hitched recently,¡± Pauline says. ¡°It¡¯s a shame that you weren¡¯t able to attend the wedding.¡± ¡°What can I say, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Making Emily the best dungeon she could be and then some is my priority right now.¡± ¡°Do try to visit him soon, dear,¡± Pauline says. ¡°I¡¯m sure Emily would want to know him better as well.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Adieu.¡± Heathcliff leaves for the Black Box, wanting to tell Emily about Hamlet and how it might be the key to their recent animal problems. ??? A while later, Tim is taking the opportunity to practice using some Dire Wolves. He pushes one back with a pair of snap kicks. One attempts to bite him, but he evades the beast and uses a shoulder strike to repel it. He then uses a stomp to pin down one of the smaller wolves. The lunar hounds circle him as he closes his eyes, assured of his inevitable triumph. One bites his leg, but a changing step towards another wolf is enough to repel him. He uses the momentum to push another wolf far enough to slam into the wall. ¡°OW!¡± Emily says to Tim, sensing the wolf¡¯s slam.¡± Tim ducks behind a leaping hound and uses his palms to thrust him straight up into the air. The dire wolf crashes onto the floor. ¡°Tim!¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoes to him as she senses the crash. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Practicing,¡± he says while still in battle with the animals. ¡°What else would I be doing?¡± The wolves had managed to land some scratches and bites on him, but despite that, they were unable to prevail against Tim. The pack quickly flees, now fearing the Sentinel. Tim calms down and opens his eyes. ¡°As expected,¡± he says. ¡°Still cocky as ever, I see,¡± Emily says. ¡°While I appreciate the opportunity to practice on these beasts,¡± Tim says. ¡°Even I know I¡¯m not enough to ward them off for long.¡± ¡°Glad it hear it, cher!¡± Heathcliff arrives at the dungeon. ¡°I gots some news.¡± ¡°You found someone that can help us with the animals?¡± Emily says. ¡°Nope!¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°But I did receive word that there was a Tamer in the far-flung village of Hamlet.¡± ¡°Far-flung is an understatement,¡± Tim says. ¡°That place is practically inaccessible.¡± ¡°You got any other ideas then?¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°What does a tamer do?¡± Emily says. ¡°Glad you asked, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°They are specialized in the taming of wild beasts and critters, they tend to be employed more by dungeons than by adventuring parties though.¡± ¡°Tamers are hired to ensure any animals in the dungeon act in the service of the dungeon instead of against them,¡± Tim says. ¡°They basically are tantamount to animal trainers and other forms of domesticators. But while they can wrangle beasts, it is difficult to use them in dungeon raids.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± Emily says. ¡°We¡¯ll need to travel past the Brokeback Mountains,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°They have a dungeon that people frequently use to make passage into Hamlin. A real gauntlet so we¡¯ll need to make some supplies for the trip.¡± The group begins preparations for the trip. Sarah offers to volunteer as she finds the rats¡¯ investing actions too distracting from her work. Nina pleads with Minerva to join the group, a request that the mother soon accepts on the condition that Emily keeps her daughter safe. Elizabeth also joins the group, wanting to make sure Emily learns more about handling the animals that dwell inside of her now. Once supplies are prepared they set off for the Brokeback Mountains. ??? The party of six arrives at the Brokeback Mountains, a vast mountain range of tall peaks and dangerous rapids. Heathcliff, Elizabeth, and Sarah carry bags filled with sleeping bags and a week¡¯s worth of food and water. ¡°So,¡± Nina says. ¡°What is this dungeon we¡¯re looking for?¡± The Arachne child could barely hold her glee at her first adventure. ¡°Revotos¡¯ Valley,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Named after the Administrator of death, for its treacherous paths.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll find when you see it, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. Sure enough the group of six gazes upon a scene of dead black trees lining a blood-red river, a stark contrast to the lush forests of the majestic mountains. Emily gulps, finding the place foreboding. Her avatara¡¯s body language expresses a sense of fear. Tim turns to the quivering dungeon. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Tim says. ¡°We can handle this. The Valley is much less dangerous than it looks.¡± The party enters the gauntlet. The wind hissed through the ashen leafless trees. The crimson river looks like it was stained with the undiluted blood of the deceased, and flows through jagged rocks and colossal falls. The sky turns from a pleasant azure to a twilight purple to a sanguine hue as the party steps further into the steep paths and scales the foreboding hills. All the while, Nina pretends to be brave, but deep down the sight of the dungeon scares her deeply. Time notices this. ¡°It¡¯s okay to be scared, you know?¡± he says with warmth in his voice. ¡°I¡¯m not scared,¡± Nina says. ¡°Adventurers don¡¯t get scared!¡± The sound of a branch rapping against another tree causes the spiderling to turn around. ¡°Bad adventurers don¡¯t get scared,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Little more the le mats prancing around with no awareness of the dangers around them.¡± ¡°He¡¯s right, you know,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°A lack of fear is a sign of foolishness.¡± The group notices figures moving in the shadows. Guardians. Similar to the walking trees they found in Tarantulapolis. The animated arbor attacks the party. Tim repels some of the zombie trees, while Elizabeth uses her Bardsong to enchant everyone¡¯s weapons with the power of earth. Emily keeps little Nina safe from the ashwoods while carving one of them into three pieces with her twin blades. Tim is caught in the grip of a particularly large one but is saved by Sarah chopping the arms of the ashwood off. Tim, now free, does a roundhouse kick on the dismembered tree, toppling it and causing the timber to pin down its smaller brethren. Surrounded by several ashwoods, Emily drives back some more with an elegant flurry of slashes, cutting down the trees with a razor-thin whirlwind that reduces them to dark grey cylinders. Nina, eager to prove herself, overworks her spinnerettes to create sticky webs that cause the ashwoods to trip on themselves. The effort causes one of them to collapse in her direction. The panicked child tries to evade the towering timber before Elizabeth flies in and carries the child off with an expression of both concern and slight furor. The ashwoods are soon defeated. ¡°Not bad, chers,¡± Heathcliff says. Elizabeth glares at Nina. ¡°You could¡¯ve gotten yourself killed!¡± the fairy says. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Nina timidly says. ¡°I just wanted to help.¡± Elizabeth sighs. She knows of the young girl¡¯s admiration for adventurers and her desire to be one. However, she also knows of Minerva¡¯s desire to keep her daughter away from danger. Emily is curious about something. ¡°How young are new adventurers,¡± she asks. The group gives various answers. ¡°That depends, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Some were venturing out since they were little. Others do not go questing until they are of age.¡± ¡°It varies by circumstance,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Many young adventurers are typically orphans or children that were abandoned while young. Others came from poor families where that is their only means of income.¡± ¡°And others still,¡± Tim says ¡°were students of fellow adventurers.¡± He recalls the visiting class and how he was humiliated by Chiron. Sarah looks over at Nina. ¡°In most cases, kids wind up adventurers not because they want to, but because they have to.¡± ¡°Every rule has an exception,¡± Nina says. Her prescriptive term marks her desire to become an adventurer. ¡°Every rule also has a raison d¡¯etre,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°This is a dangerous job.¡± ¡°You could get seriously injured, Nina,¡± Emily says, ¡°Or worse.¡± The Arachne girl sighs. ¡°I¡¯ll be more careful, then. Sorry,¡± she says. The group ventures deeper into the dungeon. ??? The group makes their way to the first Sentinel. A larger specimen of the ashwoods fought previously. A gigantic undead arbor. The wind hissed through its bony branches. ¡°Sarah,¡± Elizabeth says, ¡°Can you take care of Nina?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± the dwarf says. She takes the spiderling to a safe place. Emily, Tim, Elizabeth, and Heathcliff approached the ashen tree. The twin holes in the arbor gaze at them with a strikingly curious and malevolent intent. Beneath these holes lies the last bit of foliage on the dead tree, the decaying leaves forming the pattern of a beard on the rotten wood. Emily steps forward, and the ground rumbles beneath them. The tree¡¯s roots rise from the soil as the sentinel animates itself and greets the party beneath the sky red. Heathcliff agitates the giant tree, attracting all its focus to the knight. Elizabeth uses light enchantments on the party¡¯s weapons to better their odds against the zombie plant. Tim uses his wind spells to propel him forward, his gleaming Qiang carves into the tree and chops one of its spindly branches. However, he ends up grabbed by several more and slammed into the ground. Emily throws her swords, merged again into a chakram, into the air. The blades cleave several of the branches as they arc around the high ashwood. The sentinel spits out a sticky substance, the color of decaying flesh, and binds Emily¡¯s legs to the ground. Heathcliff hacks at the ashwood with his light-enchanted sword. Its decaying timber is infested with fungus and weakened by the march of time. He manages to make a gash into the tree. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Emily, now rooted to the ground by the sticky substances, is left to fire light spells and her chakram at the tree, blinding it and making it vulnerable to her teammates¡¯ attacks. Elizabeth tries to fly to Emily¡¯s aid, but the sentinel notices the fairy¡¯s presence and fires more of the translucent liquid at her, Elizabeth dodges these projectiles. As they fight the high ashwood. Nina and Sarah spectate the battle. Nina is in awe of these adventurers¡¯ ability to hold their own in battle, but she senses something is off about the tree. Tim sees what Heathcliff is trying to do and assists him, using his techniques to widen the cuts by pushing back the walking tree. His momentum-enhanced palm strikes managed to put enough force to cause the tree to lean back a little. The wound is widened as the ashen arbor tilts backward. Its roots are unable to move alongside the rest of it. Elizabeth frees Emily from her binds and she rushes forward and leaps onto the tree. She distracts it enough for Elizabeth to blind the tree with holy light. The searing blazing radiance causes the tree to not see where Emily is. She lands on the tree with the force of her movement tiling it back. The wound at the bottom of the tree is now severe enough that one more little push is enough to send it falling down. But the ashwood¡¯s roots had repelled them from the wound. Elizabeth tries to rush forward, but the sentinel lands its sticky substance on her, trapping her in a sticky sphere of translucent, flesh-colored liquid. Elizabeth struggles to move in this mass as it hardens and halts her movements. She concentrates on a wind well that is forceful enough to shatter her binds. But the ashwood begins to slam her to the ground. She soon notices something pulling her aside. The hammer-like arm makes contact, but it barely misses Elizabeth as she is pilled by a silver thread of silk. She turns to find the source is Nina. Nina pulls on her thread, tugging Elizabeth closer to her with all of the strength she could muster. The ashwood tries to swat Elizabeth down, but before it can, it finds itself irreversibly leaving backward. Pushed back by Tim and Emily. The tall undead tree falls to the ground. The force of the landing is enough to send it spiraling until unconsciousness. A chest manifests, a sign of their victory. Sarah opens the box and observes the contexts. A spear, a shield, a sword, a staff, a suit of armor fit for a small Arachne, several sticks of charcoal, and of course, silver and bronze coins. Elizabeth knows she should scold Nina for risking herself, but knowing that she owes her safety to her intervention, she relents and instead thanks her. While Tim rejects the spear, Emily decides to let Nina wear the armor for her own protection. Heathcliff takes the sword and shield and Elizabeth the staff. The party is surprised to see that the armor snugly fits the child. Nina stands proudly and joyously celebrates the first gear she obtained from an adventure. ¡°Maybe we should¡¯ve brought Minerva with us,¡± Elizabeth thinks. After the excited child calms down, the party moves even deeper into the dungeon. ??? Emily and her group make a camp in a cave for the night. The cave shelters them from the howling wins beneath the sanguine sky. They huddle around a fire made from some of the ashwood remnants. ¡°Hey, Elizabeth?¡± Emily says. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± the fairy says. ¡°I was wondering,¡± Emily says, ¡°we¡¯ve been here for more than two hours right?¡± Elizabeth realizes she forgot to mention a certain distinction. ¡°Well, you see. Adventurers visiting Divine Dungeons are indeed ejected after two hours have passed. But there is no time limit here for Natural Dungeons like this one. It¡¯s due to a passive enchantment designed to keep the cores safe.¡± ¡°Plus,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°It would make getting to Hamlin more painful if we¡¯d get the boot after two hours.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t there other ways of passing the Brokeback Mountains?¡± Sarah says. ¡°There are,¡± Tim says, ¡°But they are even more treacherous, the most obvious being scaling the mountains themselves.¡± ¡°Does this mean we¡¯re gonna have to go through this place again?¡± Nina says. ¡°Hopefully not,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°I heard rumors that there is a secret shortcut the Hamlin villagers are using to traverse the mountains quickly.¡± ¡°Rumors?¡± Emily says, thinking the phrasing means that such paths do not exist. ¡°Yeah,¡± Tim says, also thinking they are unlikely to be true. Heathcliff and Sarah keep watch as the others turn in for the night. ??? By morning, they wake up. The wind still howls outside, moving the branches of the sessile deceased trees along its tumultuous bluster, kicking up loose dust and sending it in all directions. ¡°The wind¡¯s gonna make traveling outside difficult,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Maybe we can try following the cave?¡± Emily says. ¡°Worth a shot,¡± Tim says. The group of six ventures deeper into the cave. There they find several travelers, still and motionless. Their starch-white skeletons lay bare against the moist walls. As they travel further they fight several entities. These dwellers of the caves carry a large club and giant yet stocky build. Their jaundiced bodies contrast with the tattered black fabrics that drape their torsos. ¡°Ogres,¡± Tim says, ¡°Typical.¡± The brutish ogres fight the party, with Heathcliff keeping Nina safe from their club swings. Tim uses palm strikes and wind magics to topple one of the giants. Emily uses her blades to cut through one of their wooden clubs, while Elizabeth uses Bardsong to enchant the party¡¯s weapons, wreathing them in lightning that stuns the ogres with each hit. Sarah uses her hammer with more finesse than the crude ogres and their even cruder style of clubbing. The party soon prevails against the ogres. They then travel deeper into the caves. They soon arrive at a large cavern system. The howling winds and crimson sunlight peeking through holds scattered alongside the large stalactites. A clear fluid drops from the tips of these rocks and drips onto the floor. As they traverse the cavern, Emily hears a noise. The sound of the fluttering of wings, she looks around the dark caverns, but she cannot find the source. Nina also heard the noise. She makes a disturbed expression, that Sarah sees. ¡°Come on, Nina,¡± she says to herself, ¡°You¡¯re an adventurer, now.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t we just have this discussion?¡± Sarah says, startling Nina. The silver-haired dwarfette assures her that they will protect her if any danger comes. But Nina insists on wanting to help them in combat. ¡°Why are you so interested in adventurers anyway,¡± Tim asks. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I be?¡± Nina says. ¡°They¡¯re strong, they¡¯re tough, they fight and guys and they help protect others.¡± ¡°Not all adventurers are like that,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Some of them are dangerous people.¡± ¡°Vile, even,¡± Heathcliff says. He recalled an anecdote about how he ended up fighting a group of traffickers back in Charlemagne, as well as a more recent skirmish with folk who had kidnapped innocent people and murdered them. ¡°But they also protect people from people like those!¡± Nina says with an innocent smile in her eyes. ¡°That¡¯s the kind of person I want to be! A protector of my friends, just like you.¡± Emily is surprised by Nina¡¯s response and wonders if her being kidnapped and nearly sacrificed was a factor in her resolve. The party soon comes across a broken part of their path. A large hole that leads to an endless abyss beneath them. With a narrow precipice at the other end of that gap. ¡°Should have known we¡¯d come across something like this,¡± Tim says. Nina uses her Arachne legs to cling onto the wall and move along it, easily walking to the other side. ¡°Hang tight I¡ª¡° before she could finish. Timm uses his wind powers to leap onto the wall and jump off of it to the other side. ¡°We don¡¯t have time for you to make a web,¡± Tim says. ¡°Besides, are you certain you can make enough silk for that?¡± Elizabeth flies over the gap, lifting Sarah by the left arm. Her wings are strained from the effort. She catches her breath. Sarah expresses some concern over her slightly pudgy build. Only Emily and Heathcliff are left to cross the gap. The knight looks around for alternate routes. ¡°Don¡¯t think I can shimmy over there, cher.¡± Emily looks around the cavern for ideas, she hears the howling wind from outside and considers using wind magic to propel herself and Heathcliff in a similar manner to Tim. She conjures up a gust of wind, but her concentration breaks before she can move an inch and the whirlwind vanishes. As she lands she remembers she now can use rock magic and has an idea. She focuses on the small edge of the wall, trying to do something in that area. She eventually creates several rocks, but but fall. Emily then creates small whirlwinds to keep them afloat. ¡°Go!¡± she says to Heathcliff. The knight takes the cue and leaps onto the two boulders lands on the two floating boulders and safely makes it across. With only Emily left, she leaps to the first boulder, and then to the second. She prepares to make her third and final jump, but she soon hears the same sound again. Her concentration snaps and the boulder falls. Realizing what happened she immediately jumped off it, but her leap fell too short to cross. ¡°Emily!¡± Elizabeth yells as Emily is in midair. Emily reaches out to the edge, but it is too high for her to grasp. Before she knew it, she was kept suspended over the crevasse. She looks up and finds out that Tim has grabbed her arm. Tim pulls Emily higher, and she climbs over the edge. ¡°Thanks,¡± Emily says as she stands up. Tim turns and walks forward. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t do either of us good if you fell into the pit.¡± She says while looking back at Emily with a smirk. The party continues navigating the caverns of Revotos¡¯ Valley. ??? The party of six soon arrives at another cave, sunlight peaking through several holes in the walls. The vacuous tunnel is filled with more bleached skeletons. Everyone takes the remains as a sign that something lurks inside these walls. Emily and Nina once again hear the fluttering noise, but despite the illumination of the cave they cannot see where it is coming from. Tim is suddenly lifted a story into the air by an unseen force. He can feel his shoulders being gripped by piercing talons as she struggles to free himself from whatever has grabbed him. He grabs his Qiang and stabs skyward. The weapon pieces something, and Tim plummets to the floor. ¡°Everyone,¡± Emily says, ¡°There¡¯s a sentinel here!¡± Sure enough, the pain causes the invisible entity to become visible for a split second before fading from view again. The glimpse reveals the silhouette of a gigantic bat. Elizabeth tries using Light magic to reveal the monster, but it alone can only secure a few more glimpses at a time. The invisible enemy is seen leaving through the holes in the ceiling, gliding past the strong winds howling through the voids. The group vigilantly looks at the holes, feeling an imminent attack. Elizabeth coats the party¡¯s weapons in light as Nina and Emily sense something. ¡°Over there!¡± Nina says as she points to a hole on their right. The invisible bat swoops in, its speed enhanced by the winds. Heathcliff blocks the attack with his shield and Elizabeth uses light to reveal the monster. In the few seconds before the bat cloaks itself again. Tim lets loose a flurry of rapid strikes, and Emily and Sarah and their own heavier blows. The bat becomes invisible again and moves around the area. Emily uses a light-enchanted blade to reveal it for a few more seconds, allowing Sarah to stun it with her hammer. The bat falls and she climbs onto it to find its weakness. But the bat recovers and begins to fly off again, with Sarah clinging to it as it ascends through one of the holes. Nina and Emily look at the hole-filled ceiling, both somehow being able to sense its mana. The bat flies through a large hole in the upper left corner of the cave. Emily launches a light-enchanted chakram in the direction of it bat. The weapon strikes and cuts one of its winds and reveals it for a few more minutes. Sarah discovers something in the back of the boss as it crashes. A small cone. She strikes at it with her hammer and causes the boss to writhe in pain. ¡°Guys!¡± the dwarf shouts. ¡°Over here.¡± She points at the cone. Emily and Elizabeth pelt it with light spells while Tim breaks the cone off with a momentum-assisted punch. The cone snaps off, preventing the beast from veiling itself and the wound to its wing hinders its ability to fly. It desperately glides away from the party, but Emily easily catches up and mounts it. She stabs the bat with her two swords, causing the boss to be downed for good. A chest falls from one of the holes and lands in the center. Tim looks inside and sees more charcoal, some leathery bat wings, some robes, and strangely enough, eight bladed attachments that look like they would fit on an Arachne¡¯s legs. Nina sees the attachments and uses her web to claim them. Placing them on her legs with glee. The others are surprised to find the dungeons giving gear tailored to Nina twice now. They exit the caves. The winds had ceased. But the foreboding atmosphere remains ¡°We¡¯re almost there,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Allons!¡± The party of six walks along a crimson river. ??? The party follows the crimson river down through a hollow valley. The ululating winds from before had become a lighter breeze. The gloaming sky¡¯s effulgence illuminates the hoary landscape. The group soon encounters moving ichthyic skeletons, but the bones of the briny depths are of little match for Tim¡¯s movements. Emily looks over at Nina happily moving around in her new gear. She grows a little concerned with how the Valley had granted the arachnid child armor and arms. She gestures to Elizabeth. ¡°So, is this normal?¡± she says. Elizabeth observed the silver-haired spider prancing around, now wearing bladed attachments to her legs. ¡°I not quite sure,¡± the fairy says. ¡°It is possible for Dungeons to grant items specific to one individual, but those usually happen under special circumstances, like the blessing of an Administrator, or a prophecy of sorts. The only possible answer is if a Divine Dungeon noticed someone with a grand destiny. But that can¡¯t be the case.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± Emily says. ¡°Revotos¡¯ Valley should be a Natural Dungeon,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Not a divine one, and there is no indication that its core is capable of that much sentience.¡± Elizabeth scratches her head. The group soon finds more skeletons, bleached a stark white as they arise from their chithonian mounds. Elizabeth uses Light magic to easily thwart them, but the gleam attracts vultures them. Emily wonders if Nina really does have some destiny waiting for her. Her thoughts linger on her mind as she carves through several necrophagous avians. They soon climb a steep hill, from the peak of which they can see signs of a village, as well as a large lake betwixt them and the settlement. They head straight to the lake. Its water is as scarlet as sanguine fluids as rivers flow from it like veins. ¡°Be on your guard,¡± Tim says. ¡°Something¡¯s lurking there, I can tell.¡± Both Emily and Nina noticed a large amount of Mana emanating from the crimson lake. ¡°Maybe we can go around?¡± Elizabeth says. As they look around for a way to cross the lake, the earth trembles. A noisome smell attacks the party¡¯s noses as a geyser erupts at the center of the lake. A large skeletal ophioneus flying above the geyser. ¡°A necrodrake?¡± Elizabeth says. Before the party could react, the skeletal dragon roars. The ground around the party begins to ink until only a few islands of land remain in the sanguine lake. Any escape they had is now cut off from them. Elizabeth casts Light enchantments on the party with her Bardsong. Heathcliff makes the first strike, slashing at the undead beast. The attack causes it to focus squarely on Heathcliff. Leaving it unable to anticipate Tim lunging at it with his spear. Sarah swings her hammer at the dead sea drake, causing part of its body to be chipped off. The ophidian roars and summons a tidal wave to flood what few land remands. The party braces for impact as the wave hits, with Elizabeth channeling her powers into an earthen barrier. ¡°This thing is tough!¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°What did you expect?¡± Sarah says. ¡°Necrodrakes are exceptionally powerful entities. ¡°I expected not to find one in somewhere so out of the way,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Those dastards usually guard tombs and mausoleums!¡± The wave receded and the muddy barrier dissolved. The party finds themselves surrounded but the animated remains that were dredged up by the wave. Amalgamated into a miasmic mass of zombified flesh and bone. ¡°Gross!¡± Nina says, plugging her nose from the pungent odor. Sarah grabs the zombie¡¯s attention with a provocative gesture. Emily dances around and cuts through the mass with her swords. Time uses palm strikes and kicks to repel the odorous mass back into the lake waters. One chunk of rotten flesh hits the serpentine zombie and causes it to writhe in pain as some of its bones are corroded away as if the flesh had an acidic effect on it. The ophioneus dives into the waters. Nina sees the revolted reaction of the ophioneus and has an idea. She webs up several lingering piles of flesh and drags them into the few patches of land. With one amasses into a suitable size, she uses a dragline to tug at Sarah¡¯s arm. ¡°What is it?¡± Sarah says. Nina uses her free hand to point to the chunk of noisome mass. ¡°I think this snake hates it.¡± She says nasally. The ophion surfaces and prepares to create another wave. Sarah rushes towards the pungent mass and uses her hammer to launch it towards the ophioneus. A direct hit is landed on the beast and disrupts its attempts to raise the levels of water in the lake. More scraps of bone were stripped from the skeletal serpent, revealing a large cerulean stone in its skull. Emily sees the nectodragon¡¯s bead and launches a lightning spell at it. The zombie reacts virulently to the electric shock to the beat and is left in a state of furor and frenzy. The leviathan tries to ram the party, dredging up more remains in its wake. The zombies attack the party, but Tim uses his wind magic to throw them into the air as the phones launch at them again. The dogged and the undead cause more of its skeleton to be snapped off, revealing more of the cerulean stone. As the serpent one more lunge, Emily leaps onto the skull and grabs it, aiming to separate it from the opheoneus. The undead dragon flies around uncontrollably, circling the party as Nina gathers more lumps of remains with her webs, and Tim, Heathcliff, and Elizabeth launch them at the dragon. Bit by bit, the skeletal dragon falls apart until it lands at its skull and enables Emily to finally sever the phylactery from the draconic lich. The skeletal opheoneus falls apart In the air as the water recedes and a sanguine hue clears from both sky and sea. Emily lands on the island as a part of short rises from beneath them. At the end of which is a chest. Nina is the one to open the chest, eagerly anticipating new equipment, sure enough, among the stark white chips of bone lies a circlet that fits her head snugly. Emily approaches the other items and sees an Axe as well as a tablet with a message. ¡°Passage to Hamlet you are now allowed. But be warned, the piper is here right now. Little spiderling, fellow Dungeon, take these treasures, for trials await you all in the future.¡± Emily hands the tablet to Elizabeth who is surprised that the dungeon has decided to communicate with them at all. Nina takes the axe and gives it some swings, however, the axe is too heavy for her to effectively use and Sarah confiscates it. ¡°Minerva is not gonna like this,¡± Heathcliff muses. The party as braved the gauntlet of Revotos¡¯ Valley and earned the right to safe passage to and from Hamlet. They execute this privilege immediacy and makes their way to the village. ??? A few hours ago, the pied man from Noir had arrived, having snuck past the gantlet that is Revotos¡¯ Valley. ¡°Forsooth, the dungeon was easily passed,¡± the man says to himself. ¡°Maybe I¡¯ll play a little tune, rejoice.¡± The man takes out his trusty pipe and plays a small tune. The nearby rodents were charmed by the melodies of his Bardsong and surrounded him as if he were the king. ¡°Hah, I still got it, the job will breeze by!¡± Little did he know, an invisible hand had guided him here, the presence of a demoniac entity watches him with keen interest as he plays around with the vermin. They had guided him through the valley of death in ways unknown to all but the dungeon¡¯s core. They leave the piper be as they scope out the village. The azure sky gleams with a warm refulgence, the sunlight shining down on the quiet isolated town of Hamlin. Children are frocking out in the town¡¯s center with beaming smiles, as the adults cheerfully go about their day. Yet the atmosphere is thick with an understanding among the elders that the world had left them behind. The rustic town looks like something of a film depicting a past age, with cottages lined with hay and none of the more modern amenities like steam-powered devices or even automobiles. The lambent of the sunlight reveals not only a town stuck in the past but one that struggles to move forward, isolated by both time and distance alike. The demon picks up on this and they soon chance upon its mayor. The politician, fresh off a meeting with officials from the New Virginia state government, a representative of the Rosenkreuz guild, and several important people from Noir, is on his way back to his office in tow hall, to assess the finances. The invisible specter spectates the mayor¡¯s lucubration of the coins in the coffers. ¡°Hmm,¡± the mayor says. ¡°After we exterminated these pests, we should be able to get enough to start the Backbreaker Bridge project by winter.¡± The specter looks at the location of the coins, placed not within a vault of high security, but instead a humble chest. The specter is intrigued by this. They soon returned to the piper, now having played a tune for the population. The pied bard gives the name of Stanley Piers to his audience. A name the specter had already known too well, for they had already decided that Stanley would be their agent of change. Yet they muse on whether the rats he was hired to remove can¡¯t also be agents in their own right. They begin to formulate a scheme involving the rats and the catcher both. Stanley and the Hamlin residents remain unaware of the cacodaemoniacal presence. ¡°I shall thank you for honoring me now.¡± The man bows. ¡°My tunes shall ensure the vermin is vanquished. May the village be rid of rats by dawn!¡± The town cheers, not knowing that others will soon follow in the rodents wake. Chapter X: Village Gossip A few days ago, on the outskirts of the town of Hamlin lies a place where several beasts and monsters dwell. They are tended to by a pair of Alraunes. The eldest, a motherly woman tends to several of these wild beasts. The chartreuse green petals on her waist resemble a long skirt of a dress. Her top is of a complementary hue to both her natural skirt and her verdant skin tone. ¡°Hmm,¡± the woman says as she looks over the animals and monsters. She sees a stray mimic looking around for valuables to consume. An Orthus barks at the chest with their two heads. ¡°Oh my!¡± the woman says. She runs towards the canid beast. ¡°No! Bad dog,¡± she scolds the Orthus whose heads whimper in response. She then turns towards the move the mimic. ¡°Charlotte!¡± she says, ¡°Can you help me move the mimic again?¡± ¡°Okay, Mom,¡± a smaller Alraune enters the room, her skin is the same color as her mother¡¯s flowers, but her own, and her tresses, are dyed in shades of violet and indigo. The daughter helps her mother pacify the mimic with pollen from her flowers before they push the mobile chest away from the Orthus. After moving the monster back to its room, they make sure it is fed with some jewels. The family are tamers, who had put down roots near Hamlin to assist with stray monsters, tending to them before they could be released back into the dungeons they came from. ¡°Thank you, sweetie,¡± the mother says to Charlotte. She soon heads to the kitchen to make some tea for herself. A while later, the Alraune mother finishes preparing tea. As she drinks the beverage, she thinks about the town. She always notices a strange feeling whenever she visits it. The next day, Charlotte heads to school. The village only has one school, enough for all of the town¡¯s young children, numbering over one hundred and thirty. As she walks to the town and the school, she notices something. The villagers do not greet her like they do the other kids, they go about their day ignoring her whenever she walks alone. Only the teachers and her fellow schoolmates seem to acknowledge her. At school, the young Alraune girl talks with some of her classmates, but these discussions are always cut short by the school¡¯s bell and there is a sense of distance between her and the other children. At recess, she usually sits on a swing, alone. She gazes at the number of kids playing together and those that avoid her. ¡°Why can¡¯t I make any friends?¡± she asks herself before sighing. Meanwhile, the mother is visiting her sister at the local shelter. She finds her sister, another Alraune, but with blond hair and only a tinge of green on her complexion. A stark contrast to her own green skin. The store employee wears a tag reading ¡°Geraldine Truce.¡± Her top is worn over her rose-red and green skirt. ¡°Thanks for coming by, Carla,¡± Geraldine says to her sister. ¡°My pleasure Geraldine,¡± Carla Truce says. ¡°How¡¯s the town treating you?¡± ¡°Oh, they get along with me splendidly!¡± Geraldine says with a vibrant expression. ¡°That¡¯s good to hear,¡± Carla says. ¡°Did anyone give you any trouble?¡± The shelter is immaculate, with not a single speck of dust or hair anywhere on the floors or walls. The building is illuminated by candlelight and sunlight as the two tend to the various numbers of stray animals. Cats, dogs, and even some monsters that were too far from the dungeon they came from. ¡°Not that I recall,¡± Geraldine says as she tends to a living Raflessia monster. The stench of their very distant kin is neutralized by a potpourri of essential oils. ¡°Why do you ask?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Carla says. ¡°I¡¯m glad to hear Hamlin¡¯s treating you kindly.¡± Geraldine notices her sister¡¯s forlorn expression. ¡°I understand there have been some concerns at school lately?¡± Meanwhile, at the school, the bell rings, and Charlotte gets off her solitary swing. As she walked back to her classroom, she tripped and fell onto the ground. ¡°Owie!¡± she cries out. She looks up and sees a trio of boys towering over her. The leader, a lad named Charles Cortez, smirks with an outstretched leg right behind Charlotte¡¯s heel. Charlotte realizes that he is the one that tripped her. ¡°I¡¯m telling the teachers!¡± Charlotte says to Charles as she stands up. ¡°Heh,¡± the bully says. ¡°They don¡¯t care, you know that right?¡±. At his side is Felix Nicolle, the right-hand boy to Charles. ¡°Still can¡¯t make any friends?¡± Felix teases. The third lad is Anthony Richmond, a hanger-on to Charles¡¯ gang of delinquents and bullies. ¡°Maybe you¡¯d have better luck at the forest!¡± he quips. ¡°Knock it off!¡± Charlotte says, her eyes quivering with tears as she turns. ¡°Face it,¡± Charles says. ¡°This town has no place for monsters like you.¡± A duo of girls arrive at the scene. Euryale and Stheno Arion. Their older brother was recently inducted into Rosenkreuz. The sisters see the trio of boys bullying Charlotte. ¡°Do you guys get your kicks from bullying her?¡± Euryale says. ¡°Heh,¡± I¡¯m just telling it like it is,¡± Charles says. The other two lads nod in agreement. ¡°That¡¯s not true!¡± Charlotte says. ¡°I know Hamlin accepts me!¡± Charles turns to to the little Alraune ¡°Please,¡± he scoffs. ¡°You¡¯re only tolerated here.¡± Tears stream down Charlotte¡¯s face as she lets herself be riled up by Charles¡¯s insults. ¡°How would you know?!¡± Charles gazes at the Alraune with an intense expression. ¡°Have you noticed that none of the adults in town are batting an eye at you right? Surely you¡¯re not that blind? The baker? The weaver, the kindly Ms. Guarjardo ignores your presence. Face it monster, you¡¯ve no real place here. You are only allowed to live here because your father happened to be Samuel.¡± ¡°T-That¡¯s not true!¡± Charlotte says before running off, crying. ¡°Charlotte!¡± Euryale says. She turns to Charles. ¡°Thanks a lot, you jerks!¡± before she and Stheno rush to comfort her. The boys simply head to class without a shred of remorse. A while later the sisters see the Alraune child sobbing in front of the school¡¯s tree. Confiding in the plant about her experiences. The Arions comfort her. ¡°Man, these guys are real pieces of work!¡± Euryale says. Her voice carries a slightly tomboyish exuberance. ¡°Quite,¡± Stheno says. Her voice carried a slightly regal tone. ¡°It is hard to believe why they haven¡¯t gotten in trouble for this.¡± Euryale hands Charlotte a handkerchief. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± she says. The young Alraune takes the cloth and wipes her tears and mucus from her face. ¡°Charlotte,¡± she says with a sniffle. ¡°Euryale,¡± the other girl says. ¡°She¡¯s Stheno,¡± as she gestures to her twin sister. ¡°Do you want us to take you to the principal?¡± Stheno says. ¡°Uh-huh?¡± Charlotte says. The three girls soon head off to report the bullies. At the shelter, Carla tells Geraldine about an incident where some bullies had pushed Charlotte into the mud while calling her a monster. ¡°Goodness!¡± Geraldine says. ¡°How terrible.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Carla says. ¡°They¡¯ve been apparently given a time out, yet that was the latest in a line of such incidents. If it is not them, it is a different group of students getting her in trouble with the teachers, if not that, it is kids outright burying her in the dirt.¡± She sighs. Geraldine was aware of some of these incidents. She is aware of a sense of alienation her sister and niece had felt for the past several months. Carla sighs as they finish up the duties at the shelter. She gazes wistfully at a portrait of their family hanging at the shelter. The image shows an artist¡¯s impression of Carla, Charlotte, and an indigo-haired man. ¡°The town was always fond of Sam,¡± Carla says nostalgically. Geraldine sees Carla mourning again. ¡°He did always know how to liven up the mood. Helped bring some coin to Hamlin as well.¡± The Alraune sisters talk about the late Samuel Truce, and how he was among the foremost skilled adventurers in the village. ¡°I don¡¯t think the town has quite gotten over his demise,¡± Carla says with a sigh. ¡°They say time heals all wounds,¡± Geraldine says. ¡°This is a wound that cuts deep,¡± Carla says. She reminisces of simpler times, when Samuel was alive, and when the town felt more welcoming of her. She recalls the celebration that took place when Charlotte was born, and how the neighbors always helped her with her tasks. Now to her, it feels like those days are long gone. ¡°I heard a poem was used in Noir,¡± Carla says. ¡°The poem ends with a verse that says the moon, ever distant, is more familiar to the writer than the city. Geraldine, do you know when Hamlin has changed?¡± ¡°I sadly do not,¡± Geraldine says. A man soon walks int he shelter, the door ringing a little bell to the side. ¡°Excuse me?¡± the stranger says. ¡°Is Carla Truce here?¡± ¡°Why yes,¡± she says. ¡°Is something the matter?¡± Over at the schoolyard. Charlotte, Euryale and Stheno talk with the principal about the recent incident. The principal has also called Charles, Felix and Anthony over. ¡°So,¡± the principal says. Her tone is stern with a hint of tiredness. She turns to the boys. ¡°I heard you caused Charlotte a great deal of grief?¡± Charles defiantly humphs. ¡°Monster¡¯ll cry over any old thing!¡± ¡°That¡¯s not true!¡± Charlotte says. ¡°Charlotte is not a monster,¡± the principal says. ¡°She¡¯s certainly not a villager either,¡± Charles says. ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for me, you¡¯d be ignoring her like all the rest¡± Euryale walks over to Charles, ¡°Listen here you little¡ª¡° the principal cuts her off. ¡°Language, Euryale.¡± Carla soon arrives having been alerted of the incident, with Gerladine in tow ¡°Mom?¡± Charlotte says with a touch of embarrassment. ¡°Missus Truce,¡± The principal says. ¡°I must apologize again.¡± ¡°No it¡¯s alright,¡± Carla says. She turns to her daughter, ¡°Now tell me what happened.¡± The three girls tell Carla about the trip and the encounter with the bullies. ¡°Charles,¡± the principal says sternly to the lads. ¡°What do you have to say for yourselves.¡± The three boys give a sarcastic and insincere apology to Charlotte. The principal¡¯s ire is well hidden behind her calm expression. ¡°I¡¯ll will let their parents know about this,¡± the principal says with a sigh of disappointment. She is one of the few people who is aware of Charlotte¡¯s troubles at the school besides Carla herself. ¡°You can¡¯t be¡ª¡° Charles says. ¡°I can and I will!¡± the principal says. ¡°You¡¯re all dismissed.¡± The rest of the day goes by without further incident. Charlotte bonds with the Arion sisters over the day as the school ends. ??? After succeeding in passing through Revotos¡¯ Valley. Emily¡¯s party arrives in the village of Hamlin. Emily holds the tablet in her hand. The enigmatic message telling of the piper leaves her wondering about who the piper is. Elizabeth also looks at the tablet with keen interest. ¡°Why is it a warning?¡± the fairy asks. Sarah looks at the villagers looking at the unusual pair with a mix of intrigue and apprehension. The strange outfits mark the travelers as adventurers. But the presence of a dwarf and an Arachne child leaves them to wonder where they came from. The murmurs of the townsfolk echo across the isolated village as Emily and her friends look around the village. ¡°Seems like we¡¯re the talk of the town, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. A man soon approaches them. ¡°Welcome to our humble village,¡± the man says with an apprehensive but warm smile. ¡°To what pleasure do we owe your presence.¡± ¡°We¡¯re here because we heard there was a Tamer in the area,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°You don¡¯t supposed you can lead us to him, kind monsuier?¡± ¡°A Tamer?¡± the man says. ¡°I don¡¯t know what that is, but if I can hazard a guess, I think there might be someone here who fits the bill, follow me.¡± The man leads them towards a small shelter. ??? At the same time. Stanley Piers talks to the mayor. ¡°From Noir I had came, on word of your plight. Let me cleanse the town of the rats tonight.¡± ¡°And how much would it cost, kind sir?¡± the mayor says. ¡°I understand your frugal desires,¡± the bard says. ¡°You wish to save for a road that links here to Noir.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± the mayor says. ¡°Your humble town, isolated from all,¡± Stanley says. ¡°Rest assured I will not bring forth your fall. My price is simple, a few dozen gold. A fair price to pay, with plenty to save.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± the mayor says. He looks over at the coffers and sees several gold coins. Certainly, the piper¡¯s price is not so steep in comparison. He had personally made sure to cover the cost, and besides, the rats were a threat to Hamlin¡¯s future. ¡°Very well, Mr Piers, you have a deal.¡± ¡°I¡¯m glad we had reached an agreement, sir,¡± the piper plays a small tune. ¡°Forsooth, the vermin will be gone posthaste.¡± The mayor puts the coins in a small sack, making sure it is separate from the money put aside for the Backbreaker Project. He then hands Stanley a map of the village, marking down places with a large concentrations of rats. The piper leaves the room, satisfied. ¡°You¡¯re getting a raw deal, you know?¡± The piper hears a voice as he leaves the town hall. A thought? ¡°The town does not take well to outsiders. They will lie and cheat, and damn you to squalor.¡± ¡°That is not true, for we made a deal.¡± the bard thinks. ¡°I¡¯d think the mayor¡¯d more honor than Noir.¡± The cacodemonic voice lingers. ¡°They are all the same, swindlers, thieves, vor. They care not for the Exsecratii here.¡± The intrusive thoughts plant a small seed of doubt, but it matters now to Stanley. ¡°I have a job to do, that is certain. The rats shall be expunged, no matter what.¡± ¡°Very well, piper, but I had warned you,¡± the voice says. ¡°When the knife stabs you, I¡¯ll be waiting.¡± Stanley heeds, not the seeds of doubt in his head and soon heads to the first location marked on the map. ??? In the shelter, Geraldine has invited her relatives over, as well as the Arion sisters. They find the trio of girls looking at the various critters and domesticated monsters with awe. ¡°They¡¯re so cool!¡± Euryale says. She looks at a small ashwood sapling. Charlotte giggles. ¡°Pardon me,¡± Stheno says to Geraldine, holding a small rodent in her palms. ¡°Are you sure this chinchilla is not among the rodent issue?¡± ¡°I¡¯m certain,¡± Geraldine says. ¡°The rats here have much darker fur.¡± ¡°Where does this little guy come from?¡± Euryale says. ¡°Hmm,¡± Charlotte says. She turns to her mother. ¡°Can you remind me, Mom? I think I forgot.¡± ¡°With pleasure sweetie,¡± Carla says. She is happy to see that Charlotte has made friends for the first time since school. ¡°The chinchilla wandered here from a snowy tundra. I think it came from a frozen wasteland dungeon that recently sprung up to the west of Rosenkreuz.¡± ¡°It seemed very hardy for such a little guy,¡± Geraldine says. The bell rings on the shelter¡¯s front door and a small band of travelers come in. One of them was distinguished by her purple metallic armored dress. ¡°Hello?¡± she says. ¡°Welcome,¡± Geraldine says. The pale-skinned Alraune looks at the group and notices the spiderling and dwarf among them. ¡°You¡¯re not from around here, what brings you to our humble village?¡± ¡°We¡¯re looking for a specialist for me¡ªmy home. It has been suffering from an animal problem lately.¡± ¡°An animal problem you say?¡± Carla says. ¡°And where do you live young lady?¡± Emily introduces herself and gives the location of the dungeon near the town of Rosenkreuz. ¡°Goodness! That is far off!¡± Carla says. Nina looks at the various critters at the shelter, as well as the Alraune child and her two new friends. She introduces herself to the older children. ¡°Hi, I¡¯m Nina! Adventurer in training!¡± ¡°Putting the cart before the horse there, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°But I supposed introductions are in order.¡± He turns to the adult Alraunes. ¡°Bonjour mademoiselles. My name is Heathcliff. My patron is Emily, this here¡¯s Tim, that¡¯s Sarah and that¡¯s Elizabeth.¡± ¡°My name¡¯ is Carla,¡± the green woman says. ¡°Carla Truce. My sister is called Geraldine.¡± If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°I¡¯m Charlotte,¡± Carla¡¯s daughter says with a shy look on her face. ¡°You may address me as Stheno,¡± Stheno says, ¡°My sister is called.¡± ¡°Let me introduce myself, Stheno!¡± Euryale says. ¡°Ahem, my name is Euryale, a pleasure to meet you!¡± ¡°Nice to meet you too!¡± Emily says. While pleasantries were had, everyone heard a sound echoing through the village. The chinchilla enters a trance and scurries off Stheno¡¯s hands in a daze. Leaving the shelter entirely. Everyone heads outside to find a parade of various rats marching in the same mesmerized state, concentrating around a man wearing a pied outfit. For some reason, Charlotte, Nina, and Emily would sense a strange feeling from the man as he cheerfully plays his song. The three could sense a strong malevolence from the man, but could not place their finger on it. The pied piper sees a large swarm of rats at his feet and continues his performance, leading the rats toward the edge of the village. ¡°Hmm,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Methinks we got the wrong people.¡± ¡°Care to elaborate?¡± Geraldine asks. ¡°We came here on word that a tamer from Noir had come to this village,¡± Tim says. ¡°I see,¡± Carla says. ¡°Still,¡± Emily says as she gazes upon the tablet. ¡°Something feels off about it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not just me?¡± Nina says. ¡°I can feel it too,¡± Charlotte says. ¡°Hmm,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Carla, was it? It looks like we¡¯ll be lingering around town a bit. Do you think you can hook us up with a place to stay, cher?¡± Carla understands the knight¡¯s words. ¡°Of course. We have plenty of spare room at our house.¡± ¡°Maybe we can come over as well?¡± Euryale says. ¡°We can ask mommy dearest about a sleepover first, of course,¡± Stheno says. ¡°Of course,¡± Carla says. ¡°We hadn¡¯t had any visitors since¡ª¡° she stops herself. Geraldine turns to her sister¡¯s family portrait. The group decides to split up. Elizabeth and Tim decide to look into the other bard while the others set off for Carla¡¯s house and the Arions head to home to ask their parents for permission to sleep over at the Alraune¡¯s abode. ??? Elizabeth and Tim take a small tour around the village. There they see the piper working his Bardsong towards routing the rodents. A crowd had gathered on the town streets in the effulgent daylight. Tim looks at the man with some suspicion. ¡°Hey,¡± he says. ¡°Do you think dungeons can sense evil?¡± ¡°They can sense malicious intent,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°But this piper seems to lack any.¡± The piper finishes his performance and notices the martial artist and fairy among the spectators. ¡°Salutations, fellow travelers I see,¡± the man says with a large smile as he approaches him. ¡°Are you here about the rat problem too?¡± ¡°You can say that,¡± Tim says. ¡°Ah splendid, but alas, I had removed most,¡± the man says. ¡°Though some rodents still linger in places.¡± ¡°We are here,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Because we heard that a tamer from Noir had come here for pest control. Are you the tamer in question?¡± ¡°You are quite correct, my fairy lady. Stanley Piers has come to Hamlin from Noir.¡± The bard plays a small impassioned melody on his pipe. Tim is already annoyed by the bard, recalling his encounter with the Jonguler and his the other day. ¡°Our dungeon has need of a tamer,¡± Elizabeth says, to Tim¡¯s silent chagrin. ¡°Do you think you can assist us?¡± ¡°That depends, my dear, my Bardsong¡¯s quite niche,¡± Stanley says. ¡°It can only work on rodents, you see? Rats and mice and chinchillas that hear. Ah, that reminds me, I must inquire. Perhaps this critter is your desire?¡± he plays a small tune and the chinchilla from the shelter exits his pocket, free from its trance, and climbs onto Elizabeth. Elizabeth laughs as the little rodent scurries across her body. ¡°That tickles!¡± ¡°A critter as exotic as we are,¡± Stanley says. ¡°And well groomed and taken care of, I see. I¡¯m certain it numbers not of the rats. Perchance it came from the shelter yonder?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Tim says as he takes the critter off Elizabeth. ¡°We¡¯ll take it back there right now.¡± ¡°I appreciate it if you did, fellows,¡± Stanley says. ¡°Fare thee well, perhaps we shall meet again.¡± Stanley leaves towards one of the remaining places. The duo are left bewildered. The bard so far seemed kind and gentlemanly, bereft of any malefic intent. Yet Elizabeth could feel a strange aura around him. The two head back to the shelter. On the way, Elizabeth is curious about something. ¡°So How did you learn Far Eastern arts?¡± the fairy asks. ¡°My mom had a friend from Jiang-hu. She was born there. Her friend taught me everything I knew. Both with wind magic and bajiquan.¡± He sighs as he recalls his near loss to Chiron and his struggle with the Jongular¡¯s motley band. ¡°I was certain it would be enough, it has to be.¡± Elizabeth senses a forlorn expression in him. ¡°Bemoaning wounded price I¡¯m guessing?¡± ¡°No,¡± Tim says. ¡°That friend, my mentor before Heathcliff, passed away. He said that mastering my Qiang would help me finish my training.¡± ¡°Does Emily know this?¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Unfortunately,¡± Tim says. ¡°My fault for forgetting she can eavesdrop on everything in her body.¡± He turns to the fairy. ¡°Maybe I should branch out a bit. I can use more than just Wind now that you and Emily have more cores right?¡± ¡°That is correct,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Anything in particular you want to learn?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll discuss it later,¡± Tim says as they approach the shelter. ¡°We¡¯re here.¡± ¡°Oh, right,¡± Elizabeth says, realizing that she forgot about the chinchilla matter. The two opened the door to the shelter and Geraldine greets them at the toll of the small bell to the side. ¡°Welcome back!¡± The rosy Alraune says. ¡°We talked to the piper,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°He wanted us to return this,¡± the chinchilla leaps out of Tim¡¯s pocket and into Geraldine¡¯s arms. The Alraune caretaker looks at the chinchilla and notices its sadness. ¡°Hmm,¡± She examines the chinchilla¡¯s features. ¡°I think it might have found a special partner, could you do me a favor and help it find them again.¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Elizabeth says. Tim sighs. The rodent jumps back into Tim¡¯s pocket as the two head off to regroup with the others. ??? Euryale and Stheno arrive at their home. A somewhat above-average home in the village, seated atop a verdant hill. The architecture is unusual, blending a modern style with peculiar designs. The twins arrive at the front door, the doorway only slightly taller than they are. ¡°We need to tell Dad that the doorway is too small,¡± Stheno says. They open the doorway. ¡°We¡¯re home!¡± Euryale says. ¡°Oh, ¡°a voice calls from the kitchen. ¡°Welcome home, girls.¡± A tall woman exists in the kitchen, her verdant hair reaches her nape as she greets her daughters. ¡°What have you been up to lately?¡± ¡°Is Orpheus home, perchance?¡± Stheno says. ¡°You just missed him, girls,¡± the mother says. Her hair coiled in a serpentine fashion uninherted by her children. ¡°He had just left for Noir.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Euryale says with a dejected expression. Ever since the Ebony Guards had scouted Orpheus Arion, he barely had the opportunity to visit Hamlin, and the few visits he does make are as thin as they are far between. ¡°I can¡¯t believe someone from Noir hired him after Rosenkreuz rejected him,¡± Euryale says. ¡°Your father is outside, dears,¡± the mother says. ¡°Douglas! The girls are home!¡± The girls head to the kitchen, seeing their father outside, behind the backyard door. In stark contrast to the front door, the backyard door towers over the family. For that reason, it is the parents and Orpheus¡¯ primary means of entry into their abode. The father sees the daughters and greets them with a warm smile, his brown beard and short hair projects the image of a hardworking family man, the brown hair being a constant among the three children of Douglas and his wife. ¡°Girls!¡± he says. ¡°How has your day been, Daddy?¡± Euryale says. ¡°It went well,¡± Douglas says. ¡°Now that the rats are gone, I can finally get to work on repairs!¡± Douglas is one of the few villagers with an eye for construction, it was he who built the house. From the slightly askew windows to a chimney that zigs and zags as rainbow smoke leaves its stacks. He was the one who designed the house with a sense of aesthetical whimsy. ¡°Heard you two made a new friend recently. ¡°Yeah!¡± the twins said. ¡°Charlotte,¡± the two were reminded of the reason they went home to begin with. Stheno says, ¡°We were wondering if you would let us come over to her house for the night.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t she one of the Alraunes?¡± the mother says with a concerned expression. ¡°The daughter of the woman that helps with the monsters.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Euryale says. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with that?¡± ¡°Well, um,¡± the mom says. ¡°It¡¯s just that that place might be dangerous. What with all the dangerous critters abound.¡± Douglas looks at her wife with an unsurprised but understanding expression. ¡°Medusa, honey. Are you implying that you don¡¯t trust the Truces to take care of our girls? After all that Samuel has done for us?¡± ¡°Of course not, Douglas!¡± Medusa says. ¡°We owe a lot to Samuel, Adminstrators bless his soul. But are we sure his wife can handle these two, especially on top of the other heard I heard she is housing, and with the wee beasties still there?¡± Douglas has been around these parts, he knows to keep an open mind, after all, he used to be an adventurer himself back in the day and has explored many strange places. And he was quite close to Samuel as well. He knows the rumors surrounding the Alraunes are unfounded. After a few moments of silence, Medusa turns to her daughters. ¡°Alright girls, you can go, but¡­¡± she says before laying out a list of conditions including not disturbing the fauna or the other guests while staying at Carla¡¯s. ¡°Got it,¡± the twins say. ¡°Thanks, Mommy!¡± the two prepare to pack some things for the sleepover. Medusa turns to Douglas. ¡°I¡¯m sorry dear,¡± she says. ¡°Maybe I let the rumors get to me after all.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± the husband says. ¡°I know Hamlin is not yet used to demi-humans, but you got to have more faith in Samuel. I know he would never marry people with ill intent or risk Hamlin¡¯s safety.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Medusa sighs. She looks at the playful girls as they speculate on the fun things they¡¯ll be able to do with Charlotte. ¡°If nothing else, I wish them good luck with their new friend.¡± A while later, Douglas takes the girls to Carla¡¯s home. ??? On the outskirts of Hamlin, on a path that leads to both a lush forest and ends at the foot of the majestic Brokeback Mountains, lies a large home. Its windows are misshaped with an unchiral design, its roof is sloped in a way that makes it look like it dances beneath the heavens. Its warm tones and quirky aspects stand out in the green of the nearby forests. It¡¯s as if it stands on a liminal border betwixt the fantastical and the mundane, much like how the villager sees its residents as on the border between the alien and familiar. Tim and Elizabeth arrive at the house, with Emily, Sarah, Heathcliff, and Nina already situating themselves in the Alraune¡¯s guest rooms. Shortly after, the Arion family walks over, having secured permission from their parents. Inside Carla¡¯s house, Heathcliff looks at several rooms, each having some manner of beast or monster contained and well cared for. ¡°Well,¡± Heathcliff thinks, ¡°looks like we have our tamer!¡± Carla answered the door and found that the rest of the guests had arrived. As well as Douglas Arion, the man who constructed this house. ¡°Hello Douglas,¡± Carla says as the girls storm into the room. ¡°Pleasure¡¯s all mine!¡± Douglas says.¡± Heard our kids became fast friends!¡± ¡°It sure seems that way,¡± Carla says. ¡°How¡¯s Orpheus?¡± ¡°Got some business over at Noir,¡± Douglas says. The two chat a bit about how things have gone since Samuel¡¯s demise. Indeed the two forged a fast friendship when Samuel introduced her to him. A friendship that resulted in Douglas organizing the party celebrating Charlotte¡¯s birth and Carla being made the maid of honor for his wedding with Medusa. Meanwhile, Douglas¡¯ daughters find Charlotte playing with Nina and Emily. Charlotte¡¯s face beams a big smile as she sees her two schoolmates here. ¡°Euryale, Stheno, you¡¯re here!¡± Charlotte says. Meanwhile, Tim and Elizabeth talk with Emily and Heathcliff about the encounter with Stanley Piers. The chinchilla in Tim¡¯s pocket senses the presence of the Arions and leaps out of his pocket, scurrying towards Stheno. ¡°Wow!¡± Stheno says as she sees the chinchilla. ¡°Though you ran off somewhere little guy,¡± she said. Carla finishes her chat with Douglas, who explains that his daughters will be staying with her for a week. The two friends part ways. Carla enters her humble but spacious abode and greets her guests, before entering the kitchen to prepare dinner. ??? That night, the guests have dinner. The walls, and their unsymmetrical windows and warm colors, tell of both Douglas¡¯ handiwork and how long Clara had lived and taken care of the fauna around here. The guests sit at a long table, crafted from rich mahogany wood. They sit on furniture modeled after giant mushrooms. ¡°This is definitely dad¡¯s idea,¡± Euryale said of the quirky design. Charlotte helps her mother set the table, setting out several dishes of assorted fruits and vegetables, with some meat from a deceased catoblepas for some of the guests. Emily looks at the food with a surprised look, seeing it on Carla¡¯s plate as well. ¡°Um,¡± ¡°Something wrong?¡± Carla says. ¡°Did I overcook the meat again?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that,¡± Emily says. She struggles to find the words to properly express her confusion at seeing an Alraune, a being that she knows is botanical in nature, consume flesh. Heathcliff senses Emily¡¯s confusion. ¡°You¡¯ll have to excuse Emily, mademoiselle Clara,¡± the knight says. ¡°This is her first time dining with folk like you, you see.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± Clara says. She is aware of the paradox involving her carnivorous tastes and her duty to care for the animals and monsters. Sarah looks at the delectable platter and immediately starts scarfing down the dinner with zeal, with only a small awareness of utensil use and table manners. The others are a little surprised at her voracious appetite. She soon empties the dish and wipes her mouth with a nearby napkin. ¡°Got any seconds?¡± she says. ¡°Maybe I should make some more groceries next time,¡± Heathcliff thinks. ??? The guests make small talk and introduce themselves to each other. When Clara is finished eating, she heads to the kitchen to prepare Sarah¡¯s second plate. As she washes the dishes, the Alraune lady looks back at the table, the first time since Samuel¡¯s demise that her house ever seemed so full of life. She wonders why that is. The leather-clad knight enters the kitchen. ¡°Need some help saving the dishes, cher?¡± Carla accepts Heathcliff¡¯s assistance. She is surprised at his competence at housework. Heathcliff washes some of the dishes. ¡°For what it¡¯s worth, this is the first time I saw Sarah pig out like that, that must¡¯ve been some very good food.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± Carla says. She has a nostalgic expression on her face. Something heavy weight on the Alraune¡¯s mind. ¡°I understand you need someone to help with the animals?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°That¡¯s the reason why we came to Hamlin to begin with, Are you interested in the job, mademoiselle?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± Clara says. Indeed she isn¡¯t even certain why she is entertaining the thought. She loves Hamlin with all her heart, yet something is telling her that love is not mutual. ¡°Tell me, do you ever believe rumors?¡± ¡°Rumors?¡± Heathcliff says with a curious expression. ¡°Not really, folk will say anything if they think it would help them get ahead. Put themselves on pedestals, drag others through the mud, or pass off falsehoods as truth. I don¡¯t put stock in rumors, Carla.¡± Carla is a little relieved to hear that. They soon finish the second course for Sarah and Heathcliff delivers it to the young dwarf. Carla looks out at the kitchen window. From there she can see tall verdant trees, some appear to be as tall as the mountains in the distance. She can see the small cottages of Hamlin, light shining out from the houses. At first, the sight fills her with joy, but now she can feel nothing but dread emanating from it. The moonlight feeling more warm than the village itself. ¡°At what time did the village change?¡± she thought. ¡°Was it the night Samuel died?¡± ??? When dinner was over, Charlotte took several of the guests, Nina, Euryale, and Stheno, on a tour of her house. The children can see all manner of wild beasts and monsters. From a mimic, to an Orthus, to a Raflessia monster, to an ashwood sapling. The young girls are intrigued by the strange collection of monsters, each well-fed and cleaned. Nina takes the most interest in the creatures. ¡°Hey, can I get close to them?¡± she says. ¡°I¡¯ll be really good. Promise!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Charlotte says. ¡°These are still dangerous.¡± Before she could finish her sentence, the spiderling was already rushing over to the Orthus, staring intently at them. ¡°Now sit!¡± Nina says to the Orthus, her gaze locked onto theirs. The twin-headed hound plants its hind on the floor in a stupor. ¡°Roll over,¡± Nina says. The Orthus rolls over, still entranced and dazed. ¡°Beg,¡± the dog obediently and mindlessly performs the trick. ¡°Good boy!¡± Nina says as she pets the monster¡¯s left head before returning to the other girls. The dog¡¯s heads wake up a little confused at what just happened. ¡°Did she have a dangerous dog perform tricks?¡± Stheno says, her usual graceful demeanor broken by the shock of the feat. ¡°We should avoid looking at her eyes,¡± Charlotte says. ¡°Arachne had potent hypnotic abilities.¡± By the time Charlotte finishes explaining the power of Nina¡¯s eyes, Euryale is already enthralled by them and haphazardly performs the same tricks the Orthus did, to Nina¡¯s innocent amusement. ¡°Nina!¡± Stheno says. ¡°My sister is not your doll!¡± she says with a scolding tone. ¡°Sorry,¡± Nina says while twiddling her fingers. She breaks the trance on Euryale. ¡°My head,¡± Euryale says, slightly more cognizant about what had occurred in the past few minutes. The four soon head to another room, where they find a small dragon whelp and a family of Nemean lions. Charlotte deters Nian from trying to hypnotize any of the beasts here while making sure she herself doesn¡¯t fall into a stupefeous trance. Euryale looks at the lion cubs. ¡°Where did these come from?¡± Charlotte examines the lions. ¡°I think Mommy told me they had arrived from a marble ruin dungeon near Eastshire.¡± ¡°It seems rather strange,¡± Stheno says. ¡°That humans have trouble passing through the mountains, but monsters and animals can easily slip by.¡± Her chinchilla looks at the lions with some interest and jumps off her shoulder. ¡°Chilly!¡± Stheno says. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°You already named the chinchilla?¡± Euryale says. ¡°Purring the cart before the horse aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m certain mommy and daddy won¡¯t object to the pet!¡± Chilly mischievously looks at the lion cubs, each asleep and one is holding a small ball in their paws. The rodent makes a mischievous expression but is stopped by Nina¡¯s silken threads and picked up by Stheno before they can even attempt to dislodge the round toy from the Nemean cub. The quartet of young girls moves to a different room before Chilly can try again. They arrive at the vacuous living room. Adorned with several furnishings and a fireplace. The Arion girls notice the furniture has the same quirky hallmarks of their father as their own, with dolphin shapes on the armrests, a vibrant lavender and periwinkle color scheme, and intricate weaves of chartreuse yellow, green, and black floral patterns on the floor. The fireplace however is more straightforward. There the girls sit down and talk about their lives. Euryale mentions Douglas¡¯ carpentry hobby and how Medusa met him when he and Samuel went into Revoto¡¯s valley for wood and charcoal. Nina meanwhile explains how she was kidnapped by and saved from a cult by her mother and a group of adventurers they now live with. She notices a curious expression on Stheno¡¯s face. ¡°Something wrong?¡± Charlotte says. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing, Lottie,¡± Stheno says. ¡°First you nickname the chinchilla and now you nicknamed Charlotte!¡± Euryale says, ¡°Let me nickname someone for a change!¡± ¡°Okay, Eury,¡± Stheno says with a wide grin. Euryale is left with an expression of furor and humphs at her twin sister. Nina giggles a little. Charlotte looks at the twins. ¡°Our dads were good friends, right?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Euryale says. ¡°Why¡¯d you ask?¡± Euryale says. ¡°I was wondering,¡± Charlotte says. ¡°What are we talking about?¡± Nina says. ¡°Oh,¡± Charlotte remembers that Nina doesn''t live in Hamlin. ¡°My father, he was well known in the community.¡± ¡°Samuel was consdiered one of Hamlin¡¯s finest adventurers,¡± Euryale says. ¡°He¡¯d and Daddy would go out on adventures all the time!¡± ¡°Some aspiring bards told of many of his exploits,¡± Stheno says. ¡°Like the time she stopped a small brigand of werewolves from raiding the village.¡± ¡°Of the time he went to Revotos¡¯ Valley to request its aid in building dam to prevent a flood!¡± Euryale says. ¡°Or the time he exposed a crooked mayoral hopeful¡¯s dealings with the Vanishers,¡± Stheno says. ¡°Some even go as far as to hail him a hero!¡± ¡°He was also a wonderful husband and father,¡± Charlotte says. ¡°Or so Mom says.¡± She sighs, knowing how dearly she misses him. ¡°It was such a shame he went and croaked,¡± Euryale says. ¡°Don¡¯t think Hamlin ever recovered from that. ¡°There are even some rumo¡ª¡° Etheno says before catching herself. ¡°No never mind that, let¡¯s talk about something else!¡± ¡°Rumors?¡± Nina says. ¡°What rumors?¡± Euryale places her palm on her face. Stheno tries to change the topic. ¡°Just some silly little nonsense, that¡¯s all,¡± she says. Charlotte knows exactly what Stheno is trying to avoid. She knows that the hens are gossiping about the possibility that Samuel was killed by someone near and dear to him. She doesn¡¯t know why such slander existed, but her discomfort about the topic is not hidden from the other girls. Nina soon sees Charlotte¡¯s distraught expression and decided not to press the matter. Carla soon arrives to tell the girls its bedtime and they head to the guest rooms. Telling each other goodnight. ??? With the children tucked away and asleep, Carla meets up with Heathcliff in a room set aside for business meetings and visits from important people. A room that had fell into disuse since the passing of her husband. ¡°I¡¯m curious as to why you are seeing out a tamer,¡± Carla says. ¡°Well, Carla,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°As we explained before we are having a bit of an animal problem right now. Wee little b¨ºtes are causing a stir in our little place.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Carla says. ¡°And this place is a new Dungeon, yes?¡± ¡°Oui,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°It came to my attention that the piper from Noir had a more limited skill set, but you seem to be perfectly qualified for this job.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Carla says. She has some doubts about the job and what it entails. ¡°However you are aware that I put down roots here in little old Hamlin, yes?¡± ¡°Of course, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°It¡¯s a pretty big risk and this is pretty far from here.¡± ¡°So far that,¡± Carla says. ¡°Charlotte and I would have to move entirety.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°That said, opportunity rarely comes to Hamlin, as isolated as it is from the world. I¡¯m aware that several folks had to leave town to get a job and money to go back there.¡± ¡°To say nothing of the treacherous road. You know the perils of Revotos¡¯ Valley, but they pale in comparison to the Darknight Marshes, Gryphon¡¯s Wake, and the Brokeback Mountains themselves.¡± ¡°Those peaks didn¡¯t earn that name because of romantic reasons,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°I understand if you¡¯re willing to decline, cher. You seem to have a good thing going for you here for now. All I ask is that you think on it for a bit.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have some questions to ask in the morn. I wish to make a fully informed decision here.¡± ¡°Of course, Carla,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°We ain¡¯t goin¡¯ anywhere for now, take your time.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± the Alraune says. Heathcliff leaves Carla alone and heads to rest. ¡°Your bond with this town is misplaced, Alraune¡± a strange voice echoes in Carla¡¯s mind, otherworldly and masculine. ¡°For she is quick to cast vile judgment.¡± Despite the dissimilarities in her voice, Carla takes it as a thought, an intrusive thought, but one nonetheless. She tries to dismiss the thought and the seed of doubt it plants in the woman made of plants. ¡°Monster, murderer, O the things they call you,¡± the voice whispers. ¡°The rumors aren¡¯t easily dispelled. They take hold, fester, and corrupt. As long as they conform to perceptions.¡± Carla looks back at the town of Hamlin, the gentle moonlight now illuminates the lightless town. Now grown colder without the bright hues of candlelight emanating from the windows. ¡°The husband slayed, murdered in blood ice cold. Are you certain it was not you at fault?¡± the cacodaemonic voice whispers. Carla laughs it off. She knows the rumors are false, yet despite this, she struggles to disprove them. People for some reason believed that Samuel died at her hand. ¡°Give up, or not, the choice is yours alone.¡± The voice stops. Carla¡¯s decision is obvious. She would not give up on Hamlin, the town that gave her a home and family, right? ??? Meanwhile, Stanley had finished his performance of the day. The rodents of the last part of Hamlin leave the houses and buildings in the dead of night, enthralled by the Bardsong¡¯s melody. They scurry in a line, converting at the village¡¯s maw as they make their way towards a nearby lake. The same destination as the other rats. There they would enter the body of water. They would submerge but never surface. ¡°And lo, it is done, the rats are vanquished,¡± Stanley says after a long day¡¯s work. ¡°It took longer than I have expected.¡± The bard returns to his room at the local inn to rest and await the next day, where he shall confirm the extermination of the vermin and claim his payment. Over at the Town Hall. Long after the employees and civic servants leave its halls. Several rats sneak into the mayor¡¯s office. They, guided by a cacodaemonic trance enter the room and breach the coffer. The rodents abscond with a gold coin each, before exiting through a hole on the floor. The rodents slowly but surely empty the town¡¯s savings. The strange entity overseeing their egress. Stanley being none the wiser about what is happening at the town hall, or the consequences thereof. Chapter XI: The Song of the Proofless The sun rises over the town of Hamlin, and many of the villagers are awakened by Stella¡¯s glow. As the sun rises over the village, it too rises over Carla¡¯s abode In the margins between it, the first and the mountains. Yet, two of Carla¡¯s guests are already awake, practicing outside. ¡°Okay, Tim,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°You want to practice with earth magic?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± the martial artist says. He already assumes a horse stance. ¡°Well with the Geosphere, this should be a simple feat, just focus on the element itself,¡± the fairy says. Tim takes a deep breath and looks at the mountains in the distance. Ever stalwart as they stand sentinel over the village and the surrounding area. He channels his techniques into the image of the element of earth. He lifts his leg upwards and stomps the ground. A trail of jagged rock emerges in the direction of his foot and stretches for a few feet. ¡°Not bad,¡± Elizabeth says. Tim however is unstratified. While it would be useful on excursions to other dungeons. They both know that doing it with Emily would cause complications. Tim tries again. He uses his leg to create a less powerful stump. It causes a small rock to emerge from the ground. With a pair of snap kicks, he launches the boulder high into the air. It lands on top of the tallest spike of rock and dirt, breaking off its tip from the structure. Tim tries again, this time creating a pillar of earth, he uses a shoulder strike to topple the pillar he made. Elizabeth looks at the collapsed pillar with an intrigued expression. Tim looks at his results in a more satisfactory way. He closes his eyes and grins. ¡°Did I get the hang of it?¡± ¡°Well,¡± Elizabeth says. She isn¡¯t sure what to make of it. ¡°It¡¯s not common for earth spells to be sued at ranged, but you''re methods at doing so seem unorthodox.¡± A recently awakened Emily finds the pair in the clearing near Carla¡¯s home. ¡°There you are!¡± She looks at the effects of Tim¡¯s training. ¡°Morning, Emily!¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°I wanted to ask you about Bardsong,¡± Emily says. ¡°Can you teach me?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°You can leave it to me!¡± ¡°Why the sudden interest in Bardsong?¡± Tim says. ¡°Why not?¡± Emily says. ¡°You¡¯re not the only one that wants to learn new ways to fight.¡± ¡°Fair enough,¡± Tim says after a moment of silence. ¡°I think we should start with the basics,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Bardsong is an ancient art. The oldest way of channeling magic. It is even claimed to have existed before the Elementlaist¡¯s Spheres that made subsequent forms possible.¡± ¡°Uh-huh,¡± Emily says. ¡°As you can surmise,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Most forms of Bardsong revolve around sound to channel magic, to appeal to the elements. This stands in contrast to other schools of magic, which force the effect to happen by using mana from within.¡± Elizabeth demonstrates by casting a spell, using her internal mana to weave a small orb of light. The orb quickly vanishes as easily as it came. ¡°Bardsong is an emotional art. With each element correlating to specific emotions and chords. For example, light is associated with both unbridled joy and prideful arrogance.¡± Emily playfully glances at Tim, as if to imply something. ¡°I¡¯ll stick to earth and wind for now, thanks,¡± Tim says. ¡°Maybe I should demonstrate,¡± Elizabeth says. She begins to sing a series of cheerful notes. The spell causes an aura to shine around the three, granting them a small burst of energy. ¡°Bardsong can work in many ways,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°I¡¯ve used it to make us less tied for instance, but,¡± she turns to the mound that was created by Tim¡¯s use of the earthen spells and since a different set of three notes. Similar in tone and chord. Motes of lights suddenly for around her and pelt the mound. ¡°Bardsong is heavily contextual,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Dependent on the caster¡¯s thoughts and emotions to have the proper effect. It therefore needs a proper resonance to have the desired outcome.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± Emily looks at the small craters in the mound. She takes a deep breath and sings a tritone of three notes. But the discordant melody had, instead of flattening the mound, caused it to erupt into a dirty geyser, to Emily¡¯s shock. ¡°Hmm,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Your notes missed the mark.¡± Elizabeth intuits what Emiyl is trying to do and sings a song of two melodies. The first is a calm and soothing chord aligned with the water, a prayer to Halcyon to quell the geyser. The second, alternating with the first, is an earthen hymn to Anesidora to return the mount to a previous state of flatness. ¡°The average Bardsong spell has three components. The first is the element, which maps to the element of the Spheres, Fire, Wind, et cetera. The second is a plea to a ¡®patron¡¯, usually but not excusable one of the Amisntrators. The third is the result you want to achieve. It¡¯s a matter of thinking about these three components and finding the notes you think match them best.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± Emily says. She focuses again. ¡°Wind,¡± her first thought is. ¡°What goes well with wind?¡±. She sings and holds a note she thinks best correlates to the element of wind. As she holds a note, she begins to think about a possible patron. She recalls Harmonia and sings a note that she thinks best corresponds to her. ¡°Wind, Melodia,¡± she thinks as she holds the second note. ¡°Got it!¡± she transitions to the third, keyed to what she thinks summons a gentle breeze. Her three notes caused the wind to blow over them, but instead of a spring breeze, it was a forceful push that nearly caused them to fall to the ground. ¡°What the?¡± Emily says while standing up. The gust fades away. ¡°Tempo is an important factor to consider,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°The faster the notes, the weaker the effect, the slower the notes, the stronger the effect.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Emily repeats the same three notes again, but in a more standard melody instead of holding all three notes for a long time. The wind now gently blows over the forest. As Emily sings the motif for a few moments. Only stilling after she stops singing. Everyone¡¯s stomachs began to growl. ¡°Looks like we should head back,¡± Elizabeth says. The three return to Carla¡¯s house for breakfast. ??? Meanwhile, Stanley Piers meets with the Mayer. ¡°The deed is done, the rats are now vanquished.¡± ¡°Excellent,¡± the mayor says. He reaches into his desk for the sack of coins and hands it to the bard. ¡°We of Hamlin thank you for your services.¡± ¡°I wish you good luck in your endeavors. May fortune favor the bold and wise.¡± Stanley leaves the town hall. The mayor looks around his office and notices something peculiar. Small footprints on the floor. The lead from a hole in the creaking floorboards all the way to the coffers. Examining the coffers reveals them empty, voided, and bereft of all material assets. The mayor has a heart attack at the sight of the empty coffers. All the money that was saved up, vanished overnight. Project Backbreaker, the infrastructure that was to connect the village to the city of Noir, nor nothing more than a pipe dream. His shock quickly turns to wrath as he looks back at the tracks. Small, ratlike tracks. ¡°Guards! Guards!¡± the mayor cries. ¡°We have been robbed!¡± A while later, the Piper prepares for his journey back to Noir. ¡°With this, perhaps, I can live on the surface. Pursue the life of an Eligere.¡± Stanley looks at the sack of coins. Before he can take his first step, he hears a cry. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s him! The man in the garish outfit!¡± Several gendarmeries surround the Piper, armed with swords, clubs, spears, and axes. ¡°Oh officers, Is something the matter?¡± The piper asks. ¡°Is your name Stanley Piers?¡± a dark-skinned man says in a stern but calm voice. The voice of a professional dedicated to maintaining peace in Hamlin. ¡°Why yes sir, my name is Stanley Piers,¡± the bard says. ¡°It has come to our attention that the village¡¯s coffers were emptied. Leaving nothing but footprints of rats nearby. Do you have anything to do with this?¡± the man says. ¡°That is absurd, I would never rob the town,¡± Stanley said. ¡°Yet you were able to control the rats,¡± the stern man says. ¡°I was framed, for reasons unknown,¡± Stanley says. ¡°But I assure you I did not steal the coin.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± the gendarme says. ¡°But we will require proof of your innocence. Now come with us.¡± The officers take Stanley to the town center, where a commotion attracts the attention of the villagers, including Douglas, Medusa, and Geraldine. ¡°Officer Owens,¡± Geardine says to the dark-skinned man. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°This paper stands accused of larceny on a grave scale,¡± Officer Owens says. ¡°We are here to verify these claims. The mayor arrives, with an expression of a man betrayed. Furious and vengeful, hurt and sorrowful. The politician gazes coldly at the man as the guards search his clothes for the stolen gold. ¡°You got it all wrong, I did not steal!¡± Stanley says as one of the officers relieves him of his colorful cloak. The officer checks the pockets and finds several gold coins there. The villagers were shocked at the sight. ¡°This has to be a mistake, I¡¯m innocent!¡± But the evidence, effulgent in the sunlight, could not be refuted. An officer attempts to beat him down with a club but Owens stays his hand. ¡°Thief or not, we must not respond as barbarians.¡± ¡°Sir!¡± a detective arrives on the scene, ¡°We found the rest of the gold! At the lake!¡± Owens follows the detective leaving the officers alone with the mayor. ¡°Owens has a good heart,¡± the mayor says. ¡°But justice needs a firm hand!¡± the officers take it as permission to brutalize the Piper. Using their fists and their weapons to wound him to near death. The villagers look on with a mix of shock and morbid fascination as Stanley is battled and bruised by the gendarmerie. ¡°The Administrators may have mercy for those that steal Hamlin¡¯s future, but I do not!¡± the mayor says as he walks over to Stanely¡¯s body and takes back all of the coins on his person, including the sack he had bequeathed him earlier today. ¡°If you have the strength to survive, leave and never return! Or else I will personally ensure you meet the namesake of Revotos¡¯ Valley, you Exsecratii scum!¡± Stanley Piers lies on the ground, bleeding out. ¡°I had warned you so, time and time again.¡± ¡°Who is this, this mysterious voice?¡± Stanley thinks, his injuries forbade him from verbalizing his question. ¡°You may call me friend, a kindred spirit,¡± the voice says. ¡°Piper, you know you were judged unfairly. I shall grant you the strength to survive, bard.¡± The wounds of the bard begin to heal as the crown disperses and Stanley can stand. He coughs up blood as he stands upright. ¡°What in the Administrators¡¯ good names?¡± Stanley manages to say something under labored breath. ¡°Leave this cruel place, it is not safe here.¡± The voice says. Stanley limps, following the voice to the edge of town. ??? Later, Clara finds Heathcliff looking at some of the monsters in the former¡¯s care. The knight senses the alraune¡¯s presence. ¡°Ah, Carla,¡± Heathcliff says to the verdant-hued woman before turning his gaze to the griffin child in the room. Carla sees the hatchling is struggling to fly and approaches it. She sees its wing was injured. ¡°Let¡¯s say, hypothetically,¡± the Alraune says while nursing the young griffin. ¡°I do take you on your offer. What would the compensation be?¡± ¡°Free room, free food and some of the mana the dungeon generates, cher.¡± Carla sees the offer as standard. ¡°And how would Charlotte education be handled? I doubt you¡¯re one to make frequent trips to Hamlin and back.¡± ¡°I gots me some friends in high places, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°I¡¯m certain we can accommodate your daughter¡¯s needs.¡± Carla is a little skeptical, but she does see the determination in his eyes. ¡°You¡¯re an experienced knight, but a little green when it came to managing a dungeon, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°How can you tell?¡± ¡°It¡¯s rather obvious,¡± Carla says. ¡°Usually when stranger garbed folk come around, they either tend to be adventurers, staff of a dungeon, both, or the core¡¯s avatara themselves. When it comes to Hamlin specifiably, few are stranger then a group of strangers including a young woman in an armored dress, a dwarf and an Arachne.¡± ¡°You think we¡¯re that out of place?¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°I do,¡± Carla says with a hint of playfulness. But Heathcliff senses a smaller hint of sorrow. ¡°Offer¡¯s still open, cher,¡± Heathclfif says. ¡°Nina¡¯s really taking a liking to your daughter and there is still some matters we want to address here besides.¡± ¡°Such as?¡± ¡°The Piper,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Emily seems to think there is something shady about that musician.¡± ¡°Oh my,¡± Carla says. ¡°He seemed like a good fellow.¡± ¡°Seemed that way to me, too, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°But looks could be deceiving.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Carla says, the griffin¡¯s wing is now properly bandages and she lets the small creature go, warning it to not attempting flying until tomorrow. ¡°I¡¯ve got some groceries to make later,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Have anything in mind, cher? It is your house after all.¡± ¡°I can handle my own shopping, thanks,¡± Carla says. ¡°Plus, me and Charlotte don¡¯t eat that much.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Heathcliff says. He then leaves the room. Carla leaves shortly afterward, to check on the shelter and Geraldine. ??? Meanwhile, Stanley Piers makes it to the forest, being careful not to attract further retribution from the villagers. He soon collapsed in front of the lake, surrounded by footsteps that indicated that others had recently arrived there. ¡°O humble Piper, forsaken to rot,¡± the cacodaemonic voice tells Stanley. ¡°Judged for the theft of Hamlin¡¯s future. You were wrongly accused and brutalized. But I can save you, O humble piper.¡± Stanley¡¯s wounds begin to catch up again. He has no money to pay the train fare and no energy to even walk to the station, several miles off. ¡°Save me, save me how, and from what peril?¡± ¡°I shall grant you power, O Piper. Power to not only survive but thrive. To take revengance ¡®gainst those that wronged you.¡± The voice whispers. A storm of dark feelings swell inside Stanley. He has trusted Hamlin to treat him well in exchange for his extermination of the rats, yet he was treated like one and tossed away. He has felt betrayed, he has felt hurt. ¡°Take revengance, but how would I do that?¡± ¡°You have a song in your heart, the Bardsong.¡± the voice says. ¡°I shall grant you the means to broaden its scope. No more will you be limited to rats. No more shall you play the ratcatcher¡¯s role. No more shall you be cast as a pied fool.¡± ¡°Heh, I do like the sound of that, voice,¡± Stanley says. He soon begins to stand up with a fiery determination, and inspiration. ¡°They claim I stole Hamlin¡¯s future today. Yet they know not what its future truly is.¡± The rancor allows his whispers to rise in volume until he shouts to the lake he turned into a watery cemetery of rodents ¡°Voice, I beseech you, become my muse! Grant me your voice, and I¡¯ll sign the line!¡± ¡°You¡¯ve made a wise decision, O Piper,¡± the voice says. ¡°We shall become as one, united. And Hamlin will suffer retribution.¡± A dark aura concentrates around Stanley, lifting him in the air being absorbed by the Piper. His colorful costume turned into a foreboding garment checked in shades of ebony and crimson. Completed by the formation of a white mask over his eyes. A visor that symbolizes his newfound strength. Knowledge flows into Stanley as his costume metamorphoses. Knowledge of Bardic arts used to control more than rats. Knowledge of the residents of Hamlin. Knowledge of a guardian he did not know he ever had, one that had become part of him, and he has become part of them. ¡°O guardian, o muse, o symbiote,¡± Stanley Piers says. ¡°Thank you for your kind generosity. Now then, there is so much work to be done.¡± The Piper vanishes to prepare his newfound plot, and within the next week, Hamlin will truly be robbed of its future. ??? Meanwhile, Heathcliff walks towards Hamlin¡¯s markers, having the foresight to ask the villagers for their location on the way to Geraldine¡¯s shelter. He finds the town¡¯s atmosphere to be different. He continues his grocery shopping he finds a dejected town crier. ¡°Something the matter, monsieur?¡± The crier sighs and looks up at the knight. ¡°You are currently staying with the Alraunes, yes?¡± ¡°Oui,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Why do you ask?¡± The crier realizes that he never gave the news to Carla. ¡°It¡¯s the Piper,¡± the crier says with a hint of rage. ¡°The scoundrel had nearly absconded with all the town¡¯s money! We were nearly swindled!¡± Heathcliff looks at the crier¡¯s expression. A microcosm of the town¡¯s opinion of him. ¡°We should have never trusted that outsider. Her, you¡¯re not with him aren¡¯t you?¡± If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°Mais non!¡± Heathcliff says. He can sense the townsfolk growing a little suspicious of him. ¡°I¡¯m an honest man.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what they all say,¡± the crier says. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, between this and Samuels¡¯ death, I¡¯m just a little on edge lately.¡± The crier leaves. Heathcliff notices something. ¡°Samuel, huh? The name sounds familiar.¡± He finishes making his groceries and returns back to Carla¡¯s house. ??? Later that afternoon, Emily and Tim start sparring. Emily to practice Bardsong and Tim to practice Earth magic. Elizabeth, Heathcliff, Sarah, Nina, Charlotte, Clara, Euryale and Stheno are spectating. Tim has his eyes closed in his usual cocky expression. ¡°Know that I will not hold back, Emily,¡± he says. With a stomp, he forces a rock to emerge from the ground and float in front of him. With a short punch, he hurls it at Emily. Emily evades the stone and thinks up some notes. Her first thought was on the lightning, her second was to channel herself as the patron. The third note was aimed at striking Tim. With these three notes, she creates an electrifying and fast melody that conjures up bolts of levin from the blue. The lightning misses Tim as Emily repeats her musical chants. ¡°Emily!¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Your tempo is too high, slow down!¡± Tim closes the gap with a charging step and attempts to use a palm strike on Emily. Emily parries the attack with her arms and slings her melody slowly as she holds Tim in a chokehold. A bolt of lightning strikes them both. Both combatants are still standing but were shocked by the lightning strike. ¡°Impressive,¡± Tim says as the moves behind Emily and leans on her, toppling the girl to the ground. ¡°Is there any particular reason why they¡¯re fighting?¡± Sarah says. ¡°Tim wanted to practice this way,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°That seems very¡­brutal,¡± Carla says. ¡°They can handle it, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°They¡¯ve been through worse.¡± ¡°You can do it, Emmy!¡± Nina cheers from the sidelines. ¡°Teach him a lesson!¡± Emily stands up and decides to fight fire with fire, or rather, earth and earth. She hums a melody with the purpose of bending the soil to defend her from Tim¡¯s strike. Tim attempts to sue an elbow strike, but Emily manages to use her Bardsong to create a barrier of dirt to block the blow. Emily remembers that Tim is overconfident and has an idea. She tries to think of which elements she can use that would make Tim more prone to prideful blunders and decides to sing a melody of light. She baths herself in a glowing auro as she sings and enters a vulnerable position. The song clouds Tim¡¯s judgment, making him think that she is wide open and has him aiming to take her down. He conjures a pillar of earth and uses it to launch forward. He uses the momentum to land right behind Emily and prepare for the lean. But Emily anticipated that and grabbed his arm. Bathed in light she throws him over her shoulder and slams him into the ground, before drawing one of her swords and pointing it at him. Tim is left wondering what has just happened. How did he leave himself so open? Emily chuckles and puts her sword back, offering him a hand to help himself up. ¡°I hear that pride is often followed by a fall,¡± Emily says. She helps Tim up. Tim is not ready to concede just yet, he draws his Qiang and Emily her swords, and both get ready for round two. Tim summons spikes of rock with a stomp, aimed towards Emily but she leaps to the left and dodges them while singing a flighty tritone to assist her movement speed. Tim uses swift leg movements to surround Emily with rocks. The hovering stones pelt her in all directions, hindering her movement. One winds up hitting her in her throat, stopping her song for a few moments. ¡°Guess it wasn¡¯t bluster after all,¡± Emily says after recovering from the throat attack. Emily sings her song of light again. Tim begins to realize that it affected him, making him more reckless. He composes himself and blocks Emily¡¯s slashes with his Qiang and then spins to repel his friend and opponent. The gust knocks Emily back a few meters and Tim uses several bajiquan techniques and spear movements to embed her legs into the ground, binding her in place. He points his spear at her. Emily is left to think up a counter as Tim makes a charging step and places the tip of the spear on her throat. The spectators are shocked at the development, but Heathcliff and Elizabeth remain calm. Emily looks at Tim as he smirks and retracts his weapon. He releases the rocks from her and offers her a hand. ¡°You fought admirably, partner,¡± Tim said as he helped Emily up. ¡°You sure you weren¡¯t holding back?¡± Emily says. ¡°I¡¯m certain,¡± Tim says. ¡°But it would be poor of me to slay the core I¡¯m supposed to be protecting,¡± Carla catches Tim¡¯s words and begins to suspect something about Emily. ¡°All right,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Sparing time¡¯s over!¡± Everyone them heads back to Carla¡¯s house for lunch. ??? Later, Carla takes the opportunity to meet Charlotte¡¯s new friends better. The Alraune shows Stheno and Euyrale several pictures from when Charlotte was a mere seedling. ¡°And this is from when little Charlotte says her first word,¡± Carla says. ¡°And this is from when she sprouted her legs.¡± ¡°Mom!¡± Charlotte says with embarrassment at the pictures. The twins giggle a bit at seeing these images. Euryale turns to her flustered friends. ¡°It could be worse, you should¡¯ve seen the pics Daddy took of us!¡± ¡°Quite,¡± Stheno says. ¡°I think they still have that portrait of when you have milk on your face, Eury.¡± Euryale¡¯s face glows red at recalling the incident. ¡°That bottle just spilled!¡± she says. Carla looks at the trio with some relief at the fact that Charlotte has made new friends. Yet something is lingering in her mind. ¡°They never cared for you or your daughter. They will shun you like all of the others.¡± Carla dismisses the thought as she turns to show the kids more of Charlotte¡¯s baby portraits. ¡°Have you known what had become of the Piper?¡± Carla¡¯s thoughts turn to the other traveler to Hamlin. The pied man who was tasked with pest control. She excuses herself and leaves her daughter and the twins alone. She looks for Heathcliff and finds him looking at several bears that Carla was tending to. Heathcliff notices the single mother¡¯s presence. ¡°Here for the bears?¡± ¡°Not quite,¡± Carla says as she approaches the ursines. She checks to see if they are both hale, hearty, and calm. ¡°I actually wanted to ask how your shopping went.¡± ¡°Ah, the groceries were well made,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°The merchants were a kindly bunch.¡± ¡°I would hope so,¡± Carla says. ¡°Have you heard about the Piper lately?¡± Heathcliff recalls his conversation with the town crier. ¡°I heard some words about him. Allegedly he was caught robbing the village coffers and left town.¡± Carla has an expression of surprise. A thought enters her mind. ¡°Whom betrayed whom, the piper or Hamlin?¡± She finished examining the bears. ¡°Maybe I need some fresh air,¡± the Alraune thinks. She turns to Heathcliff, ¡°Would you kindly babysit Charlotte for me, I must check something in the village.¡± ¡°Pleasure¡¯s all mine, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Thank you,¡± Carla says. She makes preparations to head to Hamlin, telling her daughter that she will be back in two hours and that he has entrusted Heathcliff to their care in the interim. She sets off for the village. As she enters Hamlin, she first heads to the shelter, hoping that her sister Geraldine would know more about the foreign Piper¡¯s fate. She finds Geraldine taking care of some puppies. ¡°Carla!¡± Geraldine is surprised to see her here at this hour. ¡°Is something the matter?¡± ¡°No,¡± Carla says, making sure her green hair is not out of place. ¡°I just want to ask about the ratcatcher.¡± The two talk about the disgraced Piper. ¡°The mayor had sent the guards after him, accusing him of stealing the gold meant for the Backbreaker project.¡± ¡°My goodness. That is a serious charge,¡± Carla says. ¡°Indeed,¡± Geraldine says. ¡°Officer Owens had discovered that one of the lakes had both the stolen gold and the corpses of the rats the Piper, named Stanley Piers, had removed.¡± ¡°This Stanley,¡± Carla says. ¡°I have not seen much of him, but what I did see stuck me as not the type for theft.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not the end of it,¡± Geraldine says. ¡°The officers had also searched him and found several gold coins in his pockets! He claimed to be innocent but¡ª¡± ¡°The evidence is against him,¡± Carla says. She understands the importance of the gold. Before his demise, Samuel had gathered four-fifths of the money that the village saved up, that money was considered their future as they intended to use it to fund the infrastructure that would open the village up to the world, connect it with the outside that the Brokeback Mountains had isolated it from. It is no wonder why the mayor took it so seriously. ¡°When your future is on the line, quid ageres?¡± Carla¡¯s seed of doubt festers. ¡°Do you think Hamlin would spare you, Carla? If the Piper is innocent, then why? Why would you think they would not judge you? See you and your child both as monsters?¡± These intrusive thoughts leave Carla wondering if she is even safe in Hamlin. ¡°Thank you, Geraldine,¡± Carla says. ¡°One last thing?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± Geraldine says. ¡°Can you accompany me to where he¡­¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Geraldine says. ¡°But why?¡± ¡°I want to see if there was something they missed. The two sisters leave the shelter and head down to the local tavern. Along the way Carla hears the murmurs of the townsfolk, each of them silently inquiring to each other why Carla would go there. Over at the tavern, the two Alraunes head to the nearby alley. There they find the place surrounded by black and yellow tape and the chalk outline in the shape of a body. A remnant of a man beloved by all. The effulgent sunlight shines harshly on the outline. The two examine the echo for any signs of evidence. The official claims are that Samuel had somehow choked on alcohol, but the autopsy had revealed several wounds consistent with those commonly inflicted by highland vipers, as well as trace elements of poison. ¡°Geraldine,¡± Carla says as she looks around for any missed hints. ¡°You recalled that we took in some snakes lately?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± her sister says. ¡°They came from the caves of one of the mountains, why do you ask?¡± Carla isn¡¯t sure herself. ¡°It is not your fault, murderer you¡¯re not. But does it matter if peers think you are?¡± Carla and Geraldine soon find a knight, gleaming next to the wall, beyond the boundaries of the crime scene. The blade stands embedded in the rustic wooden wall. A purple stain the size of the coin stands beneath it. ¡°How did the guards miss this?¡± Carla thinks. She considers taking the knife but realizes that it would only lend fire to the rumors. ¡°The town needeth closure, it can¡¯t move on. But how would it gain it with you still here?¡± Carla asks Geraldine to head to the authorities to report the knife. ??? Over at the Black Box. Richard tinkers with his crossbows in his atelier. ¡°Now let¡¯s see,¡± the dwarven goldsmith and weaver says as he attaches a scope to his crossbow. ¡°Voila!¡± Minerva enters the workshop. ¡°Good morning, Richard¡± ¡°Ack!¡± Richard is startled by Minerva¡¯s presence. ¡°Minerva, what brings you here?¡± ¡°I just wanted to check up on you,¡± Minerva says. ¡°The animals haven''t attacked you have they?¡± ¡°Not recently,¡± Richard says. ¡°Have the beasts give you any trouble?¡± ¡°Our little ¡®guests¡¯ had been repelled from our nests and Emily¡¯s most important rooms for now, but we know not how long we could keep them at bay. I can only hope they return with a tamer.¡± ¡°Beastmasters are always a tricky lot to find,¡± Richard says. Through the past several days, while the others are in Hamlin, Richard, Minerva, and several Arachne had taken it upon themselves to use temporary measures to protect themselves from the wild animals that reside in Emily¡¯s body. Minerva takes a look at the crossbow at Richard¡¯s desk. ¡°What are you working on?¡± ¡°Trying something new,¡± the blond dwarf says. ¡°My sister¡¯s the blacksmith, but I know enough to at least try tinkering with my weapons a bit.¡± The crossbows, nor black with yellow lines coursing through them, evoke the image of a thunderbolt. Its components were made from leftover stunner pieces. ¡°I noticed that the stunners were very effective at repelling the animals, and decided to give the crossbow similar capabilities.¡± ¡°So,¡± the Arachne says ¡°you made a stun gun?¡± ¡°Not quite?¡± Richard says. ¡°This is a modified crossbow and therefore uses enchanted bolts to become a different kind of bolt. A real stun gun emphasizes the gun part more.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± Minerva says. Her mind is on something else. ¡°You¡¯re concerned about your daughter?¡± ¡°How did you know?¡± Minerva says. ¡°Lucky guess,¡± Richard says. Minerva sighs. ¡°I¡¯m considering that she might one day get in over her head. Nina is still a young girl, not yet knowing of the true dangers of the world.¡± ¡°I¡¯m certain she will be well protected at least,¡± Richard says. ¡°You saw that Emily was able to rescue her from Tarantulopolis right? ¡°That is not my only concern,¡± Minerva says. ¡°I¡¯m also worried that spending time around adventurers might embolden her.¡± ¡°Minerva,¡± Richard says. ¡°Do you want Nina not to be an adventurer?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t say I do,¡± Minerva says. ¡°At least not at this age.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Richard walks over to his newly modified weapons. ¡°Administrators know how many times I tried to deter Sarah from venturing out on her own, and they know how many times I¡¯ve failed. I know what it¡¯s like to worry about loved ones, to fear that one day, they would leave and left unable to return.¡± ¡°Your parents,¡± Minerva says. ¡°What were they like?¡± ¡°Father was a good crafter,¡± Richard says. ¡°Taught me and Sarah everything we knew. As for mother¡­¡± Minerva could tell something terrible had happened. ¡°It¡¯s okay, you don¡¯t have to tell me.¡± A dire wolf draws near the atelier, looking for prey. Richard notices the beast¡¯s presence and looks outside, finding it walking towards the workshop. ¡°Looks like the field test is upon us,¡± Richard walks outside and aims his crossbow. He looks through the scope of his weapon and fires a bolt. The wolf dodges. Richard fires a second one, piercing the thigh of the dire wolf. The wolf tries to lunge, but the crossbow bolt zaps it with ten volts of power and stuns the leg. Another bolt pierces its flesh and shocks the wolf, causing it to flee. ¡°Perfect,¡± Richard says. He returns to his workshop. ¡°Now then Minerva, anything else you wish to discuss?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Minerva is curious about something. ¡°Effectiveness aside, why use the stunner as the base of your weapon upgrades?¡± ¡°Well,¡± Richard says. ¡°I don¡¯t think the fans would serve me well in battle and the petribeams had certain risks attached to it. Lightning bolts were the most ideal for my crossbows.¡± ¡°I see, thank you,¡± Minerva says as she walks away. With his work on his weapons complete, Richard returns to tasks more suited to his skill sets. He takes a look at several sketches for outfit and jewelry designs. A promotional image of Noir¡¯s skyline and several magazines from the city are buried beneath the sketches. ¡°Hmm, there is still something missing.¡± He says. The day passes by as he examines his designs. ??? A week passes over Hamlin, and everyone is set to leave. The Arion sisters are picked up by their parents. Who thank Carla for taking care of their daughters. As for Emily and her party, they prepare to head back home. ¡°Thank you for having us!¡± Emily says to Carla. ¡°It was my pleasure!¡± The Alraune says. Heathcliff hands her a map with the location of the Black Box. ¡°Offer¡¯s still open, cher.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s get a move on!¡± Elizabeth says. Emily, Heathcliff, Tim, Elizabeth, Sarah, and Nina finish preparing for their trip back home. Carla and Charlotte say goodbye to Emily¡¯s party. Carla looks at the map and wonders about something. ¡°Maybe this dungeon is worth checking out, at least for a bit?¡± she thinks. Later that day, Carla walks to town for groceries. She finds Officer Owens sitting on a table. ¡°Good morning, officer?¡± Carla says. ¡°Morning,¡± Owens says. ¡°Heard you visited the murder scene recently.¡± ¡°We found something the guards have missed.¡± ¡°Geraldine told me about the knife,¡± Owens says. Carla sighs a bit. Owens stands up. ¡°You know about the Piper¡¯s attempted robbery?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Carla says. ¡°I heard your men had¡ª¡° ¡°Blasted mayor,¡± Owens says. ¡°I talked to him about that. Man kept prattling on about it was necessary to safeguard the future of the village.¡± He sighs. ¡°Does this always happen?¡± Carla says. ¡°Not while I¡¯m around,¡± Owens says. ¡°I like to make sure my men do not go around acting like violent thugs. Too many of those at Noir and Gardenia as is.¡± ¡°And we thank you that, officer,¡± Carla says. A moment later she sighs. ¡°Something bugging you?¡± Owens says. ¡°You look a little gloomy.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just,¡± Carla says. ¡°I had a lot on my mind lately.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Owens says. ¡°The nerve of some people accusing you of murder.¡± ¡°I fear that the knife might have caused more people to believe these rumors,¡± ¡°Cause you took care of some Highland Vipers last winter?¡± Owens says. ¡°Carla, you need to have more faith in us you know?¡± A voice enters Carla¡¯s head. ¡°He cannot even rein in his men! And you would trust him with your safety?¡± Carla gasps in shock. She knows Officer Owens would protect her and the other villages, why would she even have a thought like this? Owens hears the gasp and expresses concern. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re okay?¡± he says. ¡°I¡¯m good,¡± Carla says. ¡°Just a little hiccup is all.¡± ¡°Maybe you should get some rest,¡± Owens says. ¡°Take a vacation, maybe take some time away from Hamlin a bit?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll consider a vacation,¡± Carla says. ¡°Thank you, Officer Owens.¡± ¡°My pleasure,¡± Owens says. ¡°Now be careful, Carla!¡± The two friends part ways for now. ??? A few days pass, nearly ten days since the Piper dragged himself out of Hamlin. ¡°The Alraune is a good muse for this song,¡± Stanley thinks to himself. ¡°Frightened, unsure of herself, of the town. She, accused as I had been, a good pawn. I¡¯m glad you let me know of her, buddy.¡± The Piper and his new friend use their talents to prepare for their vengeance. The lake is now clear of the corpses of rats, the stagnant water dyed a nauseating shade of green beneath the effulgent sunlight. A ground of rats surrounds the bard like soldiers would their commanding officer, awaiting orders. ¡°The undead vermin doth make for poor friends,¡± the voice says. ¡°Quite, they are poor accomplices indeed,¡± Stanley says. ¡°They are but the opening act, my chum. A distraction from my dress rehearsal.¡± ¡°You think it time to enact the plan now?¡± ¡°Not quite, I must test, and experiment.¡± Stanley then plays a small tune. The rat corpses dance around the Piper, animated and puppeted by a cacodaemonic force. The rats ritualistically move around their masters. As if in reverence to the Pied Piper and his ephemeral partner. ¡°You never did give me your name, fellow,¡± Stanley says. ¡°A name is redundant, we are as one,¡± the voice says. ¡°In due time, you shall be known as Pruflas.¡± ¡°Pruflas, huh, quite a charming name indeed,¡± Stanley says. ¡°I like the sound of that, Mister Pruflas.¡± Stanley Piers makes a wicked grin as the rats finish their macabre dance. ??? The next day, Carla and Charlotte are at the shelter. The former is there to ask Geraldine a favor. ¡°You want me to house sit?¡± Geraldine says. ¡°What for? You usually don¡¯t have business outside Hamlin.¡± ¡°I wanted to check out a certain place. And besides, I thought it was time for me to take a vacation,¡± Carla says. ¡°Things had gotten stressful lately.¡± Charlotte asks her mother something. ¡°Can Euryale and Stheno come with us?¡± ¡°That is something we¡¯ll have to ask their parents, dear,¡± Carla says. ¡°Carla,¡± Geraldine says. ¡°I know things are hard with the rumors and all. Don¡¯t worry I¡¯ll keep your house spic and span while you¡¯re gone.¡± ¡°Thank you, Geraldine,¡± Carla says. ¡°What are sisters for?¡± she says with a giggle. Just leave it all to me. Later in the day, she talks to Douglas and Medusa about their outward trip. ¡°Going to check out a Dungeon, you say?¡± Medusa says. ¡°That is far away. When would you be back?¡± ¡°Three days time,¡± Carla says. ¡°Revotos¡¯ Valley can grant us safe passage at least.¡± ¡°Really cashing in those favors from way back when,¡± Douglas says. ¡°Can we come with them?¡± Euryale and Stheno say to their parents. Eager to want to spend more time with Charlotte. ¡°Ladies,¡± Medusa says. ¡°Do you know how dangerous it is?¡± ¡°Is there any reason why you want to bring the young one along? Is this because of the village giving her the cold shoulder?¡± Douglas says. Carla hesitates for a bit before saying, ¡°I think it might be good for her to expand her horizons. After all, there may come a time when she might leave this humble village. Besides, one of her new friends allegedly hails from this Dungeon.¡± Charlotte has a forlorn expression. ¡°Maybe I don¡¯t belong here,¡± she thinks. The twin daughters of Douglas and Medusa Arion beg their parents to let Carla take them to the Dungeon. ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± Medusa says. ¡°Oh come on, honey,¡± Douglas says. ¡°Orpheus was their age when he started.¡± ¡°We are leaving tomorrow,¡± Carla says. ¡°I want to suggest talking it over and giving your answer then.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Douglas says. ¡°Thank you for letting us know, Carla,¡± Medusa says. ¡°My pleasure,¡± Carla says. The Alraune mother and daughter leave. Medusa noticed their expressions were less vibrant than usual. ¡°Doug, honey, you don¡¯t think they¡¯re letting the rumors get to them?¡± ¡°I suspect that they are, honey,¡± Douglas says. ¡°Samuel¡¯s death and the town¡¯s lack of closure have them treating them like outcasts.¡± ¡°You¡¯d think they¡¯d have more faith in Samuel¡¯s judgment,¡± Medusa says. ¡°Aye,¡± Douglas says. ¡°I hope we find out who really killed Samuel soon.¡± The Arion¡¯s next dinner was spent talking about whether or not the young girls should accompany the Alraunes. Chapter XII: Invitation The next morning, Clara and Charlotte meet Geraldine at their front door. ¡°Thank you again for house-sitting, sister,¡± Clara said. ¡°My pleasure,¡± Geraldine says. ¡°Are there any problematic critters I should know about?¡± ¡°The Owlbears already left last night,¡± Clara says. ¡°Charlotte, did you release the Bicorn?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve sent the Bicorn from last month to the foot of the mountains,¡± Charlotte says. ¡°Its herd should be there right now.¡± ¡°What about the Musgrave Watchers?¡± Geraldine asks. ¡°They were taken care of last Monday,¡± Carla says. ¡°You¡¯re still here?¡± a voice calls from the distance. The three Alraunes turn to find it came from Douglas, with Euryale and Stheno in tow. ¡°Have you decided?¡± Carla says with a warm smile. ¡°They can come, but the missus wants me to chaperone,¡± Douglas says. ¡°Ah,¡± Carla says. ¡°Is everyone ready?¡± ¡°I¡¯m ready,¡± Charlotte says. ¡°Sister and I already packed last night,¡± Stheno says. ¡°We¡¯re ready to go!¡± Euryale says. The group of five bid farewell to Geraldine, as they embark on Revotos¡¯ Valley The group makes them through the dungeon, the Valley granting them safe passage. Carla sees a quaint tablet on the ground. It reads. ¡°Good luck on your journey. I pray that you will have reason to return. Beware the stray thoughts.¡± Carla takes the tablet away, unsure of the tablet¡¯s warning. The first two sentences fade away as she puts it in her satchel. Douglas leads through the passage, telling the children to not disturb the creature in the valley. They make their way past a lake, once as sanguine red, it is now a clear color. The remnants of the Ophidian resting at the depths of the lake. Charlotte senses its shadow move. ¡°Looks like they went through a lot just to get here,¡± Euryale says. ¡°Aye,¡± her father says. ¡°The Valley may be the safest route to Hamlin, but that doesn''t mean it is safe in any way.¡± It was the first time, Charlotte, Euryale, and Stehno set foot outside the humble village of Hamlin. Charlotte has some questions, but she is uncertain how to phrase them. ¡°Girls,¡± Douglas says to the twins, ¡°the first thing you have to understand when adventuring is that the dungeons are alive, not in just the sense that they teem with life.¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± Carla says. ¡°The Dungeons can sense our movements, our emotions, our presence. Revotos¡¯ Valley in particular has a good relationship with Hamlin.¡± ¡°Heh, when Samuel and I first went there, it was a nightmare to traverse. Who knows how many monster keisters we had to kick before getting them to agree to be the protector?¡± ¡°Protector?¡± Charlotte says. ¡°Aye,¡± Douglas says. ¡°I heard the valley had offered to protect Hamlin from external threats as long as the Adventurers can beat its challenges.¡± ¡°A tradition twenty years in the making,¡± Douglas says. ¡°Samuel and I were the best at it of course.¡± He says with a nostalgic sigh. The group enters the caves with no sign of hostile beasts. ¡°Of course,¡± Douglas says. ¡°That you tended to its wayward Cells and beasts probably helped as well, Carla.¡± Carla is surprised to hear that. She was aware that several creatures she and her daughter looked after came from the valley, including a gigantic bat-like monster. As they navigate the caverns, they find several gaps. ¡°Of course,¡± Carla says, ¡°Favors can only go so far,¡± ¡°Aye,¡± Douglas says. ¡°Safer does not always mean safe.¡± He crouches down and turns to his daughters. ¡°Come on.¡± Euryale and Stheno climb onto his back, Douglas then lands and runs towards the gaps, before making a mighty bound that carries him to the other side. Carla uses her abilities to turn her arms into thick branches of wood and extend them through the gap. ¡°Go ahead Charlotte,¡± she says. The younger Alraune balances herself on her mother¡¯s branch bridge and slowly walks herself over. Whenever she shifts in one direction, Carla ensures she doesn¡¯t fall by moving that side up. Whenever she loses her balance, Carla¡®s branches react and help her regain it. Charlotte makes it across. Carla retracts her branches and they morph back into her arms. ¡°Okay,¡± she thinks. ¡°My turn,¡± he observes the width and length of the gap. Too much for her to jump though. She soon hears the sound of wings flapping in the distance. She looks towards the source and finds a large bat flying through. The bat notices her from a year back when its wing was clipped and it crashed right on the road to Hamlin. The monster senses the others on the far side and moves in front of Carla. Making a gesture that she intuits is an offering of its assistance. Carla grabs onto the talons and the bat carries her across with little difficulty. ¡°Thank you, little one,¡± Carla says as she lands on the other end of the gap. The not-so-little bat leaves the group alone. ¡°They seem so docile,¡± Euryale says. ¡°The dungeons, and the monsters within,¡± Carla says ¡°Can tell their friends from foes.¡± ¡°So how are the dungeons alive?¡± Charlotte says. As the group of five makes their way past the ashen woods, Douglas tells the kids about the Forgemaster Obsidian and how it is claimed to have created the Dungeons, as well as their purposes. Soon they are at the other end of the valley. The trees moving their branches in a manner evocative of waving arms. Carla takes her map, and finds that there is a town nearby, they hake towards the settlement. ??? Emily and her group are not home. Her avatara vanishes as her dungeon body wakes up. She now senses a larger animal presence within her. ¡°Minerva?¡± her voice echoes out to the Arachne, ¡°We¡¯re home.¡± ¡°Welcome back, Emily,¡± Minerva says. ¡°How was Hamlin?¡± ¡°Well,¡± Emily says. ¡°We have found a beast tamer, but¡­¡± ¡°No luck huh?¡± the spider says. ¡°Did Nina give you any trouble?¡± ¡°Well, no but,¡± Before Emily could finish, little Nina greets her mother, clad in armor and weapons, to Mienrva¡¯s visible dismay. ¡°Nina?¡± Minerva says. She can see the metallic and leather armor now donned by her daughter and blades attached to her eight legs. ¡°How?¡± Emily and Nina told them of the trek through Revotos¡¯ Valley and how unusually generous it was with gear for the spiderling specifically. ¡°I see,¡± Minerva says with a sigh. ¡°You think the dungeon sees a destiny for my daughter?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t say for sure,¡± Emily says. ¡°Elizabeth thinks it is unlikely, but.¡± ¡°I hope she¡¯s right,¡± Minerva says. ¡°But¡­¡± Meanwhile, Heathcliff is already at work assessing the state of the animals. Lydia gleefully mentions to him how Minerva, Richard, and the newly constructed had fended them off. ¡°Richard fended off several packs of beasts? How?¡± Heathcliff says. At the same time, Sarah examines her brother¡¯s modified crossbows. ¡°Not bad,¡± Sarah says. ¡°For an amateur!¡± ¡°Well I¡¯d ask a professional, but she was busy gallivanting to remote villages,¡± Richard says playfully. Sarah laughs. ¡°So you used stunner parts on your crossbows?¡± she says. She noticed the scope was loose and the capacitors were also attached somewhat poorly. She sees the mechanism used for charging the crossbow bolts was also done haphazardly. ¡°Since I¡¯m not busy ¡®gallivanting¡¯ around now, I can give them a look, but be careful! Stunners are still dangerous.¡± ¡°Sister, you know I am always cautious,¡± Richard says. Sarah finds his usual worrywart self giving way to an unusually cocky persona. She tests the weapon itself on a small training dummy, the bolt emits a minimum voltage of thirty thousand. She then fired a fully charged bolt, which shocked the dummy with fifty thousand. The standard for electrified weapons. She takes the crossbows. ¡°I¡¯ll see what I can do, but, and I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m saying this, be careful. These bolts can get us in trouble with the guild if misused.¡± ¡°Noted,¡± Richard says. Heathcliff arrives and sees the crossbows. ¡°Heard you fended off some beasts, cher,¡± he says. ¡°Indeed,¡± Richard says proudly. ¡°Hopefully, monsters are the only thing these bolts are being used on,¡± Sarah says. Heathcliff notices parts from the stunner on the weapons as Sarah leaves with them. He turns to Richard. ¡°Let me guess, modified with spare parts?¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°I can be a dab hand when it comes to tinkering,¡± Richard says. ¡°Cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Those things are¡ª¡° ¡°Dangerous,¡± Richard says, ¡°I know. Sarah told me.¡± ¡°Did you use anything else for them?¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Any animal statues should I be aware of?¡± ¡°Goodness, no,¡± Richard says. ¡°The petribeams are too unwieldy for my liking,¡± ¡°I see,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Well, you never stuck me as the reckless type so far, but do try to be careful with these things, Richard. Guild would be on my case if these hit the wrong targets.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± Richard says. ¡°Any luck with the tamer,¡± ¡°Non,¡± the knight said. ¡°We found one, but we not sure if she willing to move.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Richard says. Heathcliff leaves the altelier to check on the rest of the dungeon. ??? Later, Heathcliff asked the Arcahne to set up a night watch for the monsters. Several of them agree, including Minerva and Nina. Meanwhile, Elizabeth talks with Emily while she is in the core room. ¡°So do I need to sleep?¡± Emily says. ¡°It¡¯s not ideal,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°But Dungeons do not need to rest to maintain their bodies. Do you want to help with the night watch?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Emily says. ¡°I think I should help them at least, and it isn¡¯t like they would let me sleep anyway,¡± ¡°We gotta find a tamer soon,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°More of them are arriving by the day.¡± ¡°At least Minerva, Richard, and the construct kept them away from anything important,¡± Emily says. ¡°By the way, how was my Bardsong?¡± ¡°Still needs work,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°But you show some promise. A few more months and you¡¯ll be singing as you¡¯re ¡®slinging.¡± ¡°Thanks!¡± Emily says. ¡°Good night, Emily,¡± Elizabeth says with a yawn. She then heads to her bed to rest. Emily meanwhile spends the night helping the Arachne patrol her body. A few hours later, she senses a pack of dire wolves nearing the atelier. She directs Lydia to the pack. She leads several Selinopidae to hypnotize the wolves into moving into a tunnel recently constructed by some Atypidae and Atracidae. For the next hour, she moves her walls to trap the cordyceps-infected deer inside a maze while simultaneously leading Minerva and some Lycosidae to deal with it. The Tepidaprporum in the brood, already reclusive, had already taken measures to ensure the animals did not disturb them before Emily could alert them to their presence. The night passes as Emily does everything in her power as a dungeon to help with the animals. ??? Meanwhile, Carla and her party are now in the town of Rosenkreuz. ¡°Hamlin huh?¡± Benoit says to the travelers. ¡°That¡¯s pretty out of the way.¡± ¡°We¡¯re aware,¡± Douglas says. ¡°Town¡¯s working on it,¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Benoit says. ¡°I¡¯ve heard of the Backbreaker infrastructure project. I¡¯ve also heard it would take years to finish even if it started today.¡± ¡°I¡¯m curious about one thing,¡± the Alraune mother says. ¡°I¡¯ve heard your animal specialists are all occupied?¡± ¡°Afraid so, umm,¡± Benoit says. ¡°Carla,¡± ¡°Carla, right,¡± Benoit says. ¡°The tamers and beastmasters are all currently assigned to other dungeons in the New Virginia area. And those that aren¡¯t are being scouted by Noir, Gardenia, and Pacifica. I take it you¡¯re asking because you¡¯re interested in filling in that void for a specific dungeon?¡± ¡°Well, umm,¡± Carla thinks she is not interested, yet something in the back of her mind argues with her. ¡°The village, without closure, shuns you still,¡± Carla thinks back to the warning from the valley. She brushes this stray thought aside. ¡°Ignore me if you must, heed not my words. But their deeds make themselves clear as day.¡± ¡°I just wanted to assess the situation at the Black Box?¡± Carla says. ¡°The Black Box?¡± Benoit says. ¡°Yeah, there was a recent influx of beasts and monsters there,¡± Douglas looks at Carla curiously. He suspects something is off. ¡°If you want, I can lead you there?¡± Benoit says. ¡°There is no need for that,¡± Carla says as she holds up the map. ¡°I can find it myself.¡± Meanwhile, Euryale and Stheno are in a friendly contest with Charlotte. The twins aim to try to complete a coloring sheet faster than their Alraune friend. As the color of the crayons in the blank parts of the pages, Charlotte matches the twins by using both arms. Crimson wax glides across the black and white sheet, and Cerulean and Chartreuse hues flood the petal-shapes in the pages. Orange, Fuschia, and Violet color the blank half of the page to form the gloam of dusk on he twin¡¯s pages. While Cerulean and Azure hies fill the void on Charlotte¡¯s. ¡°We win!¡± Euryale says as they finish their sheet. It was close, with Charlotte only leaving fifteen percent of the page uncolored. ¡°Aww,¡± Charlotte says. ¡°No fair!¡± ¡°It isn¡¯t our fault the burger place only gave us two sheets!¡± Euryale says. ¡°Sister,¡± Stheno says. ¡°It¡¯s rather uncouth to gloat.¡± Charlotte humps, before giggling a bit. The three girls then look around the unfamiliar halls of the Rosenkreuz guild. ¡°Suppose I do decide to offer my talents,¡± Carla says to Benoit. ¡°How would you arrange for transposition to and from Hamlin?¡± ¡°I¡¯m certain we¡¯ll think of something. Many of our adventurers are quite skilled. Though the matter of Revotos¡¯ Valley is one we need to address.¡± Benoit looks over the paperwork. ¡°It is possible that you might have to stay nearby for a few days until we can get things squared away.¡± Douglas has a concerned look. ¡°Carla, are you considering¡ª¡° ¡°I¡¯m not,¡± Carla says. ¡°Not yet at least.¡± Douglas understands her turmoil. ¡°Those blasted rumors are still dragging you down huh?¡± Carla sighs. ¡°Rumors?¡± Benoit says, ¡°What rumors?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing to concern yourself over,¡± Douglas says. ¡°Alright,¡± Benoit says. He hands them some paper. ¡°Just in case.¡± The paperwork before Carla is for preparation in the event she does decide to work with the Black Box. A preliminary measure. ¡°Actually,¡± Douglas says. ¡°While we¡¯re here. I have a question, you know my son, Orpheus Arion?¡± ¡°The name does ring a bell,¡± Benoit says. ¡°Why do you ask?¡± ¡°I was just wondering,¡± Douglas says with a polite and friendly tone. He is not one for unnecessary conflict. But Benoit can see something in his eyes. ¡°You want to know why he was rejected,¡± Benoit says. ¡°Unfortunately I don¡¯t have a clue. Pauline was the one that was handling that she she¡¯s currently visiting Gardenia right now. I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Douglas says, thank you. ¡°It seemed rather strange,¡± Benoit says. ¡°Orpheus was the only applicant from Hamlin that was rejected. How¡¯s he doing by the way?¡± ¡°Managed to get hired by some folk in Noir,¡± Douglas says. ¡°Ah,¡± Benoit says. ¡°Glad to hear he got work at least.¡± Carla finishes signing the paperwork and hands it over to Benoit. ¡°Awesome,¡± Benoit says. ¡°Rest will be up to Heathcliff, but I don¡¯t think he would deny you given the circumstances.¡± ¡°He likely won¡¯t,¡± Carla says. ¡°The choices here are mine and mine alone.¡± ¡°Search your heart, find the truth, and know it so. Hamlin neither wants nor needs your presence.¡± The voice in the back of her mind says. ¡°For they do not tolerate murderers.¡± Carla looks back at the message on the tablet. ¡°Beware the stray thoughts,¡± She is left to wonder if all of her thoughts are truly her own, or if someone is manipulating her. Her trail of thoughts are interrupted by her daughter¡¯s trying to get ehr attention. ¡°Charlotte dear,¡± Carla says. ¡°What¡¯s the matter.¡± ¡°I just wanted to show you there!¡± Charlotte displayed the picture she had colored in proudly. The scene depicts a forest in the daylight with a yellow sun beaming down onto the lush trees. However many of the colors bleed past their boundaries, leaving the trees striped in brown, green and blue, and the sky having edges of green. In contrast, the Arion twins picture is more refined, the wax of the crayon not trespassing beyond their boundaries as they depict the same forest in twilight. Even despite the fact that both girls were sharing the same page and coloring it in simultaneously. The group finish their tasks at the guildhall and continue towards the Black Box. ??? With the Black Box, the residents had found the monster encounters grew more frequent in number. In addition to the fungus-infested deer and the dire wolves. Tim had fended off a serpentine feline, a Tatzelwurm. Heathcliff had fended off a few chimeras and Elizabeth and the giant tarantula construct had fended off a strange chimera. After a while, they, along with Emily, Richard, and Sarah discuss what to do about the monsters if they are unable to find a tamer. ¡°We could hold out for a few more months,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Chances are that if we grow more powerful, they might pose no threat to us, cher¡± ¡°The Arachne are a different story,¡± Elizabeth says. The response had the knight realize that they might not be as able to fend off the ¡°guests¡± for long and that it would be difficult for them to get enough gear for them all. It is at this point that Minerva arrives, ¡°We have a visitor, she doesn¡¯t seem to want to raid the dungeon.¡± Emily looks at the entrance and finds visitors from Hamlin, Clara, Douglas, Charlotte, Euryale, and Stheno. ¡°Heathcliff,¡± Emily¡¯s voice rings to him, ¡°maybe you should go greet them? They¡¯re close to my entrance¡± The knight heads to the part of Emily she specified and is surprised to find Clara and her entourage there. ¡°Clara!¡± he says. ¡°Heathcliff,¡± Clara says. ¡°Seems you decided to take up my offer?¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Not quite,¡± Clara says. ¡°I¡¯m here to see just how bad this is first.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Heathcliff says. He notices the other three with Clara and Charlotte. ¡°Have we met before?¡± Douglas says, ¡°You seem pretty familiar.¡± ¡°Me and my mates were staying in Hamlin for a while,¡± Heathcliff says. Douglas couldn¡¯t help but notice something else about him like he should have known of this person before. ¡°Nina does, life here, yes?¡± Stheno says. ¡°Oui,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Can we, um play with her?¡± Charlotte says. ¡°That depends on her mom,¡± the knight says. ¡°Follow me.¡± Heathcliff leads the group from the blue and black entrance. ¡°Minerva?¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoes to the Arahcne mom, ¡°Some of them want to play with Nina?¡± ¡°Oh dear,¡± Minerva says. ¡°Did Nina make new friends while in Hamlin?¡± ¡°Yep!¡± the spiderling says with a cheerful smile. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. ¡°I knew I forgot something!¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Sorry about that.¡± ¡°Can I?¡± Nina looks at her mother. Her eyes are not powerful enough to try to move Minerva¡¯s mind, but her sparking expression convinces Minerva to let her daughter play with her distant friends. Meanwhile, Carla sees several of the beasts and monsters that now made the dungeon their home, and several of the residents contending with these intruders. The Arachne adventurers fight to repel a pack of dire wolves and Tatzelwurms, the spider construct gathers several manticores and dire rats in a room. Douglas also looks at the strange place and the bestial intruders. ¡°Well, is there anything you can do short term?¡± Despite the alien appearance, Charlotte feels a sense of warmth from the walls of the dungeon that she never felt in Hamlin outside her house. The group soon enters a room, which rapidly morphs to resemble a living room with furniture formed from the floors and walls. Minerva, Nina, Elizabeth, Sarah, and Richard are already in the room. Nina rushes to greet her friends. Clara notices a certain absence among the group. ¡°Where is Emily?¡± she says. ¡°She¡¯ll be here in a moment,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Isn¡¯t that right?¡± he looks at Elizabeth as he says this, but the true recipient is someone else. ¡°Guess some introductions are in order,¡± the Alraune says. ¡°My name is Clara, this is my daughter, Charlotte. I¡¯ve arrived from Hamlin for a short visit, nothing at all.¡± ¡°Name¡¯s Douglas, an old friend of Clara¡¯s husband, the other two girls are my kids.¡± ¡°Pleasure to meet you, my name¡¯s Stheno.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Euryale!¡± ¡°I¡¯m Char¡ªwait,¡± Charlotte turns to Clara, realizing her mother had introduced her. ¡°My name¡¯s is Minerva, Nina¡¯s mother.¡± The older Arachne says. ¡°I assume you already met my sister Sarah?¡± Richard says before introducing himself. His electrified crossbows were nowhere to be seen on his dark-skinned and blond-haired body. ¡°I¡¯m here!¡± a voice calls out. Everyone turns to see Emily¡¯s avatara, tripping over herself as she runs towards the room. ¡°Little clumsy today, cher?¡± Heathcliff says. Clara already suspects Emily is the Dungeon by now, but she decides to humor the girl. ¡°I¡¯m glad we can meet again, Emily.¡± ¡°So,¡± Emily says, since you¡¯re here and all. ¡°My daughter and I will see what we can do, no promises,¡± Clara says with a gentle smile. ¡°I¡¯ll try to lend a hand as well,¡± Douglas says. ¡°You guys have a real monster problem here.¡± ¡°Yeah, we know,¡± Tim says in an aloof manner. ??? ¡°So, you three have never gone outside Hamlin before?¡± Nina talks with the three girls about their trip to the Black Box. ¡°Didn¡¯t we already tell you that?¡± Charlotte says. ¡°I think she forgot,¡± Euryale says. ¡°I¡¯m not quite sure myself,¡± Charlotte says. The four children were helping the others by finding the exact number of larger monsters. As they explore the Black Box¡¯s rooms, they find a pack of wolves and a swarm of dire rats. ¡°Okay,¡± Charlotte takes a deep breath. ¡°Mom told me a few things on the way here.¡± She approaches the wolves first. Her petals spread a pleasant and calming aroma that lowered the wolves¡¯ aggression towards the Alraune child. ¡°You guys are lost, aren¡¯t you?¡± Charlotte says to the wolves. Several of them seem to make gestures affirming as such. ¡°Can you tell me where you came from?¡± The wolves lead the kids to a patch of meadow that has now been covered by the sleek black and indigo floors and walls of the Dungeon. Their territory is now part of the dungeon and the animals are placed in an unfamiliar land. ¡°Did the dungeon spread over your home?¡± Charlotte says. As Charlotte talks to the wolves, Euryale and Stheno notice her pleasant aroma. ¡°I feel¡­tired..for some reason,¡± Euryale says. ¡°Lotte, dear,¡± Stheno says, ¡°I think your...scent is too¡­¡± Charlotte turns and finds the twins lying on the ground, knocked out by her petals scene. She rushes to wake them up. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry!¡± Charlotte says, ¡°Nina can you¡ª¡° She turns to find Nina also lying in a stupor. ¡°Okay,¡± Charlotte concentrates on a different scent. She turns to the dire wolves ¡°Please bear with me!¡± instead of the previous aroma, her petals soon emit a pungent odor that fills the room. The other three girls are awakened by the stench. ¡°Ugh,¡± Nina says, ¡°what stinks in here?¡± ¡°I¡¯m so sorry,¡± Charlotte says as the twins wake up. ¡°I didn¡¯t notice my petals were too sweet-smelling!¡± The wolves leave, fearful of the odor, and head towards another room. ¡°So,¡± Euryale wipes her eyes. ¡°What did we find out?¡± ¡°The dungeon had,¡± Charlotte says. ¡°Well, it had overtaken their lands. Removing them is easy but they are gonna need a new forest to live in.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Euryale says, as she pinches her nose. ¡°That¡¯s one dire wolf pack so far, right?¡± Nina says with an eager smile. ¡°Yes?¡± Charlotte says. She stand sup and upon seeing that both Euryale and Stheno had pinched their noses, focuses on changing her petals¡¯ fragrance to a more pleasant one. The girls go to tell Elizabeth about the wolf pack. ??? Tim, Richard, and Sarah lurk behind some treelike structures. They see several mountain lions prowling the converted forests. ¡°How did mountain lions arrive here?¡± Richard says. ¡°There aren¡¯t any mountains near Eastshire!¡± Tim notices a presence behind him, one of the predators poised to ambush him. The feline leaps toward the group, but Tim dodges, turns, and uses the momentum to strike its abdomen. Richard fires one electrified bolt at it. The wildcat flees after the shock. Sarah looks around, finding four more of the creatures. ¡°Okay, so five mountain lions,¡± she says. ¡°Can we move on now?¡± ¡°Wait!¡± Richard says. ¡°This room is rather large, there could be more here.¡± ¡°Heh,¡± Tim says, ¡°I thought you¡¯d be the type to leave.¡± ¡°I¡¯m the type that obsesses over detail,¡± Richard says. ¡°I¡¯d rather not find out that there was a hair out of place because we were too lazy to delve deeper. Besides, I¡¯m not gonna turn down a chance to practice my marksmanship.¡± Tim smirks, ¡°Yeah, fair enough.¡± In truth, he is looking for a reason to practice with his earth spells as well. Sarah sighs. ¡°Well, if we have to be through,¡± The three move deeper into the converted woodlands. They do not see anything of note beyond the pack of five lions. Tim fills in an obstructive void with his earth spells. Sarah fends off one of the mountain lions as they draw closer to the three. Richard provided covering fire with his modified crossbow. Sarah was curious about something. ¡°So Tim,¡± she says. ¡°How did you wind up with that knight, anyway?¡± ¡°Heathcliff? We just bumped into each other, is all,¡± he says. In truth, he had sought out the Crimson Hound himself as a mentor in adventuring. The dwarves are a little skeptical of that. Richard has his own questions. ¡°How long have you been traveling together?¡± ¡°A few years now,¡± Tim says. The three soon hear something in the converted trees around them. Tim sees a pair of feline eyes in the shadows and assumes a horse stance. Sarah also prepares to fight as well. Emerging from the shadows is a chimera, a beast with the body of a lion, the wings of a dragon, and the heads of a ram and lion. Its serpentine tail holds the head of a snake. ¡°A chimera!¡± Sarah says. ¡°How lovely.¡± The dwarven woman attacks the chimera with her hammer, pinning its serpent tail down with a smack. The tail bites Sarah and injects her arm with poisonous saliva. She is rendered barely unable to lift her hammer as she grows woozy. Tim makes a charging step and stops short of the hybrid, he uses the moment to make a rapid succession of punches and palm strikes on the beast, hitting where the goat¡¯s head merges with the rest of the beast¡¯s body. He then uses his spear to combine wind and earth magic. Creating stones from the air to pelt them, with the force of the gales accelerating them as she leaps a distance away from the agitated hybrid. The leonine head of the beast opens its maw. Richard aims his crossbow at it and fires a shot. The projectile was swallowed by the beast who proceeded to zap it from the inside. The chimera is now angered. It makes a headlong rush toward Tim, but he sidesteps and causes it to hit the metal bark of a tree. It charges again, but Sarah recovers from the poison and leaps onto the beast, riding it like a mere horse. The serpent¡¯s tail attacks Sarah as she holds on to the body. She dodges its bites as she continues to ride it. ¡°Come on now, I¡¯ve met foals with more buck than that!¡± The chimera, taunted by Sarah makes a great leap with its wings in an attempt to remove its unwanted rider from itself. The goat¡¯s head turns towards the dwarf, trying to lash at her alongside the snake¡¯s tail. Before the chimera could land, Tim knocks it back into the air with snap kicks. The beast hits another metallic arbor. The collision causes it to deform and melt a little, trapping its leg and tail within its bark. Sarah dismounts and climbs down. ¡°Is that enough now,¡± Sarah asks. Love me a good fight and all, but¡ª¡° She is interrupt by the sound of growling form behind her. She turns and finds two smaller chimeras. The silver-haired dwarf turns back ¡°You get my point.¡± Tim and the dwarven siblings dodge the cubs¡¯ attacks and Tim uses wind magic to repel them as they escape. They rush back tot he room¡¯s entrance. Emily seals the room¡¯s entrance after the three make it across. ¡°Three chimers, five mountain lions,¡± Richard says as he, his sister and Tim catch their breaths. ¡°Close enough for me.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Tim says. ¡°Let¡¯s head back.¡± ??? Heathcliff gives Carla and Douglas a tour of the dungeon as they search for monsters. ¡°So,¡± Douglas says. ¡°Are you certain we haven¡¯t met before?¡± ¡°Yes, monsieur,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°We haven¡¯t.¡± The three soon find three Tatzelwurms asleep. Carla approaches the slumbering serpents. She uses her fragrance to keep them asleep as she observes them. She finds that the structure of the room resembles a forested area and a nest for the feline monsters specifically. ¡°It¡¯s as I feared?¡± Carla says. ¡°The dungeon had expanded and taken over the nearby forests and meadows. Yes?¡± Heathcliff nods. ¡°For obvious reasons, we don¡¯t quite want to give them the boot yet.¡± ¡°You seek a tamer hoping to have the monsters serve the dungeon?¡± Carla says. Her deduction is not unfounded. She knows that tamers are commonly employed by dungeons to help them use the native fauna as deterrents to visitors, a supplement to the Cells. ¡°That¡¯s the ideal scenario, cher,¡± Heathclifff says. ¡°But I understand in you don¡¯t want to help with that.¡± Carla notices that patches of scales on the Tatzelwurms look different from the other scales, resembling the walls more than any natural pattern. ¡°It seems like the dungeon is already mutating them,¡± she says. ¡°How did it exactly expand?¡± Douglas asks. He is aware that an Arahcne-populated dungeon had recently vanished. ¡°If I had to guess,¡± Carla says. ¡°Rapid influx of mana.¡± ¡°That would be close, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°We should get going,¡± Carla says. ¡°Three Tatzelwurms so far.¡± All this time Emily had listened in, thanks to Elizabeth¡¯s help she can still perceive an extent of her senses within her dungeon body while piloting the avatara body. She turns to Elizabeth. ¡°Mutation?¡± she says ¡°Oops,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Forgot to explain. Dungeons in general have an effect on the monsters and such living inside them, causing them to adapt to their new surroundings. In some cases they could even become a new type of Cell entirely!¡± ¡°Why do we even need a tamer then?¡± Emily says. ¡°Problem is that unlike Cells, they still possess their own will. They cannot be controlled by the average core. Only worked around. The number of mana a core needs to use just to control these beasties is quite significant.¡± ¡°Aw,¡± Emily says. She recalls the Arahcne eyes and Bardsong in general. ¡°Can Bardsong help?¡± ¡°No,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°It generally can cause people and monsters to feel specific emotions, but it cna be resisted. The eyes of an Arachne can work, but the ones currently lviign here are incapable of that level of power right now.¡± She sighs. Emily¡¯s avatara turns to find Nina, Charlotte and the tewins. As she steps she somehow slips before Elizabeth catches her. The four kids tell the fairy about the wolf pack and the location they had found it. ??? A few hours later, Carla, Heathcliff, and Douglas enter another room. ¡°So we have, three groups of cat snakes,¡± Heathcliff says as he looks over the information Elizabeth had given him. ¡°A deer with a bad fungal infection, a dozen dire wolf packs, three chimeras. At least ten swarms of dire rats and five mountain lions.¡± ¡°How did mountain lions even make it here?¡± Douglas says. Heathcliff shrugs. Carla looks at the room and sees its last residents are a trio of hippogryphs. The feathers of the winged equine bear patterns, similar to the spots of the Tatzelwurms. The creatures look at the trio with agitation. Carla uses her fragrances to soothe the beasts, but it instead provokes them. The three attack Carla, Douglas, and Heathcliff. The knight already intercepting the first blow with his shield. The walls around the dungeon move in reaction to the beasts, unable to focus on containing them with her conciseness still operating the avatara. Douglas takes out his hook and chain. ¡°Seems like a little force is needed,¡± he says as he throws his hook around one of the hippogryphs. The beast Carla changes her arms into wooden knives. Not wanting to harm the beasts, but aware that she cannot idle if they are this agitated. She blocks one of the talons of the hippogryphs with her bladed arms. Her scent turns into a pungent odor to deter the beasts from attacking her. In another room, Emily senses something within her other body and her avatara faints. Now that she isn¡¯t preoccupied with it, the dungeon can focus on the source of the sensation. She looks and sees the three hippogryphs and attempts to contain them. The walls rapidly shift to box them in. The mammalian avians are too fast and agile for her attempts as they take to the air and attack Heathcliff, Douglas, and Carla with their feathers. Carla sees something unusual, an object piercing the feet of each of the hippogryphs. ¡°Doug!¡± she says, ¡°Can you tether their legs?¡± ¡°On it!¡± Douglas says. He takes his chained hook and uses it to ensnare the avian horse, dragging it close enough for Carla to approach it. ¡°There there, it¡¯s okay,¡± Carla says gently. She dodges its claw strikes as she draws closer to the bound beast. She soon removed the object from its leg. A talon that had been dislodged and been causing it great pain. The monsters grow a little more docile afterward but still tries to attack the Alraune. Clara dodges as the creature breaks the fetter around its leg and flies off. Clara sees one of the remaining two locked in a fierce battle with Heathcliff. His shield loosens the piercing talon in the monster¡¯s leg as it blocks its diving attacks. ¡°Rather fierce little monstre,¡± Heathcliff says as he prepares to clash with it once more. The two combatants lock talon with sword and the clash causes a cut to appear on the hippogryph¡¯s foot. The piercing nail was removed as a result of the open wound. Carla rushes over to the monster and uses one of her petals as a makeshift gauze for the leg. After its wound was tended to, the hippogriff screeches and flies away. The third hippogryph was trapped inside a mass of spikes. His pained leg jutted out as it tried to escape its cage. Carla takes the piercing talon off its leg. ¡°You can let it go now,¡± Carla says. The dungeon obliges, and the third hippogryph leaves to join its siblings. ??? Later that day, Elizabeth visits Richard. ¡°You wanted to see me?¡± ¡°Ah Elizabeth,¡± the dwarven artisan says. ¡°Come with me.¡± The fairy passes by Sarah, who is busy forging several swords. The dark-skinned silver-haired dwarfette carefully moves a molten blade from the furnace and places it on a nearby anvil. Elizabeth soon finds an Arachne. ¡°Hello, Mistress Elizabeth,¡± he says. He stands in a room surrounded by images of headshots, each sporting several distinctive hairstyles. ¡°Hello, Keith,¡± Elizabeth says to the spider man. ¡°What brings you here,¡± ¡°Our diminutive friend had wanted my services,¡± Keith says with a polite tone. His slick raven tresses cascade down to his back as he observes the fairy. ¡°He says he is in need of a hairstylist.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Richard soon arrives. ¡°There you are!¡± the blond dwarf says. ¡°You wanted to see me?¡± Elizabeth says. Richard nods. ¡°I wanted to expand my horizons a bit. I know there is more to fashion and style than just the outfits themselves.¡± ¡°Master Richard especially wants to get into hairdressing,¡± Keith says. Elizabeth realizes the bizarre request. ¡°You want to give me a haircut?¡±. ¡°It has been a while since I had one,¡± she thinks. Richard nods and beams a smile. ¡°I¡¯ve several ideas if you are interested.¡± He shows Elizabeth several examples of short hairstyles. Elizabeth compares to her current one, by now her magenta hair is slightly longer than she is tall, dragging on the floor as she walks. The fairy is intrigued by the offer and looks over the examples. ¡°How about that one?¡± she says. ¡°Hmm.¡± Richard looks at the selected image. ¡°Keith?¡± The Arachne man hands him several equipment; a pair of scissors, some shears, and tools for washing the hair. ¡°Rest assured that I already explained to him the art of styling hair,¡± he says. Elizabeth flutters to the chair and sits down. Her mane draped off the back of the seat. ¡°This is going to take some time,¡± Richard says. An hour later, half of Elizabeth¡¯s magenta hair was cut off. During this time, the three talked about several topics, including Richard¡¯s goals in the space of fashion and an interest in Noirian styles specifically. While Richard was careful, his inexperience showed in the sloppy chopping of the fairy¡¯s hair. Another thirty minutes later, Richard had managed to crop off enough hair to the desired length. However, the dwarf¡¯s sloppy work is still shown in the uneven cuts. ¡°Not bad for a beginner,¡± Keith says. ¡°You show some promise, but will need some more practice.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± Richard says. Richard allows Keith to even out the ends of her hair while Richard works on other aspects. By the hour¡¯s end, Elizabeth¡¯s new haircut was nearly finished. Richard applies the finishing touch with some bands used to tie some of the hair into buns. ¡°It is done, Mistress Elizabeth,¡± Keith says. The fairy soon stands up and stares at a mirror, appraising her new haircut. Her hair now stretches just to her back, while parts of it are tied up in two buns. ¡°Wow!¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°That¡¯s amazing.¡± ¡°I¡¯d hope so,¡± Richard says. ¡°I¡¯m glad we met your expectations. And I thank you for accepting our sudden request,¡± Keith says. Richard turns to the Arachne stylist. ¡°Thank you for the assistance,¡± he says. ¡°My pleasure,¡± Keith says. Elizabeth and Keith leave the atelier. Sarah being too busy working on her swords to notice Elizabeth¡¯s new tresses. ??? Later, the group reconvened and Emily reactivated her avatara. ¡°So,¡± Emily says. ¡°Quite a few critters are making this place home,¡± Carla says. ¡°Most concerning are the chimeras and hippogryphs.¡± ¡°Any ideas for fixes, cher?¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Maybe we can¡ª¡° Charlotte makes Carla interrupts her daughter. ¡°I want to stay the night, if possible,¡± Carla says. ¡°It is getting late anyway,¡± Douglas says. ¡°Who¡¯se up for supper? My treat!¡± While everyone is getting ready for dinner. Charlotte looks around the technological dungeon. She can sense warmth emanating from her walls. A stark contrast to how the village feels outside her house. Emily soon approaches her. ¡°Dinner¡¯s ready!¡± Emily says. ¡°Your mom sent me to get you.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Charlotte says. ¡°So,¡± Emily says. ¡°How is the dungeon?¡± Charlotte looks at the purple-haired teenage girl beside her. For some reason, her ability to sense mana could barely detect her. To Charlotte, it is like she isn¡¯t even here, yet her eyes can see that she is, and her ears can hear her voice. ¡°Oh, um,¡± Charlotte says. ¡°It, nice?¡± ¡°Nice?¡± Emily says. ¡°Nice,¡± Charlotte says. Emily looks around the room, almost as if she was a little insulted. She then looks back at the younger Alraune. ¡°Is something the matter?¡± Charlotte isn¡¯t sure how to answer that question. She looks back on her time in Hamlin, memories of a cold atmosphere despite the effulgent sunlight shining on the quaint village. Memories of her encounters with Charles and his barbs, memories of her being ignored by most of the villagers. ¡°No,¡± she says as she beams a smile, ¡°But the dungeon is very nice!¡± Emily sees the warmth in the child¡¯s voice as she says that. Yet Emily can still detect a tinge of sadness in the young Alraune. Charlotte meanwhile looks at Emily and senses that her mana is blending in with that of the room itself. ¡°Thanks,¡± Emily says. ¡°But are you sure everything¡¯s alright?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure, thank you, Miss Emily, ¡°Charlotte says. ¡°Alright,¡± Emily says. ¡°But if you need anything while you¡¯re here, just let me know, ¡®kay?¡± The child nods as the pair head to dinner. Everyone is already gathered inside a small set of dining tables, fabricated by the dungeon herself and merged into the floors. As everyone eats, Charlotte begins to recall memories of what it was like when her father Samuel was alive. A time when guests were frequent, and when dinners were a little warmer. She begins to wonder when did Hamlin changed. Her mother has similar feelings as she takes a look at the food behind her. ¡°A feast, spectacular, effervescent,¡± A voice rings in her head. ¡°Cooked with kindness you have long since been denied.¡± Carla¡¯s seed of doubt tries to get her to abandon Hamlin. She gazed upon the various people of the Black Box enjoining themselves. ¡°Hamlin has no place for thee, the betrayed. The people call you a monster, a murderer. No better than the beasts you take care of.¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Carla thinks, trying to deny the seed of doubt a larger foothold in her mind. ¡°Deny me all you wish, it matters not. The die was already cast long ago. Even if you try to give them closure. They would still never accept you or kin.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not in the mood for your foul games, Invader,¡± Carla thinks. ¡°Now leave!¡± The voice chuckles. ¡°I merely unveil the doubts in your heart. If you truly had faith and conviction. Then why, why are you in this dungeon?¡± The voice fades with these haunting words. Charlotte sees her mother¡¯s forlorn smile. A grimace that masked feelings of confusion and sorrow. A face she wore many times herself as she pretended that her father¡¯s death had not bothered her too much. Both Emily and Heathcliff notice Carla¡¯s expression as well. ¡°Seems she is holding back some deep scars,¡± Heathcliff thinks. Sarah has already finished her plate. ¡°More please!¡± the female dwarf says. ¡°Sarah!¡± Richard says. ¡°The rest of us haven¡¯t even finished!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve seen someone finish a plate like that so fast!¡± Douglas says. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it,¡± Heathcliff says. Emily follows him. As Heathcliff and Emily head into the nearby kitchen. The two exchange words. ¡°You seem pretty determined to get her here,¡± Emily says with a cheeky smile, ¡°Huh, Heathcliff?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not for the reasons you think, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°I¡¯m just trying to make you a proper specialist is all.¡± ¡°Uh-huh,¡± Emily¡¯s avatara sits on one of the counters, she beckons a cabinet to open and fires a bag to her hand. She hands it to the knight who opens it to find it has a loaf of bread wrapped inside it. ¡°Tomatoes,¡± Heathcliff says. Emily places a bag of the red plants in her hand and hands it to Heathcliff. ¡°Lettuce,¡± The knight says. ¡°One of the guests seems pretty insistent on knowing you before, Crimson Hound,¡± Emily says. ¡°Is that true? ¡°Who knows, cher,¡± Heathcliff says, ¡°I¡¯ve met with many folks before. I do know that I do not want people to know that the Crimson Hound is around these parts, made me too many enemies, cher. Now then where¡¯s the bacon? Gotta make the bacon!¡± ¡°On it,¡± Emily says. She opens a cabinet and sees several strips of pork, land on a platter, freshly cooked. She hands the meat to Heathcliff. The knight soon finishes the sandwiches and places them on several garnished platters. ¡°These will keep her full,¡± Heathcliff says. The two deliver the food to the hungry, hungry dwarf. ??? After Dinner, Elizabeth leads the guests to their quarters. The group of five was surprised to find a recreation of the interior of Carla¡¯s house! ¡°Hmm,¡± Carla says. ¡°Something seems very familiar here.¡± Douglas¡¯ face carries of sense of annoyance. ¡°I had work weeks and nights to finish Samuel¡¯s house, and here I find the dungeon is somehow able to recreate it instantly.¡± His daughters chuckle. ¡°Sorry,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°We thought you¡¯d be more at home in familiar trappings.¡± Douglas looks at the flustered fairy and sighs. ¡°Well, at least it makes finding the guest rooms, easy, c¡¯mon girls!¡± Euryale and Stheno follow their father. Emily¡¯s avatars approach Elizabeth, Clara, and Charlotte. ¡°Evening!¡± Emily says. The two Alraunes notice the peculiarities surrounding Emily. Clara muses on the uncanny recreation of her home, down to the details. Charlotte¡¯s special sense still could barely discern her from the ambient mana of the Black Box. ¡°Thank you for hosting us,¡± Clara says with a warm smile and closed eyes. ¡°Miss Dugneon,¡± Emily and Elizabeth are shocked to find that the elder Alraune knows Emily is the dungeon. ¡°H-how did you know?¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Lucky guess,¡± Carla lies. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, dears, you¡¯re secret¡¯s safe with us, right Charlotte?¡± ¡°O-of course!¡± Charlotte says. After processing what her mother had just revealed to her. ¡°We were planning to tell you later,¡± Emily says. ¡°If you wanted to join of course,¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Carla says with a motherly smile. ¡°I understand the need for secrecy here.¡± ¡°Does Douglas know?¡± Emily says. ¡°I don¡¯t think so,¡± Carla says. ¡°He seems more focused on your knight friend. Wonder why?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never seen a dungeon core up close before, ¡°Charlotte says. ¡°And you still haven¡¯t, ¡°Elizabeth says. ¡°The form before us is Emily¡¯s avatara.¡± ¡°You could¡¯ve let me explain that, Elizabeth!¡± Emily says. ¡°Sorry,¡± Elizabeth says, robbing her back. ¡°Anyway,¡± Emily says. ¡°It¡¯s some sort of puppet body?¡± ¡°Puppet body?¡± Charlotte says. ¡°I¡¯ve heard of those,¡± Carla says. ¡°People telling of how Dungeons raid each other with humanoid forms. These avatara are how they explore the world beyond their walls.¡± Charlotte begins to realize something. ¡°Is that why I could barely sense your mana?¡± she asks. ¡°Pardon?¡± Emily says. ¡°You can see mana?¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Oops!¡± Charlotte says. Carla notices her daughter¡¯s slip. ¡°Charlotte was born with a rare gift, she can perceive mana. It proved quite helpful when helping me care for the monsters.¡± Elizabeth is intrigued by the little Alraune lass, Charlotte¡¯s indigo petals and hair contrast with her green complexion. ¡°The ability to sense mana. Only Dungeons should have a power like that.¡± Elizabeth thinks. She recalls something back in Hamlin, how three people sensed something off about the Piper, Charlotte being one of them. But the others were Emily and Nina. ¡°I wonder,¡± the fairy thinks about if little Nina somehow has a similar power as well. ¡°It¡¯s getting late,¡± Carla says, ¡°We really should head to bed now,¡± ¡°Good night,¡± Emily¡¯s says to the Alraunes. Her avarata sinks into the floor. Elizabeth leaves the Alraunes as well, heading to her bed near Emily¡¯s core. ??? The moon shines brightly over Hamlin. The glow of Tranqlitias radiates. The only light over the dead of night. The sleepy village stilled in the moonlit air. A shadowy figure stands atop the tallest roof of the village. ¡°It is time, let the performance begin!¡± He plays his pipe. An enchanting melody covers Hamlin. The sleepy bodies of children awake. Entranced, they walk outside their beds and rooms. They sleepwalk to the siren tune of the pipe. Deftly leaving their homes in silent daze. ¡°They come, the future of the village comes.¡± Six and a half score in number, they walk. The children converge into a dazed line. Not awake, but neither asleep either. They march to the mesmeric Piper¡¯s notes. ¡°Follow me into eternity, kids. Hamlin has no need for you anymore.¡± The Piper continues his fell Bardsong. Children move to the village¡¯s ingress. Their egress punctuated by the tune. The Piper leaps in front of the parade. Playing his merry melody to them. The torpified children follow his sounds. Without fail, awareness or interest. As their souls are trapped betwixt two places. One is the enthralling subconsciousness. The other, the bard¡¯s corrupted soul. ¡°To the dungeon, we go, empower, ingress. For it will seal Hamlin¡¯s true future!¡± The parade marches away from their homes. They tread into Revotos¡¯ Valley. By the emergence of the sun, they were gone. The children had all but left the village. Excluding those left unable to walk. The Piper drops a knife onto the ground. Beyond it, the children hover in the air. No longer leaving a trail to follow. They float above the Ophidian¡¯s lake. ¡°Fly, ascend, your new destiny awaits. You will find a new home, a newfound life. And the dungeon shall come to house you all!¡± ??? Dawn rises over Hamlin. Geraldine wakes up first, to tend to the animals and monsters her sister had entrusted her with in her absence. She tends to the few in her care as she notices a strange feeling in the air. A sense of dread. An hour later, beneath a violet and fuchsia sky, she hears a knock on the door. ¡°I wonder who could it be at this hour?¡± Geraldine opens the door. It was Ms. Guarjardo. An elderly woman is known for her kindness to the other villagers. The woman is in tears. ¡°Ms. Guajardo,¡± Geardine says. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°My granddaughter,¡± Ms. Guajardo sobs. ¡°Ella is missing!¡± Geraldine is shocked to hear this. She tries to comfort the inconsolable elderly woman. At the same time, within the village, Officer Owens awakes to find several parents, teachers, and grandparents, all united in the purpose of filing missing people reports for their children. His wife was among them. As Stella shines above the village, murmurs and rumors abound as to how the children had vanished. Concerned parents panic over the loss of most of their babies as they go about their days. The school, bereft of students, closes. The guards searched for evidence and found a trail of footprints, but that lead had gone cold as they suddenly faded at the foot of the lack in Revotos¡¯s valley, marked by a familiar knife. Several of them, fearing the worst, search for corpses, but the dungeon confirms that the only corpse in that lake is that of the undead Ophidian. Owens finds a tablet nearby. It reads, ¡°I am sorry, I cannot save the children. Someone has absconded with them through me. They are now far, far away from Hamlin. My condolences, people of Hamlin.¡± Owens gathers his men and returns to the village, with the tablet in tow. The villagers take the dungeon¡¯s message as an ominous one. They worry more about their wayward sons and daughters. Their panic turns to fury. ¡°Who¡¯s responsible for this?¡± a villager cries out in grief. ¡°First Samuel¡¯s death, now this?¡± a woman shouts. ¡°Mark my words, whoever did this, they will pay!¡± a man shouts. Geraldine and Medusa sense the furor in the air. They are unsure what has happened, but they are sure that the collective grief is transforming into hateful malice. If the children are dead, they need to know. If they are alive, they have to know. Whosoever captured them beneath their slumbering noses, they must know. The villagers of Hamlin will find their closure, no matter the cost. Chapter XIII: Why Girls Leave Home Carla is inside the town of Hamlin. The effulgent light illuminates the foreboding skies as she walks past the creaking gates and along the shadow-laden streets of the village. The murmurous crowd whispers around her. ¡°Murderer!¡± Carla walks to a corner, the cobblestones are dyed red and brown by bloodstains. Oppressive air fills her lungs as the Alraune walks to the shelter. The other villagers¡¯ eyes fixed on her like daggers. ¡°Deceiver!¡± She arrives at the shelter and opens the door. Her eyes widen and she gasps at seeing Geraldine lying on the floor, stabbed in the back by a familiar knife. Purple and blue veins decorate the corpse of her sister with the blade as their epicenter. Sigils of an indecipherable nature line the walls of the shelter like hieroglyphs. ¡°Traitor!¡± Carla stands mortified at the sight of her deceased sister. She runs outside the shelter and finds that she is surrounded by villagers. Their faces are twisted in rage as they hurl obscenities at her. ¡°Disgrace!¡± Carla tries to appeal to the mob, to assert her innocence, but the unreasonable and vengeance-driven villagers listen not to her. ¡°Monster!¡± One of the mob brandishes a torch at Carla, she avoids the blazing stick as she tries to run. She knows she is unsafe here as she runs past abandoned cottages, the howls and wails of the grief-stricken people at her heels, and the tune of a pipe, are all that she hears. ¡°Why did you do it, why did you kill him?¡± The mob chases Carla, fire, and furor following their wake. Hamlin is now engulfed in a twisted dance of gloaming yellow, smoldering orange, and sanguine red, The sky above fills with a noxious miasmic cloud of ashen particles. She finds a narrow clearing and enters it. Hiding in the shadows of the firelight and evading the mob for now. ¡°Where are the children, why did you take them?¡± They cry as the mob moves past the clearing. ¡°Children?¡± Carla thinks. She knows she didn¡¯t bring any kids with her. Her mind then recalls Charlotte, her daughter. Realizing that the town had gone mad, she made her way to the school. The pipe¡¯s music floods her ears as she moves past the flames and to the school¡¯s grounds. There her jaw stands agape at a horrifying sight. Charlotte is tied to a pole in the playground, surrounded by children flashing wicked smiles as they circle the Alraune child. ¡°Ring around the rosey, a pocket full of posies. Ashes, ashes, we all found down!¡± The pole collapses and Charlotte falls onto the burning school. The face is stilled in an expression of unmoving terror, her eyes stare vacuously as crimson streaks form beneath her eyes. A sharp contrast her her verdant complexion. ¡°Charlotte!¡± Carla tries to save her daughter, but it is too late, Charlotte¡¯s body disintegrates into embers and ash. None remains of the little Alraune girl. ¡°No,¡± Carla says. ¡°This can¡¯t be real.¡± ¡°Oh but it will be, it is your future,¡± a whisper tells her. The mournful howls of the mob, now indistinguishable from a wild hunt, echoes through the fire and the flames to Carla. ¡°How does it feel to lose your kid? O¡¯ kidnapper, murderer, betrayer!¡± ¡°To think Samuel saw any good in you!¡± ¡°We have suffered your presence long enough! It¡¯s time for you to perish, fowl monster!¡± Carla could not make out anyone from the merciless apparitions that now surround her. They bodies charred to an ebony hue from the fire they wield. Their faces are distorted into twisted visages. Their hair and clothing now morphed into scales. Protections extrude from their arms and heads, curving and pointing skyward. Their eyes now line their legs and chest, each possessed of a piercing gaze that is as cold as the surroundings are warm. Carla tries to flee, but someone emerges from the ground and grabs her leg. ¡°Why, Carla, Why did you do this to me?¡± She looks down at the ghast that has her leg in its grip. Seeing familiar features in the revenant¡¯s rotten and maggot-ridden flesh, as the demonic horde of grief stricken and revengeance-craving villagers draws closer. ¡°Samuel? But I¡ª¡° Carla is interrupted by another arm grabbing her other leg. Smaller, yet wreathed in the embers. ¡°Mom, why did you let me perish in flames?¡±. The blazing arm spreads its smolder across Carla¡¯s botanical body, consuming her as she screams in grief and terror. The Pipe¡¯s sounds grow louder and louder, drowning out Carla¡¯s screams, the sounds of the flickering ash, and the joyous clamor of the villagers. ¡°This is our closure, the ending you deserve!¡± ??? Carla wakes up from her nightmare in her guest room in the Black Box, a meticulous replica of her home. She soon heads to the kitchen, finding that Charlotte is already there. ¡°Charlotte?¡± Carla is surprised to see her daughter already in the kitchen. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t sleep,¡± Charlotte says tiredly. She drinks a cup of warm milk. ¡°I had a nightmare.¡± ¡°A nightmare?¡± Carla thinks. The vision remains vivid in her mind. ¡°What kind of nightmare, sweetie?¡± ¡°Everything was on fire,¡± Charlotte says, ¡°everyone was on fire. I was on fire!¡± tears well up from her eyes. Transparent and streaming from her face. Carla hugs her daughter, as she wonders if she had the same nightmare and the ramifications of that possibility. Carla comforts her daughter, telling her that it was just a nightmare. ¡°But why,¡± Carla sniffles. She knows the nightmare is no mere nightmare, but a crystallization of what she fears about the town of Hamlin. ¡°Why does the town hate us?¡± ¡°Oh, sweetie, Hamlin doesn¡¯t hate us.¡± Douglas and his daughters soon arrive. Finding Carla comforting her daughter. Emily also notices the scene and observes it. After Charlotte finishes crying, she and Carla find the Arions in the kitchen. They stand silently for a moment before the parents send their daughters out to play for a bit. ¡°Something is wrong in Hamlin,¡± Carla says. ¡°I don¡¯t know what, but¡ª¡° ¡°Save it,¡± Douglas says. ¡°I understand. Had to comfort the girls about nightmares about them celebrating Charlotte burning to death a minute ago.¡± ¡°Did everyone have the same nightmare?¡± Carla asks. Emily¡¯s voice echoes to the Alraune. ¡°I don¡¯t think I had dreamt of a burning village.¡± ¡°Would be wild if everyone did,¡± Douglas says. ¡°Kinda reassuring in a sense, at least it would mean that Hamlin is the same as it ever was.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve a thing to take care of,¡± Carla says. ¡°Could you keep an eye on the girls for a bit?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Douglas says. ¡°Thank you,¡± Carla says as she leaves the simulacra of her house. ¡°Emily,¡± Carla says to the open air of the Black Box, ¡°Can you grant me a favor?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Emily says. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I¡¯d wish to return to Hamlin,¡± Calra says as she approaches a room where she knows a pack of dire wolves lingers. ¡°If something happened there, I¡¯d wish to know firsthand. Would you and your fellows accompany me?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Emily says. ¡°Thank you,¡± Carla says as she enters the room, hoping to beckon the wolves within to assist her as well. The vision lingers still in her mind, along with the noise of a pipe and a certain accusation. She finds a pack of dire wolves for her tasks. She uses her fragrance to lull them and calm them as she beckons their aid. She eventually coaxes them to assist her. With that taken care of, she heads back and makes more preparations for the return to Hamlin. ??? Carla returns to Revotos¡¯ Valley the next day, alongside Charlotte, Douglas, Euryale, Stheno, Emily, Tim, Sarah, Heathcliff, Minerva, Nina, Elizabeth, and Richard, as well as the pack of dire wolves she enlisted the previous day. ¡°Thank you for accompanying me,¡± Carla says. ¡°No problem, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Anything for a friend.¡± The groups make their pilgrimage through the valley. The Dungeon grants them a new tablet. ¡°Be careful, travelers, for danger¡¯s afoot. Beware the Piper, beware the nightmares.¡± Carla looks at the message, already aware of the nightmare she had recently. ¡°So,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°You and the other visitors had the same dream of the village up in flames?¡± ¡°That is the gist, aye,¡± Douglas says. ¡°That was a terrible dream,¡± Stheno says. ¡°Why I would never take glee at turning my friend into a bonfire!¡± ¡°Why are we even paying attention to that!¡± Euryale says. ¡°It¡¯s just a dream, right Daddy?¡± ¡°A dream that five of us had at the same time,¡± Douglas says. ¡°And one that claims the children had vanished.¡± ¡°I do not know why they would make such a claim,¡± Stheno says. ¡°We were at the school? Right?¡± ¡°Were we?¡± Charlotte says. ¡°I could barely see anything in that nightmare.¡± Carla suspects something is amiss, that the dream was trying to tell them something dire had happened to the village¡¯s children. ¡°Why did they have a dream like that?¡± Nina says curiously. ¡°Yeah,¡± Emily says. ¡°It feels strange.¡± Her avatara turns to see the caverns they went into the first time they visited the valley. Elizabeth muses on the information about the dream the five visitors from Hamlin told her about. ¡°It could be a warning, or it could be a threat. I¡¯ve heard of oneriomancers using dreams as a way to manipulate people, or a bid to warn them of future threats.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t their dreams more¡­ obtuse?¡± Tim says. ¡°Yes,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°They tend to shroud their meanings in layers of symbolism.¡± ¡°That dream felt very clear to me,¡± Charlotte says. The vision of her body turning into ash, and of her arm binding Carla to the ground lingers in her mind. They arrive at the lake where Emily and her allies fought the undead Ophidian. There they say the remnants of a trial of footprints. Sarah looks at them. ¡°They seem rather small,¡± she says. Indeed all of them look like the footprints of children. Carla Fears the worst. ¡°Charlotte, can you have the wolves track the kids?¡± Her young daughter nods and asks the wolves to get a scent from the footprints. The dire wolves¡¯ keen noses smell the trail, but they could only get a faint whiff. Carla rushes to the village of Hamlin. Carla soon arrives at the village, finding Gearldine at the gates. ¡°Carla, you¡¯re back already?¡± ¡°I want to know,¡± Carla says. ¡°Did anything happen in my absence?¡± Geraldine stays silent for a moment. ¡°The children,¡± she says, ¡°They all vanished overnight! They¡¯re gone.¡± ??? The Piper stands in front of his captives. They stand, torpid and dazed, trapped in a haze. He serenades them with his instrument. The children¡¯s eyes glaze over to the tones. They stand in a space, cut off from the village. The trees around them echo the pipe¡¯s tune. The wind carries the melody beyond. ¡°The mind is an adequate place to store. They cannot be found so easily there.¡± In reality, the Piper hovers. Floating over the ground and the water. The Piper Pruflas plays his pipe again. ¡°Shame that they were alerted prematurely.¡± He soon catches the sight of a building. Ebon in color and large in scale. Pruflas smirks, his mind and Stanley¡¯s are as one. ¡°It matters not, for we are here, and so.¡± He plays a small tune. ¡°We wait, until they return, we shall wait. So I may grant the dungeon her new gifts.¡± The children, trapped inside Pruflas¡¯ mind. They remain incognizant of their fates. To them, it¡¯s as if they¡¯re taking a stroll. That they are in a dream of sheer whimsy. As time passes, their memories fade away. Leaving only vestiges of times gone. They barely recall that they had parents. Their older siblings a haze in their minds. Their uncles and aunts erased from memory. And in their place, the void filled with Pruflas. Over time the kids grow more similar. Alike in mindset, attitude, and mirth. They see each other as extensions of themselves. Soon, they shall share the same intelligence. They will become as one, indivisible. Cleaved from Hamlin, but cleaved together. ??? In Hamlin, distraught parents are looking for their missing children. Several of them plaster the walls with missing posters. Others embark on Noir to gather aid from there, despite the risks. Others still scour Revotos¡¯ Valley and the other nearby dungeons for any sign of their whereabouts. Among them is Medusa, who finds that her husband and daughters have returned. She hugs her children and assures them they were not abducted while accompanying Carla. The grateful wife tells her family about the abducted children and how she had heard of them vanishing in the dead of night, while they were all asleep. Meanwhile, the mayor declares a state of emergency about the missing children. A single journalist had arrived from Noir, braving the perils of the Brokeback Mountains, on a routine interview for the Monthly Gazelle publication. The mayor recalls everything that occurred in the past few weeks, including how the bard they hired to resolve the rat problem had attempted to steal from them and had run out of town. And of course the sudden disappearances. The intervener asks if there is a possible link between these two, but the mayor discards it, saying that the Piper, Stanley Piers, was not that competent, and also asking where in the area of the mountains would he keep a hundred and thirty children. The interviewer also asks him about the death of Samuel. The mayor says that the town still mourns his loss and that they are still investigating the cause. He shows him the knife that the Alraunes had found the other day. The envenomed weapon still gleamed under the refulgence of Stella¡¯s cradled light shining through the windows. ¡°Thank you for your time,¡± the interviewer says. ¡°Hopefully the kids will be found by the time I next return.¡± ¡°I hope so too,¡± the mayor says. Later, Emily and Charlotte search the Valley for more signs of the missing children. Charlotte asks the dire wolves if they found anything, but the lupines signal that they haven¡¯t found anyone. Charlotte sighs. ¡°This is hopeless!¡± she shouts. ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Emily says calmly. ¡°We¡¯ll find the children.¡± Charlotte takes a deep breath. She looks back at her time in school, about everyone ignoring her, about the three bullies calling her a monster. Something in her heart is telling her to forsake her peers, her fellow village children. Yet she also knows that Carla would be disappointed in her if she did that. ¡°Father wouldn¡¯t give up,¡± Charlotte thinks. Charlotte then turns to Emily. ¡°I was wondering, do people ever treat you differently Emily?¡± ¡°What do you mean,¡± Emily asks. ¡°Do people avoid you? Pretend you don¡¯t exist?¡± Charlotte says. ¡°Were you ever called a monster?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so?¡± Emily says. Charlotte sighs. ¡°I should have figured as much. Never mind, forget I said anything.¡± ¡°Is something wrong, Charlotte?¡± Emily says with concern in her voice. ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Charlotte says. Just then, the dire wolves smell something. The two girls follow the pack toward the source of the stench until they reach the village¡¯s gates. ??? Meanwhile, Carla regroups with Douglas and his family. She notices that the rest of the villagers stare at her with an unusual coldness. A father pushing a baby stroller sees the Alraune and hastens her pace. A breastfeeding mother notices Clara¡¯s presence and quickly moves away. ¡°What is going on?¡± Clara says. ¡°Dastards at the rumor mill are at it again,¡± Douglas says. ¡°First murderer, now kidnapper?¡± they claim. Clara is shocked. ¡°But why blame me?¡± Clara says. ¡°I wasn¡¯t even in town that night!¡± Douglas sips some tea. ¡°I think that is part of why they blamed you.¡± You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. Heathcliff arrives, having found no leads on the missing kids. ¡°Trail¡¯s gone cold, cher,¡± ¡°Terrific,¡± Clara says with sarcasm. A scream is heard near the cafe, the trio heads out to investigate and find the source. A villager fainting in front of Charlotte, Emily, and the dire wolf pack. ¡°Charlotte!¡± Clara riches to her daughter. What happened?¡± The wolves are docile enough to not attack the villagers, but their very presence is enough to disturb them and Clara¡¯s daughter being among the pack deepens their suspicions further. Despite Douglas¡¯ insistence on her innocence. ¡°The wolves smelled something, we followed them here?¡± the young Alraune had said. ¡°Dire Wolves?¡± the village baker asks. ¡°Why did you bring wolves here?¡± Clara turns to the baker. ¡°I found them.¡± Internally she screams. ¡°I can¡¯t tell them of the dream,¡± she thinks. ¡°Who knows how they would take it.¡± ¡°Yes, who knows the darkness in the hearts of man?¡± a cacodaemonic voice calls out. The tune of a pipe plays in Carla¡¯s head as she sees the hellscape she envisioned in her dream. Instead of a concerned baker, she sees a twisted man with a distorted face. Instead of the cheerful building, she instead sees abandoned cottages on fire. ¡°Mom,¡± Charlotte says. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Carla turns and sees her daughter engulfed in flames, her lifeless eyes gazing at her coldly as she extends a hand. A second later, the flames over Charlotte and the village are gone and the distorted monsters are replaced by the familiar visages of the residents of Hamlin. ¡°I¡¯m fine, sweetie,¡± Carla says. Charlotte however is disturbed by the look in her father¡¯s eyes. The townsfolk look both concerned and scared. Owens arrives on the scene and tells the crowd to scatter. Geraldine, Medusa, and her twin daughters in tow. ¡°Thank you, Officer Owens,¡± Carla says. The dark-skinned man bows gentlemanly at her. ¡°I think you should be more careful with your pets.¡± He says. ¡°The town already unjustly suspects you for the abductions.¡± ¡°Do you have any leads, officer?¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Unfortunately no,¡± Owens says. ¡°And the one we did found only fanned the flames.¡± ¡°Excuse me?¡± Carla says. ¡°We searched the perimeter of the village and the mountains for the children,¡± Owens says. ¡°All we found was a trial of footprints ending at the lake and a familiar knife.¡± The man takes out a bag containing a pristine envenomed blade. ¡°At best we can assume that the kidnapper is also Samuel¡¯s assailant, but¡­¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Carla says. ¡°Thank you again, officer.¡± ¡°Good luck,¡± Officer Owens leaves. ¡°Should we find a place to regroup?¡± Emily says. ¡°Good idea,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Folk here seemed less avenant then last time,¡± ¡°Well you¡¯ve seen Carla¡¯s place,¡± Douglas says. ¡°How about to see how the architect handles his own house?¡± ??? The group convenes at the abode of the Arions, still as whimsically designed as ever. Geraldine decided to stay in the village to help quell the tension in Hamlin. Richard opens the front door, the knob being slightly above the right height for him and his sister. And still too short for the likes of Emily, Tim, and especially Heathcliff. ¡°Whose idea was it to make the doorway that small?¡± Elizabeth says as she ducks under the top of the passage. ¡°It was a security measure,¡± Douglas boasts. The twin girls place their palms on their heads. Medusa leads the others to the door to the backyard and then to the oversized backdoors. ¡°He always sis had a few screws loose when it came to design,¡± Medusa quietly says. Sarah, Charlotte, and Nina enter through the front door, while Carla, Minerva, Tim, and Emily use the back door. The dire wolves followed Carla and were tasked to stay in the backyard. ¡°Watch out for the petunias,¡± Medusa says. ¡°Took me months to get them just right!¡± With everyone now inside, they begin to discuss what to do about finding the missing children as well as the village¡¯s sudden distrust of Carla and her daughter. ¡°Okay, monsuiers and mademoiselles,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°We got five people with the same nightmare, more than a hundred missing kids, and an increasingly distrustful village. Remind me again how did this all happened?¡± ¡°The vanishing children,¡± Carla says. ¡°That is a mystery, seemingly disappearing over the span of a few hours.¡± ¡°The dreams,¡± Charlotte says recalling the horrid and vivid fantasy. ¡°They showed the village in flames, and a dreadful pipe playing over it!¡± Emily thinks there is another element, but can¡¯t place her finger on it. ¡°A pipe?¡± she thinks ¡°that seems familiar somehow.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve searched Revotos¡¯ Valley,¡± Sarah says. ¡°But we found no one,¡± Charlotte says. ¡°And the wolves had led us straight to the village.¡± ¡°What about the other dungeons?¡± Euryale says. ¡°Revotos¡¯ Valley isn¡¯t the only one!¡± Clara ponders the possibility. ¡°The tracks could be a red herring,¡± she says. ¡°If is possible.¡± ¡°But the other villagers had already searched them,¡± Medusa says. ¡°There were no sign of them in the Sapphire Caves or the Snowdust Peaks.¡± ¡°Officer Owens had reported no luck at Lake Tannhauser either,¡± Douglas says. Elizabeth ponders on the mysteries of the town. ¡°Why are they blaming you, Carla?¡± ¡°I wish I knew,¡± Carla says. ¡°Is it because we don¡¯t belong?¡± Charlotte says hesitatingly. ¡°Because we¡¯re monsters?¡± Carla is shocked to hear that. ¡°Charlotte what are you saying?¡± ¡°Are you seriously letting those bullies¡¯ words get to you?¡± Euryale says. ¡°Bullies?¡± Medusa says. ¡°What bullies?¡± Stheno articulates what happened the day they befriended Charlotte and the encounter with three boys who constantly called the little Alraune a monster. ¡°I can attest to that,¡± Carla says. ¡°I was called in that day by the principal.¡± She turns to Charlotte, ¡°We aren¡¯t monsters dearie. You know that.¡± ¡°Then why does the town ignore us?¡± Charlotte says, tears streaming down her face, ¡°Why are they so quick to claim you killed Dad?¡± Everyone was left stunned by the child¡¯s questions. No one could deny that once Samuel had died, rumors about Carla¡¯s possible assassination spread like fire, despite her being at the shelter with Geraldine that day, and despite not indicating anything that would imply she loathed her husband. ¡°You don¡¯t know, do you?¡± an emotional Charlotte says. ¡°Are we certain Hamlin truly welcomes us?¡±. She storms off. ¡°Charlotte!¡± Carla says. The child exits through the front door. ¡°There¡¯s a lot to unpack there,¡± Heathcliff thinks to himself. ¡°I¡¯ll go find her,¡± Emily says. ¡°We¡¯re coming with you, ¡°both twins say in unison. They and Nina soon leave the house to find Charlotte. Minerva, who silently observed the discussion, finally speaks up, ¡°I can see why the little one would harbor such feelings. To me, it sounds like the notes unplayed are finally heard.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Carla says. ¡°Tell me, Miss Carla,¡± Minerva says. ¡°Your deceased husband.¡± ¡°Samuel?¡± Carla says. ¡°He was a great adventurer and a good husband and father. The other villagers loved him.¡± ¡°Aye,¡± Douglas says. He turns to the Arachne, ¡°Was considered one of Hamlin¡¯s best, and the reason why the Valley isn¡¯t as hostile to us as it could¡¯ve been.¡± Carla nostalgically says, ¡°There were many a time where people would come to our house, bearing gifts and wishes of good fortune.¡± ¡°Was he also an Alraune, Miss Carla?¡± Minerva says. ¡°No,¡± Carl says ¡°He wasn¡¯t a demi-human at all.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Minerva had noticed that the only demi-human in the village at all was Geraldine, also an Alraune and one whose rosy complexion made it hard to tell she was one at a glance. Heathcliff sees where this is going. ¡°Hate to ask this, cher, but did any of them folk visit you personally?¡± Carla is surprised by the question. She struggles to recall any time she was visited without Samuel being involved somehow. Even the baby shower had Samuel and Douglas involved in its organization. Minerva sees the conflicted look in Carla¡¯s eyes. ¡°I¡¯m sorry we had to ask these questions. But it¡¯s important to know that even you we are not monsters, there are people adamant about thinking we are. People that would distrust us off baseless assumptions.¡± ¡°She¡¯s right,¡± Douglas says. ¡°There¡¯ll always be folk thinking anyone slightly different is an enemy no matter what the reality is. I¡¯d hope that¡¯ve changed by now, but¡ª¡± ¡°No, I understand,¡± Carla says. ¡°Thank you for trying.¡± She sighs. ¡°To think they would accuse me of myriad crimes, after all I¡¯ve done, because of what I am.¡± Medusa looks at Carla sympathetically. ¡°There are still people here that love you and appreciate what you have done,¡± she says. ¡°I know,¡± Carla says. ¡°But I don¡¯t know if they could stem the tide. Can they alone bring closure to the tale?¡± She stands up. ¡°Maybe that voice was right after all,¡± she thinks. Carla soon exists through the backdoor, wanting to take some time to herself. The others are unsure of how to console her. ??? Emily, Nina, Euryale, and Stheno search the village for Charlotte, but are unable to find her anywhere. She wasn¡¯t at her house, or the shelter and she wasn¡¯t anywhere to be seen at the village itself. The Arion twins ask several people about her whereabouts to no avail. ¡°Probably joined the other kids,¡± a man solemnly says. ¡°Oh sure, help you find the kidnapper¡¯s daughter? No bloody thanks!¡± a grieving woman says. ¡°Only if she agrees to release my daughter and the others!¡± a third man says. ¡°You should stay away from that monster! Who knows what wickedness her mother had taught her?¡± a fourth woman says. The girls end up in the town square, beneath an orange and fuchsia sky. ¡°Have the townsfolk have any shame?¡± Stheno says with frustration. ¡°I don¡¯t think we¡¯ll be able to get their help,¡± Nina says. She notices the hateful states of the adults around her. ¡°She can¡¯t have gotten that far from us!¡± Euryale says. ¡°Think, think, think! Where could she be?¡± ¡°Can you tell us more about the day you two met her?¡± Emily says. The twins tell her more about the encounter, as they recall she ran off from them before, Euryale has an idea. ¡°The tree!¡± Euryale says. ¡°What tree?¡± Nina says. ¡°The tree at the school!¡± Euryale answers. ¡°That¡¯s where me and sister found her after she ran off last time!¡± ¡°Are we sure she is even at the school grounds, sister?¡± Stheno says. ¡°They are usually closed at this hour.¡± ¡°She certainly isn¡¯t anywhere else in the village!¡± Euryale says. ¡°We have to try!¡± ¡°How can we get to that tree?¡± Emily says. The school principal arrives at the fountain, surprised to see the Arion twins there. She gives a warm smile. ¡°I¡¯m glad to see that not all my students were spirited away.¡± ¡°Principal Amanda?¡± Stheno says. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± ¡°I always come to the fountain at this hour,¡± Amanda says. ¡°Tis my one few solace lately.¡± She explains hat with the disappearances, the school had been closed down in the staff furloughed, herself included. Nina and Emily introduce themselves to her and Euryale asks her help in finding Charlotte. ¡°Are you certain Charlotte is at the school grounds?¡± Principal Amanda says. ¡°We¡¯ve searched everywhere else!¡± Euryale says. ¡°The rest of the townsfolk aren¡¯t being helpful,¡± Stheno says. ¡°Please help us, Principal Amanda?¡± The principal after a few moments agrees to help and takes them to the school. ??? Twilight gleams over the school tree. Towering over the classrooms. Sitting against the arbor is Charlotte, left to wonder about what to do. The little girl sighs. ¡°Everyone hates us,¡± she says. The wind brushes her short indigo locks as Stella recedes beyond the horizon. She ruminates on her life so far, and the people that spurned her and her mother. She wonders if there is another place they can go, where they would be accepted for who they are. She wonders what would¡¯ve happened if her father yet lived. As she sulks, she questions the tree. ¡°Have you ever felt what I¡¯m feeling now?¡± The tree predictable stays silent. Charlotte sighs. ¡°Of course not. Silly me, talking to a tree.¡± ¡°Lotte!¡± she hears a voice cry out to her. She raises her head and sees four young women rushing towards her. Euryale, Stheno, Nina, and Emily. The former two hug Charlotte. ¡°I knew it!¡± Euryale says. ¡°I knew you¡¯d be here!¡± ¡°You had us worried sick, Lotte!¡± Stheno says. ¡°Guys,¡± It was at that moment that she remembered the few people who did not shun her or treat her as a monster. The two friends she made at the school and the one Arachne child from afar. The twilight¡¯s last gleam fades from the sky, and a few lights from the nearby buildings turn on. ¡°Come on!¡± Euryale says. ¡°It¡¯s already late!¡± The five head back to the Arion¡¯s abode. Along the way, Charlotte remembers something and approaches Emily. ¡°Hey,¡± Charlotte says. ¡°Yes?¡± Emily says. ¡°If you still need help with the monsters,¡± Charlotte says softly and quietly. ¡°I could, you know¡­¡± Her feelings towards the village are still conflicted. Emily senses within the young Alraune a desire to move away. ¡°We can save it for later,¡± Emily says. ¡°Okay,¡± Charlotte says. ??? Emily and her group of five return back to the Arions¡¯ home. There they find Carla. Charlotte calls out to her mother and hugs her. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I ran away like that!¡± she says as her mother embraces her. ¡°It¡¯s alright, sweetie,¡± Carla says. Her mind had lingered on what she had realized from Minerva¡¯s conversation with her. She realizes that even if the town has closure neither she nor her daughter would be welcomed by the town. The next morning, Charlotte asks Emily to accompany her and her mother as they search for the kids. Carla once again tries to have the dire wolves tack the scent in Revotos¡¯ Valley. The wolves smell the tracks again, but this time they fail to find any distinct scent to track. The wolves whimper to Carla, signaling their failure. The Alraune consoles the dire wolves, thanking them for their help. Charlotte talks with Emily as they try to search for the kids. ¡°So, Emily,¡± Charlotte says. ¡°What¡¯s it like being a dungeon?¡± ¡°Fine, I guess?¡± Emily says. ¡°It has only been a few months for me.¡± ¡°You seem so strong for a recently established dungeon,¡± Charlotte says. ¡°Thank you,¡± Emily says. The three try to search the other end of the valley for any signs of the missing Hamlin children. But their searching again yielded nothing that could help locate them. Emily asks Carla something. ¡°Do you think we¡¯re missing any clues?¡± ¡°I¡¯m certain we haven¡¯t, why do you ask?¡± Carla says ¡°I feel like there is a detail we overlooked,¡± Emily says. Charlotte interjects, ¡°Maybe it¡¯s about the knife?¡± ¡°That is strange,¡± Carla says. ¡°Owens says that the knife implies the kidnapper was also¡ª¡° The two Alraunes hear the strange sounds of a pipe in their heads. Carla begins seeing hallucinations of angry villagers hiding behind the dormant ashwoods. Charlotte meanwhile begins feeling her skin burning away. She keels over in the phantom pain. Emily rushes to her aid. Carla sees a twisted monster with a pitchfork where Emily is. And attacks her, but the pipe¡¯s tune stops before her attack makes contact and knocks her back. ¡°Ow!¡± Emily says. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry!¡± Carla sincerely says as realizes what has just happened, that she had seen a hallucination and mistook Emily for a threat. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Emily says. ¡°But what was that for?¡± ¡°That nightmare keeps haunting me,¡± Carla says. ¡°I¡¯ve been seeing things lately.¡± Charlotte stands up and examines herself, relived to find out she is not on fire. ¡°Did you hear anything Mom?¡± she says. ¡°Other than the tune of a pipe, no,¡± Charlotte says. ¡°The tune of a pipe?¡± Emily thinks. Something clicks inside her head. Her mind recalls to the message the dungeon first gave her, as well as what she had learned about the other visitor to Hamlin. ¡°That¡¯s it!¡± Emily had found the missing link. ??? Meanwhile, Elizabeth waits in the Arion household, pondering whether or not she should tell Emily something. ¡°The way the children left with little trace,¡± the fairy thinks. ¡°Could it be?¡± The door opens and Heathcliff arrives. ¡°Heard you wanted to talk to me, cher?¡± Elizabeth nods. ¡°Have a seat, this is gonna take a while.¡± The knight sits down on a nearby chair. ¡°Heathcliff,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Have you ever seen a demon before?¡± ¡°Demon?¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Are you pulling my leg, cher?¡± Elizabeth shakes her head. Heathcliff bears an incredulous expression. ¡°Weren¡¯t the last of the demons vanquished when Elpis resealed them?¡± ¡°That is what the legends state,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°And you think one still lingers on Titania?¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°No,¡± the fairy says. ¡°But at the same time, with all other attempts not finding any trace of the children. This is one of the few remotely logical threads I could come up with.¡± Heathcliff sees the looks of desperation in Elizabeth¡¯s eyes. ¡°Alright, cher. Tell me why you think demonic involvement is somehow logical.¡± Elizabeth takes a deep breath. ¡°I¡¯m aware this sounds crazy, but I know of reports of alleged demonic activity. Ritualists trying to summon a fell ally from beyond the Pandoran Seal. Dungeons gaining a sudden infusion of mana. People suddenly vanishing one day. The Unlifetree gloaming with activity. All of these are claimed to be proof that while Lady Elpis had sealed the worst and most powerful of the Demons, she did not seal all of them. If not that they had escaped it once more.¡± Heathcliff looks over the unusably more serious Elizabeth with an open mind and a level head. ¡°Alright, then. If a demon is involved, do you have any way of dealing with it?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°I know of them, I think they might still exist, but they are such rare creatures that I haven¡¯t considered the possibility until today. I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Leave it to me to find out how to prevail over demons.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°It¡¯s my pleasure,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°I¡¯d be a poor dungeon master if I let myself be blindsided by improbabilities.¡± He leaves the room. ??? Later, the group, with Charlotte safe and sound, has a dinner prepared by Heathcliff and Douglas. The air is calm, but filled with tension as the fate of the missing children looms over them. Emily finishes her plate first. ¡°Excuse me,¡± she says. ¡°Has anyone heard about that Piper lately?¡± ¡°The thief?¡± Douglas says. ¡°Not really.¡± ¡°I haven''t heard any mention of him since he left town,¡± Medusa says. ¡°Do you think he might be responsible, Emily? ¡°Tim says. ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± Emily says. ¡°Piper?¡± Richard says. ¡°What Piper?¡± ¡°You know how we went to town on word of a tamer from Noir arriving in the village?¡± Sarah said. ¡°Yes,¡± Richard says. ¡°Apparently,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Guy was claimed to have attempted to rob the town blind and was brutalized by the local chevaliers for it.¡± ¡°The guy seemed so nice,¡± Medusa says. Carla ruminates on the tune of the pipe she heard. The nightmarish sounds she hears in her nightmare and before her hallucinations. ¡°The piper vanished before the children,¡± she says. ¡°There might be a connection there at least.¡± ¡°Although there is still a problem with that,¡± Elizabeth says. She suspects her theory about demonic involvement might be the connecting thread. ¡°How do we find him?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think the mayor would take kindly to having the dire wolves try to smell the coins,¡± Charlotte says. ¡°If the tracks had lost the scene after a few days, chances are high any of the piper¡¯s traces are long gone as well,¡± Carla says. ¡°I¡¯ll check in with the guild tomorrow night. I gots friends in Noir that connect with Rosenkreuz frequently, odds of they¡¯d know if any Piper returned to Noir,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°It¡¯s going to be a long journey back,¡± Minerva says. After dinner, Charlotte asks to meet the Twins in their shared room. ¡°You want to move away from Hamlin?¡± Euryale says. ¡°But why?¡± ¡°Much as I want to say otherwise, dear sister,¡± Stheno says ¡°Recent events have made it clear.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Charlotte says. ¡°But I can¡¯t be certain me or my mom are safe here, not with these accusations over our heads.¡± Euryale sulks. ¡°It¡¯s not fair!¡± she punches her pillow. She doesn¡¯t one to lose the first friend her age she had ever made. Stheno comforts Euryale. ¡°Have you any plans Lotte?¡± Stheno says to Charlotte. ¡°No,¡± Charlotte says. ¡°I want to talk to my mom first.¡± The twins intuited that she hadn¡¯t told Carla about her feelings on the town yet. ¡°You know, you can¡¯t keep them bottled up like this, Lotte,¡± Stheno says. ¡°I know,¡± Charlotte sighs. A now moody Euryale turns to Charlotte, ¡°Promise to visit us?¡± she says. ¡°Of course!¡± Charlotte says. ¡°You¡¯re my best friends! I would never abandon you guys!¡± The three girls begin to make plans for tomorrow, thinking they they still have some days left together before Charlotte leaves the town. Chapter XIV: Escape from Hamlin Morning comes, and the light of Stella shines over Hamlin once more. Charlotte sees her mother sleeping in one of the Arions¡¯ guest rooms. She tugs on her mother a little, rousing her from her sleep. ¡°Charlotte?¡± Carla says. Her voice is a little groggy. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, sweetie?¡± ¡°Mom,¡± Charlotte takes a deep breath. ¡°I think we should move to the dungeon!¡± The shock from that statement was enough to jolt Carla into a more alert state. After last night, they are both aware that Hamlin does not want them, but Carla is still uncertain about moving outside. ¡°Are you sure?¡± the Alraune mother says. Charlotte nods. ¡°I¡¯m sure, at least for now.¡± She feels a tinge of sadness as she utters these words. To her, it means moving away from Stheno and Euryale. Carla looks into her daughter¡¯s eyes and sees their sorrow and determination. ¡°It¡¯s because of those rumors, isn¡¯t it?¡± Charlotte nods. ¡°Sweetie,¡± Carla says. ¡°We shouldn''t act so rashly.¡± ¡°But people have been ignoring us ever since Dad died. Hardly anyone visited us anymore. And you¡ª¡° ¡°I know,¡± Carla says with a heavy sigh as she turns to the window. ¡°I¡¯m not blind to the other villager¡¯s judgments of us. The rumors quick to cast me as a murderer and kidnapper, and how wholeheartedly Hamlin believes them.¡± The dawn¡¯s lights slowly seep through the curtains as they stand in silence, each wondering what is the best course of action. The whimsical decor, including mushroom-shaped chairs and painted clouds, does nothing to alleviate the mood. Still, Carla knows that if would not be long before the village decides to act on those rumors before nightmare becomes portent. Carla looks back at Charlotte. ¡°If we¡¯re gonna do this, then we must act with certainty and haste. I will talk with both Douglas and Heathcliff about this.¡± A while later, Carla talks to Heathcliff and Douglas about the matter. Douglas sighs. ¡°I understand, but darn if it doesn''t hurt.¡± ¡°Are you certain you want to do this?¡± Medusa says. ¡°A part of me wants to say ¡®I don¡¯t¡¯,¡± Carla says. ¡°It screams ¡®I want to stay in the land where I once met my love¡¯ but I realize now that it no longer exists. Even if the village finds closure for Samuel, even if the children are returned, I¡¯m not sure if they will ever accept me or my daughter again.¡± Heathcliff slowly sips his coffee. He holds a conflicted and bittersweet smile on his face. Silently wondering if he just exploited circumstances to his benefit again. ¡°Glad to have you aboard, chair. I wish it under better circumstances.¡± Clara expresses her gratitude. ¡°I¡¯ll still search for the missing children, you have my word.¡± Douglas expresses his own gratitude to Carla. ¡°I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll set up something so that the girls can visit you.¡± ¡°I appreciate it, Douglas,¡± Carla says. ¡°I can only hope that they were will be a time when we can return to the village and not have to look over our shoulders.¡± The four prepare breakfast for everyone. After which everyone sets off for Carla¡¯s home to gather her belongings. ??? ¡°You¡¯re moving away?¡± Geraldine says in shock. Carla nods to her sister. ¡°I am. I¡¯m sorry that it has come to this, dear sister, but I want you to use this house as a new shelter.¡± Geraldine¡¯s head lowers. A forlorn expression plastered on the Alraune¡¯s face. ¡°You¡¯ll be sure to visit me, right?¡± ¡°As often as I can,¡± Carla says. Meanwhile. Euryale and Stheno help Charlotte pack her belongings. ¡°I hoped they¡¯d waited a few days,¡± Euryale says. ¡°In all honesty,¡± Stheno says. ¡°It¡¯s a miracle the mayor didn¡¯t try to arrest them yet.¡± Charlotte looks over her items. A stuffed bear plush from the last winter, a diary that she had used to chronicle her life, a stack of books on monster biology, and several vials filled with fluids secreted from her petals. She looks at several of these items with nostalgia as she packs them away. ¡°Stupid villagers!¡± Euryale says, her voice laden with frustration. ¡°Why are they like this?¡± ¡°I wish I knew,¡± Charlotte says. ¡°Thank you for being there for me.¡± ¡°Look, Lotte,¡± Euryale says. ¡°No matter what, I¡¯ll be there for you!¡± ¡°As will I,¡± Stheno says. ¡°You have my word!¡± Touched, Charlotte looks at her first friends. ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll always be there for you too!¡± She then hugs them. A familiar tune echoes throughout. The sounds of a pipe fill the room whole. Charlotte senses something is quite amiss. Her mind fills up with fog as her eyes glaze over. Euryale and Stheno could barely move. Instead of hallucinations, they hear. A cacodaemonic force beckons them. Charlotte is the first to walk outside. Her hand is trembling with conflict. She and the twins resist but are pulled away. ¡°What is happening?¡± the Alraune lass thinks as she tries to regain control of her body. ¡°The missing children, they¡¯re waiting for you.¡± The three walk outside dazed and struggling. They find little Nina outside the room. ¡°Hey, you¡¯re done packing?¡± Nina says. She notices their limp gait and glazed expressions. The three girls do not respond to the spiderling as they walk past. ¡°Hey!¡± She waves her arms in front of them, but they ignore her. ¡°Stop ignoring me!¡± They do not respond, instead walking towards the front door. Frustrated, Nina locks her eyes onto Charlotte¡¯s. As she does so, she begins hearing the sound of a pipe and a cackle. ??? Meanwhile, In one of the guest rooms of Carla¡¯s home, Emily and Elizabeth talk with Heathcliff about Carla¡¯s desire to move. ¡°We got a timer now, at least,¡± Elizabeth says. While all three are happy that they can now better use the fauna that now inhabits Emily¡¯s body, they all are too aware of the circumstances that led to that. ¡°I¡¯ll smooth things over with Pauline,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Tell her about the missing village kids and try to get help in that.¡± Emily glares at Heathcliff. ¡°Look, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°I prefer fair deals. How was I supposed to know that things would turn out like this?¡± Minerva and Tim enter the room. ¡°You do seem to have a recent knack for these kinds of things,¡± Tim says with a smirk. ¡°Et tu, Tim?¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Look,¡± Emily says. ¡°What¡¯s done is done, right now we need to focus on finding the Piper and the kids.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Minerva says. ¡°Carla would have wanted her departure to be at least ambivalent.¡± ¡°She really loved the village,¡± Emily says. ¡°Shame it didn¡¯t love her back,¡± Heathcliff says. Everyone heard a large scream coming from another room. ¡°Nina?¡± Minerva realised the cause of the noise and rushed her to daughter. The others follow suit. They head to the living room and find Nina has bound Charlotte, Euryale, and Stheno with her webs. Minerva gasps at the sight. Sarah and Richard arrive with Carla, Douglas, Geraldine, and Medusa. ¡°Nina!¡± Minerva says. ¡°What is the meaning of this?¡± ¡°Something¡¯s wrong with them!¡± Nina says. ¡°They¡¯re acting like zombies!¡± Minerva glares at her daughter. ¡°It wasn¡¯t m¡ª¡° Nina¡¯s protest is interrupted by a splitting headache as the noise of the pipe intensifies inside her head. ¡°Agh!¡± Carla, Douglas, and Medusa rush to their daughters. They see that their expressions are listless and unresponsive. The children¡¯s eyes are glazed over as if they are not even aware. ¡°Euryale, Stheno,¡± Medusa says. ¡°Wake up!¡± ¡°Charlotte, sweetie,¡± Clara says. ¡°Please!¡± Minerva locks her gaze with her daughter¡¯s. Her eyes cast a powerful Bardsong that repels the piper. Nina¡¯s headache is relieved. Minerva then turns to the other three girls. She uses her eyes to free Charlotte from the trance, then Euryale, and lastly Stheno. The three girls rouse. Charlotte groggily rubs her eyes as her vision clears up. A relieved Carla in her view. ¡°What is going on?¡± Emily says. Minerva turns to the dungeon avatara. ¡°This kidnapper is a brazen one.¡± A clamor is heard outside. Everyone heads out and sees a gathering of gendarmerie in the front yard. Leading them is the mayor. Douglas greets the men. ¡°Hello officers?¡± Officer Cyrus greets the man. ¡°Mr. Arion,¡± The mayor turns to the man. ¡°I had it on good word that Carla Truce is back?¡± ¡°Why do you ask?¡± Douglas says. ¡°I merely want to question her,¡± the mayor claims. ¡°Ask her where the children are.¡± Carla looking out the window realizes what is going on. ¡°We must hurry!¡± Douglas stalls for time. ¡°Not you too, mayor. I thought you were above such banal gossip.¡± ¡°I am,¡± the mayor says. ¡°But it is my duty to make sure all of my citizens are safe and sound. I must explore all possibilities.¡± Douglas sees a peculiar expression in the mayor¡¯s eyes. One that proves his words are genuine, but at the same time bearing a certain malice. ¡°I understand that you didn¡¯t like Samuel back then.¡± ¡°Samuel is irrelevant!¡± the mayor says. ¡°If Carla is innocent, then why did she leave town the other day.¡± ¡°Owens told her to take a break from certain events,¡± Douglas says. ¡°I went with her, I¡¯d know that she didn¡¯t kidnap anyone.¡± ¡°So you admit to being an accomplice?¡± the mayor says with a sneer. Douglas sighs. ¡°Nothing¡¯s gonna change his mind,¡± he thinks as he prepares to fight the guards. ¡°Arrest this man!¡± the mayor calls ¡°He admits to aiding and abetting a criminal!¡± A brawl breaks out. Douglas, with hook and chain, battles a group of ten guardsmen. He dodges the first lunch from the guards and has his chain wrapped around one of their legs. He yanks at the chain and sues it to swing the man around, slamming him into another guard. ¡°Amateurs,¡± Doug scoffs. With the hook loosed from the attack he pulls it back towards him and twirls it around. His daughters look at their father as she fights the gendarmarie. Medusa turns to Emily and Clara and nods. They understand what Medusa¡¯s request is and take the twins with them as they escape. Medusa and Geraldine stay behind to cover the escape. Emily¡¯s group move to the back yard and through it towards the forests. From they they rush to Revotos¡¯ Valley. At the same time, Douglas continues fighting the guards. ¡°You really think Carla is to blame?¡± The mayor¡¯s expression bares a grimace. ¡°The evidence is clear, that knife was there at the track after all!¡± He takes out the knife in question. Doug makes an annoyed face. ¡°What is that supposed to prove?¡± ¡°You know this knife was found at the scene of Samuel¡¯s murder.¡± The mayor says. ¡°By Carla,¡± Douglas says. ¡°Are you really that blind? What reason would she have to turn it in herself?¡± ¡°The knife carries Highland Viper poison,¡± the mayor says. ¡°I¡¯m aware that she had taken care of such creatures recently.¡± ¡°That dosen¡¯t prove anything!¡± Douglas has. He knows that the mayor would not be swayed. ¡°Why are you willing to defense a monster like it!¡± the mayor says. A guard tackled Douglas, but he anticipated it and dodges. ¡°She isn¡¯t a monster!¡± ¡°You let Samuel blind you!¡± the mayor says. ¡°Samuel is irrelevant!¡± Douglas says. ¡°You think yourself clever, Mr Arion?¡± the mayor says. ¡°He is relevant in that he is another of its victims!¡± Before he knew it, Douglas finds himself restrained by two of the ten guardsmen. The mayor slowly walks up to him ¡°The truth will come out, Douglas.¡± ¡°Oh I¡¯m betting on it!¡± Doug says. The mayor sneers. ¡°Take him away, boys!¡± the guards carry the adventurer to the village. ¡°He has help steal Hamlin¡¯s future, so he shall offer his in pennace!¡± Medusa and Geraldine had ensure that Carla and the others won¡¯t be followed in time to see Douglas get carried away by the mayor¡¯s guards. Upon seeing that, they realize that they have to find Officer Owens and hope he can get the mayor, and the town, to see reason. ??? Emily¡¯s group rushes through the Dungeon of Revotos¡¯ Valley. They encounter the skeletal Ophidian again, determined to bar their paths. ¡°What in the¡ª¡° Richard says. ¡°Ready for round two?¡± Sarah says, she takes out her hammer and prepares to fight. The Ophidian floods the lakebed with toxic water as the sky turns red. Carla is confused as to why the dungeon is attacking them now. They hear several villagers behind them. ¡°The kidnapper is getting away, get it!¡± one yells. ¡°To think Samuel saw any good in that thing!¡± another shouts. ¡°Burn it, burn that waste of space!¡± a third clamors. Carla looks down, knowing that the villagers are referring to her. The Ophidian creates a wave enlarging the lake and blocking the path behind them. Yet it also lands on the surface in a straight line. A voice calls out to Emily in a language unfamiliar to her, yet one that she understands. ¡°I think the dungeon¡¯s helping us.¡± She says. ¡°They want us to get on the sentinel.¡± The party mounts the skeletal serpent. Following it to the other end of the lake. They can hear the angry mob at their heels. ¡°Allons!¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°They catching up!¡± Upon reaching the lake¡¯s edge they leap from the Ophidian¡¯s head and head towards the cavern. The monster then prepares to battle the angry villagers. They make their way to the caverns as they enter, the wind rises, howling like the dire wolves with Carla. They soon find a group of ten people already in the caverns, in a familial gave with holes in the ceiling¡ªfive men and women each, bearing hateful gazes and mournful frowns. ¡°Release our children!¡± one of them says, brandishing a spear. ¡°Or else!¡± ¡°I do not have the children!¡± Carla says. ¡°It was the Piper!¡± Charlotte says. ¡°Heh,¡± one of the opponents sneers. ¡°Look at it, blaming an incompetent ratcatcher. Nice try.¡± The ten adversaries prepare a fighting stance. Tim closes his eyes and smirks. ¡°Go, I¡¯ll handle these idiots!¡± ¡°Tim,¡± Emily says. ¡°Are you¡ª¡° ¡°Just do it!¡± Tim uses his wind arts to cleave a path through the opponents, followed by earth spells to create walls to bar the villagers¡¯ passage. The rest of the group makes it through while Tim stays behind. ¡°You think you can take on all of us?¡± one of the opponents says. ¡°You¡¯re way too early to match the likes of me!¡± Tim says. One of the men lunges forward, but Tim sidesteps him and uses a shoulder lean to knock him to the ground. Tim then takes out his Qiang. One of the women clashes with him. ¡°You heartless dastard!¡± she yells. Tim parries her sword with his spear. His longer weapon grants him an advantage as he uses it to fight her. Another woman attempts to ensnare Tim with her whip, but the lash misses and is heard by Tim. He then sees a man fire arrows at him and dodges backward. ¡°Sword, whip, bow, spear,¡± Tim thinks as he looks over his opponents. ¡°Knives,¡± as he looks at the butcher among the group. ¡°Axe,¡± as he sights the female lumberjack. ¡°Another bow,¡± as he sights the crier. ¡°Staff,¡± as she sees the cleric. He suddenly finds himself grabbed by a large man, poised to lift and throw him over himself. The heavyset man jumps and curves back, releasing Tim in mid-air and causing him to crash into the ground, separated from his Qiang. Tim stands up, a little bruised by the attack. He looks at the overweight man. ¡°Unarmed,¡± he thinks, ¡°or so it seems.¡± A pair of twin women flank him ¡°Halberd and lyre,¡± Tim catches his breath, outnumbered ten to one, but he is aware of what weapons his adversaries wield. The swordswoman rushed towards him ¡°Die!¡± she says, but Tim counters with a stomp, causing the ground to rise and create a wall. The swordswoman turns around and circumvents it, but Tim leaps to dodge her flurry of slashes. The spearman prepares to strike but is suddenly knocked by a swing of a hammer. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. Behind the fallen spearman is Sarah, smirking with her hammer on her shoulders. ¡°Save some for me!¡± Tim lands on the ground. ¡°Thanks, but I could¡ª¡° ¡°Handle it,¡± Sarah says. ¡°I know, but brother and I wanted to speed things up a bit.¡± The bowman and crier aim their bows, but they are suddenly sniped by Richard and his crossbow. The bolts zap them just enough to knock them unconscious as Richard moves from behind the debris. Seven foes remain. The overweight man charges at them with a surprising degree of speed and grapples with Tim. Tim stands his ground as the man tries to push him down. The opponent tries to crush the martial artist¡¯s hands, but his strength is found to be inefficient for the task. Sarah attacks the heavy man with her hammer. He lets go of one of Tim¡¯s hands to try to block it, but it only gives Tim an opening to exploit. He moves towards his free hand and uses a knee and elbow strike, aided by centrifugal forces to push the man backward and topple him. The woman with a whip lashes at Tim. ¡°Do you take pleasure in kidnapping innocent children!¡± ¡°No,¡± Tim says. ¡°But I don¡¯t take pleasure in seeing people be wrongly accused either.¡± The whip master fumes as she lashes again after a few moments. Tim grabs the scourge and stops it. ¡°You let anger and grief cloud your mind,¡± as he tugs on the whip, disarming it from its wielder. Before she can try to reclaim it, she is wounded by a crossbow shot to the leg and collapses. The cleric uses her staff to channel an incantation. ¡°O holy Prometheus, great sage. Grant us your benediction!¡± Light fills the room as the fallen have healed and are ready to fight once more. Tim, Sarah, and Richard find themselves outmatched now. Everyone then hears the sound of flapping wings. The gigantic bat monster has returned to its home and finds it intruded upon. Tim sees an opportunity and makes some movements with his legs. The ground breaks beneath the three, getting them away from the villagers as they are distracted by the monster. Tim takes the opportunity to catch his breath. A chest containing some weapons right besides him. ¡°You really like biting off more then you can chew,¡± Sarah says. Tim ignores her as he walks forward. ¡°We need to catch up to the others.¡± ??? Meanwhile. The rest of Emily¡¯s group maneuvers the caverns. Emily and Heathcliff noticed that they had grown deeper and wider than the last time they were there. The howling wind now blows through them more fiercely than before and blows through a large hole above. The Dire Wolves separate from the group, unable to keep close to Clara with the wind bearing down on them. ¡°This wind is fierce!¡± Heathcliff says. The gales push back on the party with a force that hinders their passage and makes the higher paths unusual. They are forced to cling to the walls, lest the wind sends them tumbling to their demise. They make their way to the lower paths, but the caverns are now infested with smaller bat monsters. The winds carried the noise of of the villagers¡¯ grievings, and the sounds of a pipe. Carla sees the caverns distort before her eyes. The disorienting sight causes her to let go of the wall. ¡°Mom!¡± Charlotte cries out as the wind prepares to blow her to the depths. Carla plummets towards the ground, but someone grabs her hand. She sees a crimson-furred lycanthrope is the one that holds on to it. ¡°H..d .., c..,¡± the werewolf growls. Carla makes a freighted expression as she struggles to release herself from the monster¡¯s grasp. It pulls her up as more ominous figures surround her. She closes her eyes and the hallucination ends. When she opens them again, she sees Heathcliff instead of the werewolf, his other arm grabbing a spike from the cavern. ¡°I gots you, hold on tight!¡± He finishes pulling her up. Carla is relieved to find it was a hallucination, but she is unaware that something real lurks beneath them. ¡°Thank you,¡± she says. ¡°That was a close one!¡± Charlotte says. Minerva notices something in Carla¡¯s eyes. ¡°Seems someone is fond of trickery.¡± The wind recedes enough for them to move normally and the group takes the opportunity to rush along the path. They soon chanced upon a tunnel where the wind does not blow and enter it. Elizabeth ponders on what had just happened. ¡°This does feel like a Demon¡¯s work,¡± she mutters. Emily hears the fairy. ¡°You say something, Elizabeth?¡± ¡°Nothing,¡± Elizabeth says. A while later, Euryale and Stheno worry about their parents. ¡°Do you think they are safe?¡± Euryale asks Stheno. ¡°I¡¯m certain,¡± Stheno says. ¡°They have to be, Hamlin wouldn¡¯t dare harm Daddy.¡± ??? At the same time in Hamlin. The gendarmerie parade Douglas around. ¡°Look at this collaborateur! He who had helped in the larceny of Hamlin¡¯s futures!¡± The villagers murmur and whisper about Douglas. ¡°He helped kidnap the kids?¡± a villager asks. ¡°Hang the traitor!¡± one furiously bellows. ¡°Why would he do that? The fiend I get, but Douglas?¡± a woman says. ¡°Okay, the show¡¯s over, now let him go.¡± A villager laughs, deep in denial about the accusation. Medusa and Geraldine are among the crowd, donning cloaks. ¡°Citizens of Hamlin,¡± the mayor says. ¡°We had been deceived not once but twice. I had shown mercy to the first deceiver, but I will not show any to the second, I will find it and its allies and slay them. Starting here with this one!¡± He takes a large executioner¡¯s ax and makes a wicked smile. Medusa is about to make a move, but Geraldine stops her, not wanting any attention on them. The mayor turns to Douglas. ¡°Any last words, scum?¡± Douglas says. ¡°I want a lawyer. I¡¯m entitled to one.¡± One of the crowd jeers at him. ¡°Only a scoundrel would demand a lawyer. If you were really innocent¡ª¡° ¡°Shut up!¡± his wife says, retaining some modicum of sense. ¡°Or do you want to represent yourself the next time you get caught with ale in Noir?¡± The mayor calms the pair down before turning back to Douglas. ¡°A lawyer heh? You think an attorney can save you?¡± ¡°Does it matter?¡± Douglas says. ¡°Chop off my head if you wish, but when word got out that people killed an innocent man in misguided vigilante justice, well then, support for Backbreaker might dry up.¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± The mayor suddenly realizes something and makes a shocked face. ¡°The Eligere and Empyrean have very high standards,¡± Douglas says. ¡°I heard people claim that one Eligo went on a rampage over a proposed highway being built right next to his fancy neighborhood. Project Backbreaker is pretty controversial back at Noir. You know that right?¡± The mayor realizes as such, it is part of the reason why he has saved so much money. He knew from his negotiations that the housing administrations, guilds, and even some wealthy households themselves opposed the project on principle. He scowls at Douglas and puts down the ax. ¡°Very well,¡± he says. ¡°You¡¯ll have your attorney and a fair trial. Release him.¡± The guards liberate Douglas from his bindings. Medusa is relieved to see her husband spared from the village¡¯s wrath for now. ¡°Thank you, kind mayor,¡± Douglas says with a smirk. The mayor scowls again as he leaves fuming. The guards disperse the crowd. ??? In the depths of the caverns, Emily¡¯s group finds a tunnel and enters it. They find several crystals within the tunnel, each glowing with a fiery hue. The wind from outside grows colder. The party can hear echoes of the vengeful villagers¡¯ murmurs from outside. Carla passes by one of the crystals and sees the visage of a werewolf in their reflection. As the group moves through the dark tunnel, they hear noises that feel like growls and snarls. ¡°Be on your guard,¡± Elizabeth says as she takes one of the crystals. The crimson hue of the carnelian reflects a burning aura. ¡°Jewel, shine so bright,¡± Elizabeth sings. ¡°Illuminate with light!¡± A light shines within the red gemstone, illuminating the dark cave. Emily realizes that she hasn¡¯t had time to practice Bardsong since her match with Tim the other day. The party continues down the dark tunnel. Euryale sees something move in the twisting shadows behind them and clings to her sister¡¯s arm. Charlotte looks at her friend with both fear and relief. She knows neither she nor her mother would be welcome in the village again for a while. Emily notices Euryale¡¯s discomfort. ¡°There¡¯s no one here,¡± she says gently to the twins. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Euryale says. ¡°Positive!¡± she says, she walks a few steps towards the back and looks around for dangerous entities, not finding any for several seconds. ¡°See?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll have to forgive Eurie,¡± Stheno says. ¡°She gets easily terrified of dark places.¡± ¡°Am not!¡± Euryale says with a huff. Stheno and Charlotte giggle. Heathcliff and Minerva meanwhile look out for any threats ahead of them. Minerva takes a look at Heathcliff. ¡°You¡¯re single right?¡± she says. ¡°Oui,¡± the knight says. ¡°And staying that way, why do you ask?¡± ¡°You do seem a little fond of the widow,¡± Minerva says. ¡°Who? Carla?¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Then again,¡± Minerva says ¡°You do seem overly fond with everyone, always using ¡®cher¡¯ all the time,¡± Minerva teases. ¡°I already have my hands full,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Don¡¯t gots time for a lover, especially not now.¡± ¡°If you say so,¡± Minerva says with a chuckle. ¡°But the heart tends to make its desires known eventually.¡± Heathcliff is about to respond, but then he notices something. ¡°Do you hear that?¡± ¡°Hear what?¡± Minerva says. Heathcliff keeps an ear out. He noticed the echoes had stopped, and so had the ambient sounds of water dripping from the ceiling and of the cold wind blowing through. Aside from some chatter from the party, he hears nothing but silence. ¡°Something is wrong, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. The party soon exits the dark tunnel and arrives in a circular chamber. Dotted by rocks that seem like they are one draft away from crumbling. They see several other caves leading to the same place, each dark enough to feel like the light is being drained from them. More carnelians decorate the chamber, flickering like sparks. A cold draft suddenly blows from the cave behind them, carrying the tune of a pipe. The carnelians suddenly glow like stars, coating the room and caves in a reddish ambient glow. Specters emerge from the shadows. Emily slashes at one of the phantasmal entities and sees it fade away. Heathcliff strikes at one with his sword and it also dissipates. Minerva¡¯s fists, Nina¡¯s armed legs, Elizabeth¡¯s spells, Carla¡¯s vines. Each attack a specter and each fades as the attacks connect. Yet more of these phantoms emerge soon afterward. After several moments the shadows converge in the center. The light from the eerily bright gemstones is altered such that Heathcliff¡¯s shadow aligns with the mass. An arm juts out from the ground, from the puddle of pitch that the shades had formed. The arm is coated in red fur, with claws that jut out from its paw like spikes. It climbs from the dark mass, revealing a form akin to what Carla hallucinated. The lycanthrope emerges bearing features similar to Heathcliff¡¯s armor. The refraction of a Crimson Hound, the Warwolf. The warwolf strikes at Carla, but Heathcliff Ford intercepts it. His shield blocks the claw. ¡°Lovely,¡± Heathclfif says. Elizabeth uses wind spells against the warwolf, while Minerva moves behind it and uses webbing to bind its legs. The warwolf manifests a large sword, made of of bone and tooth and uses it to cut its fetters. Emily clashes with the beast, but the ferocious warwolf repels her with little effort and knocks her towards a rock formation. The collusion destroyed it and she is buried in the rubble. ¡°Emily!¡± Elizabeth cries out as she rushes to free her from the rubble. Carla uses her arms to lift some of the rocks and get her up. Emily stands up, bruised but not out. The warwolf locks eyes on Carla. ¡°Monster!¡± it utters with a guttural growl. ¡°Murderer!¡± it lunges at her, but Emily uses a light spell to create a barrier. ¡°Heathcliff!¡± Emily calls. The knight looks and sees Carla, Charlotte, Euryale and Stheno hiding behind her. He then looks back at the wolf and tackles It. ¡°Hey Fido!¡± the knight calls. ¡°Your fight¡¯s with me!¡± He grapples with his counterpart while turning his head to Emily. Emily gets Carla and the three children and heads towards the nearest cave. ¡°Nina!¡± Minerva calls for her daughter. ¡°Go with with Emily! Now!¡± ¡°But mom!¡± Nina says. She wants to test her mettle against a boss again. ¡°No buts! Its not safe here,¡± Minerva says. She casts a cold state at her daughter, her eyes working their magic. ¡°Go!¡± Nina, entranced, is compelled to obey and follow Emily into the cave. Upon arriving at the cave, Emily lets Carla, Charlotte and the twins enter first. Before entering with Nina in tow. Elizabeth sees all six enter the cave and prepares an earth spell to seal it before helping Minerva and Heathcliff handle the warwolf. ??? A while later, Nina¡¯s trance faces. Nina looks around and sees that the warwolf isn¡¯t there. ¡°Aw man!¡± she yells. ¡°Nina,¡± Emily says. ¡°You know Minerva wanted you safe.¡± ¡°I could¡¯ve handled it,¡± the spiderling says, crossing her arms as she turns her head away in a huff. Emily looks back towards the sealed maw of the cave, hoping that her friends are okay. She then turns back towards the group. ¡°We need to get out of here.¡± ¡°Agreed,¡± Carla says. The group follows the cave towards the other end, leading outside towards another forest populated by ashen trees. Emily and Nina recognize them as potential ashwoods. Nina moves towards one of the trees and hits it a few times. ¡°It¡¯s safe,¡± she says with a tinge of disappointment. Stheno looks at the spiderling. ¡°By any chance is she¡ª?¡± ¡°She wants to be an adventurer,¡± Emily says. ¡°Ah,¡± Stheno began to recall hearing about that before. Emily looks around, trying to gather her bearings. It is the first time she has been separated from her friends since Tarantulaopolus. She sees that aside from the ashen trees, there are few indications of where they are in the dungeon. She soon sees a path laid out among the charred trees. ¡°This way!¡± she says. The group of six walks along the path. Emily and Carla are keeping an eye out for villagers. Their current goal is to escape the valley before the villagers can get to them. The trees remain inert, to Nina¡¯s displeasure. As they travel down the path beneath the blood-drenched sky. Charlotte starts making some conversation with everyone. ¡°So what do you do?¡± Charlotte says to Emily. ¡°Umm,¡± Emily hadn¡¯t given thought to the idea. As a dungeon, she usually just sits around, only coming out when adventuring with Heathcliff or visiting the guild. Her silence confounds Charlotte. Clara asks Emily, ¡°I take it that the knight is the master of the dungeon you¡¯re from?¡± ¡°He is,¡± Emily says. ¡°Why do you ask?¡± ¡°He seemed like he traveled to many places before,¡± Euryale says. ¡°Daddy did think they¡¯ve met before for some reason,¡± Stheno says. Emily recalls Heathcliff mentioning he doesn¡¯t want other people to know he¡¯s the Crimson Knight. She asks the twins a question. ¡°How was Samuel like, to Hamlin?¡± Carla is surprised by Emily¡¯s question. ¡°Village wouldn¡¯t shut up about the guy that¡¯s for sure,¡± Euryale mutters. ¡°He was one of the town¡¯s best adventurers, Eury,¡± Stheno says. ¡°I want to know about Dad too,¡± Charlotte says. ¡°I said before, he was a good husband and a loving father,¡± Carla says. She begins to recall the day they first met. ¡°He had a strong bow arm as well.¡± The group comes across a small clearing in the ashwoods. At the center lies a place that brings memories flooding back to Carla. She sees torn leather and pieces of wooden wheels. Remnants of a past battle. Carla stops to examine the scene. ¡°It was seven years ago,¡± she says as she picks up a small piece of a crate. ¡°I was captured from my original home, separated from my brothers and sisters by bandits.¡± Carla turns her eyes toward the remains of a wagon train. ¡°They wanted to sell me to someone from Gardenia¡¯s underbelly, but they turned the wrong direction and we ended up lost in the valley.¡± Emily and the kids stop to listen to Carla¡¯s tale. ¡°It was this mistake of theirs,¡± Carla says ¡°that I owe my freedom. Samuel and a few friends of his had chanced upon the bandits they were looking for an exit. They soon found out I was among their ¡®wares¡¯ and had freed me from their grasp.¡± Carla turns towards the carcass of a horse, that was killed in the battle. ¡°Once the bandits were dispatched Sam had offered me a place to stay in Hamlin. How could I refuse, when I was so hungry and on the verge of wilting.¡± Charlotte realizes she has never heard the story of how they met before. ¡°After I was hale and hearty,¡± Carla says. ¡°I prepared to leave Hamlin to find my way home, yet every time I tried to set foot something always kept me from leaving. Perhaps it was that charming smile or the way he seemed to carry on without a care for what happened to him. Maybe it was his noble heart. It was because of him that I stayed in Hamlin.¡± She sighs. ¡°Until today.¡± ¡°Mom,¡± Charlotte says. She had no idea that her mother had kidnapped herself. ¡°Did they¡­¡± ¡°I do not know,¡± Carla says. ¡°We Alraunes tend to move around the forests and the jungles. Even if some of us put down roots as I had, they would not know where the others had gone. Only your aunt Geraldine was aware that something had happened to me and came to the town, and like me, she too put down roots there as well.¡± Emily senses something ominous in the air. She soon hears a voice. ¡°Little dungeon, are you looking for me?¡± She senses a reverberation in the cacodaemonic voice. ¡°Show yourself!¡± Emily yells, to the confusion of everyone else. ¡°Mark my words, my performance will begin. But not right now, for it is unfinished.¡± Everyone soon hears the noise of the Pipe. One that brought Carla nightmares. ¡°But until then, do keep them entertained.¡± A dark pillar emerges from the ground to the east of the site. A sense of dread looms over them as the dark pillar fades. Emily prepares her weapons for the inevitable encounter. ¡°Get somewhere safe!¡± she tells the others. ??? Meanwhile, Heathcliff, Minerva, and Elizabeth clash with the warwolf. ¡°Tremors, quake, and rise,¡± Elizabeth sings. The room shakes as her Bardsong calls down pillars of fragile rock formations from the sealing. The warwolf charges at Heathcliff but he dodges and the lycanthrope collides with one of the pillars. ¡°Light that blinds and cures, succor it shall bring,¡± Elizabeth sings to enchant her and her allies¡¯ weapons in a nacreous glow. The warwolf breaks free from the rubble, one of its legs limp in injury as the twisted reflection of Heathcliff stares at the three with a hateful gaze. The beast tries to lunge, but Minerva trips the werewolf and punches it. She then uses her spinneret to cocoon it and throw it towards another pillar. The warwolf is stunned, but still not out. Shadows erupt from the warwolf and grab Minerva. The Arachne is rooted to the ground by the shades. She tries to free herself as they drag her under. Heathcliff rushes to his ally and uses his enchanted blade to stab the shadows. By this point, Tim and the dwarven siblings arrive and see the warwolf break free from its rocky prison again. ¡°Thunder roars,¡± Elizabeth sings, ¡°to shock and awe.¡± Tim¡¯s Qiang and Sarah¡¯s hammer are wreathed in an electric glow as they help their friends. Sarah jolts the entity with a swing of her electrified hammer while Richard fires his crossbow at the beast. Tim makes a charging step, using his wind spells in tandem with his Qiang to leap toward the warwolf and impale it. The weapon embeds itself into the apparition and shocks its heart. The warwolf is left weakened by this attack and vulnerable to Tim¡¯s flurry of attacks. The dark reflection of Heathcliff collapses onto the ground and fades into an army of phantasmal rats. The swarm of vermin scurries off, leaving behind a treasure chest. Elizabeth opens the coffer, finding carnelians, a microphone, and a suit of armor. Heathcliff takes the armor. ¡°It¡¯s about time I get these duds upgraded,¡± Richard scoffs. ¡°I could make a suit of armor more durable than that,¡± as Heathcliff replaces his armor with the skeletal one. ¡°And more fashionable as well!¡± ¡°You wanna start something?¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Hey!¡± Sarah says. ¡°Forgetting something?¡± The two men realize that Emily and her group might be in danger and put aside their argument for now. The group heads off to find Emily. Elizabeth looks back at the place where the warwolf once stood, finding no trace of the phantasmal monster. It was like they were fighting a mirage. Her eyes cast an intense gaze at the scene, the previous battle now serving as proof to her that a demonic force is in play. She then flies off to catch up to the others. ??? Emily, Carla, Nina, Charlotte, Euryale, and Stheno prepare for the force coming their way. A large winged creature flies over them, its large wings creating a gust of wind that knocks Emily to the ground. A large winged moth descends. Its wings are decorated in a reflective, nacreous pattern of colors that shift and swirl. Its body grotesquely pulsates as its eyes radiate the hostile intelligence of its master. Its antennae react to the fear of its adversaries, coiling into a twisted shape. Its mouth is lined with large incisorus needles. The buzzing of its rapidly moving and iridescent wings matches the melody of the piper¡¯s instrument. The scene where Samuel once rescued Carla from bandits shifts into a nightmarish version of itself as she, Emily, and the others begin having vivid hallucinations. Emily tries to attack the monster with her blades, but the nimble moth evades her attack with great ease, hovering over her as it secrets scales that cause her to see the ashwoods as trees that melt before her eyes. Nina attempts to fight off the wicked creature, but the mesmeric wings of the moth cause her to see it as a swarm. Her silk misses and her weaponed legs attack only thin air. The tune of the pipe emitted from the monster causes Charlotte, Euryale, and Stheno to stand still, locked into a dread trance. Carla tries to get them to safety, but the disorienting powers of the insect cause her to lose her bearings and trap her inside the arena. Emily struggles to connect with the boss, Her spells are dodged, as are her slashes. The moth meanwhile flies overhead, safe from her attacks. ¡°Come on,¡± she says under her breath. She tries to find a way to destroy the beast, but her mind is too overwhelmed by the hallucinations to even think of any possible answers. She suddenly finds herself launched several feet into the air. A result of the moth tacking her in her daze. Emily tries to recover in the air but lands on the ground with a heavy thud. The scales make it difficult for her to stay awake. Breaking heavily and exerting great effort just to stand, Emily realizes something. She realizes the sound of the pipe as it bangs on her ears. ¡°Is this¡­¡± Emily thinks before having a sudden moment of clarity. Nina also attempts to attack the moth, but the illusory swarm makes it impossible to find the real one. She soon sees one just hovering in eh ground, away from the swarm. ¡°Gotcha!¡± the spiderling says as she turns her back towards it and fires a thread of silt at it. Emily racks her mind for the right notes. She suddenly finds her leg is covered in sticky fiber of spider silk. ¡°Wha¡ª¡° Nina tackles Emily, having mistaken her for the moth. Her bladed legs dig deep into her avatara¡¯s body. ¡°Nina! It¡¯s me!¡± she tried to call out to her, but Nina could not hear her over the buzzing of the moth. She soon breaks herself free from the child¡¯s grasp. Carla meanwhile tries to wake up the three girls, while hearing sounds of angry villagers haranguing her for her alleged misdeeds. Cries of ¡°monster¡±, ¡°kidnapper¡±, and ¡°traitor¡± assault her eardrums. She curls up in shame, tears streaming down her face as she laments her failure to save her daughter or herself. She lets out a wail of sorrow. Meanwhile, Emily is forced to get a delirious and hallucinating Nina to stop attacking her. The moth descends slowly, eager to finish off its prey, but before it could. It was attacked. A piece of its wings was severed by the claws of a dire wolf as it led to Carla¡¯s aid and comforted her. The howl of the wolf gives Emily an idea. ¡°The moon.¡± She has a patrol to invoke, she has the goal, and now she just needs an element. Nina tries to chase Emily, and Emily thinks of which of the elements she has is most suited. ¡°There you are!¡± Nina says to the illusion of the moth cast over Emily. She moves closer but as she does¡­ An aria fills the area. Emily harmonizes a motif of three notes. One to channel the thunderous power, one to channel the moonlit clarity, one to dispel the hallucinations. ¡°Oh gentle moonlight, shining over us all¡­¡± she sings and lightning strikes the ground. A bolt of levin hits the cacodaemonic moth with a mighty blow, chipping away another piece of its nauseatingly nacreous wings. It was at this point that Nina didn¡¯t see her enemy, but Emily instead. ¡°What?¡± Nina says befuddled. She grasps her head in pain as the illusion tries to take hold once more. ¡°Free us from these dreams, with your gentle gleams,¡± Emily continues her Bardsong. The lone dire wolf is joined by the rest of its pack, each of them helping Carla rouse the three children from their trace. They howl at the moon to join Emily¡¯s song. Carla is surprised to find the dire wolves in front of her. Charlotte is the first to rouse from her torpor. As Emily harmonizes, the lightning grows more rapid and frequent. More bolts strike the moth down as Euryale and Stheno groggily awaken. ¡°Let us see the truth, eyes clouded with deceit and lies,¡± Storm clouds gather at the edge of the arena, as rain falls to the ground. The moon kept visible, shining down on them. ¡°Let the storm flash with clarity¡­¡± Emily invokes her song¡¯s lightning element. The moth tries to escape, but its swirling prismatic wings are clipped by the fire dire wolf, and the storm, and as it tries to ascend, it catches another both and is ignited by the skyfire. Emily, still singing, glimpses the burning moth and leaps into the air. ¡°Oh moonlight, tranquil and lucid,¡± Emily sings as she impales her blades onto the ignited moth. Blazing rodents emerge from the monster to flee, causing the moth to lose much of its form. Emily holds a note as she grabs her weapons, slashing with a dance, her feet move in synch with her words as she overpowers the pipe with her own Bardsong. The moth attempts to move, but all of its wings are clipped, severed clean off by the assault of lightning and a dire wolf. The form of the moth gives way to that of a swarm of scurrying ashen rats. The charred rodents scatter far away. ¡°So you overpowered the illusions?¡± a cacodaemonic voice calls out to Emily. ¡°A futile work, but entertaining!¡± ¡°Who are you?¡± Emily calls out to the voice. ¡°A piper, a giver, benefactor. You may call me the Piper Pruflas, miss.¡± The voice says with an affable but sinister tone. ¡°We should meet again. I got a gift for you¡­¡± The voice fades with a cackle. ¡°Emily!¡± Heathcliff¡¯s voice calls out to her. The rest of the group arrives. Emily is glad to see everyone else is unharmed. She turns to Carla, tending to the three girls now in her care, and then to Nina. ¡°My head¡­¡± Nina says. ¡°Huh where¡¯s the moths?¡± ¡°They¡¯re gone,¡± Emily says. Nina makes an apologetic face at Emily. A treasure chest emerges where the moth had fallen. Emily opens it and finds a pair of swords with blades resembling stained glass and a butterfly design on their guards. She also finds some carnelians and a whip in the coffer alongside another tablet. ¡°Fellow dungeon, beware the piper¡¯s gifts. The children¡¯s fates now lie on your shoulders.¡± Emily takes the plaque with her alongside the rest of the contents. ¡°We have to go!¡± she says. The group soon follows the ashwoods¡¯ trail to the entrance of the valley. Through it, they escaped the vengeful village of Hamlin. They make their way back to the Black Box to prepare a plan for encountering the Piper Pruflas and for finding his connections to the missing children of Hamlin. Chapter XV: The Piper Pruflas The group arrives back in the Black Box, after a long and harrowing escape from Hamlin. They enter Emily¡¯s dungeon body. ¡°Okay, chers,¡± Heathcliff says, catching his breath. ¡°What just happened?¡¯ ¡°Well,¡± Carla says. ¡°The village¡¯s mayor had accused me of child abduction,¡± ¡°Daddy distracted him long enough for us to escape,¡± Euryale says. ¡°And we had to use Revotos¡¯ Valley as our escape path!¡± Charlotte says. ¡°Where we encounter angry guards, ¡°Tim says.¡± ¡°A werewolf with an uncanny resemblance to Heathcliff,¡± Elizabeth says ¡°And a giant moth,¡± Emily says. Heathcliff takes in these details. ¡°And you say that the Piper is related yes,¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Emily says. ¡°I¡¯ve been there for most of it,¡± the knight says. ¡°But it¡¯s still a lot to take in.¡± ¡°So find the Piper, find the kids,¡± Sarah says. ¡°Perfect.¡± ¡°Sister,¡± Richard says. ¡°Do we even know how to find him?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think it would be necessary,¡± Emily says, recalling his ominous mention of a gift. ¡°If anything I think the Piper will come to us¡± ¡°But why come to us?¡± Nina says. ¡°I have a theory,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Have any of you heard of demons before?¡± ¡°Demons?¡± Sarah says. ¡°Like Archfiends and such?¡± ¡°Weren¡¯t those eliminated ages ago?¡± Tim says. ¡°Demons?¡± Emily says. Elizabeth gathers everyone into one of the black and blue rooms inside the now five-story dungeon. She takes out a tome that she asked the Rosenkreuz guild for and opens it on a table. The illustrations of the book revealed various battles between bizarre and dangerous entities, vividly detailed alongside narratives of divine conflict. ¡°Demons are known as the adversaries of the Administrator,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Created when the Lightbringer felled and was banished by the Ascendant.¡± ¡°Lucifer and Michael,¡± Heathcliff says with familiarity of the legends. ¡°A once-namely Administrator and the first Messenger.¡± Emily takes the book and peruses its pages. ¡°Correct,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Lucifer was in fact named by his vanquisher in ¡®honor¡¯ of a similar figure from his original world. In the wake of such came several other phenomena, the Unlifetree being one, but also the metamorphosis of the Luciferians, those that served the Fallen, into the original Archfiends.¡± Emily takes interest in one story detailing a demon that had betrayed her peers and embarked on a quest to seal them, and her ascent to the Administrators¡¯ ranks as a result. Her eyes widen in awe at the lengthy tale. Carla asks, ¡°Why tell us about them now?¡± ¡°I suspect that the Piper and the kidnapper are pawns of a demon,¡± Elizabeth says. Carla gasps as Charlotte takes the book. She finds herself entranced by a tale of how a figure known as Harmonia had confronted a demon named Discordia. ¡°Okay, so we fight the demon,¡± Sarah says. ¡°Find an exorcist and the problem¡¯s solved?¡± ¡°It would be if fighting one is so easy,¡± Minerva says ¡°Indeed, ¡°Elizabeth says. ¡°Demons are not only powerful but cunning and crafty entities. The Archfiends¡¯ servants can worm their way into many institutions and groups and corrupt them from the inside out.¡± Tim sighs, recalling bitter memories. Nina takes Elizabeth¡¯s tome next and finds a tale chronicling what it believed to be an incarnation of the Sunlight alongside a figure claimed to be a Messenger, tole in the style of a children¡¯s storybook. ¡°Now then,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°This is still a theory of mine, but one I strongly suspect is true. Can you tell me about any strange events that happened today?¡± Emily is the first to speak up. ¡°I heard a voice I believe came from the Piper. He claims to have a gift for me, it¡¯s why I think he¡¯ll be coming here sooner over later.¡± Elizabeth grimaces, realizing that there is a chance that a gift of theirs would be dangerous. ¡°Anything else?¡± ¡°That moth,¡± Nina says while reading the book. ¡°It attacks us with scary illusions.¡± Carla speaks up, ¡°The alleged demon, I think it is trying to get to me.¡± ¡°How so?¡± Elizabeth says. Carla takes a deep breath. ¡°Six months back, my husband had noticed something amiss in Hamlin, around the time, the mayoral elections were happening. He had discovered bizarre occurrences at the Brokeback Mountains and sought to check them out, eventually finding a cult and alerting the guards.¡± ¡°A cult?¡± Richard says. Carla nods. ¡°Hamlin¡¯s Gerda Marie and Samuel had investigated and found evidence of arcane rituals, some using the local fauna. One of the monsters I took care of was a victim of their practice. The rituals were stopped, but the cultists had taken their own lives, vowing to declare vengeance.¡± ¡°A demon can emerge from negative emotions,¡± Elizabeth says. The fairy flutters closer to Carla. ¡°Can you elaborate on these strange occurrences please?¡± ¡°With pleasure,¡± Carla says. ¡°The first sign was in Revotos¡¯ Valley¡­¡± Nina hands the book to Euryale and Stheno. They find the current page tells a tale of the namesake of the Dungeon. Revotos, the Reaper. ¡°The Valley,¡± Carla says. ¡°Had gown more hostile and fearful to anyone not of Hamlin, Samuel, and Douglas had ventured there and learned that it senses a hostile presence in the area, but despite the town¡¯s best efforts, no one could find anything suspicious.¡± Carla begins to wonder if that was the point where people began suspecting her. ¡°Merchants from Noir and Gardenia had sense mentioned having strange nightmares while they stayed in Hamlin,¡± ¡°Come to think of it,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°There had been talk of some village near here being cursed.¡± ¡°More recently,¡± Carla continues. ¡°I¡¯ve been hearing voices.¡± ¡°Voices?¡± Emily says. ¡°At first I thought it was stray thoughts of mine,¡± the Alraune says. ¡°But now, I¡¯m certain the seed of doubt was planted by a demon who wanted to hurt me. Trying to have me think Hamlin would betray me. It is with great shame that the village would prove him right.¡± Heathcliff grimaces. Emily thinks back on her encounter with the voice. ¡°Proof¡­¡± ¡°Something wrong, Emily?¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°The voice gave me a name as well,¡± Emily says. ¡°¡®The Piper Pruflas¡¯ they said.¡± ¡°Pruflas¡­¡± Elizabeth muses on the name before taking the tome back from the twins. She could not find any instance of the name anywhere in the legends. Not among the list of seventy-two demons sealed by the Hope, or among the Luciferians encountered by Michael, nor among those the Pathfinder recover from amid the water in the seal of souls. ¡°It¡¯s getting late,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°We should get some rest.¡± Everyone heads to their rooms in the dungeon, preparing for the next day. ??? The next few days are spent looking for signs of the Piper, now suspected to have become a host of the demon. Emily heads to the Rosenkreuz guildhall, looking for any leads of missing children, but finds the mission board did not mention any sightings. Heathcliff and Tim ask the many adventurers for information, but their queries turned up nothing. The dwarven siblings returned to Eastshire in search of leads, but could not find any clues there either. Elizabeth meanwhile stayed at the Black Box. Carla approaches her. ¡°You seem stressed,¡± Carla says. Elizabeth sees the Alraune and notices that despite all that happened, she does not exhibit any sign of tension or distress. ¡°It is hard to be calm knowing a demon is on the loose,¡± the fairy says. ¡°I don¡¯t know why you appear so calm.¡± ¡°Practice,¡± Carla says. ¡°When dealing with monsters, it is best to not show fear. They will act on all signs of hesitancy.¡± Her voice is graceful, but Elizabeth can sense the turmoil inside it. ¡°I¡¯m sorry things turned out this way,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Why do you need to apologize?¡± Carla says. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. Nor is it Emily¡¯s.¡± ¡°And yet we¡ª¡° Elizabeth smells a calming aroma in the air that instills in her an urge to relax. ¡°I understand your guilt, Elizabeth, but there are better things to do than fret over every time something bad happens. Besides things will usually work out in the end right?¡± Elizabeth takes a deep breath. ¡°You¡¯re right. Thank you.¡± The fairy soon leaves Carla alone. ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± carla things. ¡°Things will work out. I¡¯m sure of it!¡± ??? Euryale and Stheno wander the Dungeon. Thoughts about their parents are on their minds. They look at the shifting sleek black walls as they ponder about if their father is okay. ¡°I¡¯m sure Daddy will be fine,¡± Euryale says. ¡°Right?¡± ¡°Of course dear sister,¡± Stheno optimistically says. ¡°Daddy is the smartest, bravest Daddy we know.¡± ¡°Will that be enough?¡± Euryale says. ¡°I¡¯m sure,¡± Stheno says. ¡°They wouldn''t hurt Daddy after all he had done for them, right Eury?¡± They two soon chance upon an Arachne woman. Lydia meets the human children and smiles. ¡°So you are the village kids I¡¯ve heard about! I¡¯m Lydia, it¡¯s nice to meet you!¡± The bubbly spider unnerves the twins with her sudden presence, but Euryale puts aside her hesitancy and greets Lydia. ¡°I¡¯m Euryale Arion, that¡¯s Stheno!¡± she says. ¡°I¡¯ve heard you two will be staying here with us for a while,¡± Lydia says. ¡°And so Emily has tasked me to help take care of you!¡± ¡°Emily did?¡± Euryale said. ¡°Of course!¡± Lydia says. ¡°I made it my duty to help care for the wayward children that reside in the dungeon! Now come with me, the other kids want to meet you!¡± Lydia takes the twin girls to where the Archane spiderlings are. They already found Charlotte and Nina nearby. The broodmother grabs the attention of her young charges. ¡°Everyone!¡± she says. ¡°I¡¯d want to introduce three young girls to you all. Two of them will be staying with us for a while.¡± A spotlight shines on Charlotte. The young Alraune lass timidly introduces herself. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ Charlotte Truce.¡± Another spotlight then shines on the twins. ¡°Is this really necessary?¡± Euryale says, embarrassed by the myriad of eyes on her. ¡°Salutations, fellow children,¡± Stheno says with a higher-than-usual amount of poise. ¡°My name is Stheno, and this is my dear sister Euryale. A pleasure to meet you.¡± The spiderlings gather around the three girls, to their surprise, but none more surprised than Charlotte, who saw a stark contrast between Hamlin and its lone school. ¡°You¡¯re a tamer¡¯s daughter?¡± A female Arachne girl says to Nina. ¡°Awesome!¡± ¡°Can you teach me about the sea beasts?¡± one boy eagerly asks. ¡°I heard your father is an adventurer!¡± another child says to the twin girls. ¡°Can you three take a look at my webs?¡± another girl says. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Lydia giggles. ¡°It seems they took quite a locking to you!¡± ¡°Hey,¡± Nina says. ¡°They were my friends first!¡± In her haste to her friends, she nearly cuts the leg of another spiderling when her bladed leg makes contact with it. ¡°Nina,¡± Lydia says. ¡°Be careful with those blades!¡± Nina realizes the near miss and apologizes. The day goes by with many of the children earnestly wanting to play with the new children and especially Charlotte. A far cry from her feelings of isolation in Hamlin. Before long Charlotte begins to sense the mana coming from the exuberant Arachne children, as warm as their smiles. ??? The next day, Carla soon chances upon Heathcliff while he is out assessing the Nightwatch. ¡°Oh, Heathcliff.¡± ¡°Hello, Carla,¡± he says with a small smile. ¡°How are you taking to here, cher?¡± It has been a few days since they escaped from Hamlin. Carla has taken to her new residence well. ¡°I¡¯ve been asking Emily to help me redecorate a bit.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Heathcliff says, ¡°Why?¡± ¡°The previous aesthetics has been¡­ arduous to think about.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Heathcliff understands as much that the recent developments had weighed heavily on Carla¡¯s mind. ¡°Want to talk about things?¡± ¡°Maybe later,¡± Carla says. ¡°But since you¡¯re here I understand you had a night watch program?¡± ¡°Ah,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°About that we had created it to keep an eye on the wild animals, it was a stopgap measu¡ª¡° ¡°I know,¡± Carla says. The motherly Alraune looks around. ¡°But with this demon at large and the children from Hamlin still missing, I feel it might be worth having some of the Dire wolves and Chimera take part.¡± ¡°Have you got them to help?¡± ¡°I did,¡± Carla says. ¡°They are proving well in adapting to the changes Emily¡¯s encroachment on their territory had made. A little too well, but for now, they can sense if any intruders are here and ad been trained to warn us.¡± ¡°Excellent,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°I knew you¡¯d do well here!¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± the Alraune says. ¡°Have there been any word on demonic activity or the missing children?¡± ¡°Sadly not, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°On the bright side, we haven¡¯t heard any word on people from Hamlin paying us a visit either. Plus the guild is looking into smoothing things over until we can get your name cleared.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good to hear,¡± Carla says. Things have been moving so fast, a few days ago, she was Carla, tamer of Hamlin, husband to Samuel, but not she is Carla, new resident of the Black Box, accused for both kidnapping and murdering her husband on baseless grounds. ¡°Charlotte is also doing well.¡± She says with a warm smile. ¡°I think she likes it here.¡± ¡°Glad to hear it, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Emily and I want to make sure you well and conferable while you stay here.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Clara says. ¡°And I thank you, Heathcliff.¡± Clara leaves the knight to do his duties. ??? ¡°First a giant spider, now a moth?¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoes to Elizabeth. Elizabeth is observing several new constructs, machines resembling the moth that Emily encountered back in Revotos¡¯s valley, without the swirling rainbow patterns of its wings or the hum that echoes a pipe¡¯s sounds. The mechanical giant moths, while still smaller than the original entity, are still large enough than the usual insects. They flutter around the room, spewing glistening blue flakes from their wings. ¡°You¡¯ve generated quite a large swarm of these,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Is there any way to turn them off?¡± the dungeon asks. ¡°Haven¡¯t I told you?¡± the fairy says. ¡°The creation of Cells and Constructs is an unconscious process.¡± ¡°Ah there you are Elizabeth,¡± Sarah arrives to the room. ¡°Brother¡¯d been wanting your opinion on¡ªwhat in Titania are those?¡± ¡°The newest constructs,¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoes to Sarah. ¡°Sarah,¡± Elizabeth says, ¡°can you try fighting one of these new cells?¡± Sarah smirks. ¡°Leave it to me! I¡¯m always itching for a fight!¡± Sarah leaves to fight one of the mechanical moths. A while later, she stumbles back towards Elizabeth, ¡°Heh, piece of cake!¡± Her mind is addled by the flakes that are shed by the machine, causing her vision to see squares instead of more natural shapes. ¡°Hey, where did you go, Liz?¡± ¡°I¡¯m over here!¡± Elizabeth waves. She sees a blueish glow in Sarah¡¯s irises. A moment later the effect on Sarah¡¯s vision fades and she is able to see normally. ¡°What did the moth do?¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Kept trying to ram me and sprinkle these flakes around,¡± Sarah says. The fairy is a little disturbed by Sarah¡¯s swinging her hammer around, and causing blue square flakes to fall around her. Emily controls the floor to pool the flakes in a single pile and create a box to contain them. ¡°I¡¯ll let Heathcliff know about them,¡± Emily says, begrudgingly dealing with the fact that she has to live with cybernetic moths inside her now. ??? Later that day, when the night has fallen. A man begins entering the dungeon. Clad in black and red, and carrying a pipe. The man makes his move into the Black Box. The sounds of a pipe follow in his wake. Despite all of this, happening inside. Emily does not sense the Piper¡¯s presence. Even as he makes his way to the depths. Until he is just before the core¡¯s room. Several Arachne notices the intruder and rush to greet him with venom and weapons. But the Piper dispatches them easily, tricked by the illusions of the man¡¯s instrument. Several of them disengage to warn the others of his presence. ¡°The opening act is over my friends,¡± the bard says. ¡°and it is time to start the main event!¡± Tim is the first to wake up. Knowing the incoming threat. He arrives to greet the demon. ¡°So this is what became of the ratcatcher from Noir?¡± Tim says as he assumes a horse stance. ¡°I am but a simple man, bearing gifts.¡± Despite his polite tone, the Piper Pruflas makes a combative stance. ¡°Release the kids,¡± Tims says. ¡°You¡¯ve caused enough grief.¡± ¡°The children of Hamlin? Very well then.¡± The Piper plays a haunting melody on his pipe. Before Tim knows it he sees nearly a hundred and thirty children emerge from the shadows behind him. Entranced and dazed, but empowered with a cacodaemonic force. The kidnapped children surround Tim. ¡°This young man wants to play with you, children,¡± the Piper says as he plays a tune, his black and red suit and hat make him appear like an Empyrean from Noir despite Stanley Piers¡¯ more humble origins. The children, possessed by the tune of the pipe, block Tim¡¯s attempts on the Piper. By this point, Emily is now awake and aware of the invaders. At the same time, Lydia is standing watch over the children living in the Black Box, including the Arion twins who had become the dungeon¡¯s guests. Sleeping among the Arachne children in their webbed cocoons. They soon hear the dulcet tones of the pipe and unconsciously cut through the silken webs. Sleepwalking while Lydia is busy talking to one of the night watchmen about the intruder. By the time she turns back, she notices the absence of the twins. Horror washes upon her face as she and the night watch search the room for them. ¡°Not all of the honored guests are here it seems,¡± Pruflas says. Tim meanwhile tries to avoid harming the children as they serve the demonic Piper¡¯s back and call. Pruflas senses an attack from above him and sidesteps a crossbow bolt. Richard from a ledge curses missing him as the bolt fails to sting the demon. Three chimeras arrive with Carla, finally face to face with the Piper. ¡°So the kidnapper finally arrives,¡± she says. ¡°Kidnapper I¡¯m not,¡± Pruflas claims. ¡°I¡¯m a proofless man. Just as you are proofless, o beast tamer.¡± Carla is not amused. She glares at the man. ¡°Release them!¡± she says. ¡°Of course,¡± Pruflas says with a smirk. ¡°But not now, they are not ready. And besides, their safety won¡¯t change a thing.¡± A chimera growls at the Piper, before charging, but the Piper plays a tune and several of the Hamlin kids move in front of the Piper, suffering cuts from the beast¡¯s attack. The cries of the wounded children echo across the room as Pruflas dodges the Chimera¡¯s attacks. Emily is now fully aware of Pruflas¡¯ location and tries to move her walls to seal him. ¡°Tut-tut-tut, young lady, where¡¯s your manners? It is very rude to reject your gifts.¡± The Piper plays a tune that causes Emily to involuntarily release him. ¡°What the¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoes through the room. Richard fires another shot, this time the bolt manages to impale the Piper¡¯s leg and sting Pruflass with several bolts of lightning. Pruflas is shocked but the child captives of the Piper also suffer from the crossbow bolt¡¯s strike. Richard is stunned, he didn¡¯t aim anywhere near the children. Tim takes the opportunity to make a charging step to the man and trade some blows. Sarah also arrives to assist him with her hammer. But Prufles proves to be more indomitable than it initially seemed. ¡°Be careful!¡± Emily calls out to them, ¡°He¡¯s done something to the kids!¡± ¡°Why dear Emily, I merely brought them here,¡± the Piper lied. ¡°It is not my fault the children were harmed.¡± He cackles as Time moves behind him and attacks with his shoulder. Separating him from his pipe. ??? Meanwhile, Charlotte and Nina find the Arion twins sleepwalking. The two girls try to wake up Euryale and Stheno from their trance, but nothing they can do is able to rouse them. Minerva arrives at the scene of the battle, using her webbing to restrain them. Carla meanwhile asks her chimeras to move the children away from here. But their attempts fail. Whenever one child is bound they vanish, and Carla and the chimeras are unable to move them from where they stood. Nina and Charlotte chase Stheno and Euryale to the core room. Pruflas notices the presence of the twins. ¡°And so the pieces are fully gathered,¡± he says. He manifests his pipe to his arm and starts playing a tune. ¡°By the powers that are vested in me,¡± he sings. ¡°From forces infernal, damned, beyond grace.¡± The children of Hamlin suddenly vanish, including Euryale and Stheno. The room transforms into an illusory copy of Hamlin ablaze. ¡°I offer these young tributes all to you.¡± The man shifts from the form of a Pied Piper into that of a gigantic rat, its suit transformed into a tattered crimson and ebon cloak that matches its matted fur in hue. His face retains a humanoid shape, adorned by horns and with striking emerald eyes. In his hands, he holds a red orb. ¡°Best me if you can, and take all my gifts!¡± Pruflas looms over the illusion of the burning village. Emily tries to move the walls and floor, but the Bardsong of the demonic rat forbids her from acting. Her dungeon body is paralyzed, but¡­ Elizabeth and Heathcliff arrive on the scene, both seeing the gigantic rat within a room that now resembles a village on fire more than it does its true nature. Elizabeth flies close to the rat. ¡°Oh holy light, radiant and bright,¡± she sings. ¡°Shine forth and smith the demon¡¯s blight!¡± A pillar of light strikes the demon, but Pruflas doesn¡¯t react. Sarah launches Tim into the air and he uses the momentum to strike the beast with a kick. He then takes his Qiang out and stabs the rat while Pruflas is staggered. ¡°Bravo, oh warrior of eastern winds,¡± the Piper says. ¡°But it will take more than that to best me!¡± Charlotte finds her mother paralyzed by the fear of the sights around her. Haunted by the nightmares roused by the Piper¡¯s conjured illusions. ¡°Mom!¡± she calls to the spellbound Clara. Who could only turn and see her daughter turning into a smoldering pile of ash before her. Even though Charlotte isn¡¯t truly on fire. The piper turns to the Alraune family. ¡°Oh Tamer, I pity you, you still hope. But the village has already shunned you. Forsaken, abandoned, left to the flames!¡± A barrage of fireballs is conjured by the piper to attack the two. Carla sees her daughter be consumed by smoke and ash. ¡°Charlotte, no!¡± Carla cries out. ¡°This can¡¯t be,¡± ¡°Oh, but it is, for our daughter is dead!¡± Carla turns to the voice and sees an apparition of Samuel, his flesh blazing revealing a charred skeleton, in his hand is a knife. ¡°Carla, why? Why did you kill her? Why did you kill me?¡± Charlotte meanwhile finds herself lying on the floor near Nina, her legs yanked away by the spiderling¡¯s webs as the fireballs collide with the ground. ¡°Phew!¡± Nina says. ¡°That was close.¡± Charlotte sees her mother seemingly frozen, stunned as she looks towards nothing at all. ??? Emily activates her avatara and leaps into the action, vowing to vanquish the intruder from herself once and for all. She glides through the illusions of burning cottages and strikes the demonic rat with her two blades. ¡°A proxy body? It would never do,¡± Pruflas boats. ¡°Tis best to accept your gifts in person.¡± The rat launches fireballs at Emily, Tim, Elizabeth, and Sarah, but they all dodge the blast as Heathcliff moves forward and attacks with an earth-enchanted shield. ¡°You and your gifts are not welcome here, demon!¡± the knight says as he bashes the gigantic rat with his shield and slashes it with his sword. Clara stares at the apparition of Samuel as it solemnly approaches her. The phantom accuses her of his murder. ¡°You left me to rot, you betrayed Hamlin!¡± he says. ¡°I did neither of these things!¡± Carla says. ¡°I wouldn''t hurt you, You must believe me!¡± Her mind is trapped at the moment, despite that she should be aware that the dead didn¡¯t rise or that she isn¡¯t really in Hamlin. Charlotte finds a chimera nearby. ¡°Please, help me save Mom!¡± she pleads. The chimer lets her mount it and they rush towards Carla. A demonic beast rushes towards Carla as she pleads with the geist of her fallen husband. ¡°Charlotte is dead now, and it is your fault!¡± ¡°Samuel,¡± says. He hurls statements of hurt and betrayed feelings towards Carla, trying to force her to break down and let the Piper kill her. Swarms of rats on fire surround Carla, ready to ignite her before the chimera arrives to save her from the swarm. ¡°Mom! Please¡­¡± Carla hears a voice cry out. Clara blinks and sees the face of her daughter, alive, unburned, but crying. She snaps back to realize and realizes that the man she had encountered was an illusion a tick of the Piper Pruflas. She turns back and learns that the blazing rats at their heels are very much real. The chimera maneuvers the burning streets as the rats race to singe and ignite the beast. The serpentine tail and the goat head faced the swarm and hindered it with icy breath, but it was not enough to quell their flames. Meanwhile, Richard takes several shots at the Piper from his ledge, not coated in the illusions of a burning rooftop. The heat haze and smoke hinder his accuracy as he struggles to snipe the demonic Piper. The Chimera, with Clara and Charlotte riding it, rushes to the Piper to aid the others. Clara morphs her arms into vines in a bid to ensnare the gigantic rat and topple him. The demon looks down. ¡°So you had broke free of my illusions?¡± Charlotte follows her mother¡¯s lead and uses her arms to bind the rat as well. She dismounts the Chimera and wraps her arms around the leg of the rat, while Carla and the Chimera ensnare the other leg. Tim meanwhile uses his wind and earth magic to propel himself into the air and stab the rat with his Qiang. ¡°And they dare to call me the fool? How false!¡± Pruflas says. He summons the children of Hamlin in the form of a barrier of innocent playful smiles. ¡°Shine bright, shine true,¡± Elizabeth harmonizes to both blind the rat with light and coat Tim¡¯s weapon in radiance. The weapon strikes Pruflas in the abdomen and causes him to topple. Charlotte roots herself to the ground by morphing her legs to ensure the young Alraune remains anchored, but Carla uses the chimera as support. Minerva uses her webs to bind one of the rat¡¯s arms and Nina binds the other arm with her before climbing onto it and dancing with her bladed legs for good measure. Pruflas struggles to stand upright or move with his extremities bound. Emily¡¯s voice calls out to the rat, echoes in his mind. ¡°Release the children, Now!¡± The demonic rat cackles. ¡°I cannot release them dearest dungeon. The children bound to me, are locked in. Only my demise can free them from these chains.¡± Emily prepares for a final strike. ¡°Oh holy light,¡± she sings. Her Bardsong covers her twin blades in a brilliant light as she leaps into the sky and impails the demon. ??? Pruflas¡¯s form disintegrates into a swarm of shadowy raters, vanishing into the ether alongside the illusion of a burning Hamlin. The settling now reflects the reality of a sleek black and purple room, adjacent to the room where Emily¡¯s core resides. All that is left is the body of Pruflas¡¯ prior form, the form of the demon¡¯s host Stanley Piers, clad in black and red garb. ¡°So you have bested me, dearest dungeon.¡± The demon says with a smile. Emily takes both the Pipe and the red orb. As she does so, the Hamlin children reemerge inside pods that form from the dissipating rats. Charlotte sees Euryale and Stheno inside one of these pods, transparent and filled with a glowing crimson fluid in contrast to the violet hues of the floor and walls. ¡°Ugh, my head,¡± Euryale wakes up inside the pod. ¡°What happened?¡± Stheno follows suit ¡°What a terrible dream,¡± She mutters. Elizabeth senses something is off. The fairy turns towards the Piper¡¯s body, lying on the ground and vanishing into a black mist. She then sees the red orb in Emily¡¯s hand, a Pyrosphere, alongside the demonic instrument. The Arion twins¡¯ pod opens and the two groggily climb out. Charlotte hugs them, but as she does, she notices their faces feel a little different. Emily observes the Pyrosphere. An Elementalist¡¯s sphere of fire, blazing in scarlet hues with a slight vermilion tinge at the center of the orb. She lets the floor absorb her avatara and what she holds in her hand. The sphere reemerges in the core room, next to the orange Geosphere on the formation. The Dungeon, and her allies, can now access the element of fire. Carla looks at the pods. ¡°Emily,¡± she says. ¡°Are you able to release them?¡± ¡°I can try,¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoes to the Alraune. She concentrates on the red pods, connected to her through the floor on which they rest. Sanguine-colored fluid floods the room as the pods open and the children of Hamlin step out one by one. As the last one exits, Emily begins hearing a familiar and dreadful tune. ¡°Agh,¡± Euryale cries out in pain. ¡°Sister,¡± Stheno calls out before suffering a headache. The children of Hamlin collapse onto the ground. ¡°What in the?¡± Heathcliff says, ¡°Emily! Is something wrong, cher?¡± Emily begins hearing Pruflas¡¯ voice. ¡°Congratulations on your newfound gifts.¡± ¡°Pruflas!¡± her voice booms across the room. ¡°What have you done?¡± ¡°I did what I have come here to do, dear,¡± the demon cackles. ¡°You have bested me, and so taken my gifts. The mana in the pipe carries their essence.¡± Digital lines begone form on the children. Along with whiskers and ears resembling those of a rat. ¡°Once they were bound, they can never be unbound. Their chains can only be inherited,¡± the demon¡¯s voice echoes through the dungeon. Elizabeth realizes what is happening and gasps in horror. The demon had goaded Emily into turning the children into Cells. The metamorphosis is complete and the twins look at each other in surprise in horror. Carla too looks on in horror at what had befell them. ¡°Farewell and adieu, my dear audience,¡± the demon says with a cackle. His voice leaves the dungeon, never to be heard again. Realization dawns on everyone as Stella dawns on the land. What was seemingly a victory was instead a trick, and the demon, despite his defeat, had departed with the last laugh. Chapter XVI: Closure The day after, Father Chiron arrives at Heathcliff and the Rosenkreuz guild¡¯s request in the wake of what had transpired recently. He observes the Cells in Emily that were once the children of Hamlin. The centaur sees the children, with their new mechanical mouse-like features scurry about without a care in the world. Among them are Euryale and Stheno disturbed at what had befallen their fellow village people that they act like they had lived here all their lives. Chiron holds out a special instrument, a diagram of Sepira and Qlipha, the Lifetree and Unlifetree, engraved on a flat transparent surface. Elizabeth holds up a similar lends towards the children. She observes that the nodes of the Unlifetree radiate a jet black while the corresponding white notes of the Lifetree are not as bright. The Centaur uses his abilities as a Resonator to assess the mana of the children. ¡°It¡¯s just as I feared,¡± he says ominously. ¡°The demonic influence had altered their minds.¡± Nearby, Clara stands distraught. Concern washes over her face. Emily¡¯s walls also betray her own feelings of remorse. Feelings that Chiron had also picked up on. ¡°How bad is it, Father Chiron?¡± Elizabeth says. The priest gives a solemn answer. ¡°Right now these children¡¯s mana are both entangled with this dungeon¡¯s and their minds have been altered, bereft of any ties to their place of birth. To them, it is as if they had lived here all their lives.¡± Charlotte speaks up. ¡°Is there any way to free them?¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid not,¡± Chiron says, ¡°Their mana has been embedded into the very core of the dungeon themselves. Trying to extract them at this stage would risk shattering the core and destroying the consciousness therein, both the dungeon¡¯s and the children¡¯s.¡± Emily stays silent, shocked over the idea that they cannot be released without great harm to them. Heathcliff and Tim soon arrive, and the latter disdainfully glares at the priest. ¡°What¡¯s the verdict? Fr¨¨re Chiron?¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Unfortunately, it is as we feared, Sir Heathcliff,¡± Chiron says. ¡°As it currently stands there is no way to free the children without your dungeon being adversely affected. Furthermore, their memories had been severely altered.¡± ¡°What about Pruflas?¡± Carla asks. ¡°Is he still¡ª¡° ¡°The Unlifetree reveals that the demon yet draws breath,¡± Chiron says. ¡°However even if he was vanquished it would only undo his effects on their minds.¡± ¡°Why,¡± Emily speaks up. ¡°Why would he do this?¡± ¡°There had been reports of demons visiting dungeons, infusing them with mana sourced by nefarious means. I know now why they do this, but I do know that you are but the latest who received their so-called gifts,¡± Chiron says. ¡°Is there anything we can do?¡± Emily says with hesitancy. ¡°The best you can do right now is to ensure they are hale and hearty and to be prepared,¡± Chiron warns. ¡°For their parents will want answers.¡± Carla¡¯s mind ruminates on the ramifications of what would happen if the villagers of Hamlin knew of what befell their children. Cursed into a monstrous form, unable to recognize their parents. Would they even be seen as their children anymore? Would the parents keep them around? What would they do in the dungeon that now holds them as prisoners? Her recent experiences have led to one conclusion ¡°They must not know!¡± ??? While Chiron continues examining the children, Emily activates her avatara and leaves her dungeon body for fresh air. Emily looks back at the children now trapped inside her and sighs. ¡°Why did I let this happen?¡± Her forlorn expression carries the regret of absorbing the cursed pipe. Elizabeth sees Emily¡¯s avatara lying on a hilltop, mournfully gazing at the frontiers beyond. ¡°There you are!¡± she says. ¡°Elizabeth?¡± Emily says. The fairy flutters towards her friend. She can already tell that the recent events weigh heavily on her mind. ¡°Wanna talk?¡± she says courteously. Emily stays silent. Elizabeth simply sits down next to her. She ponders if there is any way to lift Emily¡¯s spirits as she continues to sulk. ¡°Their mana is entangled with mine,¡± Emily says. ¡°That¡¯s what Chiron said.¡± ¡°That is true,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Does that mean, they would be trapped inside me forever?¡± Emily says. After a moment of hesitation, Elizabeth says, ¡°It is too soon to say for sure?¡± ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°But it is highly probable,¡± Elizabeth shows her the diagram of the two trees. The ebon dots show a vivid dark glow that nearly feels like it¡¯s sucking in the nearby light. The white does in turn shine with a glimmer that matches their counterparts. Though race through Emily¡¯s head. Though she had wanted to help Carla free the children from Pruflas¡¯ clutches, her careless action had ensured that she had become tantamount to a kidnapper herself. ¡°Is there any way we could free them?¡± Emily says. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± the fairy says with sorrow in her voice. ¡°You¡¯re supposed to know everything about dungeons!¡± Emily says. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°But this situation had never occurred to me!¡± Emily sighs again. The two stare into the vast wilderness before them, majestic and near untamed. The wind blew through the trees as the nacreous clouds illustrate a colorful image on the blue canvas above. The emerald hills are dotted by blooms of various hues and colors. A while later, as they look at the calm land, a realization soon strikes Emily. ¡°Elizabeth?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Do you know if it is possible?¡± Emily asks. ¡°If what is possible?¡± the fairy asks. ¡°If I have enough mana, could we free them without harming them?¡± Elizabeth muses on the idea. ¡°It feels like it should be possible, but¡­¡± ¡°But?¡± Emily says. Fear washes over her face. ¡°Under normal circumstances,¡± the fairy says. ¡°As a dungeon grows in power, so too do its cells and its gear. Their strength gathers proportionately with each bit of mana they absorb, but with every defeat, a bit of mana seeps from them in the form of the gear and items the victors are able to leave with.¡± Emily knew as much. She makes a dejected face, realizing that she might hemorrhage mana before being able to free the children from herself. ¡°But..¡± Emily¡¯s face perks up. ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°There is another way to gain mana,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°You recall the reason why Dungeons have avatara to begin with, and why they join adventurer parties?¡± ¡°To raid other dungeons, right?¡± Emily says. Elizabeth nodes with a confident smirk. Emily then remembers her absorbing the core of Tarantulapolis and comes to a realization. ¡°We go for the cores, right?¡± ¡°Right,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°In theory, this would ensure you have a rapid growth of mana that would allow you to disentangle the children without endangering them or yourself. But there are still a few hurdles.¡± Emily sighs once more. ¡°Of course there are,¡± she grumbles in frustration. ¡°The first is that they are not in the right state of mind right now,¡± the fairy says. ¡°They had lost memories of their live sin Hamlin, and are barely unable to recall their names. Even if we can free them physically those chains of memories must also be broken as well.¡± Emily attentively listens to Elizabeth. ¡°Secondly there is the other matter that they had been mutated by you. Unlike Sentinels, Cells are a part of you. Created from Constructs made unconsciously or by living beings that had assimilated to the dungeon. Absorbing the pipe might have just expedited a very natural process.¡± Emily makes a distressed reaction to that. ¡°The last matter is that the Cells themselves are unable to leave the premises of the dungeon unless certain actors are in play. Usually involving a subconscious desire to ¡®advertise¡¯ the dungeon¡¯s presence. This usually results in attacks on nearby settlements, though in this case we don¡¯t have to worry about the children ransacking towns.¡± Emily groans. ¡°But,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°The dungeon can allow a few of them to accompany their Avatara, serving as impromptu allies for dungeon raiding. How many will depend on their mana levels, but I have heard that some of the most powerful dungeons are able to have an army of cells exist in places far remote from their original body.¡± Emily¡¯s face brightens a little at that fact, as she realizes that even if she cannot cleave herself from the children, there is a possibility that she can at least be able to enable them to live back in the village one day. ¡°In summary,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°We¡¯ll have to find a way to restore their memories as well as make sure returning them to the village doesn''t risk their families behaving adversely to them.¡± ¡°But we can do it, right?¡± Emily says. ¡°Once you have enough mana,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°It will take some time, but it could be done, in theory at least.¡± Emily is a little relived that there is a method to being able to free the children from herself after all. ¡°Thanks for coming here Lizzie,¡± she says. ¡°I¡¯m happy to he¡ª¡° Elizabeth says. ¡°When did you start calling me Lizzie?¡± ¡°Just now,¡± Emily says. She giggles a bit at the realization of the sudden nickname. ¡°Oh come om!¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°I¡¯m you special guide fairy! Sent by the Administrators! At least try to use my name properly.¡± ¡°Nope, don¡¯t want to,¡± Emily says with a mischievous grin. Elizabeth fumes as Emily refuses to stop using a nickname for her. While Emily giggles at the increasingly flustered fairy¡¯s futile feats at trying to get her to cease calling her Lizzie. ??? Meanwhile, a trio of boys approaches Charlotte. They were Charles and his friends. ¡°Good day to you, Charlotte,¡± Charles says in a polite manner, almost robotic. The last time they met, he was calling her a monster and claiming that the town of Hamlin doesn¡¯t want her around and now, in the Black Box, he is beavering like a polite and well-spoken lad. The shift in attitude, caused by his loss of memories, disturbs the Alraune child to the point of speechlessness. ¡°Is something the matter?¡± Charles asks. Charlotte finally musters up a response. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Charles says. ¡°Maybe you¡¯d want to play with us later today?¡± The question had an eerie effect on Charlotte, under any other circumstances, she¡¯d happily accept an offer to play with people her own age, an opportunity she was often denied by them not making the offer to begin with. But now, when she knows why he is even here with her, it gives her pause. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Charlotte says. ¡°But I can¡¯t right now, my mom wants me to do some chores later.¡± Charles¡¯ fellow children groan collectively. Charlotte senses a dark presence in their mana. ¡°That¡¯s alright then,¡± Charles says. ¡°Some other time then.¡± Later that day she sees her mother tending to the Chimeras and Dire Wolves. ¡°Is something wrong dear?¡± Carla says. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Charlotte lies. She doesn¡¯t have the heart to tell her about the encounter, knowing that she is already burdened by the fact that the Piper Pruflas had tricked Emily into absorbing them. Chiron soon approaches them with Euryale and Stehno in tow. ¡°How did it go?¡± Charlotte said to her two friends. ¡°Aside from that a demon has turned us into human mice and trapped us inside a dungeon while my father is likely in jail?¡± Euryale says. ¡°Very swell¡±. An air of frustration and sarcasm drips from her voice. Charlotte makes a forlorn face, feeling that she shares some guilt in their fates. ¡°Don¡¯t mind my sister,¡± Stheno says. ¡°She¡¯s just lashing out.¡± Euryale sighs. ¡°Sorry.¡± The sarcasm fades from her voice. ¡°I know it¡¯s not your fault or Emily¡¯s.¡± Carla meanwhile turns to Father Chiron. ¡°I understand you and your daughter were also of Hamlin?¡± the centaur says. ¡°The watchword is ¡®were¡¯,¡± Carla says. ¡°My apologies,¡± Chiron says. ¡°I want to inquire about your relationship with the demon called Pruflas.¡± Clara and Charlotte explain their encounter with the demon and the mother specially recalls its successful attempts at breaking her faith in the village to the priests. As well as how she was accused of murdering Samuel before. ¡°It seemed like that village hid some very ugly truths under the surface, ¡°the centaur priest says. Clara sighs. ¡°And yet there is still some business there I must take care of.¡± The three girls, and Chiron, are confused. ¡°Oh my,¡± Clara realizes what she had just said. ¡°Forgive me, I was thinking about my sister.¡± ¡°You have a sister?¡± Chiron says. ¡°Auntie Geraldine,¡± Charlotte says. ¡°Yes,¡± Clara says. ¡°Recent events had me fearful for her. I want to make sure she is alright.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± Chiron says. ¡°I¡¯ve still some more things to do before leaving, but perhaps I can arrange a visit to eh town to check on her safety?¡± ¡°You can do that?¡± Clara says. ¡°Of course,¡± Chiron says with a serene and calming tone. ¡°I believe the Administrators would not abide innocents being harmed because their peers felt they are too different.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a brave man,¡± Clara says. ¡°Would it be alright if I accompany you?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Chiron says. With that, a plan has formed inside Clara¡¯s mind, a plan to bring Hamlin the closure it craves. A plan that will ensure they have time to find a way to free the Children without worrying about retribution from the village. ??? A while later, Carla requests to talk to Emily and Heathcliff about a matter. ¡°You want to be a Sentinel?¡± Emily¡¯s incredulous voice echoes to the Alraune. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I want to visit Hamlin one last time,¡± Carla thinks. ¡°The village needs closure, and so do I.¡± Her expression is usually stern. ¡°I think my talents can be better suited towards providing bosses to better bar adventurers¡¯s paths.¡± ¡°It is rather uncommon for tamers to take up the role, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Not unheard of, but rare nonetheless. I understand they don¡¯t do direct fighting even in that role though.¡± ¡°That is correct,¡± Carla says. ¡°But the beast they enlist does, and I understand you are quite deficient in Sentinels, only having Tim and the spider Construct.¡± Heathcliff notices something in Carla¡¯s eyes. ¡°I hope you understand what you¡¯re getting into, Carla.¡± ¡°I do,¡± the Alraune says. ¡°I think it best for everyone involved, you, me, and the children, if I became one of your Sentinels.¡± ¡°Heathcliff observes several details in Carla¡¯s face. Her avoidant gaze peers not quite at Heathcliff, but slightly to the right of him at at a lower angle. Her face makes a conflicted microexpression for a split second. The corners of her mouth appear more tense than usual. ¡°This about your impromptu trip to Hamlin?¡± Heathcliff asks. Carla is stunned by the question, her composure breaks for a moment. Heathcliff sighs. ¡°I¡¯m confused?¡± Emily says. ¡°You remember that time Tim got his derriere handed to him by Father Chiron?¡± Heathcliff asks. ¡°Yes and¡ª¡° Emily begins to realize the ability of the dungeon to involuntarily recreate the body of Sentinels that fall in battle. ¡°Let me clear,¡± Carla says. ¡°I am not some immortality seeker looking to exploit our partnership, but¡­¡± She struggles to explain herself. ¡°I get it,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°But I want you to be honest, cher. You can trust us.¡± A sense of dread can be felt on the dungeon¡¯s azure and ebony walls. As if Emily can tell Carla plans on doing something drastic. Carla sighs. ¡°Very well.¡± The Alraune begins explaining her motive. ¡°I want to bring closure to Hamlin, to grant them a proper farewell and to ensure that they¡­they do not intrude upon here while we work to prepare the children.¡± ¡°Now I really hope she knows what¡¯s he getting into, ¡°Heathcliff thinks. He had already suspected something was up the moment he learned that Carla is planning to accompany Father Chiron to Hamlin. ¡°Before, I had faith in the village, in the goodness of the people that resisted in Hamlin and their capacity to accept me and people like me,¡± Carla says. ¡°But now things had changed.¡± Tears well up in her face. ¡°The demon had proved to me that deep in their heart of hearts, they would not accept me, that they would blind themselves to the truth if it didn¡¯t conform to their misconceptions. That they only tolerated me because I married Samuel.¡± Carla begins to tell her feelings to the dungeon and her dungeon master. ¡°I should have known sooner, when the visits were fewer, and when most of them ignored my daughter¡¯s very existence!¡± Tears stream down her face. ¡°Now I see the truth in all of its ugly ignoble glory!¡± Emily uses her abilities to create a handkerchief from Dreamcloth, and Heathcliff hands the nacreous fabric to the Alraune. ¡°There there, let it all out.¡± Carla continues to express her emotions. ¡°After all that I done, after all, that Samuel did, they accused me of murdering him, and then when Pruflas made his move, they blamed me for the abductions. And now¡­and now,¡± Clara becomes inconsolable for several moments. Heathcliff solemnly stands by, his warm aura being a solace to the Alraune. Carla soon calms down and regains some composure. ¡°Hamlin needs closure, I need closure. Please, help me claim it!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± the knight says. ¡°We¡¯ll help you, but first.¡± Clara regains more composure, and the tension around the corners of her mouth fades. ¡°Right. Hated as I now am in the village there is an opportunity here to ensure peace, even if I am to cast myself as the village to achieve it, even if I have to die as one.¡± Clara¡¯s statement gives Emily pause. ¡°Clara, I-I¡¯m sorry but surely there must be another way.¡± ¡°If there is, I would love to know, ¡°Clara says. ¡°Right now All I know is that if their rancor is allowed to fester, they will come here, and it is far from guaranteed we have the strength to ward off an angry mob guided only by rage and concern for their children, unwilling to accept the truth that their children were spirited away by a demon and their mana entangled with yours by a trick of his. Even if they did they would rationalize your careless absorption of the pipe as malice. Right now they do not know you exist, but they know I do, and I want to use that to our advantage.¡± ¡°I see the pragmatism,¡± Heathcliff thinks. ¡°She does have a point, cher,¡± he says. ¡°If Hamlin does come knocking right now, we¡¯re toast and so are the kids.¡± Emily mulls over the possibility of herself being invaded by a small army of concerned parents desperate to save their children, yet instead sealing their fates by their own careless actions. Still, she is also aware of Stheno and Euryale¡¯s own concerns for their parents. ¡°Are you certain this is the right path?¡± Emily asks with some uncertainty. The Alraune mother makes a determent expression. ¡°I¡¯m certain. Hamlin¡¯s current state presents a risk to all that must be addressed immediately.¡± ¡°You know what you¡¯re getting into, right?¡± Heathcliff asks again. Clara nods. A while alter, Emily¡¯s voice echoes to Clara. ¡°I¡¯ll do it, but on one condition, I think Douglas and Medusa have the right to know what really happened.¡± Clara understands, they are the parents of her own daughter¡¯s friends and Douglas is the friend of her late husband as well. They are also among the few villagers that didn¡¯t shun either. ¡°Those terms I¡¯ll gladly accept.¡± ¡°Chiron also has the right to know, cher.¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Religious types like him don¡¯t take kindly to deceivers.¡± ¡°Very well,¡± Clara says. ¡°I¡¯ll appraise him properly.¡± ¡°I can only hope neither of us will regret this,¡± Emily thinks. She authorizes the process to make Clara a Sentinel. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. ??? Later, Heathcliff talks with Father Chiron at the Rosenkreuz guildhall. Two cups of beverages stand on their table. A cup of coffee for Heathcliff and a special brew of tea for Chiron. ¡°I see,¡± the centaur says. ¡°She wants to appease the rancorous village.¡± ¡°Oui, le monsieur,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°But there are some wrinkles to that.¡± He explains Clara¡¯s intended plan. Chiron¡¯s eyes widen in shock. ¡°She wants to¡ª Administrators forgive¡­¡± The priest clutches his tome as he regains composure. Heathcliff looks at his friend. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, mon ami.¡± ¡°And you wish to enable this mad plan?¡± Chiron asks. ¡°Is there not another way?¡± ¡°For what it¡¯s worth, the Dungeon I presided over asked Clara that same question too,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°But she was very insistent on it and her reasoning is somewhat sound.¡± ¡°By Astra,¡± Chiron says. ¡°What horror did the demon to that would lead her to such a rash decision?¡± Heathcliff muses over his coffee. He tries to lighten up the mood. ¡°Heh, you know how difficult to have a cup of joe back home?¡± ¡°Because of the Arachne?¡± Chiron says. ¡°Oui,¡± the knight says. ¡°I hear that they get drunk off the stuff, and we¡¯ve gotten a lot of young ones before we visited Hamlin.¡± He chuckles. The priest flashes a gentle smile, appreciating his friend¡¯s attempt at quelling the tense atmosphere. ¡°You don¡¯t have to go if you don¡¯t want to, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°I appreciate the gesture, kind sir,¡± Chiron says. ¡°But I must go. She will do as she must I¡¯m certain, but if anyone is harmed as a result then I would not forgive myself, nor would I be certain the Pathfinder would forgive me.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a good man, Father Chiron.¡± Heathcliff stands sup. ¡°Want some grub, cher? It¡¯s getting late.¡± ¡°I must decline,¡± Chiron says. ¡°And is there any reason why you must refer to everyone as ¡®dear¡¯ all the time?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t a guy be friendly?¡± Heathcliff says. Chrion¡¯s eyes flash with bemusement. ¡°You never changed, haven¡¯t you? It¡¯s a miracle people haven¡¯t cottoned on to your true identity by now.¡± Heathcliff smiles as he leaves his friend to buy a hamburger for himself. He soon returns to his meal. He takes a bit from his sandwich and chews it. ¡°Man this Hamburg steak¡¯s good,¡± he says after swallowing. ¡°You sure you don¡¯t want one?¡± ¡°I¡¯m certain,¡± Chiron says. ¡°Does your page still harbor hard feelings?¡± ¡°Big time,¡± Heathcliff says with a hearty laugh. ¡°You sure did put him through the wringer. I think he¡¯s angling for a rematch.¡± ¡°My apologies,¡± Chiron says. ¡°Ah, don¡¯t sweat it,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Sooner he learns that you can¡¯t win ¡®em all the better.¡± ¡°Still,¡± the priest says. ¡°He does show promise. I¡¯m certain he¡¯ll make a fine warrior one day.¡± ¡°And then the younglings will be looking up to him instead of you!¡± Heathcliff teases. ¡°Perhaps,¡± Chiron says. Heathcliff finishes his dinner and coffee while Chiron finishes his water. The two men go their separate ways. ??? The next day, Carla and Chiron are near the edge of Revotos¡¯ Valley. With them are Emily, Charlotte, Euryale, and Stheno. The centaur priest strums his lyre, sensing something familiar about Emily. ¡°I don¡¯t think we¡¯ve met dear child, pray tell me your name?¡± ¡°My name is Emily,¡± she says. ¡°Emily,¡± Chiron says. ¡°A pleasure to meet you.¡± His resonator powers grant him a feeling that he had encountered her before. Clara turns to Charlotte, and she hands her a letter, ¡°Now then we must be discreet, dear. We can¡¯t let the other villagers see you.¡± ¡°Okay, Mom,¡± Charlotte says. Chiron senses a tension in the air as he strums his lyre. He is trying to find the notes that best match the atmosphere. He conjures up a drizzle for his troubles. ¡°Whoops!¡± The priest tries to undo the shift in the weather as Emily, Charlotte, and the twins depart from Chiron and Carla. ¡°Know that I do not condone what you plan to do,¡± Chiron says. ¡°I do not expect you to,¡± Carla says. ¡°But I thank you for coming here with me.¡± The two enter the premises of Hamlin. A cold wind blows across the town as the Alraune and Centaur enter the village. Carla can feel the eyes of the villagers staring into her like daggers, poised to strike her in the same manner they assume she struck her husband. The villagers stand silent, standing there menacing as Carla solemnly walks to the town square. The mayor is already at the square, alongside several of the gendarmerie. Carla notices that Officer Owens is not among them. ¡°So,¡± the mayor says with a smug smirk. ¡°The monster returns. Here to turn yourself in?¡± ¡°I am,¡± Carla says. Her face maintains a stoic demeanor. The villagers murmur among themselves, wondering if she will return the children that were kidnapped. ¡°And who is this gentleman with you?¡± the Mayor says. The centaur introduces himself. ¡°Father Chiron. I am a priest associated with the Rosenkreuz guild.¡± He looks around and notices the villager sizing up his equine body. ¡°I caught this woman acting suspiciously around the guildhall,¡± he lies. His calm face hides the regret on his face. ¡°Astra have mercy on our souls,¡± he thinks. ¡°Thank you for apprehending this monster, kind priest,¡± the mayor politely says. ¡°By any chance did you find any children with her?¡± ¡°No sir,¡± he says. ¡°I had tried to inquire into their whereabouts, but she refused to answer.¡± The mayor¡¯s brow furrows. ¡°I see. We shall take things from here.¡± The mayor leaves with Carla in tow. ??? At the same time, Charlotte, Euryale, and Stehnto sneak their way around the village, being careful to avoid the sight of the villagers. Emily rendezvous with them afterwards. The four soon make their way to the twin¡¯s house without anyone noticing. They soon move to the backyard and knock on the oversized glass door. Medusa arrives with some plates in hand. She soon sees Emily and the three young girls. Upon seeing the altered states of her daughters, she drops the plates in her hand. The dishes fall onto the floor and shatter. With a grim and solemn expression, Emily says, ¡°We have found the children but¡­¡± Medusa opens the door and they quickly enter the house. She makes sure to close the curtains in case of prying eyes. Douglas arrives after hearing the commotion, ¡°Honey is that the lawy¡ª¡° he soon sees his daughters are home, but also that they have taken on features of rodents. Round ears adorn their mundanely-colored hair and whiskers jut out from their noses. ¡°What-what happened?¡± Douglas says. Emily explains the visit from the Piper Pruflas. ¡°The Piper had come to the dungeon where we resided. We have vanquished him, but he had succeeded in granting the dungeon his ¡®gifts.¡¯ The children of Hamlin had been transformed into the Dungeon¡¯s cells and are bound to this place. I¡¯m sorry.¡± Charlotte had already known Emily was the core of the Black Box for a while now, but Euryale and Stheno had inadvertently found out the night they were absorbed into her. ¡°Drat!¡± Douglas slams the table in frustration. The force was enough to cause the dishes on it to bounce a minuscule distance. ¡°It wasn¡¯t he- their fault, Daddy!¡± Euryale says. Her expression is filled with fear that Douglas might attempt to free the children from the dungeon. ¡°It was that stupid demon¡¯s.¡± Douglas calms down a little. ¡°I know sweetie, I know.¡± He wipes some sweat from his brow. Emily nor her entourage had never struck him as kidnappers, and he is well aware that Cells are usually forbidden from leaving unless accompanied by the core. The presence of his daughters here is proof enough that the dungeon is willing to right this wrong. ¡°Please tell me you know how to free them?¡± ¡°We have an idea,¡± Emily says. ¡°But I fear it would take some time to enact.¡± The guilt on her face is apparent as she avoids looking either Douglas or Medusa in the eye, as tears well up in her own. Douglas gives her a comforting look. ¡°Look, I don¡¯t blame you. You seem like a good person, trapped in unfortunate circumstances.¡± Charlotte meanwhile stays silent, fidgeting with her fingers. ¡°Daddy,¡± Stheno says. ¡°I¡¯m afraid those circumstances are more dire than you¡¯d expect.¡± ¡°I can hardly imagine,¡± Douglas says. ¡°The Piper, Pruflas,¡± Emily says, now having the courage to at least look Douglas in the eyes. ¡°He had altered most of their minds. Aside from your daughters, they had forgotten about Hamlin and their lives there.¡± Douglas is stunned by the ramifications of that. He takes a good look at his twin daughters and realizes that in their current state. With features that risk them being deemed as monstrous and amnesia that renders them unable to recall their lives there, the lost children of Hamlin would be mistaken as changelings, fowl tricksters that exploit their parents¡¯ grief, and that the parents would react accordingly and with tragic consequences. ¡°This just can¡¯t get worse,¡± The architect and adventurer says. ¡°Douglas¡­¡± Medusa says. ¡°Are you alright, Daddy,¡± Euryale says. ¡°Did they harm you?¡± ¡°No, sweetie,¡± Douglas says. ¡°Not yet. I bought myself some time, but¡ª¡° ¡°But what?¡± Euryale says. Her and Stheno¡¯s faces make pained expressions, awash with fear that the consequences of Douglas covering everyone¡¯s escape were grim. ¡°Predictably,¡± Douglas says. ¡°They accused me of helping Carla kidnap the children. Bought me some time, but I fear it isn¡¯t much.¡± He then realizes that Charlotte is also here. The Alraune child¡¯s presence causes him to make a stark realization. ¡°Carla,¡± Douglas says. ¡°Where is she? What happened?¡± ??? Carla sits in a room in the town hall, dimly lit by a solitary candle in each of the corners and a crude askew hole in the wall, the only ingress for Stella¡¯s glow. The walls slate gray as cement and cold as ice, unadorned except by a ring of mirrors. A single wooden table is in front of her. The unevenness of the table and the few furnishings in the room suggest Douglas had a hand in the design. The door stands opposite Carla, blending in with the walls with its equally gray palette and lack of discernible features. The drab door opens and the mayor arrives, flanked by two guardsmen. ¡°Carla, why did you do it? Why did you kill your husband? Why did you kidnap the children?¡± his voice is calm, but Carla can see the malice in his eyes. Carla had known this would happen. But she also knew that she has to play the villain. Even though she did not kidnap the children. Even though she is not to blame for Samuel¡¯s demise. She must play along and pretend she has. She must play her cards right if Hamlin is to get proper closure. ¡°I guess I was bored,¡± Carla says. The mayor¡¯s brow furrows with rage and disgust, but also satisfaction. ¡°You were bored?¡± ¡°It gets tedious after a while,¡± Carla says. ¡°Tending to wild beasts, playing the housewife, being seen as an accessory to Samuel.¡± Carla senses a tinge of contentment in his voice, as if the mayor wanted to hear the response. Her face makes micro-expressions that betray her heartbreak that even the Mayor despised her as much as the others, but none of the guards or the mayor himself notices these subtle shifts. ¡°So, even he sees me as a monster,¡± Carla thinks. ¡°Very well,¡± the mayor says, making a slight smirk. ¡°Now where are they? Where are the children?¡± ¡°In the Pathfinder¡¯s embrace,¡± Carla lies. She makes a smirk to mask her microexpressions. The mayor stands undisturbed, but his guards were shocked at the declaration. ¡°What did you do?¡± Carla continues her charade. ¡°Oh, be honest. If I were capable of murdering my husband in cold blood, the man I married and one who the village loved dearly, what do you think I would do the children of people I barely know?¡± ¡°Forgive me, Geardine,¡± Carla thinks. The mayor¡¯s expression shifts to shock, but his microexpression suggest that he too is purring on an act. ¡°How could be so heartless?¡± ¡°Bold of you to assume I have a heart in the first place,¡± Carla says. ¡°I¡¯m a monster, plain and simple.¡± ¡°But Samuel¡ª¡° ¡°A foolish adventure in foolish love,¡± Carla lies. ¡°Yet I¡¯m the bigger fool,¡± she thinks. ¡°It was easy to manipulate him and bend him over my pretty little thumb!¡± ¡°And Douglas? Was he in on your wicked scheme?¡± The mayor asks. ¡°He knows not my intentions. He was a close friend of Samuel¡¯s you¡¯d think I¡¯d trust him not to rat me out?¡± Carla says. ¡°Oh Douglas,¡± Carla thinks. ¡°I¡¯d hope they not blame you for aiding my escape.¡± ¡°So you admit to using him?¡± the mayor says. ¡°I¡¯ve used you all,¡± Carla lies.¡± Even Samuel. What is one more? It would be foolish to enact justice for a man whose only crime is letting himself be manipulated, at least not without extending that to all else with the same ¡®sin¡¯.¡± ¡°Even your sister?¡± the mayor says, referring to Geraldine. ¡°Especially my naive sister!¡± Carla says. ¡°She came to the village by her own will.¡± The mayor turns to one of the guards at his side. ¡°Samuel is to be exonerated at once,¡± he whispers. The guard leaves through the gray door. ??? ¡°What?¡± Douglas exclaims in shock. ¡°Carla let herself be captured! But why?¡± ¡°She says she wants to bring ¡®closure¡¯,¡± Emily says, her face long with sadness. ¡°She fears that the dungeon would be attacked by the villagers without it.¡± Charlotte¡¯s eyes widen in surprise. ¡°Mom let herself be¡­oh no!¡± she realizes that she wants the village to kill her. ¡°This is madness!¡± Medusa says. ¡°Why would she do this?¡± ¡°We tried to stop her,¡± Emily says. ¡°But she was insistent in this course of action.¡± ¡°Dammit!¡± Douglas says. Before he could make a further response, they heard a knock on the front door. Medusa tells the others to head to their bedroom, away from their new visitor¡¯s sight. She then heads towards the undersized front door. ¡°Yes?¡± she calls. ¡°I have a message for Douglas Arion,¡± the visitor says. Medusa opens the small door and her hand hand reaches out from under the top of the door frame. The visitor hands her a parcel and then leaves. Medusa looks out the window to confirm the visitor¡¯s departure and opens the message. The letter is from the town hall and tells of both Carla¡¯s capture and her testimony, a claim that she had merely manipulated Douglas and took full responsibility for all the crimes of recent note. And subsequently, that all charges against Douglas had been dropped. A grief-stricken Medusa hands the note to Douglas, who reads the contents. Charlotte also reads the letter and immediately rushes out the door, desperate to save her mother from her self-inflicted fate. ¡°Charlotte, wait!¡± Emily follows suit in a desire to keep her safe. Douglas sighs. He turns to his daughters. ¡°Go, you cannot stay here, it is unsafe.¡± ¡°Daddy?¡± Euryale says. ¡°He¡¯s right girls. Return to the Dungeon, and take care of the others.¡± Medusa¡¯s gaze is forlorn and solemn. Tears stream down her face as she musters the courage to say goodbye to her daughters. Douglas meanwhile leaves his house, wanting to ensure that Carla¡¯s plan does risk endangering his daughters. ??? The mayor continues confronting Carla. ¡°What do you have to say for yourself, you fowl fiendess?¡± the mayor says. ¡°I have no excuse, I am what I am,¡± Carla continues her deception and attempts to goad the mayor into executing her. ¡°A cavernous monster who is a bane upon all that is good and just in Hamlin. My victims are myriad, my sins immeasurable.¡± ¡°I can only hope the repercussion of this do not extend beyond me,¡± Carla thinks. Carla faces the mayor, her eyes show a steely determination obscuring the feelings of guilt she had within her. ¡°I daresay letting me live would be a grievous sin,¡± she says. The mayor chuckles. ¡°You¡¯re right, wicked wretch. Guards, I have heard enough. She is to be executed at once! I want her body executed by sundown!¡± ¡°Yes sir,¡± the lone guard says. ¡°Excellent,¡± Carla says. Her goad worked perfectly. ¡°This will soon be over and with it the life of Carla, the Tamer of Hamlin.¡± ??? Chiron stands in the town center, waiting for the next stage of Carla¡¯s plan. The villagers try their best to ignore the incongruous centaur while whispering rumors about him. ¡°Was there really no other way?¡± he thinks. The town hall¡¯s doors open and the priest¡¯s eyes witness Carla being escorted by the mayor and several gendarmerie. Her body is bound to a small pile and paraded around by a strong guard as the mayor parades her body around. ¡°Citizens of Hamlin,¡± the mayor yells. ¡°We have apprehended the witch that had murdered Samuel Truce, and the children of Hamlin. She had confessed to her heinous crimes and will be judged by the full extent of the law.¡± A guard stands forth and reads a transcript of her testimony, afterwards, he reads a different scroll of parchment, ¡°By the continuation of the village of Hamlin and section 87 of code 145. The crimes of abduction and massacre of children, as defined as those beneath the age of sixteen, are to be punished by execution! For the crime of treason and murder of a husband, the punishment is to be modified into an immediate execution by fire! She shall be sentenced posthaste!¡± Chiron grimaces, as that means Carla¡¯s plan has worked so far. The townsfolk murmur about why Carla had deceived them and how they let it happen. ¡°To think Samuel saw any good in her!¡± one village laments with furor in his eyes. ¡°I knew there was something wrong about her!¡± A woman cries. ¡°You cannot trust monsters, I tell you!¡± ¡°Our children?¡± a father doubles over in grief. ¡°They are¡­dead?¡± ¡°Furthermore,¡± the guard explains. ¡°Per the criminal¡¯s testimony of manipulating him, all charges against Douglas Arion for aiding and abetting the criminal had been dropped. He is exonerated of all claims of criminal wrongdoing pertaining to the missing children.¡± Carla¡¯s face bears a satisfied yet sorrowful expression. ¡°A shame that it has to be this way,¡± she thinks. Geraldine leaves the shelter upon hearing the clamor outside and sees Carla at the center of the commotion. Her green body was bound to a pole being carried by a strong muscular guard. She lets out a gasp. Emily arrives at her side a few seconds later. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she says as she hands the pale Alraune a tablet with a message on it. Geraldine takes the slab and reads it, learning of the fates of the children, Carla¡¯s plot to sacrifice herself, her means of cheating death. The message ends with an apology from Carla, and a declaration that what will occur is necessarily for Hamlin to get closure. Emily vanishes before Geraldine could turn back to her. ??? Carla¡¯s pole stands in full display of the shocked and increasingly ravenous villagers. An executor arrives with a torch. The flame glowed red with the malice of those who sentenced her to death. An outcome Carla welcomes, for she has ensured that ¡°death¡± is not an ending except to the town¡¯s grief. ¡°This will sate their vengeance,¡± she thinks. Chiron averts his gaze to what is about to unfold and keeps an eye out for the others. The priest plays a tune on his lyre. A rhapsody and a lament that summons storm clouds over the village. Charlotte rushes through the crowd, the villagers too affixed to the sight of the execution to notice the little Alraune¡¯s presence. ¡°Mom!¡± she cries out. Chiron notices Charlotte¡¯s presence in the crowd and realizes that her safety is in jeopardy. He intercepts her and plays a song. ¡°Oh Halcyon,¡± he sings in whispers. ¡°Please keep this child from harm.¡± Charlotte trips and falls to the ground, her legs have been frozen as rain falls. The guard keeps the torch safe from Halcyon¡¯s tears as he prepares to set the pole and Carla ablaze. Carla solemnly awaited her fate. The torch touches the pole and the bottom ignites. The rain is unable to quell the blaze as it ascends the wood. Sparks, ash, and smoke fly out from the flame, evaporating the water as it makes contact with it. ¡°Any last words?¡± the mayor says with a contented smirk. Carla Truce stays silent. Her job is done, all she has to do is wait for the flames to consume her and she will wake up to a new life. Charlotte tries to free her legs from the ice as it creeps across her legs. Emily catches up to her and picks her up. Lightning strikes the pole, igniting it from the top. The mayor¡¯s face makes a bemused expression. ¡°Even the Administrators, the children of Astra, see this is just!¡± The mayor bellows. ¡°Nice to see even the Administrators wish to help me,¡± Carla thinks to herself. The flames encroach on the pole, creeping closer and closer to the Alraune. Emily carries Charlotte away. ¡°Let me go! I have to help Mom!¡± Emily¡¯s face is washed with regret as she carries the young Alraune away. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but there is nothing we can do now.¡± ¡°But she¡¯s going to die!¡± Charlotte says, her tears indistinguishable from Halcyon¡¯s. ¡°She won¡¯t die,¡± Emily says. ¡°I made sure of it!¡± Indeed she knows full well this is why Carla desired to become a Sentinel even though she had already offered her a role as a tamer there. Thoughts race through her mind. ¡°Did I do the right thing?¡± She asks herself. ??? Chiron sees Emily carrying Charlotte and leaves. He continues playing his lyre. Singing a lament, an ode to the lost town of Hamlin and the tragedies that led to it. The crowd jeers at Carla and cheers at her imminent ¡°demise¡±. Relieved that their children had been avenged. They would not consider leaving the village to search for them, they would be too content with the outcome to leave the village. Though they will mourn their lost babies, they will move on. As the first spark lands on her body, Carla winces in pain, her flesh begins to char as the fire spreads around it. ¡°This will buy us enough time, ¡°she thinks. ¡°Enough time to try to free the kids,¡± her mind becomes clouded by the pain as haze and smoke flood her vision, unhindered by the rain. The heavens weep as the blaze creeps upwards to Carla¡¯s petals. Her skirt-like petals become smoldering cinders as they fall onto the ground. On the ground, Medusa and her twin daughters search for Emily. The mousy ears and whiskers of Euryale and Stheno are obscured by the hoods on their heads, their tails touch the wet ground as they move. They eventually rendezvous with Emily, still carrying Charlotte. ¡°Please,¡± Medusa says. ¡°Keep my girls safe, keep the children safe.¡± Emily nods. ¡°I will.¡± Her heart grows heavy with the responsibility she had taken on, to not only protect the children of Hamlin but to free them from the chains Pruflas had sued to bind them to her. Charlotte struggles to free herself from Emily¡¯s grasp. She kicks and screams as she futilely struggles to escape and to aid her mother. Her tears are assimilated into the puddles of rainfall as they move through the crowd, spellbound as they are by the sight of smoldering wood and the charring remains of the woman bound to it. The villagers¡¯ heart of hearts are revealed as they celebrate Carla¡¯s demise. ¡°Mom!¡± Charlotte cries out as Emily carries her away. The avatara¡¯s tears fall and become absorbed by the puddles. Stheno and Euryale follow suit to their new home. Emily wonders if she should let Charlotte go, before realizing that there is nothing that could be done and that releasing her would only ensure Clara wakes up to find her daughter had also perished. Carla¡¯s consciousness slowly fades away. Her last thoughts are of Charlotte, the daughter she loved dearly, and of Samuel, her late husband. As bits and pieces of her body fall off, blackened, and burnt, she slowly succumbs to the pain of the inferno immolating her. The conflagration that consumes her flesh. The blaze that burns her bones. Bit by bit pieces of her body continue to fall off as the pole is reduced to cinders and charcoal. And these bits and pieces vanish into golden dust. ¡°Farewell, Hamlin. I¡¯ll always treasure the times I¡¯ve spent here.¡± The last vestige of Carla''s consciousness fades, content that her noble lie will ensure Hamlim is pacified enough to not disturb their efforts. The crows cheer as the last piece of Carla¡¯s corpse falls onto the ground, an unrecognizable charred mass. Chiron finishes his song and silently walks away. The look of disgust on his face is unseen by the rapturous crowd. As the crowd celebrates the barbaric execution, they do not notice the charred mass has disintegrated into golden dust, washed away in the rain. ??? Carla wakes up in the Black Box. A couple of days after the fateful visit to Hamlin. She is greeted by Heathlciff¡¯s face. Her body has regenerated by the powers that enable Sentinels to cheat death. The knight sighs. ¡°I hope that plan of your worked, cher. After the lengths, you went to¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m certain of it,¡± Carla says. Her voice hoarse with regret at the fact that she could not find a solution or a more amicable way to bid farewell to the town. Charlotte glares petulantly at her mother. Bitter tears fall from her eyes and snot falls from her nostrils as she grapples with what had occurred the other day. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sweetie,¡± Charlotte says. ¡°There was no other way.¡± ¡°You had...¡± She fails to articulate the gravity of what she has witnessed. Carla looks at her daughter and hugs her. Her heart is weighted down by the trauma she has inflicted on her precious daughter. ¡°Please tell me you¡¯re not planning on doing that again,¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoes to her latest sentinel. ¡°You have my assurance that this will be the last time I would meet the pyre,¡± Carla says. Heathcliff sighs. His face shows disappointment at Carla. His hand rests on his chin as he thinks deeply about Carla and the dominoes that led to that fateful day. Elizabeth also shows signs of remorse over the tragedy. ¡°Carla¡­¡± she tries to find the right words. ¡°I must apologize for putting your all through this,¡± Carla says. She too tries to find the right words and she keeps Charlotte in her embrace. ¡°What¡¯s done is done,¡± Tim says while leaning against the wall. ¡°There is nothing we can do now. Except make sure that these actions are not in vain.¡± Heathcliff sighs. ¡°He¡¯s right, A Dungeon Emily may be, but a prison she should not be. I¡¯m heading to the guild, gonna check in to see if there are any rouge Dungeons or dungeons that overstayed their welcome.¡± ¡°Actually,¡± Emily says. ¡°I¡¯ve taken care of that.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Heathcliff says in confusion. ¡°I examined the changes in Emily that PRuflas¡¯s little presents made in her and it turns out the mana from the absorbed children had also manifested in underground extensions that lead straight to the City Noir. A hotbed of rouge dungeons as its underground was barely regulated.¡± Heathcliff smirks. ¡°The Big ol¡¯ Apple huh? That is a nice catch, cher!¡± ¡°What is a city?¡± Nina innocently asks. ¡°A densely populated place,¡± Minerva says. ¡°Like Websdale, but with more people.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going with you,¡± Richard says. ¡°There are some things I want to do in Noir.¡± Sarah sighs. ¡°Are you sure they will not object to our presecne.¡± ¡°I gots a friend in Noir,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°Even visited Rosenkreuz a while back. He gots himself connected to an unofficial guild in tis underground. He¡¯ll make sure we won¡¯t meet with any trouble on the city streets.¡± The Black Box¡¯s ebony walls reflect a little bit more light. The azure elements glow brighter as if Emily¡¯s spirits had been lifted a little. ¡°How long will it take to prepare. I want to visit as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Patience, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Gotta make sure things are calm first. And that we are good in ready. Those dungeons can get really tough.¡± ¡°Indeed, ¡°Elizabeth says. ¡°The mana levels of the avenge dungeon there varies drastically. One could be well suited to rookie adventurers while the one across from it could have monsters that would tear any season adventurer limb from limb.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll also need to talk with the Ebony Guards,¡± Tim says. ¡°Noir¡¯s only official guild.¡± ¡°Aw,¡± Emily says. ¡°How long will that take?¡± ¡°If we¡¯re lucky,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°About a week. Plenty of time to prepare, and to get Carla and Lotte here situated.¡± ¡°Hey!¡± Euryale says as she arrives with Stehno and Lydia. ¡°Only we¡¯re allowed to call her that!¡± Stheno giggles at bit at seeing her nickname with Charlotte spread. ¡°Well I ain¡¯t gonna call her Charlie, don¡¯t to confused people here,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°How are the children?¡± Carla says. ¡°They are already sound asleep, save for these two,¡± Lydia says. ¡°We will need to find out what to do with them in the meantime,¡± Emily says. ¡°I¡¯d rather not have them facing adventurers.¡± The group begins their first plans for the future, the trip to Noir and finding out what the children can do while they stay in the dungeon. ??? Meanwhile, a man in red and black walks. His strides are accompanied by a pipe¡¯s tune. The Piper Pruflas walks down a jungle. Contented in his objective¡¯s finish. ¡°Te [Administrators] are not pleased. [Revotos] and [Ereshkigal] are livid wit your actions.¡± The demon hears a female voice. He turns to see one in a similar garb¡ªa woman in pointed shoes, red in hue. Bells draped from her dress rings as she draws near. ¡°[Claudia], delighted to meet you. I¡¯m a big fan,¡± Pruflas says. Claudia¡¯s glare pierces through the demon. Yet bemusement lies behind that glare. ¡°I¡¯m flattered, but you still made a mess.¡± ¡°That is a problem for [the Ascendant],¡± Pruflas says. ¡°Be lucky I¡¯m te one here wit you,¡± Claudia says. ¡°If [Elpis] knew what you had done¡ª¡° ¡°The treasonous demon, deceived in her hopes?¡± Pruflas says. ¡°I¡¯m surprised you still kept her around.¡± He plays his pipe. Claudia sighs. ¡°Te [Dungeon] is working on cleaning up your mess. I¡¯ve managed to get [te Forgemaster] to route her ill-gotten gains to Noir.¡± She flashes a warm smile and a smirk. ¡°I only want to enhance the [Dungeons],¡± Pruflas says. ¡°After all, it¡¯s no fun fighting weaklings. You could say our interests align in this case.¡± Claudia approaches Pruflas. She beckons him closer with a smile. ¡°Well ten my fan, I¡¯m in te mood for giving away some memorabilia. Interested?¡± ¡°I would be honored to accept such gifts.¡± The demon says. ¡°But how would I know it is not a trick?¡± ¡°I¡¯m te [Administrator] of tricksters,¡± Claudia says, conjuring up images of a coyote. ¡°Everyting I do is a trick.¡± In truth, Claudia loves to grant boons to those who act in methods favorable to her, even to demons. ¡°I only revealed the truth, milady,¡± the Piper says. ¡°The generous truth¡¯s what the [Tamer] needs.¡± ¡°Tis will be better suited to your [Charmer] host,¡± she says, handing over a pipe made in her image. Pruflas accepts the goddess¡¯ bequest and takes the pipe. Claudia smirks. ¡°Thank you for this humble bequest, milady.¡± Pruflas leaves with his new instrument. Claudia turns around and sighs. ¡°[Astra] will smite tat fool one of tese days.¡± Claudia leaves, certain that her enchanted pipe will reveal the bard¡¯s locations to the local exorcists. She walks towards a hill overlooking Hamlin the village. She sees a large crowd had gathered for a mass memorial in honor of the children they believed were deceased. Centered on the burnt remains of the charred pole Clara was tied to. ¡°A so-called honest man who used deception to create an unenviable situation,¡± Claudia muses. Her voice carries a sense of contempt and disapproval. ¡°A wicked man who spirited away tis village¡¯s future, and who fostered events to get a brand new host. He is a good trickster, worty of my boons, but a wicked man, and tus worty of my judgment.¡± The wind blows, causing the bells on her dress to ring, and her golden tresses to billow. ¡°An Alraune moter, innocent, yet betrayed, accused for two crimes she had not committed.¡± Her voice takes on a calmer tone. ¡°She tricked te village into tinking te children were deceased, in te hopes tat tey would one day reunite wit teir parents. An honest woman and a good trickster. Worty of my praise.¡± ¡°A determined mayor,¡± Claudia says with a tone that is in between the previous two. ¡°Determined to bring prosperity to te town, yet te beneficiary of a trick tat saw an honest man killed and set te stage for te tragedy. Wit malice in his heart, would his ambitions make him worty of my treats or my tricks?¡± The stars shimmer in the night sky. Claudia looks up. Claudia lets out a giggle as she vanishes. ¡°Tell me what you tink, [Astra].¡± Chapter XVII: Luck of the Draw A couple days later, at Lydia¡¯s request, Emily greets Charlotte and some of the children, using her avatara body. She takes the time to play tag with them. One of the spiderlings touches her, making her ¡°it¡± and the other kids run away from her. Emily scurries around, trying to find one, but the tunnels and webs in her dungeon body make it difficult to tag one, as the spiderlings cling to the webs and Charlotte and the mice-like children hide in the tunnels. Lydia sands by, a little jealous that the children are listening to Emily more than her, but glad to see them having fun. As Emily enjoys herself, she is reminded of the reason why some of these kids are even here. She wonders what she should do with the ones from Hamlin. Meanwhile, Charlotte hides in one of the tunnels. Her mind is burdened by what her mother had done, how she had herself executed in a faked death to sate the vengeance of the village. She sighs as she sees one of them, Ella Guajardo, sitting next to her with a smile on her face. Bereft of any memory of her life as a citizen of Hamlin. She then sees several of her once-schoolmates scale their walls, chasing the spiderlings. Matthew Moss, son of the butcher, Shirley Lorenzo, younger sister of one of the younger Gerdarmarie. Bessie Shelton, daughter of an aspiring comedian. She knew these names because they told her, because now that they are amnesiac, they saw her as simply another child like them, she knows who their families are because Euryale and Stheno had told her, so they could try to rouse these dormant and sealed memories. Henry Andino, Oliver Wexly, Nancy Najera, Lonnie Clemmons, Holly Ogden, Dexter Marley, all of these and more, were abducted by the Piper and sealed inside the Black Box as Cells. Ella notices Charlotte¡¯s forlorn face. ¡°Something on your mind?¡± she says with the smile of an innocent child. Charlotte shies away from Ella. ¡°Tag! You¡¯re it!¡± Emily had tagged Ella. The young girl turns around and sees the young girl run away, vanishing into the walls. She then turns around and sees Charlotte still walking away. She rushes to tag her, her brown locks, adorned with a pink bow, are lifted by the momentum of her body rushing to the young Alraune, but Charlotte is too lost in her thoughts to notice. ¡°Tag!¡± Ella had successfully tagged Charlotte. The exclamation brings her back to reality as she turns and finds Ella running away from her with a cheeky smile. A while later. Charlotte meets up with Ella, hoping to try to rouse her memories as she has been since last night. With her are Euryale and Stheno. ¡°You sure you don¡¯t remember this?¡± Euryale hands her a drawing, her attempted recreation of the village. Ella looks at the image. ¡°It¡¯s a pretty image!¡± Ella says. ¡°Do you remember it?¡± Stheno says. ¡°Huh?¡± Ella says. ¡°Of course I do! I remember you drawing it this morning.¡± Euryale places her palm on her head in frustration. ¡°Let¡¯s try another thing,¡± Charlotte whispers. She then turns to Ella. ¡°Ella, do you remember where the ¡®Guajardo¡¯ part of your name came from?¡± Ella racks her head. ¡°Hmm, that does seem odd.¡± A small smile beams on Charlotte. ¡°Yes,¡± she thinks. ¡°Come on you can do this. Remember, Ella!¡± ¡°Oh yeah, Emily gave it to me!¡± Ella says. ¡°Why do you ask?¡± The other three collapse on the floor. Ella stares at them confusedly. Nina arrives. ¡°Hi, guys!¡± ¡°Hi, Nina,¡± Charlotte says. Ella looks at Nina¡¯s blades with awe and curiosity. ¡°Where did you get these blades, they¡¯re so cool!¡± ¡°Revotos¡¯ Valley!¡± Nina says proudly. ¡°Huh, that sounds familiar.¡± Charlotte stands up. ¡°Is this it?¡± She thinks ¡°Could this be the thread that can help them remember?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Ella says. ¡°Emily told us about the valley. How was it?¡± A look of disappointment floods Charlotte¡¯s face as Euryale and Stheno return to an upright posture. Nina looks at Charlotte. ¡°What¡¯s up, Lotte?¡± ¡°Nothing,¡± she says sarcastically. ¡°You¡¯ve been doing nothing all day?¡± Nina says, missing the sarcasm. ¡°Wanna help me take care of the webs?¡± Everyone but Ella sighs. ??? After a day of play with the children, Emily returns to her dungeon body. She focuses on the core room and the five Spheres inside. The Pyrosphere, her most recent one, serves as a reminder of what had recently occurred. Elizabeth arrives at the core room. ¡°How was your playtime with the kids?¡± ¡°It went well,¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoes to Elizabeth. ¡°But still.¡± ¡°If this form could sigh¡­¡± she thinks. ¡°Still stuck on the Hamlin kids?¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°I understand.¡± ¡°Lizzie,¡± Emily says. ¡°What do we do with them?¡± ¡°We could deactivate them,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Put them in suspended animation.¡± ¡°I can do that?¡± Emily says. ¡°Of course,¡± Elizabeth says as she conjures up a pod from the walls. ¡°Cells can be deactivated to conserve mana, as long as they¡¯re in one of these. It¡¯s also handy for if Sentinels need to regenerate as well.¡± Emily looks at the pod. She considers the option for a few moments. ¡°I don¡¯t think that would be a good idea. I don¡¯t want to treat them as objects.¡± ¡°Fine then,¡± Elizabeth dispels the pod and it disintegrates into pieces that sink into the floor. Ripples from where the pieces made contact and spread outwards before flattening. ¡°Besides,¡± Emily says. ¡°Charlotte and the twins want to try to restore their memories.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a bit of a challenge.¡± Elizabeth shows Emily the device with the two trees. ¡°The amnesia is an effect of Pruflas¡¯ [Bardsong] and it¡¯s proving to be difficult to break. Even Minerva¡¯s eyes couldn¡¯t break the lock.¡± The walls grow more porous letting more air in before solidifying again. ¡°Oh, so that¡¯s how you do it,¡± Emily thinks. ??? Tim meditates inside one of Emily¡¯s rooms. He focuses on the memory of Chiron¡¯s wind shield. He focuses on his encounter with the priest. ¡°You sure you don¡¯t want to think about your triumph over that adventurer group instead,¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoes to him, creaking his concentration. ¡°Emily,¡± Tim says, trying to focus. ¡°I¡¯m sure.¡± ¡°Fine,¡± Emily says. Tim takes a deep breath and focuses on his memory of the battle. He takes his Qiang and opens his eyes. She uses his earth spells to lift parts of the room and suspend them in midair. ¡°Ow,¡± Emily¡¯s says. ¡°We could provide some rocks you know!¡± Tim ignores her. He forces one of the rocks to catapult towards him. His mind is focused on Chiron¡¯s shield. ¡°He used Bardsong to create it,¡± he thinks. The rock moves closer and closer to Tim. He tries to conjure a wind shield, the same as his opponent from that day. The bolder moves closer with each passing moment. Tim assumes a horse stance and then moves his arms. But the bolder makes contact and knocks him back several feet. Tim scoffs at the failure. ¡°Maybe we should ask Elizabeth to¡ª¡° Emily says. ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Tim interrupts. The walls let more air in monumentality. ¡°Learned to sigh?¡± Tim says in a slightly teasing manner. ¡°Maybe with a bit more mana you¡¯ll unlock more bodily functions.¡± ¡°Someone¡¯s got jokes,¡± Emily says. Tim chuckles as he resumes his attempts to craft a shield of air. Another bolder makes contact, bringing his towards the wall. He tries again, this time suing his legs, but the next boulder was undeterred and he had to resort to breaking it with a palm strike. The shrapnel embeds themselves to the walls and disappears inside them. Heathcliff arrives and sees Tim¡¯s next effort on creating a wind shield fail, the boulder knocking him on the head and doesn''t him lying down on the ground. ¡°Drat!¡± Tim says. ¡°Still at it huh?¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Well its not like we have any pests to distract me this time,¡± Tim says, referring to the monsters. ¡°How did it go?¡± Emily says. ¡°The Ebony Guards approved my request, we are free to enter the city starting next week,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Rosenkreuz is also looking into getting our little entrance there registered as well.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure Richard will be pelased,¡± Emily says. ¡°He was pretty ecstatic when I told him, cher,¡± the knight says. Meanwhile, Richard is already packing things for his trip to Noir, while Sarah looks over pamphlets provided by the guild. ¡°Ooh,¡± Sarah says. ¡°They got thirty seven high class restaurants!¡± Richard pays his gluttonous sister little mind as he packs several books on potential designs and references, most of the pages blank. ¡°Master Richard?¡± Keith arrives. ¡°I understand the desire to head to the city, but don¡¯t you think its bit early?¡± ¡°Ah Keith,¡± the dark-skinned dwarf says. ¡°Tis better to over-prepare then under-prepare, I say.¡± ¡°I suppose so,¡± Keith says. ¡°But do be mindful of you¡¯re studies.¡± Richard, confused by the Arachne man¡¯s advice looks at his clock and realizes it is time for his hairdressing practices. ¡°Shoot you¡¯re right! This will have to wait for now.¡± He follows Keith, certian thsi his packing will resume later in the evening. ??? Recently, the replica of Carla¡¯s home had been renovated, and instead of a simulacrum of Douglas¡¯ whimsical architecture, it now more closely resembles a walled garden. With sleek black and green walls surrounding a collection of colorful flowers. At the corners of the room lie fountains made of metal, but built to resemble black marble. The walls were lined with constructs resembling the roots of trees, spawning through the ebon walls and bearing elements of circuit patterns. Carla tends to be one of the hippogryphs in her far, as well as the deer Emily first encountered in Tarantulapolis. She observes the cervine beast. Its body has been mutated by the cordyceps fungus for a long time. ¡°The deer likely passed on long ago,¡± Carla says. ¡°Nothing more than a zombie now.¡± She sees several patterns on the cervine corpse, the patterns resemble the effects of mutation on the other fauna that now lives in Emily, and sees to prevent the fungal parasite from spreading beyond the confines of the deer¡¯s body. ¡°Carla?¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoes to Emily. ¡°Yes?¡± the Alraune says. ¡°I got a message from the guild,¡± Emily says. ¡°They say that someone will be coming here to challenge us soon.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Carla remembers that to pull off her trick and survive, she had offered her services as a Sentinel. The challenger would be her first test in the role. ¡°Did they give you any descriptions?¡± ¡°A simple one,¡± Emily says. ¡°A young cicada girl clad in armor.¡± ¡°Interesting,¡± Carla says. ¡°She looks over the repertoire of beasts that she was hired to maintain. The Tatzelwurms, the hippogryphs, the chimeras, the mountain lions, the dire wolves, even the zombie deer beside her. ¡°I¡¯ll make preparations at once, thank you,¡± Carla says. After a while, Emily speaks again. ¡°Carla, I¡ª¡° ¡°What is it dear?¡± Carla says. ¡°I was wondering if you have any idea what to do about¡­¡± ¡°The Hamlin children?¡± Carla says. Yes, the little ones, abducted from Hamlin, the reason she had ended up leaving the village, and the reason she had returned. ¡°Yes,¡± Emily says. The two talk about the unconformable topic of what to do with the children until they are freed. Until Emily can gather enough mana to release them from the chains that bound them to her. Until she can undo the demon¡¯s machinations that caused this turn of events. ¡°¡­You say you can put them in suspended animation?¡± Carla says. ¡°According to Elizabeth, yes,¡± Emily says. ¡°But I told her I don¡¯t want to treat them like objects.¡± ¡°It would at the very least keep them safe from harm when our visitors come,¡± Carla says. ¡°Are there any other concerns?¡± Emily hesitates for a bit. ¡°What do we do, if it turns out their memories cannot be retrieved? If they remain in their current states?¡± Carla senses regret in her voice, a feeling she¡¯d hoped she had given the events that occurred. ¡°Regardless of the demon¡¯s actions. We must bear responsibility for our own hands in it. Though you were tricked, you still absorbed the pipe. Do not forget that. Do not grow complacent to their presence, but at the same time, do not alienate them either. It is our responsibility to take care of them until we can restore them to their previous state. If you have need of my help, do not hesitate to ask.¡± Emily mulls over these words. ¡°Thank you, Carla.¡± ¡°My pleasure, dear,¡± Carla says. The dungeon grows silent. Carla finishes looking after the deer and the hippogryph. ¡°We¡¯ll have work to do soon,¡± she gently says to the beasts before they go, understanding their upcoming task. While her new home was changed, the layout remains identical to Carla¡¯s original home, with a kitchen, two bedrooms, a living room with a fireplace, and several rooms dedicated to tending to the monsters and beasts. Carla heads to the kitchen, her muscle memory helping her navigate the otherwise disorienting techno-organic aesthetic of the kitchen. As she grabs some meat from the coolers, she glances over a picture of her family. Her, her sister, her daughter, and her husband. A tear falls from her face as she reminiscences about her life in Hamlin, a life upended by mistrust and deceit, and the death of her husband. She wonders who had been so cruel, so callous as to kill Samuel in cold blood. A few hours later, after Stella receded from the horizon, she visits Charlotte¡¯s room. She turns on the lights and looks over the bedroom. Instead of a bed, a special construct lies in the corner. It was designed at Elizabeth¡¯s insistence. The fairy had claimed that the device would allow better circulation of the mana in their Alraune bodies and that they would have a good night¡¯s rest. Yet the humor of the resemblance to a potted plant was not lost on Carla. Little Charlotte Truce stands in the device, her legs concealed by a cylindrical chamber that reaches up to her waist. Her upper body was hidden by her indigo petals, now made to curl upwards by the shape of the cylinder¡¯s top. Like a flower yet to bloom. Clara moves the petals to see her daughter¡¯s face, her eyes shut, and even if they were open, they would surely be glazed over. Her breathing and heart rate slows as the Alraune child slumbers. The device plays a slight tune inaudible to Carla, actually a lullaby-like Bardsong that puts Charlotte into a trance when the device activates. A trance that serves to lock Charlotte into a deep sleep until the device deactivates. A timer sits to the side of the device, Clara looks at it and finds that six and a half hours are left until the device automatically deactivates and rouses Charlotte. Right next to it is a screen that shows Charlotte¡¯s vital signs. She leaves the device and Charlotte alone, turning off the lights. She then heads to her own room. Slightly larger than Charlotte¡¯s, but another device, similar to the one in Charlotte¡¯s room, but taller. The cylinder opens as Carla approaches, revealing a hollow interior and two layers of metal. The layers have a ninety-degree hole In their circular shapes. A point of ingress for the Alraunes to enter when they sleep and a point of egress for them when they awaken. Carla sets the timer for six hours before entering the chamber. The device¡¯s two layers turns in opposite directions before locking in place. The top of the pot-like device then construes. Its inner edge moves towards Carla¡¯s waist as it raises her skirt-like petals along the way. The device moves up her chartreuse petals as it squeezes her midsection. The devices warms as a slow tune begins to play. A Bardsong spell that plays on a loop ensures Carla drifts off to sleep. She closes her eyes as her heart and respiratory rates slows down. ??? The next day, a lone Magical Girl is locked in combat with the giant Tarantula. The girl collides with the wall, having been knocked into it midflight. The force of the collision stuns her as she falls to the ground. She soon stands up. ¡°Come on, Cynthea,¡± she mutters. ¡°Get it together!¡± Clad in brown armor, her wings lifted her into the air. She looks around the area. Her blond tresses, tied in two tails, are moved by the fluttering of her wings. She draws a metallic card from a deck, attached to her hips. The card bears the image of an astrological sign resembling an arrow. ¡°Okay, Sagittarius,¡± Cynthea says. ¡°That means I¡¯m working with Phaeton¡¯s deck. I can work with that!¡± She turns the face of the metal card towards the Tarantula and holds it out. The card transform shines a radiant light before fading. Cynthea¡¯s armor changes with the power of the card as a bow manifests in her hand. Her armored abdomen also changes as she flies around the room. The tarantula construct¡¯s leg and makes contact with her. She tries to fire an arrow of lightning at the boss, but her shot misses and hits the ceiling. She lets out a yelp as the leg collides with her again and pins her to the wall. The eyes of the mechanical spider face her. Sweat drops from Cynthea¡¯s tanned forehead as she struggles to move her leg. Adrenaline surges through her, the seconds feel like minutes as she anticipates the next attack. As the constructed wind sup a beam, Cynthea notices a glimmer and turns her head towards it, She sees a sphere connecting the leg to the rest of the mechanical spider. She struggles to move her arm as her bow rematerializes in her fist. Her other arm is unable to move. ¡°Drat,¡± She thinks. ¡°What do I do?¡± the insectoid knight realizes that the drawstring is close to her head and has an idea. She bites her drawstring. The mana-filled string, causes her teeth and tongue to feel a burning sensation as she aims her bow at the joint. ¡°Keep steady, keep steady,¡± she thinks as the machine almost finishes winding up its attack. She soon lines the bow with her target as an arrow forms above her outstretched arm. ¡°Now!¡± She opens her mouth and releases the drawstring. The enchanted arrow flies and embeds itself to the orb. Lightning magic emerges from the arrow and jolts the boss. Causing its grip on Cynthea to loosen. She uses her legs to push the leg back and falls. Her wings keep her in the air as she zips around the room and fires a volley of arrows at the joint. The onslaught of lightning-empowered arrows causes the joint to be destroyed and the leg to be severed. ¡°Okay, cut the legs,¡± Cynthea thinks. ¡°Got it!¡± The tarantula now has seven legs left. It lets loose a mechanical growl. Meanwhile, Heathcliff looks on high. ¡°Hmm, maybe she¡¯s ready for the petribeams?¡± ¡°No,¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoes out to her. ¡°You know those are supposed to be used for protecting my core Heathcliff.¡± ¡°Ah come on, cher,¡± the knight says. ¡°It¡¯ll be fun.¡± ¡°I said, no,¡± Emily says. Cynthea¡¯s bow soon fades and the card returns. ¡°Terrific,¡± she sarcastically thinks. She turns to the spider. ¡°Draw!¡± she shouts as she pulls another card from her deck. The card she drew has a symbol resembling a reticle. ¡°Reticulum!¡± she shouts as she holes the card out. The card vanishes as her vision changes. She now has the ability to see the weaknesses of the machine, and her attacks can now hone in on them. ¡°Draw!¡± she draws a third card. The metallic card reveals a symbol resembling a Lyre. ¡°Lyra?¡± Her face makes a shocked expression. ¡°But my Bardsong sucks!¡± she thinks. The card vanishes and a lyre instrument forms in her hand. She groans as she strums the notes. Her off-tune notes manifest as inaccurate bolts of lightning that only hit the joint because of the effects of the Reticulum card, and only barely at that. Heathcliff covers his ears. Emily unfortunately is unable to protect herself from the bad music or the lighting that hits her walls. She is stung by both. A while later, Cynthea¡¯s vision returns to normal and the lyre fades from her arms. ¡°Okay, Phaeton, work with me here!¡± she shouts. Emily observes the fight. The tarantula is missing a leg but is otherwise proving difficult for her visitor to defeat. ¡°Draw!¡± Cynthea draws another card. The sigil on it resembles half of an arrow. ¡°Saggita!¡± she shouts as she turns the card. A gigantic bow materializes with her as the arrow. She turns the giant bow towards some of the cores. Her body pumps with adrenaline as she tries to get them just right. ¡°Steady now,¡± she thinks as her breathing intensifies. The drawstring of the gigantic bow pulls her back as she attempts to lock onto the targets. ¡°Steady¡­¡± A few seconds pass. The gigantic bow wraps her in lightning as it prepares to fire. Cynthia places her legs on the drawstring. Her armored boots pin it to the floor as the bow stays suspended in the air. Her labored breaths grow more frequent as she takes aim at the joints. Her wings begin to vibrate as she prepares to unleash her shot. ¡°Now!¡± She makes a mighty leap, catapulted by the bow, and collides with the joint. The levin-powered Cynthea severs the second leg from the machine. She then tries to turn, arcing her attack towards a third and cutting it off. She then tries again but misses the fourth leg by a hair. Before she could try to correct her path, she slammed into a wall before hitting the fifth leg. Her impact causes her head to slam into the wall and knocks her unconscious. Gravity peels her body from the wall and lets her fall to the ground with a thud. The construct has five legs left. And it proceeds to use one of them to pin the knight down. The leg hovers over the unconscious Cynthea, exerting enough weight to prevent her from moving without killing her. Cynthea soon wakes up and realizes that she is trapped as she struggles to move the leg of the machine, and she tries to wriggle her way out from beneath the leg. A card is loosened and falls from the top of her deck. The card, bearing a glyph that resembles a fly, glows. Cynthea¡¯s eyes turn to the card and its sigil. A sense of dread washes over her face as she knows what is to come next. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. The cicada girl vanishes, and the leg is held in midair. The machine is left confused as to what happened as motes of light surround it. A swarm of smaller insects emerge from the motes. Smaller versions of Cynthea, act as a single unit as they attack the leg joints. Slowly corroding the remaining five joints over the course of five minutes. One by one the legs fall and the Tarantula is unable to fight back. The Musca card¡¯s effect soon wanes as the swarm converges into eh shape of Cynthea and transforms back into her. ¡°Out of all the cards¡ª¡° Her mind is hazy as if overloaded by the senses of a myriad of beings. Her disoriented movements cause her to fall to the ground, dazed by the aftereffects of the Musca card. Her disorientation soon fades and Cynthea stands back up. She sees that the tarantula is defeated with an hour and twenty minutes left on the time. She breathes a sigh of relief. ¡°At least this thing is defeated,¡± she says. Cynthea¡¯s wings lift her into the air as a door opens. She soon hears the giggle of her familiar. ¡°Not bad for your first real use of the Stardecks¡± the voice of a phantasmal sprite-like being whispers to Cynthea. Her appearance resembles a mishmash of various insectoid features, some similar to Cynthea¡¯s like the abdomen, the antennae, and the wings, but she lacks human legs and instead has multiple insect-like ones. Her blond hair is tied up similar to Cynthea herself, and her sea-form green eyes are close to the more emerald hue of Cynthea¡¯s. Her pale skin is a stark contrast with the larger Magical Girl. ¡°Thank you, Diana,¡± Cynthia says to the smaller familiar. Another one pops up. ¡°Aren¡¯t you forgetting something?¡±. Unlike the other familiar she is bipedal, with two human legs. But her tanned skin is closer to Cynthea¡¯s Her most notable differences are her amber eyes and her wearing a shirt that evokes the image of a moth. She points in the direction of a chest that emerged after the Tarlatula¡¯s defeat. Cynthea looks at the chest and realizes she has forgotten to loot its content. ¡°Oops! Thanks Hecate!¡± Cynthea flutters to the chest and opens it, finding a single lump of Bismuth, an assortment of carnelians and malachites, a spool of Dreamthread, and more importantly for her a broadsword. She takes up the heavy blade. ¡°Do we need to have a sword?¡± Diana asks. Cynthea makes a cocky smile as she faces the familiar. ¡°Of course! It couldn''t hurt to hedge my bets with how unreliable the cards are.¡± ¡°She¡¯s got a point,¡± Hecate says with a cheerful but knowledgeable smile. ¡°The Stardeck is a powerful art, but it can never be guaranteed to give the right effect.¡± The Magical Girl and her two familiars head deeper into the dungeon. ??? Meanwhile, Carla prepares a pack of dire wolves to greet their guest. ¡°Be gentle, please,¡± Carla says with a maternalistic tone. ¡°We want to repel her, not kill her.¡± The wolves heed her request as they set off to stalk their prey. Meanwhile, Cynthea heads deeper into the dungeon, the colors of the walls shifting to a slightly more purple-blue as she flutters into the Black Box¡¯s depths. While Cynthea banishes a cocky smile, her microexpression shows a hint of fear, adrenaline, and concern. ¡°I can do this,¡± she mutters in a mantra as she carries her newly acquired sword in hand. ¡°I don¡¯t get why you still seem hesitant to use your Astral Card,¡± Diana says, with a sage tone. ¡°If marks the constellation attuned to you.¡± ¡°Are we having that conversation again?¡± Cynthea says. Unaware that she is being stalked by dire wolves. ¡°I already told you, it feels weird turning into a swarm of smaller hive-minded clones.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll get used to it,¡± Diana says. ¡°That¡¯s what you said last time!¡± Cynthea says petulantly. Diana simply giggles. ¡°It takes some to get used to that,¡± Hecate says. ¡°At least you won¡¯t have to worry about the card for at least an hour.¡± ¡°Are you even sure the Stardeck would help me find¡­¡± Cynthea says. A sudden lump in her throat prevents her from finishing her sentence. ¡°We¡¯re positive!¡± Diana says. ¡°We wouldn''t have trained you in using it if it wasn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Hecate says. ¡°We¡¯ll find Phoebe with the powers of divination!¡± ¡°I hope you¡¯re right,¡± Cynthea says. She takes out her deck. ¡°Saggitarius, Crux, Lyra, Saggita¡­¡± She grimaces upon looking over the repertoire of cards she has access to. ¡°Reticulum, Aquilla, Cygnus, Lepus¡­¡± Her thoughts turn to memory as she gazes at the cards. Memories of training with them in the outskirts of Gardenia. She had practiced drawing and using the eighty-eight cards for two years now. Ever since she had contracted with a familiar to find her older sister. ¡°Hercules, Lacerta, Norma¡ª¡°Cynthea gazes at the final card. Musca, her Astral card, is native to Phaenon¡¯s deck. The card grows transparent and barely tangible, signifying it cannot be currently accessed, to Cynthea¡¯s relief. Her mind recalls the night a monster had attached her swarm. The day they encountered an amorphous black ooze. Cynthea¡¯s mind snaps back to reality. ¡°Something wrong?¡± Hecate says. ¡°No,¡± Cynthea lied. ¡°Why do you ask?¡± ¡°You were just standing there and staring at the wall,¡± Diana says. ¡°I was just lost in my thoughts,¡± Cynthea says. ¡°Uh-huh,¡± Diana says. ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°List¡ª¡° The bickering was intercepted by the emergence of a dire wolf. Cynthea was started by the beast. She turns around and sees two more behind her. ¡°Can this wait?¡± she asks the wolves as she tugs the top of her metallic mail. ¡°We¡¯re in the middle of an important conversation here!¡± The beasts draw closer to Cynthea. The young girl sighs. ¡°Guess not,¡± She takes out her sword and tries to attack the dire wolves. Her heavy swings with the sword are dodged by the wolves as she stumbles around trying to slash at them. The slab of metal that was her weapon misses the wolves as they circle her. One lunches at her but she uses the sword as a shield and blacks the wolf¡¯s fangs with it. The wolf struggles to dislodge their fangs from the sharp metal, and Cynthea tries to use the sword to repel it. Another wolf charges at Cynthea, separating her from her sword. The wolf then lets go of it. Its gums bleeding from having a blade over them. ¡°Draw!¡± she says. ¡°Please give me something good!¡± she thinks. Cynthea draws a card from the holster on her hip. The first card was Reticulum. ¡°Okay, I can only have three effects active at a time,¡± Cynthea thinks. She draws another card, this time the birdlike sigil tells her it is Aquilla. ¡°You have got to be kidding me,¡± Cynthea says as she dodges a wolf¡¯s lunge. She draws her third card. Lepus. ¡°Oh come on!¡± she exclaims the three metal cards in her hands glow. She is now able to see the wolves¡¯ weaknesses, but her mind is overtaken by the instincts of a rabbit. She makes a mighty leap in the air, aided by the power of the Lepis card. Her arms morph into a bird¡¯s talons by the power of the Aquilla card, and she sprouts a second pair of wings from its effect, over her cicada-like ones. Her cognitive functions are overtaken by those of a rabbit, and its fight or flight response. The vision of Retictulum enables her to see a hidden pathway in the dungeon and she swipes at it with her talons. Emily reacts to the attack as if she was stung, and causes the wall to open and let Cynthea pass. Cynthea hops into the clearing but finds a dead end. A wolf follows and corners her. Cynthea turns to the wolf, itself being followed by more of them. Her mind panics, unable to make coherent thoughts as the rabbit instincts overwhelm her sentience. She perceives the weaknesses of the dire wolves and leaps, the wings allowing her to control her descent as she extends her talons out and embeds them onto the wolf, shocking it with lighting straight to the ribs. The wolf winces in pain from the attack on its ribs and is unable to move. Cynthea uses the beast as a springboard for her next jump, aimed at another wolf. Her morphed arm pierces the next wolf¡¯s flesh and causes it to bleed. As she leaps, the two wounded wolves retreat in agony. Cynthea attacks three more wolves in that manner before the enchantments fade. Her arms, wings, and mind return to normal as she suffers a headache. ¡°Ugh,¡± Cynthea says. ¡°Why did that card have to make me think like a rabbit?¡± ¡°Eh,¡± Diana clicks her tongue thrice while making a cheeky smile. ¡°Don¡¯t know, doc. You in the mood for carrots?¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Cynthea says. She finds that she can use more cards now and draws. Her card is Sagittarius. She breathes a sigh of relief as a bow materializes in her eyes. She launched bolts of lightning at the wolves, causing them to disperse, save for one that was more determined than the others. That wolf lunges towards her and bites her bow arm. Cynthea winces in pain as she tries to free her arm from the wolf¡¯s fangs. She is knocked to the ground by the beast. Her arm is now injured. Adrenaline flows through her as the wolf carries her around like a ragdoll. Her wings are unable to lift her and the wolf is attached to her. Trapped, she sees her sword beside her. She has an idea. ¡°Come on,¡± she thinks. She controls her breathing. ¡°I need a card, any card!¡± she takes her free hand to her holster. ¡°Draw!¡± She takes the card and immediately puts it in the face of the wolf. The flash stuns it long enough to loosen her grip on her and release her arm. She crawls to the sword and puts what little strength she has in one swing aimed at the wolf. The slash creates a cut in the underbelly of the beast. The wolf flees in pain. Cynthea breathes heavily as she drops the sword. ¡°Why was that even worse the the boss? They were just¡­¡± Her mind grows foggy, and she struggles to fish her through. She turns to the card that blinded the wolf, the one that had allowed her victory. A circle with two vertical lines jutting from its top is engraved on the card. The card of Lepus. ¡°Oh no,¡± was her last coherent thought before she takes on the mind a playful bonny, unable to speak, she spent the next several minutes playfully running and binkying around the empty room. While Diana takes the opportunity to mess with Cynthea. ??? Carla witnesses the fight, unsurprised by its outcome. She takes a look at the young cicada girl pretending to be a rabbit and sighs. ¡°The wolves were defeated, right?¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoes to Carla. ¡°As can be plainly seen,¡± Carla says. ¡°Hey, um,¡± Emily says awkwardly. ¡°Do you and Charlotte want to go to Noir with us? I¡¯m sure it¡¯ll be fun.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not interested, but thanks,¡± Carla says. She observes Cynthea stop seemingly pretending to be a rabbit and picking up her sword. ¡°I can¡¯t risk being seen so soon,¡± she says, her mind fearful of the potential of an adventure from Hamlin recognizing her if she goes in Noir. ¡°Besides, the guild cannot be relied on to keep your core safe while you¡¯re away, you know that?¡± ¡°I do,¡± Emily says. ¡°Elizabeth told me that I will need some sentinels to stay here to guard my core.¡± ¡°Did you ask Charlotte?¡± Carla says. ¡°No,¡± Emily says. She doesn''t want to cause friction by asking her first and than risking Carla vetoing it. The Alraune mother looks at the cicada girl heading toward the next room. ¡°Looks like my debut is starting,¡± she says. ¡°I¡¯ll asks Charlotte if she wants to accompany you later.¡± Carla walks away to gather the three Tatzelworms. ??? Cynthea, after several moments of mindless messing around, enters the nest room. She carries her injuries around. Fifty-five minutes remain before she is ejected by the dungeon. ¡°Had to be Phaeton today,¡± Cynthia says sarcastically. ¡°It couldn''t be Phaenon or Pyrois.¡± ¡°Sorry,¡± Hecate says. Her expression bears a tinge of regret at her inability to heal her charge¡¯s wounded arm. ¡°You know, you could have shopped around for a party before diving headfirst into the Dungeon,¡± Diana says. ¡°That was my good arm too!¡± she says with frustration. ¡°We¡¯ll need to work on that,¡± Diana says. ¡°Ambidexterity is a good skill to have in cases like this.¡± ¡°Hey,¡± Hecate says curiously. ¡°I want to ask why you have¡­you know?¡± she points to Cynthea¡¯s abdomen, jutting up from above her hips. Similarly armored. ¡°I don¡¯t know, ¡°she says. ¡°Why do you have that, Hecate?¡± The familiar rubs the back of her head in embarrassment. ¡°Sorry, I don¡¯t really know myself.¡± ¡°I hear that people like Cynthea here have a larger digestive tract than other beings,¡± Diana says. ¡°And the extra guts and intestines are stored there.¡± ¡°Eww,¡± Cynthea says in disgust. Diana giggles. Cynthea limps to the center of the room. ¡°Maybe they have a medical kit here,¡± she says. ¡°I must apologize, but there isn¡¯t any here,¡± a voice says. Cynthea turns to see an Alraune woman, with green skin and hair and petals in a matching hue. Behind her are three Tatzelwurms. ¡°You¡¯re the next boss?¡± Cynthea says. Carla nods. ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you,¡± she says in a motherly tone. Cynthea hesitates. Her dominant arm being injured would hamper her fighting ability for the rest of the excursion. ¡°Um, maybe we could maybe, skip the fight?¡± She says awkwardly. Carla looks at Cynthea¡¯s arms. One holding the other by the elbow. This and the mention of medical kids are all the context she needed to realize what happened. ¡°Maybe I could take a look at the arm?¡± the Alraune says. A few minutes later, Carla examines Cynthea¡¯s arm, removing the gantlet from it and wrapping it in some gauze. ¡°So, what brings you to this dungeon?¡± Carla says. ¡°Heard it was brand new,¡± Cynthea says. ¡°Like a few months old at best. I figured it would¡¯ve been a cakewalk, silly me.¡± She giggles awkwardly. Carla bandages the arm. ¡°Why are you adventuring alone, to begin with, little one?¡± ¡°Looking for someone,¡± Cynthea says. ¡°You wouldn''t happen to see someone my age?¡± Cynthea makes several gestures to try to illustrate details. ¡°About yea high, usually has buns, blond hair, similar complexion, also has a thingy like this,¡± she points her thumb to her abdomen. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I have not seen anyone like that,¡± Carla says. ¡°Maybe the nearby Arachne would know anything about that?¡± ¡°I wouldn''t think so,¡± Cynthea says. Carla knows she must have her monsters fight Cynthea. It is her duty as a sentinel to repel adventurers. Still, she has concerns about fighting someone as young as Cynthea. She takes a look at her now bandaged arm. ¡°Would you like a sling for that?¡± Cynthea declines. ¡°Maybe after I finish with this place.¡± ¡°You wish to continue on then?¡± Carla says. ¡°Of course,¡± Cynthea says as she reattached the gauntlet over the gauze. ¡°I also need to get some stuff here anyway, can¡¯t really find my sister if I¡¯m stuck a novice easily trampled by anyone with a flyswatter.¡± By now forty minute remains on the timer. Even if she prevails here, the odds of her making it to the final room are slim. ¡°Are you absolutely certain?¡± Carla says. ¡°Look,¡± Cynthea says. ¡°Don¡¯t want to fight you, but I need to be stronger,¡± she says. ¡°If we have to¡ª¡° ¡°I¡¯m not fighting you, Cynthea,¡± Carla says as she turns her back and walks away. ¡°Yo-you¡¯re not?¡± Cynthea says. ¡°I got a bad feeling about this,¡± Hecate says. Carla¡¯s matronly tone hasn¡¯t ceased. ¡°Not directly at least,¡± she gestured to the feline serpents in their presence. ¡°If you want to pass, you must defeat these three Tatzelwurms.¡± Cynthea sighs. ¡°Should¡¯ve figured as much,¡± The gauze allows her some better movement of her injured arm, enough to fight at least. ??? Cynthea prepares for the fight with Carla¡¯s Tatzelwurms. While her arm is somewhat better, the injury means she is barely able to fight as her arm is more difficult to move. ¡°Are you sure you want to continue?¡± Carla says with a concerned look. ¡°You might not be able to finish with a little over half an hour left.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure,¡± Cynthea says. ¡°Thank you for your concern, but I must do this.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Carla turns to her serpents. Emily looks at the battle, conflicted. Tim and Heathcliff also observe. ¡°Cher¡¯s got potential but¡­¡± Heathcliff says. Tim looks at the Cicada girl, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you want to recruit her.¡± ¡°Mais non,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Not yet at least, she needs time to grow, and besides, I don¡¯t think the little mademoiselle can find who she¡¯s looking for here anyway.¡± Cynthea looks at the serpents and steels herself. ¡°Draw!¡± Her injured arm lifts the card from the Stardeck holster. The card depicts a cross pointing down. The Southern Cross. ¡°Crux,¡± she thinks. Her face smirks as she displays the cards to the beast. The room lights up as a cross-shaped pillar of light strikes the ground. Lightning emerges from the electrified pillar, zapping random spots around it. Cynthea flies around trying to avoid the summoned bolts. The Tatzelwurm slithers to avoid the electric blasts. A bolt zaps one of the feline wurms, causing some damage to it. Carla looks on in shock, not expecting the card to do that much damage. Elizabeth approaches the area, being careful to not get hit by the lightning. Cynthea tries to avoid the lightning, but one of the bolts lands a hit on her, shocking her like a bug zapper and forcing her to crash onto the ground. ¡°Ow!¡± she lets out a cry of pain as she collides with the ground. She tries to fly again, but her wings are unable to move, paralyzed. ¡°Darn it!¡± The armored cicada magical girl is faced by one of the Tatzelwurms, its feline head glares at the young maiden. Cynthea drew her sword, but her bandaged arm could barely hold the weapon aloft. The serpent bares its fangs and lunges at her, but she dodges. ¡°An [Astromancer]?¡± Elizabeth says in a strange dialect. ¡°What are those?¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoes to the fairy as she observes Cynthea¡¯s struggle. ¡°A user of a form of magic known as the Stardeck, diviners, and sorcerers in their own right, but their powers rely literally on the luck of the draw,¡± Elizabeth says. Cynthea dodges the serpent and laughs at its miss, but in her mockery, she fails to notice an arc of lightning striking her from the pillar. Her armor is scorched by the voltage coursing through her body. ¡°Should¡¯ve tried for a different card,¡± she thinks as she struggles to keep herself upright. The Tatzelwurm coils around Cynthea, who cannot resist its constrictive abilities as it wraps itself around her. The beast purrs as it does so. The other two eagerly look on. Cynthia struggles to move while bound like this, she wriggles her free arm to her hit and slowly lifts another card from the deck. A lyre manifests in her injured arm, materializing from the drawn Lyra card. Cynthea¡¯s legs go numb as the serpent squeezes her, as is her injured arm. It only has enough feeling to barely grip the lyre. She moves her other arm to the lyre, trying to strum it, but the serpent tightens its grip. Cynthia cries for help, but her voice can barely escape the scaly coil, and even if she is louder, Diana and Hecate are in no position to fight the beasts themselves. The cat snake turns to face its captive. A smarmy, smug look on its feline face as it purrs menacingly. She tries to move for five minutes. After which, the Crux pillar disappears in an explosion of electric wrath, firing a gigantic bolt away from the Tatzelwurms. The Lyre is about to expire. The thunder causes the Tatzelwurm to get distracted and loosen its hold on Cynthea. She takes the opponent and strums the instrument, accompanied by a mighty scream. The beast is shocked from within its coil as Cynthrea¡¯s scream and the few notes she made causes lightning to emerge from her body. She is zapped by the blowback, but the stunned beast is even more so and falls to the ground unconscious. The other two wurms loom over her. ¡°Okay,¡± Cynthea says as she struggles to walk. The self-inflicted shocks paralyzed much of her body and her legs are only barely awake after being squeezed so tightly so far. Her lyre fades. There is only ten minutes left on the clock. ¡°I need Sagittarius or Saggitae, please give me those!¡± She draws a card, Reticulum. ¡°Come on, it¡¯s only a one-six chance!¡± She draws a second card, Musca. ¡°Maybe I can work with that?¡± she thinks, a sense of dread washes over her face. She draws her third and final card. Her holster glows radiantly as she feels something surge within her. ¡°Yes, yes,¡± she thinks as she anticipates her draw. Her mind begins to grow foggy as thoughts of burrowing into the ground and chewing the green parts of carrots consume her. ¡°No, no!¡± panic consumes her mind as light does her body. Cynthea has become a swarm again, but this time the swarm is less coordinated easily distracted, and easily panicked. ¡°Well, that¡¯s a wash,¡± Diana says, knowing that the swarm would be unable to finish the encounter. The Tatzelwurms purr meaninglessly as they approached the scattering swarm. Carla won. ¡°Stand down,¡± she says in a gentle yet stern voice. The Tatzelwurms obey despite their desire to consume the swarm of small bunny-minded clones of the Cicada clones. By the time the enchantment wears off a gust of wind blows the swarm away. Cynthea, Hecate, and Diana find themselves outside the Black box, with the young Cicada girl unconscious, her mind overloaded by the slightly different but myriad memories of being blown away at breakneck speeds. ??? At dusk, a Dejected Cynthea heads to the guild hall to report her failure to take the dungeon. At one of the tables, they sold off their gemstones and used the money to order a combo meal from the built-in burger place. The sword she had earned lies on the table. ¡°Should I absorb it?¡± Cynthea ponders. ¡°Of course,¡± Diana says, ¡°As a Magical Girl you need to consume the mana somehow!¡± the familiar says. ¡°Yet,¡± Hecate says, ¡°Today has proven that she will need a backup plan in case her luck fails her.¡± ¡°Stupid Phaeton!¡± she says. ¡°Why did I get the crappy deck today?¡± ¡°Look!¡± Diana says as she lands on Cynthea¡¯s nose, an uncharacteristic scowl and a stern expression on your face. ¡°It isn¡¯t just the cards, but sometimes how you use them!¡± she says. Her small insectoid legs touched the larger girl¡¯s nostrils. ¡°Even if you¡¯ve been dealt a bad hand, you still got to make use of it!¡± Cynthea sighs. ¡°I know.¡± She looks at the sword. ¡°I don¡¯t think that is my strong suit anyway. She takes out her gauntlet and lays her bare hand over the weapon. A black ooze emerges from her palm and attaches itself to the sword, soon coating it in its ebon embrace. The ooze digests the weapon, reducing it to more of itself before retracting back into her palm. Her stomach growls, despite having finished her meal. Cynthea sighs. ¡°I hope tomorrow will be better for us,¡± she says. The next day, Cynthea arrives at her motel room. She opens the door and heads to the bedroom. There she finds two beds. Lying on one of them is a young girl her age, her body covered in dark goo similar to what had been emerged from Cynthea¡¯s hand. Cynthea takes a look at the other girl. Her face frozen in a pained expression. ¡°Phoebe¡­¡± Cynthea says. Her mind recalls the events of the fateful day, she she had soon found her sister swallow up by black ooze and vanished, only for her to seemingly returned the next day, bereft of all memory except of Cynthea, and plagued by nightmares of a similar monster wreaking havoc. ¡°Cindi?¡± Phoebe¡¯s body begins to rouse and the back mass recedes into her body. Her magenta eyes open as she sites up, the exceeding black moss revealing brown armor similar to Cynthea¡¯s. ¡°How was your day?¡± ¡°Terrible,¡± Cynthea says. ¡°And you?¡± ¡°The monster, its still around,¡± Phoebe says. ¡°Cheer up,¡± Cynthea says. ¡°They¡¯re only nightmares.¡± ¡°Are they?¡± Phoebe says. Cynthea and the two familiars are unwilling to tell her the truth. ¡°I¡¯m sure,¡± Cynthea says. ¡°Say you should get ready, here heading our at noon.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Phoebe says with a tired soft voice. The younger cicada girl stands up and gets off her bed, leaving her room for the bathroom. ¡°Are you certain,¡± Cynthea says to the familiars, ¡°that Phoebe became a¡ª¡° ¡°Unfortunately,¡± Hecate says ¡°We¡¯re sure. And that the one with us is but a fragment of your sister.¡± Cynthea had asked this question dozens of times, and always leading to the same result. Her memory flashes back to the day Phoebe¡¯s fragment was found. The girl had lost her memories, her personality had grown more timid, and black goo oozed out from her like blood. It was also the day she had met the two familiar and the days she had contracted with them. ??? ¡°Help me find the rest of my sister, help me save Phoebe!¡± Cynthea flashes back to the day she encountered the two families. On an overcast day. Cynthea was at the place where Phoebe was abducted, and where her fragment had arrived. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with my sister?¡± Cynthea asks. ¡°What happened to her?¡± ¡°She had become a Strega,¡± the multi-legged one, Diana, said. ¡°It¡¯s honestly surprising that a fragment had strayed that far from her?¡± ¡°A fragment, what?¡± Cynthea says. The bipedal one, Hecate, buzzed closer to Cynthea. ¡°She had contracted and became a Magical Girl. Then she had fallen into despair and became a Strega. A monster of insanity and despite that wreaks havoc wherever they go.¡± Cynthea¡¯s mind flashes to a later night. ¡°That girl is a monster!¡± The line came from the swarm¡¯s leader who had banished Phoebe after the incident and had banished Cynthea for coming to her defense. ¡°You can¡¯t be serious!¡± Cynthea says ¡°If what you said is true,¡± the leader says, ¡°then Phoebe is a threat to us all and must be eliminated. As all witches are!¡± The other members of the cicada swarm buzz with the desire to destroy Phoebe and her fragment. ¡°She is a witch!¡± One of them says. ¡°She¡¯s my sister!¡± Cynthea responds. Her memory turned to a heated argument with her parents. Which began with an echo of the two lines. ¡°Get out!¡± the father yelled¡ªbanishing and disowning his daughters. Cynthea¡¯s mind returns to the present. Black tears stream downs her face. Hecate realizes what is happening and gets her attention. ¡°One way or another we¡¯ll find the rest of Phoebe! Don¡¯t worry you have our words on that.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Cynthea sniffles. The inky black of her tears fades into a clear fluid. ¡°I am not gonna turn into one of them.¡± She says, to assure herself. Phoebe returns, rubbing her eyes. ¡°Are we gonna eat first?¡± Cynthea turns to the fragment of her sister. ¡°Yeah, c¡¯mon, I¡¯ll go cook,¡± After breakfast. Cynthea gathers and shuffles all of her decks together. ¡°Let''s see what the fortune is today!¡± she thinks. Phoebe looks on in awe as Cynthea shuffles her cards. ¡°Draw!¡± Cynthea draws the top card of her deck. It is The Telescopium card of the Maimario deck, in the Benefic position. ¡°Hmm,¡± Hecate says. ¡°A interesting fortune,¡± she says. ¡°What does it mean?¡± Phoebe asks Cynthea. ¡°Hang on,¡± Cynthea racks her brain for the answer. ¡°It tells us that though our goals would be distant, we will reach them,¡± ¡°Wow,¡± Phoebe says. ¡°So cool!¡± Cynthea puts her Stardeck away. ¡°Time to go, the bus will arrive soon.¡± Phoebe flashes a cheerful smile as she prepares her belonging. A rare reminder of the girl she used to be. The two sisters leave the motel and head to the bus stop. On the way to a bus stop, the two sisters depart from Rosenkreuz. They pass the path that held the older sister to the Black Box. Cynthea looks towards the direction of the parth. A look of determination in her eyes. ¡°I want to go back,¡± Cynthea thinks. ¡°I can do better, next time, I know I will!¡± They two sisters and familiars finish they trek. Diana and Hecate resting on Cynthea¡¯s shoulders. A bus soon arrives, red in hue. ¡°Gardinia outskirts, right?¡± the driver asks. Cynthea nods as she hands them her tickets. The two sisters enter the vehicle and it departs for Gardenia. ??? Meanwhile, Carla wakes up Charlotte in her room. Manually deactivating her sleeping device. The alraune child rouses as Carla greets her. Her front petals fall into the opening of the device in its natural position. ¡°Morning, Mom,¡± Charlotte rubbed her eyes before stepping outside the cylindrical pot-like machine. The rest of her indigo petals fall into their normal pace as she leaves. ¡°Morning sweetie,¡± Carla says. The mother and daughter head to the kitchen to prepare their breakfast. The two discuss Carla¡¯s first battle as a sentinel and how she had successfully defended Emily from its visitor, as well as the visitor herself. Charlotte eats her eggs as she learns about the insectoid Magical Girl from yesterday. ¡°You know Emily is planning to go to Noir soon, dearie?¡± Carla says as she pours a cup of coffee onto her cup. ¡°Yeah,¡± Charlotte says. ¡°You want to go?¡± ¡°Of course not,¡± Carla says. ¡°You know I cannot be seen in public for now.¡± ¡°Oh, right,¡± Charlotte recalls the immolation at Hamlim. ¡°Thanks for the nightmares, Mom,¡± she says sarcastically. Carla sighs. While Charlotte had put up a brave face, Carla could still tell that her trick on Hamlin had traumatized her. ¡°It had to be done,¡± she thinks. ¡°Anyway,¡± Carla tries to bring the discussion back to Noir. ¡°Would you want to visit Noir with Emily?¡± Charlotte stops eating and drops her utensil. Realization of the question dawns on her. ¡°You mean that city to the north of New Virginia?¡± ¡°Of course, dear,¡± Carla said. ¡°I may not be going, but I wouldn''t you to miss out on such an opportunity.¡± Charlotte thinks about it. For some reason, she had been wondering what life was like in Noir for several years, especially after Samuel¡¯s demise. Especially since she learned that there are thriving demi-human communities in the urban centers. Still, other concerns weigh in on her mind. ¡°But what about the monsters?¡± she says. ¡°Are you sure you can handle them alone? ¡°Sweetie, please,¡± Carla says playfully. ¡°I¡¯ve been taming them since before you were born. You know that.¡± ¡°What about the other children?¡± Charlotte says. ¡°Lydia would still be around to keep an eye on them,¡± Carla says. ¡°I do understand her concerns,¡± Carla thinks, ¡°but at the same time I don¡¯t think we¡¯d be making headway with them anytime soon.¡± ¡°But¡ª¡° Charlotte is interrupted by the ringing of the doorbell. ¡°Coming!¡± Clara says. She turns back to her daughter. ¡°You don¡¯t have to go if you don¡¯t want to, think of it, dearie,¡± she says as she answers the door. Charlotte thinks about the city Noir. ¡°Maybe I can take a small peek around it,¡± she thinks. After returning, the two Alraunes finish their meal and prepare for the day¡¯s work in the Black Box. ??? Over at Noir¡¯s underground, Whisper scurries to one of the guildhalls of the Rouge¡¯s guild. Outside it, sitting at a bench, he finds Esteban, clad in his cerulean suit. The Azure Rouge finds the familiar approaches him. The phantasmal squirrel greets him. ¡°Still no dice,¡± Esteban says. ¡°No one on the surface seemed interested.¡± Whisper sighs. ¡°I¡¯d hope that things would¡¯ve changed by now.¡± ¡°It is a hard sell,¡± Esteban says, grabbing a copy of the Spelunker newspaper. The front page mentions one of the upcoming parties in Gatsby Tower. ¡°Eight little girls is more than most parents are willing to put up with.¡± ¡°And the dungeons?¡± ¡°None here are interested either,¡± Esteban says. He then realized something. ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°But?¡± ¡°My friend had said her found a new dungeon to oversee, says she was in dire straights before he got her an avatara. She seems like someone who can make use of eight young magical girls.¡± ¡°And where is this dungeon?¡± the phantasmal squirrel says. ¡°New Virginia,¡± Esteban says. Whisper grows crestfallen. ¡°That is rather far from here,¡± he says. Esteban turns his paper, the heat from the industrial equipment around the bench causes some sweat to drip from his dark skin. ¡°This place is too hot,¡± he says. ¡°Maybe we can try that diner of yours?¡± He folds the paper and places it under his arm. ¡°With pleasure,¡± the familiar says. ¡°Thank you.¡± Esteban smiles. The mana and the phantom squirrel head towards the diner. Chapter XVIII: Sakura Mirage Atop a tall hill, before the sun has risen, a man sights the Black Box in the distance. His prosthetic wooden legs and arm are visible for all to see. His raven tresses are cut short in a style reminiscent of a wandering knight. His katana and sai rest at his hips. ¡°This is the place,¡± he says as he gazes upon the sleek black building. His jawline is coated in a thin layer of fuzz. A place that is out of place with the surrounding lush wilderness surrounding the town of Rosenkreuz. An elder Tanuki man approaches him. His sagely features and posture denote a man possessed of a century¡¯s worth of wisdom. With a gray beard that contrasts with his tanned skin. His midnight blue robes stand out with the brightly lit green of the forests. ¡°Are you certain this is the one suited to Lady Atsuko¡¯s goals?¡± ¡°I¡¯m certain, Noboru,¡± the raven-haired man said. A stoic woman stands forth, with long raven hair, she wears a dark red kimono as she carries a sword at her hip. ¡°Is not like we found any good ones in Noir,¡± she says. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± a perky teenage girl approaches. Her orange twintails are adorned with an abundance of hair clips and bows. Her attire is similarly loud with azure and violet layers of fabric over her black under-suit. Including a skirt over her leggings and a bright sash with a star-like decoration at her back. Most of which are adorned with images of shuriken and the heads of kittens and further decorated by various forms of pastel-colored beads and bobbles¡ªa girl who is even more out of place than her peers. A small fog forms around her legs as she runs towards the dungeon. ¡°She¡¯s an eager one, that Kasumi,¡± a man approaches the group. His features are fair, with a feminine face framed by glasses and silver hair with vulpine ears. His attire is more conventional but no less out of place, wearing a pine green tight-fit jacket over a white undershirt and tie, with slacks of a similar hue and black leather patterns coating his feet. His nine silver-colored tails jut out from the waist of the slacks. ¡°And here I thought you wanted to leave the corporate world behind, Kei,¡± the swordsman says. ¡°And here I thought we were shinobi, Saizo,¡± Kei says with a playful smirk. ¡°Are we not meant to blend in?¡± ¡°Ideally, yes,¡± Saizo says. His attire is black with vermilion and golden accents, resembling the gusts of the wind. His wood and metal prosthetics gleam in the moonlight. ¡°Hello!¡± Kasumi shouts from afar. ¡°Are we going now?¡± Suzume walks ahead, not responding to the teenager¡¯s exuberant prattling. Saizo sighs. ¡°That girl takes after Hoshikage too much,¡± he says as he tugs a piece of cloth over his mouth and nose. Noboru chuckles. ¡°We you not as reckless at her age?¡± ¡°And look where it got me,¡± Saizo laments as he displays his prosthetic arm. Noboru chuckles. ¡°She had proven quite capable for her age, you should have a bit more faith in her.¡± ¡°I guess,¡± Saizo says. ¡°At least her ninjutsu will come in handy.¡± ¡°Come on,¡± the Tanuki man says. The group draws closer to the Black Box. ??? Meanwhile, Everyone is having an early breakfast at the Black Box. Sarah had already finished her plate. ¡°More please!¡± ¡°Sister,¡± Richard says as he rubs his temple. ¡°It¡¯s okay, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°I gots enough food for her.¡± He takes a sip of his coffee before leaving to prepare Sarah¡¯s second course, leaving his cup at the edge of the table. Nina gazes at Heathcliff¡¯s cup and turns to Minerva. ¡°Mommy, why can¡¯t I have what Mr. Heathcliff¡¯s having?¡± with a whiny tone. Minerva looks at her daughter. ¡°Nina, that beverage is dangerous.¡± Referring to the coffee. ¡°She¡¯s right,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Arachne have an adverse reaction to caffeine.¡± Nina humphs and crosses her arms. Minerva sighs. ¡°Tim, Carla, we¡¯ll need to prepare after breakfast,¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoes to the two. ¡°The guild had told me that we¡¯re expecting guests today.¡± ¡°So soon before our trip to Noir?¡± Sarah says. ¡°Yes,¡± Emily says. ¡°Unfortunately the guild didn¡¯t tell me anything about them other than that they would arrive soon,¡± Charlotte meanwhile ponders about the trip to Noir. ¡°How long will you guys be gone?¡± she says. ¡°It¡¯s hard to say,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°We have to check out the sights and the Dungeons in the city.¡± ¡°How would we even get there?¡± Tim says. ¡°That is miles away!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Sarah and I had been working on something.¡± Keith arrives at the hall where the party is eating their food. ¡°Lady Minerva, Lady Clara, Lydia has an urgent need of you both.¡± Minerva looks at Keith. ¡°How urgent are we talking,¡± ¡°A few of the Hamlin children are acting up,¡± the Arachne man says. The two mothers exchange glances and agree to leave the table at once. ¡°Keep an eye on Nina, please?¡± Minerva says. ¡°Of course!¡± Emily says. Nina gazes at Heathcliff¡¯s coffee cup. Curious as to how it tastes. ¡°Mommy and Elizabeth are just exaggerating, right?¡± she thinks. ¡°A small sip wouldn''t hurt.¡± She fails to consider that the beverage in question belongs to someone else. ¡°Emily,¡± Sarah says. ¡°The ol¡¯ redhead¡¯s taking a while¡± She leaves her table. ¡°Want me to show how we plan on reaching Noir?¡± ¡°Sure!¡± Emily says. Sarah leaves the table and Emily follows her. Nina senses the opportunity and immediately hides beneath the table, while everyone else is distracted by their meal. ??? Emily¡¯s vision follows Sarah to a room. She directs her attention to several modified pods. ¡°Been tinkering with them at Lizzie¡¯s request.¡± The young dwarf says. ¡°Oh, um¡­¡± Emily says. Sarah takes Emily¡¯s hesitation as a sign that she does not know how these pods will help. ¡°I¡¯ll simplify, we enter these pods and enter a state of suspended animation. You will follow Elizabeth¡¯s guides on moving us through several tubs until you reach the entrance at Noir. ¡°Wait is that why Elizabeth had me creating tubes yesterday?¡± Emily says ¡°Correctamundo!¡± the fairy arrives. ¡°Noir is pretty far away so these tubes will help us reach it in a timely manner.¡± She then directs Emily¡¯s attention to one of the pods, seemingly occupied. ¡°I already placed an avatara in one of the pods so once you bring us to the new entrance you can use with immediately! Won¡¯t that be fun?¡± If Emily could gulp she¡¯d do it now. ¡°A-are you sure it¡¯s safe? You won¡¯t get hurt right?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be silly!¡± Elizabeth says with confidence unbound. ¡°Why would I propose a method that would endanger us?¡± ¡°Besides,¡± Sarah says as she heads back to the room¡¯s entrance. ¡°We already tested it on some dummies a while back. Managed to get them to and from Noir in under an hour.¡± She gestures to a corner. ¡°And they are no worse for wear!¡± Emily¡¯s vision shifts to the corner Sarah pointed at and the two pristine dummies. ??? Meanwhile, Little Nina scurries beneath the table, away from the watchful eyes of the others. She slinks her little spider body over to where Heathcliff sits and moves her tiny arm around. She feels for the coffee cup while hiding beneath the table. ¡°Ow¡ª¡° her hand touched something hot, the drink she is looking for. She moves to locate the hoop on the cup and then lifts it from the table. She accidentally spills a bit of coffee on the table. Her heart skips a beat as she fears she will be caught, but after a few moments, no one seems to notice. She soon moves the cup more carefully until her arm is under the table, holding the forbidden beverage in hand. ¡°Score!¡± she thinks. She then moves the cut to her mouth and then takes a sip. The warm caffeinated beverage enters her mouth and flows down her throat. She then feels the bitter aftertaste of the coffee. She swallows it and feels the bitter aftertaste. ¡°Why is it so bitter? Maybe another sip?¡± she takes another sip, hoping for it to change, but the coffee remains bitter, she still swallows it, fearing that she¡¯d be caught if there was a sudden dark brown puddle of backwash on the floor. Nina feels a little woozy as she places the cup back on the edge of the table. As soon as her arm emerges from beneath the table, she hears footsteps approaching and rushes her return, placing it precariously on the table¡¯s edge and running back to her seat. She returns to the seat, successful in stealing a few sips from Heathcliff¡¯s cup. Her cheeks feel warmer than usual. Charlotte turns to Nina. ¡°Um, are you okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m¡ª¡± Nina hiccups. ¡°¡ªfine.¡± Her mind grows a little hazy and her breathing grows irregular. Minerva and Carla return to the table having resolved the issue with the other children. Elizabeth also returns, and Emily returns her vision to the table. Throughout the next few minutes. Nina is having trouble staying awake as she eats her food. Emily notices Nina¡¯s tiredness. ¡°Nina, are you okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m¡ª¡± Nina hiccups again ¡°--fine, Emmy. You got to srop worryintz out me chair.¡± She hiccups again. A moment later, her gag reflex kicks in, and she tries to keep herself from vomiting. Heathcliff finally returns with Sarah¡¯s second course. ¡°Whose up for seconds?¡± ¡°I am!¡± the ravenous Sarah says. ¡°What took you so long?¡± ¡°The paprika was a pain to get,¡± Heathcliff says. He plumps Sarah¡¯s meal onto the ground, the vibrations reverberating throughout the table causing his coffee mug to fall and break, scalding Emily with spilled coffee. Emily feels a small burn from the exposure. Heathcliff looks over and sees the broken cup and spill. ¡°What the¡ª¡° he was certain he put it in a place where it couldn¡¯t fall. Nina tries to swallow her vomit, but something prevents her from doing it. Her cheeks flood with partially digested food. Her hiccups cause her to spit part of it onto the floor. To the disgust of those with the unluck of seeing it. Nina tries to excuse herself, her mouth still full. Her movements are tipsy and unbalanced as she tries to move. Her mind clouds further as she tries to find a place to eject her indigestion. ¡°Crap, crap, crap,¡± the spiderling thinks, ¡°Have ti fond placr tl tet rid of it!¡± Her thoughts become as slurred as her speech. A moment later she collapses into unconsciousness. Partially-digested food flows from her unconscious mouth. Minerva rushes to her daughter¡¯s aid and her nostrils catch the smokey scent of coffee beans. She realizes that Nina had drank part of Heathcliff¡¯s coffee and ended up intoxicated. ??? An hour later, Nina wakes up. The young girl¡¯s mind aches as the aftershock of her intoxication, but is otherwise clearer now, as is her mouth. She looks up and sees her mother with a disappointed expression on her face. ¡°I warned you, Nina,¡± Minerva says with a sigh of both relief and disappointment. ¡°Administrators forfend.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry!¡± Nina says. ¡°I just¡ª¡± She tries to explain herself, to find an excuse. ¡°Its my fault!¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoes to her. ¡°I wasn¡¯t focused on her. I¡¯m sorry.¡± Minerva, looks at her daughter¡¯s quivering eyes. Nina¡¯s the tearful look causes her to relent. She notices that all the coffee and food had been expunged from Nina¡¯s system. ¡°Go to him,¡± Minerva says. ¡°You owe Heathcliff both an apology and a coffee cup.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Nina said timidly. ¡°Minerva?¡± Emily says, with a fearful tone. ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Minerva says. ¡°We weren''t careful enough. Hopefully this experience had revealed to her just why that substance is dangerous to us.¡± Meanwhile, Heathcliff looks at the remains of his ceramic cup and sighs as he mops up the mess. ¡°I¡¯d should¡¯ve brought the java with me,¡± he says. He feels someone tug on a leather band of his armor and turns around. He sees Nina, timidly shying away while holding a mug. ¡°Sorry,¡± she says awkwardly while handing it over to the knight. Heathcliff knows how young and curious someone like Nina could get. He takes the cup. ¡°Thanks, cher,¡± he says. ¡°Now what have we learned today.¡± ¡°That I shouldn¡¯t steal others beverages?¡± ¡°And?¡± ¡°That coffee is dangerous to me?¡± Heathcliff nods and smiles. ¡°Glad we on the same page. Now if you¡¯ll excuse me, cher. I gots to help Emily greet our guests.¡± Heathcliff leaves. Nina clutches her hair and returns to her mother, dreading any further punishment that she will bring. ??? The band of ninjas had approached the entrance of the Black Box. Kasumi impatiently flaps her arms, attempting to get the dungeon to open. ¡°Open seasme!¡± Kasumi says. ¡°Kasumi,¡± Saizo says. ¡°You know that¡¯s not how dugne¡ª¡± An ingress forms from the outer walls of the Black Box, at the side is a sign that reads ¡°Sorry. A breakfast incident happened. Welcome!¡± Kasumi assumes a prideful position as she turns to Saizo, who can only sigh at the timing. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Saizo says. His eyes bear a weary and tired expression despite not exerting that much energy. ¡°Yay!¡± Kasumi rushes into the dungeon, her mouth already concealed by a mask. ¡°Kasumi!¡± Saizo says, ¡°Don¡¯t run off, you know it¡¯s too dangerous for you to be on your own!¡± ¡°Aw,¡± she says. ¡°Party pooper.¡± Kei approaches her with a consoling expression. ¡°Saizo¡¯s right, dear,¡± he says. Tsubame simply walks ahead of the group. Noboru is the last to enter. The group looks over the sleek black and blue walls of the dungeon, with several mechanical Cells patrolling the place. ¡°They¡¯ll be on high alert,¡± Saizo says. His stoic and calm expression tells that he is determined to finish his mission. ¡°We must be careful.¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah,¡± Kasumi says, anticipating another lecture on the importance of stealth as a shinobi. Noboru observes the Cells¡¯ movement. The placement and paths of these monsters, coupled with the shifting walls make it difficult to navigate without being seen. ¡°Well,¡± Suzume says. ¡°Do we try to strike them down?¡± ¡°We only have two hours, Suzume,¡± Saizo says. ¡°Leave it to me,¡± Kasume says with a playful smile on her face. She closes her eyes and focuses, making some mudras with her arms. A mist emerges from the area around her legs and soon coats the room in a shroud of fog. ¡°Done!¡± she says cheerfully. ¡°Great,¡± Suzume says sarcastically, ¡°Now we can¡¯t see anything.¡± Kasumi scowls and turns her head. Saizo rubs his prosthetic arm. Layers of metal shine over the wooden core and mechanisms of the arm. ¡°Kasumi¡¯s jutsu will keep us hidden from the enemies.¡± He moves ahead, looking for a path. ¡°Fine,¡± Suzume says with a displeased tone. The five ninjas walk through the edge of the room, ambushing any Cells that draw too close from the cover of Kasumi¡¯s mists. They soon find a hallway at one of the walls and enter it. Kasumi uses her jutsu to cloak herself and her allies in a layer of fog as they move. Along the way, Suzume glances at Kei. ¡°So, how¡¯s that novel coming along?¡± Suzme asks Kei. ¡°Fine, Miss Suzume,¡± Kei says. ¡°The scenery outside has given me some inspiration. Suzume chuckles. ¡°Can you write something other than so-called ¡®healing¡¯ stories?¡± Kasumi says ¡°Afraid not,¡± Kei says. ¡°I prefer to write works that soothe the body and mind.¡± ¡°My mind doesn''t feel ¡®soothed¡¯ when readying your stories,¡± Kasumi petulantly says. ¡°It feels bored! Where¡¯s the action?¡± ¡°Is this really the time for this conversation?¡± Saizo says. ¡°Well there are no monsters nearby,¡± Kasumi says. ¡°And we made some time, so¡­¡± Saizo¡¯s brow furrows. ¡°Fine,¡± Kasumi says, dropping the topic. Kei meanwhile considers Kasumi¡¯s criticism as the group makes their way to the end of the hall. There they find another batch of Cells. Noboru looks at the machines in curious awe. Kasumi tries to create another fog but falls. ¡°Crap!¡± she says. ¡°Sorry guys, don¡¯t have enough mana.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll need to find another way,¡± Saizo says. ¡°We¡¯ll need a distraction.¡± ¡°Allow me,¡± Noboru says. He approaches some of the Cells and gently pokes it. ¡°Pardon me,¡± the Tanuki man says. ¡°Might you indulge an old man for a bit?¡± The mechanical monster is confused. It is programmed to attack hostile forces but the elder man acts peacefully and without malice. Several other Cells begin to converge on him as he begins asking them philosophical observations and musings of free will. Suzume is stunned. Saizo looks at her and gives a hang signal telling her and the others to follow him as they deftly maneuver around the room, while Noboru distracts the mechanical monsters. A while later, Saizu turns to Noboru and beckons him to come. ¡°Ah, you would look at the time,¡± Noboru says. ¡°Thank you for listening to me, I hope you all learned something today. ¡°He drops a smoke bomb and uses it to vanish from their sight. Leaving the Cells confused. ¡°Thank you, Noboru,¡± Saizo whispers. ¡°Are they really that stupid?¡± Kasumi says. The group delves deeper into the dungeon. ??? Meanwhile, within the Black Box, The ninjas soon enter a large round room with no enemies to be seen. The air fills with a sense of dread as the ninja observes nothing but a large chest. ¡°Ooh,¡± Kasumi says. ¡°Shiny.¡± She tries to run towards the chest, but Suzume grabs her shoulder. ¡°Hey!¡± ¡°You really should know better than this, Kasumi,¡± Suzume says with a sigh. Saizo approaches the chest, his keen eyes look over the box for any signs of traps. An hour and forty minutes remain on the timer as Saizo peers over the chest. Kasumi looks impatiently at the chest and Saizo as he examines it. The boredom is apparently on her face as her eyes glaze over as if she is about to doze off. ¡°It¡¯s trapped,¡± Saizo says, waking Kasumi from her daze. ¡°Care to elaborate?¡± Noboru says. Saizo directs their attention to some tubes attached to the coffer. Small enough to be unseen from the entrance. ¡°The tubes are pumping some sort of substance to them, likely a poison.¡± ¡°So there is no loot inside?¡± Kasumi says. ¡°Likely not,¡± Saizo says. ¡°At least none that is worth risking our health over. Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Aww,¡± Kasumi says. The shinobi move forward, while several Arachne leer at them from high on the walls. They soon enter another room. Time time is empty. There are no other corridors in the room. ¡°Dead end?¡± Kei says. Suzume and Saizo anticipate something coming. ¡°Likely not, be on your guard!¡± Suzume says. The group walks close to the center, preparing for an encounter. Sure enough, they see a gigantic mechanical tarantula land in the room, with eight towering legs. The first Sentinel, the first boss of the Black Box. Suzume already takes the initiative and leaps onto the walls, using specialized gloves to ensure she stays attached as she uses the vantage point to search for weaknesses. Saizo and Noboru follow in her footsteps while Kei and Kazumi remain on the round. ¡°Hey! No fair!¡± Kasumi yells. ¡°Why do you guys get the sticky gloves?¡± ¡°Kasumi,¡± Kei says. ¡°This isn¡¯t the time!¡± The giant tarantula Construct lifts one of its legs and moves it toward the two ninjas, Kei grabs Kasumi¡¯s arm and leaps out of the way, before taking out a brush. He uses it to write something in the air, and the two are rendered invisible for a while. Suzume sees something peculiar about the machine¡¯s joints and suspects something about them. Unable to see its prey, the Tarantula turns to the other three shinobi moving along the walls. Saizo dodges a trike from the beast and uses the opportunity to move through its leg. Noboru deftly lands on another and Suzume lands on the joint. She then swiftly draws her sword at an angle where the blade of her katana would strike the joint behind her. The attack was not enough to cleave the leg off, but it was enough to prove to her that the joints are the weak points. ¡°Saizo!¡± she shouts. ¡°The Joints.¡± ¡°Roger!¡± he says as he ascends the leg to where another joint is. He takes his own katana and uses it to stab the joints. The blade jams to pieces and moves the leg impossible for the mechanical spider. The spider struggles to move the leg Saizo is on, it is paralyzed by the jammed piece. Kei¡¯s enchantment wears off and he is left visible. He soon writes symbols representing the words for a tsunami and floods the ground with water, to Kasumi¡¯s ire. ¡°You nearly got my dress wet!¡± the teenage ninja says. ¡°Kasumi,¡± Saizo shouts from above. ¡°Focus!¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah,¡± she says as she makes mudra gestures, freezing the water around the spider¡¯s legs into ice. She then leaps into one of the iced legs and begins an arduous climb upwards. Saizo pushes his weapon further, trying to find a way to cut the leg off. Once the weapon is deep enough he uses his prosthetic arm to swing it with it still embedded. ¡°Karakuri Arts One,¡± he says as gears within his arm whirl at high speeds. ¡°Overheat!¡± he shouts as mana flows from the prosthetic arm into the sword and heats it. The metal of the joint melts as Saizo slices the joint, creating a large gash in the structure of the mechanical spider. The red-hot blade emerges from the structure, gleaming a vermilion hue in Saizo¡¯s arm as he jumps off the falling leg. The severed leg is absorbed into the floor as it falls. Kasumi makes it to the joint that Suzume cut and places her legs in the wound. She makes more mudra gestures and water vapor fills the joint. ¡°Let¡¯s see if this spider can handle the cold!¡± Kasumi makes another set of gestures, turning the vapor around her legs into water, and then into ice. The water expands as it freezes, jamming the mechanisms of the leg. Kasumi makes a third set of gestures, turning her body into a phantasmal form and allowing her legs to phase through the ice. The Tarantula tries to move its legs, but each attempt causes it to break off some parts. The ice dislodged some pieces as it expanded. With the leg frozen on the ground and at the joint, the Tarlantula¡¯s attempts to move only served to break it off, as the joint explodes in a mix of icy shrapnel. A piece of it embeds itself into Kasumi¡¯s arm as she descends the falling leg. The unfrozen water from Kei¡¯s flood drains as the several arm is absorbed into the floor by the dungeon. Meanwhile, Noboru lands on a third leg and makes some mudra gestures of his own. Transforming himself into a metal statue and calling down lightning strikes on him. The metal ninja directs the conducted Levin into the joint and causes it to melt off. Suzume retrieved Noboru before he could fall and used a mudra to return him to normal. You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. The third leg falls but is caught on a fourth as the dungeon tries to absorb it. The pull on the legs causes that leg to also be absorbed and the spider to spread the remainder outwards to maintain balance. The legs end up lying flat on the ground and the 4th leg ends up severed by the inadvertent actions of the dungeon herself. ??? Heathcliff observes the battle and chuckles. ¡°Hey cher,¡± he says to Emily. ¡°Maybe we should consider mixing things up a bit. That Construct design is aging like milk!¡± Emily is left stunned by how she wound up absorbing a leg that was still attached to the spider. She sees the ninjas conjuring fetters to keep the spider grounded. ¡°These guys seem tough,¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoes to the knight. ¡°Heh, get used to it, Emily,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°The rest of Noir is just as tough.¡± ??? Led by Saizo. The ninjas use their jutsus and skills to create large chains to wrap over the joints of grounded legs. The spider tries to stand, but each attempt only causes the fetters to tighter further and squeeze the joints. ¡°Karakuri arts Nine Three Zero!¡± Saizo yells, his prosthetics glow with mana as the chains glow with a pale golden light. Saizo makes mudra gestures, which are subsequently mimicked by his allies. The tight chains then glow crimson with heat. The mechanical spider struggles as Noboru, Suzume, Kei, and Kasumi disembark from the legs. The spider makes one last attempt, fans from its underbelly activate and cause it to lift itself, the chains keeping it bound tighten further as it does so, becoming Gordian knots. The tarantula overcharges its fans and uses the force to propel itself into the air, but in doing so, it causes the conjure chains to squeeze just tight enough to break the joints from sheer pressure. Its core is propelled high into the air, but its means of attack are destroyed and reabsorbed into the dungeon. It collides with the ceiling and shuts down, sticking the to ceiling and reseeding into it as Emily absorbs it. A chest emerges from the floor in front of Saizo. ¡°Score!¡± Kasumi says. Saizo opens it and finds several gauntlets and robes. Suited to rouges and thieves, or those that lurk in the shadows. He turns to Kasumi. ¡°You want any of these?¡± ¡°Nah,¡± Kasumi says with a confident smirk. ¡°I¡¯m good.¡± She takes a babble from one of her dresses and opens it, it releases an invigorating mist that restores her mist pools. ¡°Suit yourself,¡± Saizo says. He takes a pair of gauntlets and places them over his arm. The metal gauntlets feel lightweight despite his competition. Despite being solid, touching them feels like touching an amorphous mass. The strange feeling convinces Saizo that he is right about the dungeon. ¡°We¡¯ll bring these to Lady Atsuko.¡± The ninja says. ¡°Of course,¡± Noboru says. ¡°Hard to call your hunch correct after just one Sentinel,¡± Suzume says. ¡°Should we continue?¡± Kei says. ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go!¡± Kasumi says with an eager smile. ¡°We will proceed ahead,¡± Saizo says. ¡°And see what other surprises this place yields.¡± ¡°Yes, Saizo,¡± Kei says. Kasumi is already running towards the corridor that has just opened up. Suzume sighs. ¡°I¡¯m gonna tell Hoshikage about that one.¡± Noboru chuckles. ¡°Ah, youth.¡± He walks towards the hallway. The others follow suit. ??? Emily observes these Ninjas with curiosity. ¡°Hey Lizzie,¡± her voice echoes to Elizabeth. ¡°Can you¡ª¡° ¡°Looks like this band is versed in Yanese arts.¡± Elizabeth interrupts. ¡°And can you please stop calling me Lizzie?¡± ¡°No,¡± Emily says bluntly. ¡°Now, can you tell me about where these travelers come from, Lizzie?¡± Elizabeth sighs. ¡°If you¡¯re wondering, the Nation of [Yae Shoto] is an archipelago to the far east. Part of [Eos] by politics and culture, but considered geographically on the [Euryphaessa] Sea that borders Eos. Tim¡¯s techniques also resemble those from Eos.¡± ¡°Eos? Euryphaessa?¡± Emily is confused. ¡°The world of [Titania] is divided into five sectors. [Helios], which encompasses the contents of [Erebus] and [Umsuka]. [Selene], which includes the [Cynthia] and [Endymion] continents, and by extension [Libert¨¦]. Eos, which is to the Far East and comprises its eponymous continent and Yae Shoto. And the seas of [Astraeus] and [Euryphaessa]. The former separates Selene from Helios. The latter, Selene from Eos. Both teeming with independent island nations and rumored undersea civilization.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Emily finds the geographic topic strangely familiar. ¡°Do you know if any other worlds are like that?¡± ¡°[Messengers] that can remember their old world,¡± Emily says. ¡°Claim that there are geographical simulates between it and Titania, but the details remain unclear.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± Emily says. ¡°One last thing?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Is it just me?¡± Emily says. ¡°I could''ve sworn you sound different now.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°I think your growth has allowed me to develop [Manatounge]. It is a special dialect that is used by the [Administrators] and those with a special connection to them.¡± ¡°Mana tounge?¡± Emily says. ¡°Manatounge,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°One word.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Emily says. ¡°Thank you.¡± Emily turns her vision towards the ninjas. Elizabeth leaves the room to tell Carla that the first Sentinel has been vanquished. ??? The ninjas continue deeper into the Black Box. Saizo observes his newfound gauntlet with a curious eye. Kei observes the scenery around the area and Suzume and Noboru are keeping an eye out for enemies, and the former also keeps an eye on Kasumi as she runs around the dungeon. Kei walks up to a tree, adorned with various circuity patterns. ¡°Nature and technology, in perfect harmony. I must take notes!¡± Suzume spots a Cell approaching and hides behind the corner, As the machine passes, she quickly draws her sword and makes two slashes. The two attacks slice through the Cell and it melts into a pile of silver sludge. ¡°Done admiring the scenery?¡± Suzume says. Kei finishes his notes. ¡°I¡¯m good, let¡¯s get going.¡± The group arrives at a room with a wide gap. A crevasse that is impassable for them. ¡°Kasumi,¡± Saizo says. ¡°Do you think¡ª¡° ¡°No,¡± the young kunoichi says. ¡°I¡¯m the Mistwalker, not the Skywalker! Didn¡¯t Hoshikage tell you?¡± ¡°Slipped my mind,¡± Saizo says. He looks around and sees four shorter paths. Two to the left, two to the right, each leading to its own door. ¡°So where do we go from here?¡± Kei says. ¡°Four paths lain out before us,¡± Noboru says. ¡°Which would lead to ruin,? Which would lead to glory?¡± Saizo observes each of the doors, he finds colored orbs on their facades. One yellow, one green, one magenta, and one orange. ¡°Yellow.¡± He says, suspecting something about the doors. The shinobi enter the door with the yellow orb on it and see a strange room, the blue and indigo hues of the outside dungeon give way to yellow colors on the sleek black walls. Inside they find a Tatzelwurm. Suzume already moves forward to attack it, but the feline serpent dodges and slithers around. It makes a ritualistic motion and a pillar of light strikes her. Saizo takes out an orange jewel and loads it into a compartment in his prosthetic arm. ¡°Karakuri arts One Four,¡± he shouts as he aims his arm at the serpent. The prosthetic channels the mana from the jewel into a spell that manifests a stone and pelts the Tatzelwurm with it. The stolen dazes the beast for a few moments. Kei looks around and notices something behind the creature. ¡°Sensei,¡± he tells Noboru and points to the peculiar object. The room is suddenly shrouded in fog as Kasumi uses her powers to cloak herself and her allies. Under the cover of the list, Noboru lurks around behind the serpent, while it tries to find its prey. Suzume draws her katana and slices the serpents, to the blade, nearly touching the ground, then slices upward, as is her usual style of swordplay. The serpent slinks around the room, but Suzume already moved out of sight. The Tatzelwurm tries to use light spells to find the others, but the flashes of light it summons are too brief for it to see the shadows. Noboru makes it to what the beast was guarding, a small fragment of something suspended in the air, colored blue. The tanuki man takes the piece and a large noise is heard. The Tatzelwurm turns to the elderly ninja, who tries to dodge but in his advanced age, fails to move away in time. Kasumi intercepts the attacks and uses one of her dress baubles to block the feline head¡¯s fangs, jamming it into its mouth. The cat snake tries to break the object but in doing so releases a mist that lulls it into a stupor. The serpent slithers aimlessly, dazed and confused as the Shinobi make an exit from the room. As they exist the door closes behind them and vanishes. ¡°The serpent was guarding this,¡± Noboru hands the piece over the Saizo. ¡°Hmm,¡± Saizo looks over the object. The fragment glows blue, but beyond that, he could not make out any discernible features, the shape is too incomplete. ¡°Is this another one of those puzzle things?¡± Kasumi says. ¡°I hate those! They make my brain hurt.¡± The teenage girl whines. Saizo looks at the magenta orb of the room next door. ¡°Steel yourself,¡± he says to the others as they approach the room. Inside lies shades of pink patterns etched onto the walls, as another gap appears before them. Floating platforms lie suspended over them, moving towards and away from each other. In the distance, an azure object gleams. Saizo turns to Kai. ¡°You up for it?¡± The suited ninja responds, ¡°But of course.¡± Observing the platform¡¯s movements. He takes a deep breath and rushes to the edge. He jumps off the precipices and onto the first platform, landing safely in the center. He then observes the next one¡¯s path. He makes another well-timed leap and lands deftly onto the second one. Kei notices several webs lining the walls. Saizo looks at his arm, finding that a part of the jewel remains inside. ¡°Guess I¡¯m stuck with earth for a while,¡± he says. He observes several strands strewn across the gap. Kei senses that he isn¡¯t alone and looks around, seeing several shadows moving in the webs. ¡°Something¡¯s wrong,¡± he thinks. Sure enough, he is soon greeted by an emerging Arachne. ¡°Ah, of course. A jorogumo.¡± He fights with the spider as the next platform approaches. Dodges both the spider woman¡¯s eyes and legs as he leaps onto the next platform. Another Arachne soon emerges to join her. The other ninjas see Kei fending off the Arachne. The first platform approaches Saizo and he jumps onto it. He takes his arm and has the palm face one of the spiders as he moves through the platforms to assist Kei. ¡°Drat,¡± Kei says as he takes out his brush. He tries to draw a symbol, but the two Arachne fire sticky signs at his arm and use them to tug his arm, throwing off his spell. He tries again but is thwarted by the opponent¡¯s webs. A thrird time sees them use lightning magic to stun him. Saizo lands on the platform before Kei¡¯s and aims at one of the spiders. ¡°Karakuri Arts Five Seven,¡± he says. His arm fires a stream of dust at them, blinding the Arachne as he jumps to Kei¡¯s platform. He uses his two sai to fight the spiders. ¡°Kei!¡± he says. ¡°Go ahead,¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Kei says and he vaults over Saizo and the spiders and onto the approaching platform. More Arahcne approaches Saizo as he fights them one. One of them tries to stab the expert ninja with their pointed needly legs, but they instead find it caught between the points of his Sai. They try to free themselves but Saizo activates another spell. ¡°Karakuri arts Five Nine,¡± he says. Saizo grows in strength from the enchantment and uses his newfound power to hurl the caught spider off the platform. Kei lands on the opposite end of the room and grabs the piece. ¡°Saizo! I received the item!¡± ¡°Good job,¡± Saizo says as he throws another Arachne off by grabbing the legs with his Sai. The two men leap across the platforms and back to the entrance. The five ninjas escape through the door as it closes, trapping the Arachne in. ¡°Two for two,¡± Noboru says. ¡°So each of these rooms holds a piece,¡± Suzume says. Saizo observes both pieces and finds a place where they connect to each other. The incomplete shape still does not bring to mind anything recognizable. ¡°Kasumi will go with Suzume and Kei. Noboru, with me,¡± Saizo says. ¡°Gonna split up huh?¡± Suzume says ¡°We have only seventy minutes left,¡± Saizo says. ¡°It¡¯s more expended that way.¡± Suzume¡¯s group heads to the door with the brown orb while Saizo and Noboru takes the door with the green one. ??? Suzume, Kasumi, and Kei arrive and find a small room covered In black and orange walls. A single moth greets them, seemingly docile. Suzume smirks and rushes forth. ¡°Suzume,¡± Kei says. ¡°Wait!¡± Suzume draws her sword and cuts the moth down, in its death knell, the Cell rapidly flies around and spews flakes before it crashes to the ground. The three shinobi caught and closed their eyes as the flakes landed on them. When they finish expunging the corrupted air, they open their eyes and find their vision blurred. ¡°My eyes!¡± Kasumi shouts. Her vision has been distorted to the point where all she sees are squares and rectangles. ¡°Miss Suzume,¡± Kei says. ¡°That was hardly a wise move.¡± ¡°Shut it!¡± Suzume shouts. The young woman struggles to find her bearing with her vision altered the way it has. The orange and black walls blur into a mass of dark brown rectangles, and she sees her fellow ninjas as two blocks of blended colors. Kasumi takes out another babble from her dress. ¡°There¡¯s the panacea!¡± she takes the bauble and slams it to the ground, releasing a mist that cures her vision. She sees a corridor that had opened after the moth was slain. ¡°Lucky you,¡± Kasumi says with sarcasm. ¡°Hoshikage says a ninja must always be prepared!¡± Kasumi says as she searches her dress for more of the panaceas. ¡°After all¡ª¡° her tone grows more concerned as he struggles to find more of the remedies. ¡°You wouldn''t want to be¡­caught¡­wanting.¡± ¡°Miss Kasumi,¡± Kei says. ¡°You did bring more of the panaceas, right?¡± Kasumi tugs her collar silently. ¡°Typical,¡± Suzume says. ¡°You only brought enough for yourself you selfish brat!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a brat!¡± Kasumi says in a bratty manner. ¡°Could''ve fooled me,¡± Suzume says with a snarl. ¡°Always prancing around with Hoshiguma, Aika, and your fellow students. Never take your job seriously and just coat through life with your mist spells.¡± ¡°Ladies, please.¡± Kei tries to calm the two women down. ¡°Oh yeah,¡± Suzume says. ¡°At least I don¡¯t take hits on high schoolers!¡± Kasumi struck a nerve with Suzume. The older woman furiously storms off and bumps into a wall. ¡°Suzume, please!¡± Kei tries to get Suzume to stop. ¡°It¡¯s dangerous to walk with your eyes like that.¡± Suzume simply humps and feels around for an exit, soon entering the corridor. The other two try to follow her but lose her as they enter a labyrinth. Kei gives a stern glare to the orange-haired ninja. ¡°Sorry,¡± Kasumi says insincerely. ¡°Lady Kasumi,¡± Kei says. His voice and expression bear a disappointed tone. ¡°Why do we have her around, she¡¯s an assassin,¡± Kasumi says. ¡°She tried to kill Atsuko! She will betray that!¡± ¡°Kasumi,¡± Kei says. ¡°You know that isn¡¯t true!¡± Meanwhile, Suzume wanders the labyrinth, trying to navigate it with her impaired vision. She bumps into a wall. ¡°Stupid brat!¡± she curses. A Cell sneaks up on her and attacks her, knocking her to the ground. The body of the cells is colored such that it blends into the walls as far as Suzume is concerned. She tries to strike it, but the camouflage ensures she misses with both slashes. Suzume is left angered by the tricks of the maze. ¡°You dastards! I¡¯ll kill you all.¡± She wildly slashes everything around her, trying to find the Cell. A lucky strike slices off one of its arms and causes it to leak grey fluid. Szuume sees it and delivers a horizontal slash with her katana, cleaving the Cell into two. The machine melts into a grey puddle. Suzume takes some labored breathing and moves into he maze, keeping her sword out in case of any more surprise ambushes. ??? Meanwhile. Saizo and Noboru find themselves in a room filled with verdant patterns. And with two Tatzelwurms gliding over them. A large cyclone lifts the feline serpents high into the air. Saizo pelts rocks at them with his arm, shooting one of them down. Noboru takes out a bow, fighting for the first time since entering the Black Box and assisting Saizo with covering fire. ¡°So,¡± the curious tanuki man says. ¡°Why did you decide to bring Suzume along with us?¡± Saizo aims at the other flying cat snake. ¡°Her skills are well suited to our needs are they not?¡± ¡°As we experienced firsthand when she tried to put Lady Atsuko to the sword. Are you certain she¡¯s trustworthy, Saizo?¡± Saizo remains locked onto the other snake. ¡°I¡¯m certain, if she really wanted to kill Atsuko, she had ample opportunity.¡± He snipes the snake down with conjured stones. The grounded serpent survives the collision and glares at Saizo. ¡°Karakuri arts Six Nine!¡± A larger bolder manages in front of Saizo and is launched at the serpent, pinning it to the wall and wounding it. The attack was enough to scare the beast off and it slithers away alongside its partner. ¡°I can only hope you are right,¡± Noboru says. The two men find the third piece and attach it to the others. The shape becomes clearer as the third piece is attached. ¡°A flower bud?¡± Saizo says curiously. Noboru looks at the incomplete flower. ¡°It needs one more piece to bloom.¡± He muses on the symbolism of an unbloomed flower. The two men leave the green room and the door behind vanishes. ¡°Suzume¡¯s team isn¡¯t here,¡± Saizo says. ¡°Indeed,¡± Noboru says. ¡°Mayhap they are in some sort of trouble?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Saizo says. He is not one to take chances with the lives of his fellow ninjas. ??? A while later, Suzume stands in a corner of the maze, waiting for her eyes to return to normal. She keeps her blade out for possible foes, hidden from her by her impaired vision and the colors of the labyrinth, but there were any entities nearby they dared not draw near. By now they have fifty-five minutes left before the dungeon ejects them. Suzume think back on the time she first encountered the other ninjas. She was tasked to kill Atsuko, someone whom her enigmatic employer claimed was a potential threat to Yae Shoto. She had stalked the teenager for weeks, but couldn¡¯t find anything that would mark her as a threat to the archipelago. Whenever she had come close to killing the maiden, she had always hesitated, unsure if this mission was just. She had trailed her even as she escaped from Yae Shoto and into Libert¨¦. And yet, she recalls that some elements of Atsuko remain a mystery to her, her date of birth, her place of residence, and why she is surrounded by so many shinobi. It is suspicious, yet there was nothing about the nekomata girl herself that would warrant an assassination. She then recalls her first encounter with Saizo, a trick had revealed her position to her retainers and they had confronted her. She was caught and had to explain herself, her mission, and her hesitancy to fulfill it. The circumstances, including an attempt on Suzume¡¯s own life, had led them to band together to repel the threat and she has stuck with them ever since. Suzume asks herself, ¡°Why am I even sticking with them.¡± Meanwhile, Kasumi leads Kei as they navigate the labyrinth. Her cured eyes enabled her to find and fend off the spells, using lavender mist to dispel their effective camouflage and to allow Kei to attack with his brush. ¡°I¡¯m still not sure why you¡¯re willing to keep Suzume around,¡± Kasumi says. ¡°Lady Kasumi,¡± Kei says. ¡°You know that is Saizo¡¯s decision, not ours.¡± ¡°Heh, do you think he¡¯s in love with her?¡± Kasumi teases. ¡°Kasumi!¡± Kei says. ¡°You know Saizo¡¯s romantic interests are irrelevant!¡± Kasumi sighs. ¡°You¡¯re as boring as your¡ª¡° her eyes catch something blue in their corner. She turns and finds a Cell carrying a piece. ¡°Can you see that?¡± she whispers ¡°See what?¡± Kei says. The price is too small for Kei to perceive in his current state. ¡°Wait here,¡± Kasumi uses her mists to cloak herself as she approaches the cell with the Pieces. Once she is close enough, she throws an explosive bauble at it. The Cell falls to the explosion and drops the piece at Kasumi¡¯s feet. She picks it up and the walls recede into the floor and something rains down. Suzume notices the changes as the walls recede into the floor. The indoor rain restores her vision to normal. She blinks and sees Saizo and Noboru in the distance. The two men rush to her. Kei¡¯s vision is also restored and he and Kasumi see Suzume with Noboru and Saizo. ¡°What happened,¡± Saizo says with a concerned tone. ¡°Forgive us,¡± Kei says. ¡°Myself and Suzume were affected by an ailment and were unable to navigate the maze properly. ¡°Okay,¡± Noboru says, but why was Suzume separated from your two.¡± ¡°She ran off,¡± Kasumi says. Saizo senses there is more to this than the teenage kunoichi is letting on and turns to Kei. ¡°Kasumi cast aspirations into Lady Suzume,¡± Kei says. ¡°Hey!¡± Kasumi says. ¡°No, she is right to mistrust me,¡± Suzume says. ¡°It¡¯s my fault for getting angry at her.¡± Saizo sighs. ¡°We¡¯ll talk about this later,¡± he says. Kasumi realizes that she is gonna get scolded back at Noir and timidly hands over the fourth piece. Saizo takes the pieces together and the flower bud is completed. The bud blossoms into a beautiful plant before vanishing in a flash of light. The ninjas exit the large room and see the door vanish immediately after. Saizo turns and sees the gap is no more, a wide floor in its place, and that someone is at the other side. ??? The ninjas cautiously approach the other side of the room, there they find an Alraune woman. ¡°An Alraune?¡± Suzume says. ¡°Rather unusual seeing one in a place like this.¡± ¡°Is it, Saizo?¡± Kei says. ¡°The mechanical elements seem to harmonize well with biological organisms.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± the Alraune says. ¡°We do try to be careful with the environment around us.¡± Saizo observes the Sentinel for several minutes Her verdant hair and tresses contrast with the blue-violet and black scenery around her. Like the lone flower, blooming in a place covered in steel and concrete. He observes that she doesn¡¯t have a weapon on her. ¡°Greeting travelers,¡± the Alraune says. ¡°Pleasure to meet you,¡± Kei says. Saizo senses something off, and Suzume hears growling around her. A tense atmosphere fills the air as the shinobi scrutinizes the Alraune¡¯s appearance. ¡°Why would a sentinel be unarmed?¡± Kasumi whispers. Sazio approaches the Alraune. ¡°Let¡¯s cut to the chase, thirty minutes are left and by all accounts, you¡¯re the next boss.¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± the Alraune says. ¡°But first I want to ask you a question.¡± Her tone is gentle and motherly as she speaks, something that irritates Suzume. ¡°Such as?¡± Kasumi says, ¡°On behalf of the dungeon, I want to ask why you wanted to visit this place in particular.¡± ¡°Ah, right?¡± Saizo says. ¡°Haven¡¯t told the guild.¡± ¡°We prefer to keep things close to the chest,¡± Suzume says. ¡°That said, if you must know,¡± Saizo says. ¡°Our lord in Noir is looking for a dungeon with specific qualities. We¡¯re here to gather gear to examine to see if this one is right for her plans.¡± Emily is intrigued by the visitor¡¯s movie. ¡°Plans,¡± she thinks. ¡°For what?¡± The Alraune looks to the ninjas. ¡°It¡¯s not uncommon for dungeons to be explored for scientific aims, but those tend to be natural dungeons.¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t an archaeologist thing,¡± Saizo says.¡±Our lord thinks Divine Dungeons are more likely to have the qualities we seek,¡± ¡°Intriguing,¡± the Alraune says. Suzume and Kasumi grow irritated. ¡°Saizo, we don¡¯t have that much time left!¡± Suzume says. As she says that she senses something prowling behind her. ¡°I can see your friends want to continue,¡± the Alraune says. ¡°Very well.¡± She turns around and calls for the true boss. A deer emerges from behind them and charges towards them. Suzume anticipated that and drew out her sword. ¡°Karakuri Arts Five Two Six!¡± she says. Her sheath glows with lightning as she unsheathes her sword in a V-like arc and strikes the emerging opponent The wounds cause it to stop in its tracks and reveal itself. It is a deer, with something on its cranium that resembled an unknown flower. ¡°A deer?¡± Kasumi says before bursting out in laughter. ¡°You really shouldn¡¯t underestimate herbivores,¡± the alraune says. ¡°There is a reason why Fang and claw are necessary to hunt them.¡± The alraune walks away as a panel emerges behind her, moving horizontally, she vanishes behind the panel. Suzume keeps her light-charged sword drawn and tries to attack the deer. She gets in several slashes on it before it rears up and stomps her with its forehooves, then leaps away, causing Suzume to be knocked back a foot. Kasumi takes a bauble from her dress and throws it at the deer, the object shatters and releases an enervating mist towards it, and the flowers react to it with an abject shriek. ¡°It seems like our ¡®friend¡¯ here is unusually aggressive.¡± Noboru and Kei observe the deer and the strange flower on its head as it makes erratic movements. Kei takes out his brush and makes symbols for a geyser. Water spits out from beneath it and drenches the cervine, Suzume takes the blade and stabs the boss with it, causing it to be stunned for a second. The menacing animal tries to move but its foreleg trips over itself as its nerves are based on several volts of thunderous power. Saizo aims its arm and launches several rocks towards it, as it limps forward. The deer, infuriated, charges at them with their antlers. Saizo takes out his arm.¡±Karakuri code Three Nine Six!¡± A storm of cherry blossoms suddenly appears between the deer and the ninjas. Each petal leaves a cut as the beast tries to run through them. Noboru gazes at the beast. Taking out several paper talismans. ¡°Oh, now you decide to fight!¡± Kasumi yells as she detaches another bobble from her dress and aims it at the beast. The bobble land at the drenched feet of the deer and freeze their legs in place. Noboru uses his arm to throw the talismans at the deer before making mudra gestures. The paper projects float in place and create a wall of lightning, further trapping the beast. Suzume rushes towards the deer with her sword and Saizo aims his prosthetic arm towards it. ¡°Karakuri Arts Ten Zero Eight Five!¡± Saizo yells as he unsheaths his sword. The weapon and arm glow in a bronzed aura as he joins Suzume in defeating the deer. The two swords strike the trapped deer and cause enough damage to it. The flower atop its head writhes in pain and agony and it compels the deer to run away from the ninjas. ¡°Is it over?¡± Kasumi says. The Alraune returns, to the ninjas with a chest beside them. ¡°Congratulations,¡± she says with a warm smile. Saizo examines the container but finds nothing amiss with it, he opens it and sees several blocks an unusual substances, alongside statuettes of rabbits. Kasumi immediately takes one of them. ¡°Mine!¡± she says with an eager face. Saizo takes the metal cubes and the other statues and finds a broadsword and some greaves beneath them. ¡°Western swords aren¡¯t my forte,¡± the ninja says, ¡°But Lady Atsuko would appreciate this,¡± as she takes the weapon. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°My pleasure,¡± the Alraune says. ¡°Pardon me,¡± Noboru says. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t, by any chance, happen to be the core of this dungeon, are you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not,¡± the Alraune replies before leaving. A wall morphs to create a door behind her. ¡°This will lead you to the last Sentinel. Good luck,¡± she says before walking away. Saizo knows they have thirty minutes left. He looks at his arm, the orange jewel that was previously there has been comply consumed. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Saizo says as he leads the others through the door. As he walks he takes out a bag of gemstones. He sees his supplies are reduced to several green jewels and one iridescent one, a black opal. Realizing he had already excused most of his earth techniques for the day and his wind techniques before the excursion he takes the opal and loads it into his prosthetic. ??? The ninjas open the door and see a room black and gold in hue. Similar to some of the rooms they had visited to gather the pieces of the key. They find a teenage man meditating in the center of the room. A Qiang staff stands beside him. Saizo looks around and finds there is no one else. He senses a foreboding aura coming from the young man, indicating he is a Sentinel. The man stands up. ¡°Yanese Ninja, huh?¡± he thinks. ¡°So you are my opponents then?¡± he says. ¡°We are, yes,¡± Saizo says. The young boy politely bows, his face kept in the same cocky expression. ¡°Let¡¯s get this over with,¡± Suzume says. A battle begins as the young boy assumes a horse stance. Kasumi tries to use her powers to create a fog, but the boy makes a charging step and elbows her in the head before making a leg sweep to knock her off. The fall causes her bobbles to dislodge from her dress and shatter all around her, depriving her of most of her tools. ¡°Hey!¡± Kasumi says. Mist swirls around her feet. The boy smirks as he sidesteps an attack from Suzume. Kasumi¡¯s fog coats the air, but the impudent girl fumes over how her opponent had deprived her of her bobbles and with them her methods of restoring her mist levels. Under the cover of the mists, Noboru sneaks around to try and grab the young martial artist, but his keen senses enable him to anticipate it and counter with a knee strike. Saizo tosses Key one of the green stones from his pouch and Kei places it inside a device mounted on his forearm. Grinding the stone to an ink he dips his brush in it and uses it to draw a symbol for a cyclone. A whirling wind circles the area, but the young boy is unamused by the winds as she stands his ground. Kasumi and Kei hand onto a pillar to avoid being swept away by the winds the latter had summoned. ¡°Karakuri Arts Six Five One!¡± Sazio shouts. An illusion of vicious warriors emerges from dark mists spewed from his arm. The martial artist clashes with the warriors, their blows somehow leaving cuts on his. Kei¡¯s win lifts the opponent¡¯s spear into the air and thrusts it close to him. ¡°Heh, not bad,¡± the teenage boy shouts. He takes the Qiang and opens his ice. Spinning the spear he turns the whirlwind against the ninjas using it to take Kei and Noboru out. And dispelling the mists. ¡°Karakuri Arts Seven Four!¡± Saizo shouts, he, Kasumi, and Suzume become invisible as they charge into the opponent. Tim closes his eyes and focuses on the sounds the ninja makes as they approach. His Qiang spins and parries an incoming slash and he uses a palm strike with his free arm to knock Suzume to the ground. He senses another slash and uses his arms to repel Saizo¡¯s sword and launch a series of rapid attacks at him, knocking Saizo back. One of his sai is separated from him as Saizo is repelled by the opponent. It lands next to the invisible Kasumi. The young girl takes the weapon as the young boy approaches Saizo, fifteen minutes remain. He prepares to put the shinobi lead out for the count, but his arm is stopped mid-attack. Kasumi uses the surprise to hurl him over herself. The two clash with the invisible Kasumi observing her opponent and countering with body movements of her own, aided by the fact that the boy cannot perceive her enough to anticipate her movements and the blows make too much noise for him to track her legs. The young boy takes Shis qiang and strikes to strike him, but the weapon is caught by the sai in Kasumi¡¯s arm and she uses it to disarm the martial artist before punching him in the stomach. The boy is shocked as Kasumi¡¯s invisibility fades and he is made visible. ¡°This is for my dress!¡± she yells, referring to the boy¡¯s previous neutralization of her bobbles. Saizo stands up and holds his sword in hand, breathing heavily. He realizes that they only have a few minutes left before the dungeon ejects them. ¡°Time to use my trump card,¡± he thinks. He turns his sword towards the young man. ¡°Karakuri Arts! Two Two One Six! Shine in all your brilliant colors!¡± His prosthetics glow in a myriad of colors as his sword changes to an iridescent hue. ¡°Lend me your strength!¡± The ninja strikes the ground at the sword and a bolt of magenta lightning strikes the ground. The Martial artist tries to evade the attack, but lightning emerges from eh sword and hits the metal blade of the qiang, shocking him. He conjures boulders to protect himself, but the arena quakes in response to Saizo¡¯s ultimate art and causes the rocks to be destroyed. Suzume¡¯s sword and Kasumi¡¯s say glow with the power of Saizo¡¯s art and they take the moment to strike at the martial artist as the wind blows in their wake and rain and hail fall from the ceiling. The young man tries to repel their attack, responding as rapidly as he can to the two women¡¯s attacks, but he fails to anticipate the rain and hail landing on his feet and freezing them, rooting them to the ground. Light and shadow dance around the two kunoichis as they and Saizo¡¯s weapons glow with a brilliant light. The boy breaks himself free from the frost, but his shadow is pulled down by a dagger and he is unable to move beyond its length. He tries to parry their attacks, but Kasumia and Suzume wear him down with their techniques. Saizo then looms over the fallen lad, his katana coated in fire as he points it at him. The lad scowls at the victorious shinobi, before sighing. Saizo smiles. As he holds the blazing sword aloft and lashes the body with its hot blade. Gold dust emerges from the wound as Tim looks at the ninja. ¡°Well done.¡± Tim vanishes. The dust concentrates at the center as the elemental powers vanish, coalescing into the form of a chest. Saizo opens it and to his surprise finds a sword similar to his own, as well as several spindles of dreamcloth and four more bunny statuettes. The man is satisfied by the fruits of their labor and he takes the tresure. Kasumi cheers over their victory. ¡°We shall take this to Lady Atsuko,¡± Saizo says, placing the contents of the chest into their bag. The five shinobi leave with contentment, and Saizo leaves with a feeling that they will return to the Black Box again. ??? Later, after Tim has reformed after his fight. He meditates on the battle. Emily greets him. ¡°The girl with the weird dress,¡± Tim says. ¡°She harbored a surprising amount of potential.¡± ¡°You want to see her again,¡± Emily¡¯s teasing voice echoes to the lad. ¡°Maybe I can set you two up on a date if we see her again!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be stupid, Emily,¡± Tim says. ¡°I was thinking a sparring partner would be ideal for my advancement.¡± ¡°What exactly are you trying to do, Tim?¡± Emily says. ¡°I want to hone myself,¡± Tim says, ¡°I¡¯d said as much before. It¡¯s why I decided to travel with Heathcliff.¡± Emily senses something unusual with Tim. ¡°Well call me if you need naything, Wouldn¡¯t want you to fee uncomfortable, Timmy,¡± ¡°Knock it off, Emily,¡± Tim says while blushing. ¡°And when did you decide to use cutesy nicknames?¡± ¡°Just now,¡± Emily says. ¡°And no.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t be serious,¡± Tim says. ¡°Ask Lizzie and find out,¡± Emily says. Tim sighs. ¡°Whatever, get ready we¡¯re supposed to go to Noir in a few hours.¡± He then resumes his meditation. Chapter XVIIIS: Frozen Ray In the diner in Noir¡¯s underground, Rose Rhapsodia looks around impudently. ¡°What is taking them so long?¡± she says. ¡°Patience, Rose,¡± Whisper says. The familiar tries to calm her down. ¡°It was Hydrangea¡¯s idea to head to Cocytus Manor to begin with!¡± Rose says. Her face bears an impatient expression. ¡°You¡¯d think she would¡ª¡° ¡°Be the first to arrive?¡± Hydrangea Harmony arrives from the stairs. ¡°Finally!¡± the pink-haired Lamia says. ¡°What took you so long?¡± ¡°My apologies,¡± the cyan-haired girl says sarcastically. ¡°Not all of us are as blessed to be able to wake up as early as you.¡± ¡°Early? What do you mean ear¡ª¡± Rose says as she looks at the clock. She stops speaking as she realizes it reads 5:09 AM. ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°Daylight Savings Time,¡± Hydrangea says, putting her cap on top of her head. ¡°You got to be kidding me!¡± the young serpentine girl says after realizing that she had misjudged the time. ¡°Want some breakfast?¡± Whisper says. ¡°Whisper! You knew about this didn¡¯t you?¡± Rose says. The squirrel flashes a mischievous smile. Over hotcakes, Rose talks to Hydrangea. ¡°So why did you want to return to that place anyway?¡± The bookish lass turns to her friend. ¡°I figured in its current state it would yield a Cryosphere,¡± she says. ¡°A Cryosphere?¡± Rose says. ¡°Why do we need Elementalist¡¯s Spheres? I¡¯m fine with just lightning spells.¡± Hydrangea conjures a small ice crystal. ¡°I figure that we would need something valuable to better convince prospective adopters.¡± ¡°Whatever,¡± Rose says. ¡°I¡¯ve been itching to get to the surface anyway. I spent way too long cooped up in the underground.¡± ¡°If we¡¯re successful, then you may get to touch all the grass as you wish,¡± Hydrangea says playfully. ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± Rose says incredulously. ¡°Nothing,¡± the other girl giggles. ¡°What are you two planning?¡± Rose asks before putting a piece of the breakfast pastry in her mouth. ¡°We¡¯ve managed to find someone who might be willing to take you and the other sin,¡± Whisper says, seeing no reason to hide. Lily Borea Legato arrives, the canters of her centaur legs being heard from the front nook of the diner. ¡°Good morning!¡± she says. ¡°Finally awake, huh?¡± Rose asks. Raine Carnation Cadenza is the next to enter as Lily walks up to the nook and eats her hotcakes. ¡°Mornin¡ª Why is she up early?¡± The red-headed girl is surprised to see that Rose is already awake. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Rose says, her fluffy pigtails nearly brushed over Whisper as he scurries over the nook. ¡°You do sleep in a lot,¡± Lily innocently says. ¡°That¡¯s not true!¡± Rose says. ¡°Right?¡± Everyone stays silent. ¡°R-right?¡± Rose says with uncertainty in her voice. Azalea Adagio swims in next. ¡°Morning folks!¡± Her azure-hared head is already wrapped in a sphere of water. ¡°Seems we got an early bird here and I¡¯m not talking about Raine.¡± She quips. ¡°Excited for the trip, huh Rosie?¡± ¡°Of course I am!¡± Rose says. ¡°We almost never head up to the surface! It¡¯s always ¡®But what if an Elegio finds us¡¯ this and ¡®we should avoid the Ebony Guards¡¯ that!¡¯¡± In the middle of Rose¡¯s rant, Strelitizia Sonata arrives. Her minotaur horns nearly scratch the walls as she tiredly stumbles downstairs. ¡°You¡¯re loud, you know that right Rose¡± she rubs her eyes. ¡°You should try to wake up early too, Strelitzia,¡± Azalea says. ¡°I¡¯ve seen logs that are easier to wake than you two.¡± ¡°Shut it!¡± Strelitizia says. Her tail swishes as her orange brows furrowed in an irritated expression. Azalea takes the hint and clams up. Clover Capriccio is right behind Stelitizia, her Peryton body and green pigtails unmistakable. Stelritizia fails to notice her friend behind her as she approaches her seat. Anemone Aria is the last to wake. Her hair and purple lupine ears were unkempt, suggesting she had rushed In preparing herself. ¡°Aria,¡± Lily says. ¡°Your hair, it¡¯s a mess.¡± Aria sluggishly takes her seat. ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± she says. ¡°It¡¯ll be fixed when I magicalize.¡± She takes out her wand and immediately changes. Her bed hair fixes itself and assumes the position of perfectly coifed ringlet curls as her outfit changes. With her hair now fixed, she dispels her transformation, leaving nothing but her hairstyle. Rose finished her hotcakes with the speed of a girl impatient, and Lily and Clover finished their breakfast with the chipper energy of youthful exuberance. ¡°Done,¡± Rose says before burping. ¡°Ditto,¡± Lily says. ¡°Got any more?¡± Clover says. ¡°Wow,¡± Azalea says. ¡°You three are fast.¡± ¡°Rose did get a head start,¡± Raine says. Her red wings folded at her waist. Rose fights her instincts telling her to rush the other girls. ¡°You know what,¡± she says. ¡°I think I¡¯ll have some more flapjacks too.¡± ¡°Can we get some sinkers too?¡± Azalea says. ¡°For the road that is?¡± ¡°Girls,¡± Whisper says with a sigh. ¡°You know Jacquelyn cannot make you doughnuts on a whim.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± a waitress arrives to pick up their plates. ¡°I can make an exception given what today is.¡± ¡°Yay!¡± Rose says. ¡°I¡¯ll be missing you girls,¡± Jacquelyn says as she recedes into eh kitchen. ¡°We haven¡¯t left yet,¡± Clover says. Whisper knows that if they are adopted by the dungeon he heard about, the next order of business would be to ensure they leave before Noir¡¯s authorities can find them. ¡°And besides,¡± Rose says. ¡°Even if we did, we can come back right?¡± ¡°Why on earth would we ever come back to this hellhole?¡± Strelitizia says. ¡°Language, Strelitzia,¡± Whisper says. ¡°Fine,¡± the minotaur girl says. ¡°Why would we want to return to this heck-hole then?¡± The phantasmal squirrel places his paw on his head. ¡°Isn¡¯t it simple?¡± Rose says. ¡°We are Magical Girls. Shouldn''t we try to help the helpless?¡± A black ooze drips from Strelitzia¡¯s arm before receding. The orange-haired girl clams down. ¡°Ever the idealist, aren¡¯t you.¡± Rose smiles. ¡°I try,¡± she says. Jacquelyn arrives with several trays for Rose, Lily, and Clover. ¡°Sinkers¡¯ll be ready in a few minutes.¡± ¡°Here¡¯s hoping they aren¡¯t stinkers,¡± Azalea says. After everyone finishes their breakfast, the Coloraturas head out for the surface, along with a bag of eight doughnuts each. ¡°Think they¡¯ll be okay?¡± Jacquelyn says. ¡°I¡¯m certain of it!¡± Whispers says. ¡°These fine young ladies had grown so much since I contracted them.¡± ¡°How are those wishes of theirs?¡± the waitress says. ??? The Coloraturas arrive at Cocytus Manor. Once a mansion where renowned mages reside, now a place coated in layers of frost and snow. A scent of wintry frost fills the air. Hydrangea takes a heavy sigh. The carbon dioxide exhaled becomes visible in the cold air, as she looks around she recalls memories of times gone by. Rose notices Hydrangea¡¯s melancholic expression. ¡°Oh, right. You used to live here.¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± the bespectacled girl says. The young girls walk across a garden of crystalline flowers, each one frozen to the point of being ice sculptures. Dotted among the frozen flowers of eerily lifelike sculptures made of translucent frozen water. The statues, many of which resemble Exsecratii thieves, Elegiere seeking refuge from them, and several rodents and pets, are heavily detailed. It is as if they are alive. They are but a few of many moments frozen in time. ¡°It¡¯s hard to believe that many of us were once Elegere,¡± Raine says. ¡°Once upon a time.¡± Lily sneezes. ¡°It¡¯s cold out here!¡± she says. ¡°We can magiclaize now,¡± Strelitizia says. ¡°We¡¯re gonna have to anyway if we want to get the Sphere.¡± The girls transform, their bodies warmed by the mana flowing through them as their outfits change into elaborate dresses. Strelitzia manifests her labrys axe as she finishes her transformation. ¡°I¡¯m surprised the coppers never came here,¡± Azalea says. ¡°Guess they didn¡¯t want the icy mitt huh?¡± She swims around the statues, frost forming on her clionid tail and bubble. ¡°Maybe you should get rid of the bubble, Azalea?¡± Anemone says. ¡°Clover can cast an oxygenation spell to help you breathe. ¡°What makes you¡ª¡° Her bubble freezes over, cutting off her sentence and freezing her incredulous expression. She floats there silently unable to act with her mind frozen by the enchanted ice. Raine sighs. She uses her wand to create a flame and holds it to the mermaid. ¡°Clover, help me out here!¡± ¡°Okie dokie!¡± the Peryton girl says. As Raine thaws the frozen bubble, Clover casts her oxygenation spell on Azalea. The mermaid is now able to breathe as a land-bound person would for the next three hours. ¡°Okay, I see your point,¡± Azalea says after thawing. ¡°I¡¯d like to chill out, but here is a poor place for that.¡± ¡°Can we go now?¡± Rose says impatiently. ¡°These statures are giving me the chills.¡± She looks at her serpentine tail, dusting off some snow from it. ¡°There are even more inside,¡± Hydrangea says. ¡°We need to get that¡ªwait there are?¡± The pink-haired lamia says. Hydrangea nods. Rose shivers from fear of seeing more creepy ice statues. Hydrangea opens the door. The metal knob causes a cold feeling to form in her hands as she grabs the knob. As they approach the front door, they hear whispers all around them. Haunting echoes of the past. The little ladies enter the manor and see shades of cyan and azure in the manor¡¯s foyer. The pillars look like they were made of solid glass, as are the doors and the guardrails on the stairs. ¡°You know,¡± Lily rambles on as her equine body canters on the frozen floor. ¡°This would make for a fun skating rink, whee!¡± she slides on the floor and around a statue resembling a pair of maids running outside. ¡°You¡¯re right it does!¡± Clover says, joining Lily in her ice skating. Rose tries to join them, but her slithering instead causes her to fall on her stomach and collide with a pillar, nearly causing it to tumble and causing the vase atop it to drop and fall. The sound of the vase causes one of Lily¡¯s legs to trip and she falls on her underbelly. Clover then bumps into her and falls as well. The three girls laugh about the collision as they try to stand up. ¡°Girls,¡± Strelitizia says impatiently, ¡°We aren¡¯t here to just skate around.¡± She skates on the ice, with the grace of a ballerina in flight as she helps the centaur and Peryton girls up. Clover is stunned by the display of Strelitzia¡¯s bovine legs poised on the ice. ¡°Sorry,¡± Lily says timidly. Hydrangea is lost in thought as she looks over the frozen vase. Her mind recalls memories of living here with her parents. Happy times of her playing with her mother and learning from her father about magic and literature. A tear drop falls from her face, immediately freezing upon contact with the floor. ¡°We should get going,¡± she says. ¡°The Cells will arrive soon.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Rose says as she finally manages to stand up. ¡°Coloraturas, it¡¯s time to head out and find the Cryosphere!¡± Her face feigns a confident smile. ¡°Yeah!¡± the other girls cheer. They head up the stairs, hanging onto the frozen rails in case the frictionless ice causes them to slide off. As Hydrangea grabs a rail, a black mass emerges from her first and assimilates with it, affixing her hand to the rial. Hydrangea struggles to free herself for several moments before the piece of crystalline ice breaks off. ¡°Rats!¡± she thinks. ¡°Something wrong?¡± Rose says. Her fluffy coral-pink pigtails blow in the presence of a sudden chilly wind. ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Hydrangea lies. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± The girls head in front of a frozen door. Lavender in hue, and coated in a thick layer of frost. Raine uses her wand to create a fireball to thaw the ice after several minutes. The door is thawed enough to be opened. ??? The Coloraturas enter the room and find themselves surrounded by reflected sheets of ice on all sides. The crystalline reflections and refractions appear distorted, like an array of funhouse mirrors at a carnival. ¡°Spooky,¡± Anemone says. Strelitizia shrugs. ¡°It¡¯s gonna take more than that to scare me!¡± the minotaur girl boasts. ¡°How did this place get frozen?¡± Anemonie asks Hyddragnea. ¡°Do you know?¡± Hydrangea shakes her head. ¡°Isn¡¯t this the place where we found you? ¡°Rose says. ¡°It is,¡± Hydrangea says. She recalls the memory vividly. ¡°You and Raine were hiding from people from the Dollkeepers and stumbled upon this place.¡± ¡°Good thing I had a grasp on my fire spells then,¡± Raine Carnation Cadenza boasts. ¡°Lest we become trapped in this dungeon forever.¡± Anemone is curious. ¡°Is this why you think there is a Cryosphere here?¡± ¡°The possibility is there,¡± Hydrangea says, The lupine girl sighs. ¡°There is a lot of ice-aspected mana here,¡± Anemone says. ¡°Where are the Cells?¡± Rose says. ¡°Like this place was teeming with threats when we last came here!¡± ¡°Are you trying to jinx it, Rose?¡± Raine says. ¡°No, she¡¯s right,¡± Hydrangea says, removing her cap. ¡°It is too quiet here.¡± Suddenly the mirrors shatter. The magical girls are surrounded by several suits of mail, chilled blue by frost, but animated by unseen forces. Clover fixes her hair in front of one of the few intact mirrors. She fixes her hair as one of the knights charges at her. Strelitizia notices the ambush and rushes to intercept. Her axe blocked the frozen blade of the knight. ¡°Clover!¡± the minotaur shouts. Clover hears Strelitizia¡¯s cry and turns to see her fending off an animated mail. Hydrangea tries to fight, but her ice spells malfunction and turn against her, and black goo oozes out from her palm. ¡°What the¡ª¡° the thinks. ¡°I was certain we had enough mana.¡± Azalea swims circles around a few of the armors. ¡°We need to steel ourselves, these guys don¡¯t seem very ice.¡± She conjures a stream of water from the unfrozen vapors and drenches the knights with it. The water instantly freezes, rendering them unable to move. Rose summons lightning with her wand to attack another knight. The jolt of the strike hitting frozen metal causes the ice to melt off it. The carried knight tumbles over, having been severed from the enchanted ice. Rain uses fire magic against three knights. ¡°Let¡¯s see if I remember how to deal with these guys,¡± she thinks. ¡°I¡¯ll support you!¡± Anemone says. Her darkness spells take the form of illusions that befuddle the frozen suits of mail. Raine uses the fires to melt the ice around them, allowing Azalia to manipulate it and use it to trap more of the enemies. Another knight however strikes the mermaid unawares. ¡°Ow!¡± Azalea cries out. ¡°That wasn¡¯t very¡ª¡° she stops moving as her body is encased in ice. ¡°Azalea!¡± Rose cries out. Hydrangea rushes at her. She suddenly hears a voice. ¡°Welcome home, Madeline.¡± ¡°Raine!¡± Hydrangea calls out. ¡°Azalea¡¯s been frozen. The red-haired woman rushes to her aid, her blazing wings melting the ice in her wake. ¡°The comedian got herself iced again,¡± she says. ¡°Hang on,¡± she tries to thaw Azalea out. A knight tries to take advantage and strike at the phoenixian girl. The mail¡¯s advance stops as Clover uses wind to lift it into the air and throw it into a nearby pillar. ¡°Heh, you have got to be more careful Raine!¡± Clover says. ¡°Who knows what trouble we would be in? She rambles on, unaware of her surroundings while Strelitizia fends off nearby knights. The minotaur knocks down a dozen of the icy armors within the last few minutes. Her labrys gave her enough reach to strike them without being touched by their enchanted blades. But she sees Clover talking about random topics to Raine while Raine tries to thaw off Azalea. While an icy mail is preparing to attack the green-haired peryton. ¡°Clover!¡± Strelitizia says. ¡°So what are we gonn¡ª¡° The attack strikes Clover and freezes her solid. The axe-brandishing Strelitzia is enraged by the attack on Clover and immediately strikes it down. The last of the icy mails. Raine tries to thaw Azalea out, but no matter how hot her flames burn, the clionid mermaid remains entombed in ice. ¡°Something¡¯s wrong! I can¡¯t thaw her out.¡± ¡°Clover¡¯s frozen too!¡± Lily says. Hydrangea looks at the scene and her frozen friends. She tries to use her magic to free them, but her spells fizzle out. She is left helpless. ¡°Madeline,¡± a voice echoes to her. ¡°Why resist, we¡¯ve missed you, you know?¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± she telepathically shouts to the voice while clutching her head. ¡°Get out of my head!¡± The voice fades, as the black ooze drips down Hydrangea¡¯s arms. She looks up and finds, the others looking at her with concerned looks on their faces. ¡°I¡¯m fine!¡± she lies. A black ooze is visible on her arms. ¡°Maybe you should sit this one out?¡± Anemone says. ¡°You seem very stressed.¡± Hydrangea looks at Anemonie. ¡°I can continue.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± Rose says. ¡°You looked like you are having trouble with your magic.¡± ¡°Among us. I know the manor best,¡± Hydrangea says. ¡°You know that,¡± ¡°Hydrangea,¡± Raine says. ¡°Are you hiding something from us?¡± ¡°Of course not!¡± Hydrangea says. ¡°Let¡¯s get going. ¡°Raine,¡± Lily says. ¡°Can you melt the ice around them?¡± ¡°I can try,¡± the redheaded girl says. She uses her flames to melt the ice beneath them, but cannot use that to create an opening in their frozen fetters. ¡°I¡¯ll carry Azalea!¡± Lily says as she hoists the frozen mermaid on her back. ¡°Guess I¡¯m lugging Clover around then,¡± Rose says, using some rope to tie Clover to her. ¡°We¡¯ll need to be more careful,¡± Hydrangea says. The girls press forward. ??? Hydrangea leads the group to the ballroom. The six girls see several frozen statues of dancers spinning around. A chilly air sends shivers down their spines as they move to the center of the room. ¡°Be on your guard,¡± Strelitizia says. Rose and Lily put the frozen Clover and Azalea somewhere safe before they join the others. At the center of the ballroom, surrounded by the eerie statues of twirling dancers. They try to look for the Cryosphere. ¡°Are you sure you and your friends don¡¯t want to stay?¡± the voice says to Azalea. ¡°We¡¯d love to have you join us.¡± Hydrangea ignores the voice as she searches the large room for the Cryosphere. ¡°Your father would¡¯ve disapproved of your behavior young lady,¡± the voice teases. ¡°You¡¯re not my father.¡± Hydrangea¡¯s chords were pulled. ¡°You¡¯re just a squatter!¡± ¡°Me, a squatter? After all I¡¯ve done for you?¡± the voice says. ¡°Looks like someone needs to teach you some manners missy.¡± Hydrangea realizes what is about to happen. ¡°Everyone, prepare yourselves¡± she shouts. The icy winds coalesce into the form of a gigantic hoarfrost hound. Cloaked in snow-white fur with teeth and claws made of ice. The dancers spin around the canine as it howls. ¡°T-That wasn¡¯t there last time!¡± Raine says. ¡°It¡¯s been a few years,¡± Rose says. ¡°I don¡¯t care when they got it!¡± Strelitizia says. ¡°That mutt¡¯s going down! No ifs, ands, or buts!¡± The minotaur girl charges at the beast. ¡°Wait!¡± Hydrangea shouts. ¡°You don¡¯t know¡ª¡° The hoarfrost hound swipes with its claws and immediately knocks Strelitzia into a pillar near the wall. The bull-horned girl sees frost forming where the beast strikes her. She looks on with a horrified expression as she sees the ice slowly creeping around her body. ¡°And so, another one shall join us,¡± the voice calls to Hydrangea. Hydrangea tries to cast a spell, but all she can manifest is a tiny snowball that falls short of hitting the hoarfrost hound. ¡°Hydrangea!¡± Rose says. ¡°What¡¯s going on, your magic is on the fritz!¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine!¡± she says. But her face is awash with horror at her uselessness. ¡°Oh Maddie,¡± the voice says. ¡°Need to talk things out?¡± Lily shines a beam of light at the beast, it dodges, and the beam hits a pair of dancers, which redirects it towards a wall, where it bounces off and hits a pillar. The hound lands and is hit by the ricocheting beam of holy light. The attack temporarily blinds it. Anemone causes dark magic to hinder the beast¡¯s sight, but the beast sees the attack coming and lunches at her, piercing her legs with its claws. The wound freezes over with frost but the hound¡¯s attack. The hound rushes to the center. The Sentinel howls, and icicles fall from the ceiling. Strelitizia dodges one of the falling icicles. ¡°What in the world?¡± she says. The beast is preparing an attack. Energy coalesces from its mouth. A frozen ray of light emerges from its mouth and is aimed at Rose. Rose tries to slither away, but in her haste, her tail is caught between statues of dancers spinning around and dragging her with them, into the hound¡¯s attacks. The attack hits her tail, freezing its tip, and the surrounding ground. Rose tries to break free of the ice, tugging her pinned tail down. Hydrangea struggles to find a way to help. She looks around the ballroom for anything that could be used to help defeat the beast. She looks upwards and finds four chandeliers attached to the ceiling. ¡°Raine!¡± she calls out. ¡°The ceiling!¡± Raine looks up and sees four chandeliers. Each is colored red, blue, white, and black, and adorned with sigils of guardian beasts. The red one, next to the image of a mighty phoenix, glows with the light of candles that the cold had failed to snuff out. Raine uses her wings to fly toward the ceiling, while Hydrangea tries to find a way to the other three. Rose frees herself from the ice by using her lightning spells to melt it. Her tail¡¯s tip is still frozen and the ice slowly moves alongside it. The hoarfrost hound tries to swipe at her, but Strelitizia charges Rose and moves her out of the way. ¡°Strelitizia,¡± Rose says. ¡°Can we lure that oversized mutt over there,¡± she points to a spot directly beneath the chandelier. Stelitizia is confused but sees a determined look in her friend¡¯s eyes and nods. ¡°Hey ugly!¡± Strelitzia calls to the hound. ¡°Over here!¡± The icy beast charges and fires another frozen ray, but the minotaur girl dodges and stands still for s few moments. The hound rears itself and leaps at her. Strelitzia moves away. ¡°Raine, now!¡± Hydrangea calls from a balcony. ¡°On it!¡± Raine uses her flames to cleave the glowing chandelier from the ceiling. It plummets to the floor and collides with the hoarfrost hound, pinning it down. With the hound incapacitated, Rose, Raine, Lily, and Strelitizia let loose a barrage of elemental spells, lightning, fire, earth, and light pelt the beast as it struggled to move from its fetters. The collision causes one of the hound¡¯s hind legs to break off. Ir begins charging another frozen ray and firs at the chandelier. The hound is encased in ice, but the ice soon explodes and the beast emerges and attacks a stunned Lily, biting into her as it lifts her with its mouth and tosses her aside. ¡°Owie!¡± Lily says. A layer of frost forms in her equine body. She tries to walk but experiences pain with each trot. Strelitizia charges at the beast but stumbles as the ice creeps to her thighs. Her sense of time slows alongside her movements. Amenoie tries to cannel a powerful dark spell, but the hound locks eyes at her and charges its beam again. The others realize what is happening and try to intervene,e but it is too late. The beam fires and Anameo is frozen solid from the point-blank attack. ¡°Why are you doing this?¡± Hydrangea cries out to thin air. ¡°Oh dear Madeline,¡± the voice says. ¡°I only want you to stay with me, just as you have always done.¡± ¡°Frozen inside for three years?¡± Hydrangea says. ¡°It was necessary, ¡°the voice says. ¡°It¡¯s my duty to keep you safe.¡± ¡°Hydrangea!¡± Raine says. ¡°We kinda need you here!¡± The cyan-haired girl looks at Raine. ¡°Sorry.¡± She looks at the ceiling and finds the blue chandelier glowing, next to an image of a dragon. She points at the lit chandelier. Raine flies at it. Rose sees her friend approach the azure chandelier. ¡°Strelitzia, Lily, over there¡± she points to the spot beneath it. Lily slowly trots towards the hound, trying to blind it at close range. ¡°He-here!¡± Lily fires a blinding light at the hound that stunts it enough for Strelitizia to grab it by the tail and uses herculean force to hurl it at the spot. The hound stands and snarls at the orange-haired minotaur. Raine tries to break the chains with her flames, but they are more heat-resistant than she anticipated. ¡°Come on!¡± she exclaims as she tries to several the chandelier. The others notice Raine¡¯s struggles and Strelitzia rushes to fight the hound. ¡°Stay!¡± she shouts at the beast as she slams her axe at the beast¡¯s midsection. Her strike lands and breaks off a piece of its icy body. The two are locked in combat, as the ice slowly creeps down Strelitizia¡¯s legs. ??? Meanwhile, Hydrangea tries to find a way to help Raine. She tried several ice spells but found they had either weakened or fizzled out. ¡°Come on, do something!¡± she thinks to herself. Her wand is of little help. In her frustration, her arm is coated in a black mass and her palm faces the strings that hold the chandelier in place. Black shards of ice fire from her arm at a rapid rate. Raine sees the shrapnel incoming and flies out of the way. The black ice freezes the cord binding the chandelier to the ceiling. Hydrangea tries to move her blackened arm, but it remains aimed at Raine. The voice chuckles. ¡°Admit it, Maddie, you want to stay here too.¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± she shouts. She knows what the sludge coating her arm represents. ¡°I can¡¯t become a Strega! Not now!¡± Raine dodges the black ice. ¡°Hydrangea! What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± As she flies around the ceiling. ¡°I can¡¯t control it!¡± the cyan-haired girl shouts. Raine senses something is wrong. But before she could turn around, one of her wings was hit by the black ice. The pain from the shrapnel causes her to fall and land on the chandelier, her arm caught in the blue and gold piece of furniture. The ice on the chandelier corrodes the metal connecting it as it melts. The acidic black ice melts in a miasmic vapor and weakens the structural integrity. Hydrangea¡¯s rouge arm locks onto the phoenixian girl. But as it launches another salvo of black ice, The chandelier snaps and falls, crashing onto the hoarfrost hound beneath it. The beast is pinned down by the blue chandelier. Raine frees herself from the wreckage. ¡°Raine!¡± Rose says. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Hydrangea¡¯s magic is going berserk,¡± Raine says as she dodges black ice heading her way. Lily and Strelitzia see the black ice and realize that something dire is happening, but before they can speak, the Hoarfrost hound coats the fetter in ice again and the ice then explodes. The beast now floats in the air, having lost all of its legs and claws. Its tail is now coated in spiky icicles as it summons icicles from above, each locked onto the Coloraturas. Raine, Rose, and Strelitzia dodge the attacks, but Lily is not as lucky and is grazed by an icicle that cuts one of her forelegs. The wound freezes over as ice from the midsection spreads further. Hydrangea breathes heavily, struggling to control her arm, which is still trying to fire black ice at everyone below against her wishes. She looks at the ebony chandelier near the image of a serpentine tortoise, its candles now lit. Having an idea, she grabs her arm and runs towards the chandelier. The movement throws off the rouge arm¡¯s aim as she approaches the edge closest to the black fixture and leaps onto it. As Hydrangea leapts onto the chandelier, the others fight the hoarfrost beast directly beneath it. The beast swipes its tail to pelt them with shards of ice. Raine and Strelitizia leap above to dodge, but the tiny shards hit Rose and Lily and cause the frost to spread further onto their bodies. ¡°Why is this thing so darn tough!¡± Lily says. Hydrangea exploits the locked aim and moves so that the chandelier is directly between the rouge arm and its targets. Each attempt spreads the black ice over it, soon spreading to the tether that keeps it attached. The acidic ice corrodes it enough that it snaps free of the ceiling and plummets to the ground. The beast is once more caught beneath the rubble of a fallen chandelier, but this time, it shatters and the black ice coats the hoarfrost hound. It howls in pain as the acidic ice corrects what is left of its body, and melts it into a puddle of ichorus sludge. Hydrangea limps away, clutching her arm to prevent it from harming her friends. ¡°So you have bested this trial, Madeline,¡± the voice calls to Hydrangea. ¡°I should applaud your efforts, futile though they are.¡± A chest forms from the frozen vapors at the center of the ballroom, the ice sculptures of dancers twirl around it before receding into the shadows beneath the balcony. Raine immediately opens the chest and finds it filled with Amazonites, a rapier, and greaves. She tosses the sword and greaves to Hydrangea. ¡°Hurry!¡± The arm already senses the objects and moves towards them, a web of black sludge juts out from it, and draws the sword and armor closer to her, as their mana is being absorbed. The loot vanishes into her arm and the black ooze in turn recedes. Hydrangea feels her arm fall asleep for several moments before the feeling is restored. ¡°Thanks,¡± Hydrangea says. That her arm is no longer attacking her friends is the only solace she has. The frost still lingers on all except Raine, and even worse they are still moving. ¡°What¡¯s going on,¡± Rose says upon seeing her tail still partially frozen. ¡°That didn¡¯t happen last time!¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid the core is playing for keeps now,¡± Hydrangea says as she turns to Clover and Azalea. She notices that rather than being encased in ice, their forms have instead changed into solid ice sculptures. ¡°We need to move forward! Time is against us.¡± ¡°We will move forward,¡± Raine says. ¡°You will leave and find Whisper.¡± ¡°Raine,¡± Hydrangea says. ¡°We don¡¯t have time for this! The ice is already creeping up on the others, if it is as I fear it would consume them as it did Azalea, Anemone, and Clover!¡± ¡°Hydrangea,¡± Raine says with a stern but worried expression. ¡°There is something about this place that is clearly distressing you. If you linger here any longer, you will turn.¡± ¡°But,¡± the cyan-haired girl struggles to find the right words. Rose slithers towards her friend. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we got this.¡± She says with a wink and a thumbs up. ¡°We will find the Cryosphere,¡± Strelitzia says. ¡°And being everyone back to normal. You just rest for now. Tell you what, I¡¯ll go with you.¡± ¡°But Rose--¡± Hydrangea says. Rose grabs her hands. ¡°No buts! Now move it missy!¡± the lamia slithers off with Hydrangea powerless to resist her grasp as they exit the ballroom. ¡°What do we do?¡± Lily says. ¡°For now, we try to find the Cryosphere,¡± Raine says ¡°I¡¯ll go carry Azalea. Lily, you carry Clover and Anemone ¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take point then, as usual,¡± Strelitizia says. The trio moves to the ice sculpture of their friends. On the way, Raine notices a door leading to a courtyard and leads the other two through it. ??? Raine, Strelitizia, and Lily find themselves outside in the courtyard, much like the front gardens, the courtyard is filled with ice sculptures in the form of people of flowers. At the center lies of fountain, its waters stilled, frozen into crystallized arches. The three take Anemone, Azalea and Clover to the fountain and look around the courtyard. The fountain bears intricate decor, including statures realignment of the same figures seen on the ceiling of the ballroom. ¡°I¡¯m worried about Hydrangea,¡± Lily says. Her cheerful smile faded into an expression of concern as her equine ears heard the whispers coming from the fountain. ¡°Rose can take care of her,¡± Raine says. ¡°She could handle that much at least.¡± ¡°For now,¡± Lily says as she looks at her behind and sees the ice creeping on her body. Stelitizia notices the ice on her legs as she tries to walk. The ice had progressed far enough to force her to waddle. Lily giggles at seeing Strelitizia¡¯s silly movements, to the minotaur¡¯s visible ire. ¡°Okay,¡± Strelitizia says. ¡°You said you¡¯ve been here before, Raine?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Raine haughtily says, ¡°My fire spells carried the day that time.¡± ¡°Then maybe you can help us find a way to dispel this ice?¡± Strelitzia says, she gazes at Clover, her body turned into a glass-like multiple in her image, frozen in a post that looked like she was talking to someone. Strelitzia¡¯s eyes show a look of guilt, the look of someone who failed to protect her dearest friend. Let¡¯s see.¡± Raine looked around as she tried to recall the details of the last time she was there. She finds a pair of sculptures resembling children looking in the manor, their eyes locked into surprised expressions. She then turns towards a frozen tree. A swing hands form its branches, as the bitter wind moves it back and forth. Raine imagines a child using the swing as it moves. Rain tries to recall the details of the last visit. ¡°We found Hydrangea frozen in a bedroom, then we moved through the dining hall, then the ballroom, and then¡­¡± her eyes catch a hedge maze in the distance. Frozen over with thorns jutting from the ice. Blue and white roses adorn the hedges in the labyrinth. ¡°We went through that maze to find a key.¡± ¡°Why would you need a key?¡± Lily asks. A slow realization dawns on Raine. ¡°The manor was locked when we entered!¡± ??? Meanwhile, Rose and Hydrangea are back in the foyer. Rose tries to open the front doors. ¡°Open sesame!¡± Rose yells. The doors refuse to open. ¡°Darn!¡± ¡°You know doors don¡¯t work that way,¡± Hydrangea says. ¡°I was hoping it would stop open this time,¡± Rose rubs the back of her pink-haired head. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. Hydrangea sighs. She tries to cast another spell, but it fizzles again. ¡°Are you certain you want to leave?¡± a voice calls out to Hydrangea. ¡°Your friends would not be able to leave now, and I¡¯m sure they would miss you dearly Madeline.¡± ¡°It¡¯s your fault they¡¯re like this in the first place!¡± Hydrangea shouts. Rose is incensed by the outburst. ¡°My fault? I thought you wanted to come here!¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t talking to you,¡± Hydrangea says. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°Then who were you talking to, the walls?¡± Rose says. ¡°Considering where we currently are, Rose¡ª¡± Hydrangea says. The two then hear someone. ¡°Rosie¡­ Hydra¡­ where are you?¡± a voice calls out to the two of them. ¡°Is that, Azalea?¡± Rose says. Rose tries to slither, but her tail is halfway frozen and her movements are made more difficult by the slippery ice. ¡°Rose,¡± Hydrangea says with her palm on her face. The two follow the voice and are led to the dining hall. Hydrangea finds the sight somewhat nostalgic. The room displayed the scene of a feast in progress, with sculptures of the diners conversing amongst each other and eating their food. ¡°It¡¯s gone,¡± Rose says. ¡°Rats!¡± ¡°It¡¯s likely a trap anyway,¡± Hydrangea says. ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you say anything?¡± Rose asks Hydrangea. ¡°We can¡¯t linger in the foyer,¡± the bespectacled girl says. ¡°This isn¡¯t like other dungeons. Either we defeat those that lurk in the manor¡¯s walls within two hours or we don¡¯t leave at all.¡± Rose remembers that detail. ¡°How long has it been?¡± ¡°Forty-five minutes,¡± Hydrangea says. Rose sighs. ¡°Of course. Remind me again, what happens if we fail to beat the dungeon in time?¡± ¡°I think our frozen friends can answer it better than I could,¡± Hydrangea says. ¡°But since they¡¯re not here, try asking your¡ª¡° ¡°I get it, Hydrangea,¡± Rose says. The lamia looks at the frozen diners and their frozen dinners. ¡°You never did tell me who those people were the last time we were here.¡± ¡°My uncle and his associates,¡± Hydrangea sighed. ¡°He was tasked to care for me when my parents vanished.¡± ¡°Huh,¡± Rose realizes that Hydrangea never told anyone about her family before. ¡°Your parents vanished?¡± she says. Hydrangea realizes her slip and stays silent. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± Rose says. ¡°You know the answer, little Maddie,¡± the mysterious voice echoes to Hydrangea. ¡°Come on,¡± Rose says with an eager expression. ¡°Tell me!¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather not,¡± Hydrangea says. ¡°Tell me!¡± Rose says. ¡°No, Rose,¡± Hydrnagea says ¡°We don¡¯t have time for this.¡± ¡°Tell me, Hydrangea!¡± Rose continues harping on the topic. Hydrangea clutches her arm as black ooze coats it again, but the ooze recedes as soon as it arrives. Fueled by spite towards the dungeon and worn down by Rose¡¯s repreated demands, she relents and looks at her lamia friend with a sigh. ¡°My parents, they were once people resowed for their magecraft and their archeology.¡± ¡°Archaeologists? ¡°Rose says. ¡°That sounds exciting.¡± ¡°It isn¡¯t the type where you raid dungeons. They never spent their days outrunning boulders in tombs. Rather they study existing material that was sent to them.¡± ¡°Oh Maddie, your parents were wonderful people,¡± the voice says to Hydrangea. Hydrangea clutches her head. Rose bears a concerned expression. She tries to help her friend, but they are suddenly ambushed by a trio of wassets. The giant weasels swarm around the two girls. ¡°Wassets!¡± Rose shouts. ¡°Why are they¡ª¡° Rose remembers that they are in a Dungeon that is a manor frozen over. Hydrangea notices the Wassets¡¯ teeth and fangs are similar to those of the Hoarfrost hounds. ¡°Be careful! They are mutated by the dungeon!¡± ¡°Gotcha!¡± Rose says. She uses her wand to summon a large array of lighting but the beasts are unfazed by the jolts of electricity. One of them charges forward with their long legs and rams into Rose. The lamia is knocked by a few feet by the force of the impact. Hydrangea tries to cast another spell, but her magic fails her yet again. ¡°You shouldn''t strain yourself, Hydra!¡± Rose says. ¡°Please,¡± Hydrangea thinks, ¡°just this one!¡± Her pleas convinced her wand to oblige and summon a chilly tailwind that hindered the Wassets¡¯ movements. A surprised Rose looks at Hydrangea. ¡°Your magic working!¡± Hydrangea nods, but as she does, a black vein emerges on her arm and the biting wind blows toward them instead of the Wassets. The weasel-like monsters rush forward, aided by the howling black wind. One of them stops and slashes at Hydrangea¡¯s left before she can react. A layer of frost forms over the wound. ¡°And then there was one,¡± the voice says. ¡°Even her flames would soon be snuffed out!¡± The Wassets loom over the two girls. Hydrangea manages to gain control of magic again and uses it to push them back several feet, buying them enough time to run through the dining room and into an open door. The two rush through the doors and close them. Hydrangea¡¯s still active magics causing them to freeze over before stopping. The Wassets claw at the door, but the layer of ice protects it from being opened by their claws. The three beasts leave unable to make ingress to their prey. Hydrangea and Rose breathe a sigh of relief at heating the Wassets¡¯ footsteps fade. ¡°Okay,¡± Rose says. ¡°Now where are we?¡± Hydrangea turns around and sees a library, filled with several bookshelves and tables, all are frozen over. She gulps at the sight of icy books and tables. ¡°This was the Library.¡± ??? Meanwhile, the trio of Coloratura arrives at the entrance of the hedge maze. ¡°Okay,¡± Raine says. ¡°First we find a key, then we regroup with Rose and Hydrangea and make sure she¡¯s safe.¡± ¡°Are you sure those two are still in the foyer?¡± Lily says as she sets aside Azalea, Anemone, and Clover¡¯s frozen forms. ¡°They¡¯d better be,¡± Raine says. Her crimson wings ignite with fury. The three enter the hedge maze. The thorns emerging from the ice glow with a subtle white. Lily accentually touches one of the thorns and is pricked, frost forms on the afflicted area. A sign that they should be avoided at all costs. Raine Carnation Cadenza uses her wand as a torch to try and burn away some of the ice and hedges in this maze. They manage to burn some ice off, but it reveals briers that are more heatproof than the foliage and ice would suggest. ¡°No cheating this maze,¡± Strelitizia says with an irritated tone. Her left leg is now completely frozen. Raine slumps. ¡°We don¡¯t have time for this!¡± she yells. ¡°I don¡¯t think the dungeon cares,¡± Lily says. The three proceed deeper into the maze. They find a Wasset patrolling the hedge. Lily uses her wand to create a wisp that lures the beast away before making it through. They encounter another one and Strelitizia fights it. The beast lands a blow that causes ice to form on her right shoulder and arm before being felled. They find a third, but Raine¡¯s blazing aura causes it to cowardly flee. They soon find an obelisk made of petrified wood in one of the maze¡¯s dead ends. The structure causes Raine to remember something as she approaches it. She sets the wooden monument on fire. The three then hear a clicking sound near the entrance. ¡°I think we have to find one more of these things,¡± Raine says. After a few more Wasset encounters, the trio soon finds the second obelisk in a circular chamber. Raine ignites it and smoke billows from the burning wood. A second clicking sound is heard. ¡°Come on!¡± Raine says. They rush to the entrance. Lily and Strelitizia pricked themselves in their haste. The three emerge from the maze and see the shadow of an avian descend. Covered in white and grey feathers that give off an iridescent sheen. Its plumes resemble a snowflake as its blue beak opens to let out a vicious cry. ¡°A Cyroc?¡± Strelitizia says. ¡°Here?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not surprised one bit,¡± Raine says. The Cyroc engages the Coloraturs in battle. It summons a chilling wind with its feathers before swooping at Lily with its talons. The centaur nimble dodges the strike. Strelitizia slams her labrys into the bird as it lands, but the axe is not able to leave a scratch on it. Raine pelts it with some fireballs which are a little more effective. The Roc swoops downwards and lunges at the magical girls. Lily again tries to dodge, but she is grazed by its wing which leads to a trial of the front all over her left side. Strelitizia tries to swing her axe, but her arm and leg being frozen causes her great difficulty in even moving. Strelitzia realizes that the frost has covered most of her body now. And takes a heavy breath. As she looks at her visible breathing. Fear washes over her face. For the first since she had escaped with Clover, for the first time since she cast aside her previous identity and assumed the name Strelitizia Sonata, she is placed in a position where she knows she can¡¯t escape. ¡°Even if the Cryoc is felled¡­¡± she thinks. Her fear gives way to resignation, then determination. ¡°Raine!¡± She cried out to the phoenixian girl. ¡°Cover me!¡± The Cyroc takes flight again. Strelitzia rushes towards the beast and Raine grabs her hand. The two sin around and use the centrifugal force to propel Strelitzia into the air where she slams her earth-enchanted labrys into the roc with all the strength she can muster. The attack hits the left wing and causes a gash that forces the bird the land. Strelitzia crashes down into the ground nearby. ¡°Strelitzia!¡± Lily cries out. Lily and Raine rush to her aid and find her breathing heavily. Ice has completely coated her arms, legs, and torso. ¡°It¡¯s too late for me,¡± the minotaur says as ice creeps over her face. ¡°Please, finish this¡­¡± her last word before the frost overtakes her and turns her into an ice sculpture. Before the other two could mourn. The Cyroc lets out a mighty cry and ascends over more Its injured wing makes it more difficult to fly without repeated landings, but it sues those few precious moments of flight to assault the two with whirlwinds of cold. Lily glares at the avian Sentinel. She uses her staff to summon pillars of light at the bird¡¯s location, trying to clip the other wing while Raine attacks it with a barrage of fiery fury. ¡°I¡¯ll send you crashing down!¡± Raine says as her wings ignite. Anger is present on her face as she charges at the bird and knocks it onto one of Lily¡¯s spells. The heat from both Raine and the light sears the other wing until it burns. The Cyroc falls, wincing in pain during its descent. Once grounded, the avian is rendered vulnerable to a series of ranged magic from Raine and Lilly and succumbs to its wounds. The fallen and felled avian transforms into an ice sculpture that then shatters, leaving an explosion of ice and feathers that converge onto a chest that appears at the maw of the hedge maze. Lily opens the chest and sees more Amazonite, as well as the Cyroc¡¯s feathers and a hat for mages. She takes the chest to Raine before moving Strelitizia and the others to the fountain. Not aware that most of her body is now covered in frost even as she struggles to move the sculpture of the minotaur girl. Raine relieves the chest of its contents and finds a key among them. She recalls that the key is not to the entrance of the dungeon, but rather a special room where the last foe resides. ¡°We need to take this back to the ballroom.¡± ¡°But wh¡ª¡° Lily freezes over before finishing her sentence. ¡°Lily?¡± Raine runs and sees that frost has claimed Lily as well. She runs towards it but a cold feeling overtakes her and she grasps her shoulder in pain. She looks towards her arm and finds frost forming on it. Raine is now running out of time. She must return to the Ballroom at once. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± her face is awash with regret as she has to leave her frozen friends behind to face the final Sentinel. ??? Meanwhile, Rose and Hydrangea are at a library in the manor. A layer of ice covers the various shelves and tables, preventing anyone from claiming the books sealed within. The smell of frozen water and parchment fills the air. Hydrangea finds a table with two codices. The Codex Scarletina: Annotated Indigo Edition and Codex Violetta: Annotated Teal Edition, lying on the frozen table. Both books bear the image of serpentine dragons. Hydrangea sighs as she examines the tomes¡¯ covers, sealed beneath a layer of ice. Rose approaches Hydrangea. ¡°What are those?¡± ¡°Collections of urban legends and rumors,¡± Hydrangea says. ¡°The kind that holds claims of extraterrestrials or that lost civilization still exists. Father was trying to debunk such notions.¡± She moves towards another table, next to a staircase. ¡°You said that your parents were archaeologists?¡± Rose says. ¡°Rose,¡± Hydrangea says. ¡°Is this the time to press the matter?¡± Black veins form on her arm as ice extends from her front shoulder to both the arms and the neck. ¡°It¡¯s as good a time as any!¡± Rose says with an impudent and wide-eyed expression. ¡°Rose, I¡ª¡° she winces in pain as her arm becomes coated by the obsidian ooze again. ¡°Stay back! It¡¯s too..dange¡ª¡° ¡°Oh no, you¡¯re not!¡± Rose says as she slithers towards her cyan-haired and bespectacled friend and hugs her tightly. ¡°Like it or not, I¡¯m not letting you go.¡± ¡°Rose¡­I¡ª¡° ¡°Aren¡¯t you tired of the aloof and distant act by now?¡± Rose says with awareness of Hydrangea¡¯s tendency to withdraw herself from her friends. ¡°Always sitting alone reading your books, never bothering to play with us. Pushing us away nearly every chance you get, don¡¯t you like us?¡± ¡°Rose, you know that¡¯s not true!¡± Hydrangea says with a pained tone as her arm struggles to move on its own. The lamia¡¯s expression bares a mixture of confusion and determination as she tightens her grip on Hydrangea and her blackened arm. ¡°Hydra, I¡¯m here for you. You don¡¯t have to hide away from me, from your friends.¡± ¡°Rose,¡± Hydrangea says. ¡°I know something is up ever since we arrived here,¡± Rose says. ¡°Your magic is spazzing out, black goop is forming on your arm and you seem more insistent than usual. I¡¯m not letting you go, so please, tell me what¡¯s going on.¡± The blackened arm tried to wriggle out of Rose¡¯s grip. Hydrangea looks at it with a look of concern. ¡°What if I become a Strega, you¡¯ll be trapped with me in the abyss.¡± ¡°So?¡± Rose says, beaming a cheerful smile. ¡°It beats leaving you here alone to wallow in madness.¡± The frost on her tail soon covers it entirely. Hydrangea looks at her friend. Rose¡¯s wide-eyed smile shows hints of determination. ¡°You¡¯re serious about this?¡± ¡°Hydrangea, I¡¯m your friend, silly,¡± Rose says. ¡°Of course, I¡¯m not leaving you behind!¡± Hydrangea sighs. Her glasses catch the light for a moment. ¡°Very well,¡± she says before clearing her throat. ¡°But not here. Can we move somethere else?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Rose says mainting her grip on Hydrangrea. ¡°But you¡¯re gonna have to carry me around, my tail ahs frozen over and its hard to crawl with just my hands,¡± she says with a nervous chuckle. Hydrangea sighs. ¡°Its probably for the best,¡± she says as he looks at her arm, fearful of what would happen if Rose lets go of it. Hydrangea walks upstairs in the library, dragging Rose¡¯s half frozen body behind her. The frost on her own body soon reaches ner neck as she touches as she and Rose ascends the curved staircase. They open a door and travel down an empty corridor to a door with a sign that says ¡°Madeline¡± on it. ??? Raine arrives at the foyer, finding her only company being the sculpture of the maids. ¡°Terrific,¡± she says sarcastically, realizing that Hydrangea and Rose are gone. She looks around for Cells but finds the foyer as unguarded as usual. The path to the ballroom is clear. ¡°All I have to do and head there and use the key, then fight the boss alone.¡± She says to herself. The ice creeps on her shoulder, unhindered by her flames. ¡°If I can defeat them before the first consumes me¡­¡± she says. ¡°But,¡± a thought suddenly enters her mind. A memory of their first encounter with the dungeon core. ¡°That Sentinel was a pain to fight last time. It took all three of us just to escape them!¡± Raine realizes that in the intervening years since their last visit, Cocytus Manor would have grown in power, the encounters with the hoarfrost hound and cryoc prove as much. Encounters that had frozen five of her friends. There is nothing that would lead the phoenixian redhead to suspect that the third one would be any different. She looks to the stairway to the left. Thinking about where the other two might have gone. A memory flashes in her mind, once when she and Rose had encountered a young girl, frozen in a block of ice in a bedroom. She is suddenly knocked to the ground. The ice drains the heart from her leg and wings as frost forms on it. She stands up and turns to find her attacked her. It was one of the maids. The icy sculptures became animated. The two maids look at Raine with blank expressions as they whisper something to her. ¡°Join us¡­¡± ¡°Tch,¡± Raine says bitterly. ¡°It¡¯s gonna take more than to snuff this fire out!¡± Her wings ignite as she takes to the air. Safe from their melee attacks. She uses her wand to hurl fireballs at them, trying to melt the sculptures. The dancers from the ballroom emerge and dance around the foyer, their licks, and twirls create a gust of chilled air that makes it difficult for Raine to maintain her altitude. ¡°If only Strelitzia was here,¡± she thinks. ¡°She would¡¯ve distracted these dancers¡­¡± Raine weaves around the pillars, trying to maintain a safe vertical distance away from the living sculptures. Her fireballs melt the ice on the ground beneath their feet but do nothing to the statues themselves. ¡°Just like last time,¡± she says, dejected that her hope that they had grown weaker somehow was denied. She tries to formulate a plan to defeat the opponents when her leg is suddenly yanked and she feels it grow colder. Raine looks down and finds a sculpture of a little girl, slightly shorter than her and lifted by an ice statue of a boy, dragging her down. ¡°They¡¯re waiting¡­for you..¡± The girl whispers. ¡°Get off!¡± Raine tries to shake off the two children dragging her down, but the grip of the glass-like statue of the girl remains firm. Raine soon flies into a pillar near the front door, finally shaking them off, but her left is left covered in frost by direct contact with the child sculptures. Adrenaline coursed through Rain¡¯s body. Beads of sweat trickle down her temple as cold as her shoulder and leg. She is outnumbered, and more sculptures are emerging from the stairs. She looks at the key on her person. ¡°There is only one way to finish this,¡± she thinks. ¡°One chance to save everyone. She leaps into eh air and flies high over the sculptures, using all of her strength to barge in the ballroom door. She crashes onto the floor and stands up, holding the key above her head. ¡°It¡¯s time to and this!¡± Raine says, but before she can slam the key onto the ground and open the way to the last arena, her arm is suddenly frozen in ice. ¡°What the¡ª¡° Raine sees five ice sculpture enter the ballroom resembling a centaur, a mermaid, a peryton, a minotaur and a werewolf. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Ice to meet you again, Raine,¡± a frozen Azalea says in a dazed tone. ¡°You¡¯ve really kept us waiting.¡± Clover says unusually slowly. ¡°Using my friends against me? You are a fricking coward!¡± Raine shouts to the dungeon at the height of her furious voice. The frist on her spreads to her other leg, her torso and her neck. ¡°It¡¯s no use,¡± the sculpture of Anemone says. ¡°Our fates were sealed long ago.¡± ¡°Delay the inevitable if you want,¡± the sculpture of Strelitizia says. ¡°But the ice will consume you,¡± the sculpture of Lily says in a less cheery tone. ¡°Just as it did us.¡± Raine tries to move, but her body is already encased in frost. Her face is frozen in a forlorn mix of fury and fear. ¡°Rose is¡ª¡° her last thought before her consciousness fades. The frost morphs her form into that of an ice sculpture. ¡°Rose is¡­¡±the first words she utters, under the thrall of the dungeon. The sculpture of the six Coloraturas leave the ballroom as the others return to their usual positions and poses. The enthralled magical girls ascend the left staircase. ??? Hydrangea drags Rose inside her old bedroom. Like the rest of the manor the various furniture is frozen over, the desk, the nightstand, the bookshelf. The lone exception is the bed, untouched from when they escaped the manor last time. She feels the heat around her waist fade as Rose¡¯s arms, and her left arm, freeze solid. The black ooze vanishes as it does so. ¡°I wasn¡¯t planning on letting go anyway,¡± Rose says with a chipper look on her face. ¡°So¡­¡± Hydrangea sighs before wriggling her body to face Rose. ¡°There is no putting it off anymore,¡± she thinks. ¡°I told you before that my parents were archaeologists yes?¡± Rose nods. Hydrangea moves to the unfrozen bed with Rose in tow. With her free arm, she touches the silken sheets, cold to the touch. ¡°One day they left for Sigurdtein, trying to look into a Dungeon there for a wealthy client.¡± She looks at a frozen frame on her desk, one showing her and her family. ¡°They sent the manor reports of their findings there. A few bits of pottery, a wall of a ruin, a rusted sword¡­¡± Hydrangea hesitates to continue. ¡°All interlaced with messages to me wishing me well as my uncle took care of the house and me. We receive them once a month.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± Rose says. ¡°One month, the messages simply stopped. My uncle wrote to them trying to find out what happened but got no response. Then the news broke out that several dungeons in Sigurdtein had suddenly vanished.¡± A tear drops from her eye. ¡°Around the same time as the messages were stopped. It didn¡¯t take long for me to realize what had happened to them.¡± ¡°Your parents went missing?¡± Rose says. Her expression shifts to one of cornered. ¡°Hydra, I¡ª¡° ¡°I know,¡± Hydrangea says. ¡°You didn¡¯t know, because I haven¡¯t told you or the others.¡± She sighs again. ¡°But that is not the end of it.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Rose says with a confused expression. ¡°Think about it,¡± Hydrangea says. ¡°Before it was the Cocytus Manor, a frozen wasteland of a dungeon, it was my old home, where life had lived and thrived. It was also a place that seemed ripped for larceny. After all, my uncle was a good man, but she had neglected to bring security up to speed. With my parents missing, and my inheritance unable to be claimed until I was of age, it made a prime target for people trying to make a quick buck. Some of these attempts were held by members of the Rouges Guild themselves.¡± Rose gasps. ¡°But¡ª¡° ¡°Before you ask why,¡± Hydrangea says. ¡°Consider why we live underground, secluded from the Elegere and especially the Empyrean.¡± Rose remembers what she said this morning. ¡°We are Magical Girls. Shouldn''t we try to help the helpless?¡± Hydrangea nods. ¡°The underground is filled with desperate people, people that would do anything to free themselves from poverty no matter the cost. It is little wonder they would flock to this place.¡± Rose understands. ¡°But to try to rob a child¡¯s inheritance? Have they no shame?¡± Hydrangea turns to the frame. ¡°Most of them likely did but it was subsumed by their survival instincts. Rationalizing it as me not needing the money. Others were shameless and uncaring, to begin with, their naked malice motivates them to such acts of cruelty.¡± She turns back to Rose. ¡°It does not change the fact that the place was being targeted. Bereft of a guardian, the manor itself became one. A Natural Dungeon forged by the desire to protect those that called it home, they sealed themselves off from the rest of Noir and became known as the minor we are in today.¡± Rose looks around the familiar frozen trappings of the room and toward the incongruous unfrozen bed. She realized this was the place where Raine and her found Hydrangea. Hydrangea sees the relationship in the lamia¡¯s eyes. ¡°You understand at least my connection to the place. The core wanted to protect me, no matter the cost, and so sealed me inside this room, where your two had found me. There I slumbered, unable to feel the world around me, unable to even live. Between sleep and the sacred silence. A limbo between the Reaper and the Pathfinder.¡± ¡°Is that why you wanted to come with us?¡± Rose says. Hydrangea feels the ice crawling on her chest. She feels like she is forgetting something important. ¡°Hydrangea¡­¡± Rose says. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Rose,¡± more tears streamed down her face. ¡°I was the one that suggested this foolish adventure. I never wanted to return to this tomb, but I feel that we need to find the Cryosphere! And now I¡¯m this close to becoming sealed again, and dragging you all with me.¡± She begins sobbing inconsolably. Rose struggles to find the right words to soothe her friend, only letting her cry on her increasingly cold shoulder. After several minutes, her tears ceased. ¡°Let it all out?¡± Rose says. Hydrangea nods. ¡°Thank you,¡± she says in a warmer tone. ¡°Good,¡± Rose says. ¡°Now we still have a quest to finish!¡± ¡°But¡ª¡° Hydrangea finds that Rose is nearly frozen over and the ice on herself is not far behind. ¡°How do we plan to do that, you can barely move and my magic¡ª¡° ¡°Nu-huh. No buts, Hydra,¡± Rose says with a confident smirk. ¡°We¡¯ll find a way out of this place, I¡¯m certain of it!¡± ??? ¡°Ever the optimist, I see,¡± a familiar voice says from the bedroom entrance. ¡°Raine!¡± Rose turns her eyes to the direction of the voice. ¡°I¡¯m glad you¡ª¡° her sentence is interrupted by her gasp. Shocked at seeing ice sculptures in the shape of her friends. ¡°You think me a tomb, Maddie?¡± a voice echoes to Hydrangea. ¡°I¡¯m hurt.¡± The sculptures of Raine, Clover, Strelitzia, Anemone, Lily, and Azalea loom over Rose and Hydrangea. Watching the frost creep over their two friends. Hydrangea sees the sculpture of Raine and grasps a gleaming object in her fist. Immediately, an idea forms in her head. ¡°Look on¡­ the bright side,¡± Azalea says with a slightly cheerful expression on her frozen face. ¡°We got¡­ ourselves adopted! Isn¡¯t that ice?¡± ¡°Azalea,¡± Rose says. ¡°That pun is overused!¡± ¡°Rose,¡± Hydrangea whispers to her, ¡°Look at Raine¡¯s hands.¡± The lamia turns her eyes towards Raine and sees she is grasping a key. ¡°You have a plan?¡± Rose whispers. ¡°We need to get that key from her!¡± Hydrangea says. ¡°Gotcha,¡± Rose says. They turn to Raine¡¯s sculpture. ¡°It¡¯s only a matter of time,¡± Raine says. ¡°Yeah,¡± Rose says. ¡°All we have to do is wait. By the way, Raine, maybe you can come a little closer?¡± The sculpture refuses to move. ¡°Hehe, what¡¯s the matter, Raine? Scared of li¡¯l ol¡¯ me? Look I¡¯m harmless!¡± Rose bluffs. ¡°Can¡¯t really do anything with my arms frozen over Hydra, can I?¡± Hydrangea meanwhile looks towards her unfrozen arm, her hand remains unfrozen. ¡°Does it matter¡­ Rose?¡± the sculpture of Raine says. ¡°Aw come on,¡± Rose says with a cheerful smile. ¡°If I¡¯m gonna spend the rest of my life as a stature, can I at least get one last look at you?¡± ¡°Y-your childish tricks¡­ won¡¯t work,¡± Raine says. Her frozen arm tinges. Rose sighs, ¡°Got a plan B?¡± she whispers to Hydrangea. ¡°Raine,¡± Hydrangea says. ¡°I have a last request, something I can only tell you and you alone.¡± Her sincere but stoic expression peers into Raine¡¯s eyes. The sculpture¡¯s face is unmoved, but Raine grows bizarrely curious and approaches the pair from the right side. ¡°What do you¡­ want to say,¡± the sculpture says. ¡°I wanted to say¡­¡± Hydrangea grabs Raine¡¯s arm carrying the key, just before her own freezes over. ¡°That you are as gullible as ever!¡± She makes a cheeky smirk alongside Rose as the frost spreads to their faces. The statues stand motionless in the bedroom. ??? Hydrangea finds herself surrounded by mirrors framed in ice. Each reflects a scene from her past. One mirror shows her on the day she learned there was no message from her parents that month. One shows her meeting Whisper at the diner for the first time. One shows her freezing a leaking pipe on her first mission as a Magical Girl. She wanders around the hall of ice-coated mirrors, alien yet familiar. She soon sees one at the end of it all, with nothing showing on its reflective surface. Its frame oozes with black sludge. A reflection of Hydrangea emerges from the giant mirror. Hydrangea hears her reflection speak a voice in an alien tongue. ¡°Not a chance,¡± Hydrangea says to ¡°herself¡±. The reflection skips playfully towards Hydrangea with a playful yet curious expression. The reflection acts like a child with an average life. A life that was denied Hydrangea. Hydrangea glares at the shadow. ¡°I¡¯m not in the mood for your games,¡± she says. The reflection now bears a bratty expression. Her yearning for freedom is apparently from her body language as she squints at a mirror showing the city Noir. ¡°If I let you out,¡± Hydrangea says. ¡°I wouldn''t be free, I¡¯d be bound by impulse and madness.¡± The reflection giggles as if she is questioning the value of sanity itself. Mist fills the hall. The reflection scowls and frowns, knowing that their time together is cut short. Hydrangea finds the giant mirror radiating with light that engulfs her. ??? Hydrangea wakes up, floating inside a space surrounded by snowflakes dancing in the sky. She turns and finds that Rose is still hugging her. ¡°Rose,¡± Hydrangea says. ¡°Wake up.¡± ¡°Ugh, my head.¡± Rose¡¯s eyes open as she lets go of her friend to rub them. ¡°Where are we?¡± Hydrangea¡¯s expression bears slight contentment and relief that her plan worked. ¡°Right, where we needed to be.¡± ¡°Excuse me!¡± Azalea swims over to the pair. ¡°What was that about my ice pun being overused, Rosie?¡± ¡°It¡¯s true,¡± Rose says with her tongue on her cheek. ¡°And don¡¯t give me the ¡®I was being enthralled by dungeon¡¯ excuse!¡± The mermaid grumbles about her chilly reception. Raine flies towards them. ¡°Thanks, I guess,¡± her face averts her three friends. ¡°Now can you actually explain where the heck we are?¡± Rose says. ¡°We are in the core of the dungeon itself,¡± Hydrangea says. The girls look around, they find spires of ice jutting from the snowy ground and sky. Like icicles forming from a cave with no walls. The twilight casts long shadows on them. Clover and Hydrangea float towards the group. ¡°Aw, we didn¡¯t finish our conversation,¡± Clover says. ¡°We can talk later, Clover,¡± Raine says. ¡°When there isn¡¯t a risk of us being turning into ice statures.¡± Strelitizia glares at Hydrangea. ¡°Why are we in the Dugneon¡¯s core?¡± the minotaur says. ¡°You know we risk getting assimilated from here. Lily and Anemone arrive last, hearing the conversation. ¡°As things currently stood,¡± Hydrangea says while wiping mist off her glasses. ¡°We would¡¯ve been assimilated anyway. At least here we have an opportunity to find a way out!¡± ¡°But how?¡± Anemone says. ¡°It isn¡¯t obvious?¡± Rose says with a cocky yet innocent smile. ¡°We fight the core!¡± ¡°You can¡¯t be serious?¡± Clover says. ¡°Would you rather spend eternity frozen alive?¡± Hydrangea bluntly says. ¡°Good point,¡± Clover says. ¡°So little miss ¡®Madeline,¡¯¡± Raine says. ¡°How do we fight them?¡± ¡°Right now,¡± Hydrangea says, ¡°we exist as thoughtforms in their mind. In this space, there exists a manifestation of their consciousness. If we can find that, we can convince them to release us and give us the Cryosphere.¡± ¡°Sounds like a plan!¡± Lily says. ¡°Not like there¡¯s any other option,¡± Strelitzia says. ¡°I¡¯m in.¡± ¡°Ditto!¡± Clover says. ¡°I¡¯ll see if this setting can enhance my illusions,¡± Anemone says. ¡°By the time we¡¯re done,¡± Azalea says. ¡°We¡¯ll be the only things left on their mind!¡± Raine humphs at the plan. ¡°Are you certain this will work?¡± she says. ¡°It has to!¡± Hydrangea says with conviction. Rose grips Raine¡¯s arm. ¡°Besides I¡¯m not letting you go if you refuse Raine,¡± Raine blushes a little and regains her composure. ¡°Fine, I suppose. How¡¯s your magic?¡± Hydrangea manifests her wand and uses it to manipulate the snowflakes around them. They dance in a cyclone around them with nary a hint of black ooze or ice. ¡°I can assure you that my magic has stabilized now,¡± she turns to Rose. ¡°You¡¯re welcome!¡± the lamia says. ¡°Alright Coloraturas, this is our best shot at the Cryosphere. Are you ready?¡± The other seven affirms their decision with a simultaneous cheer. The group then sets off the find the core¡¯s consciousness. ??? The Coloraturas float in the mindscape of the Core of Cocytus Manor. They are surrounded by vertical icy spires, Cumulonimbi, and snowflakes in all directions. As they search for the consciousness of the Core they encounter a frozen bubble. Hydrangea approaches the bubble and sees an image of the manor before it becomes a dungeon. The bubbles give off the aroma of morning dew. She hears a voice coming out from it. ¡°The architects did a fine job with this place!¡± Looking closer at the bubble, she sees her father admiring the manor as Stella rises over the horizon. The bubble shatters into snow and vanishes. ¡°Is that,¡± Anemone says. ¡°One of the dungeon¡¯s memories?¡± ¡°Looks like,¡± Hydrangea says. The girls do not find anything else of importance and so they continue to find the consciousness. Azalea sees something in the distance and heads closer towards it. ¡°Lookie!¡± the mermaid says. Seeing a transparent frozen bubble. ¡°Hydra, is this one bursting with laughter?¡± Hydrangea takes a look at the sphere, and an image forms of herself, younger and crying in her bedroom, a newspaper on her bed. It was the day she learned of the vanishing dungeons, and the day she decided her parents had similarly and tracelessly vanished. The scent of ink fills her nose. ¡°No Azalea, quite the opposite,¡± Hydrangea says. The bubble shatters and the pastel skies begin to grow grey. ¡°Aw,¡± the mermaid¡¯s brows furrows. ¡°I was hoping we could find something to pop off with.¡± The girls search for more signs of the core¡¯s consciousness. Strelitizia finds another frozen bubble. ¡°Here,¡± the minotaur hands Hydrangea the transparent orb. The cyan-haired girl smells the smell of warm dough as she peers into the orb. It shows her and her parents on one winter day, celebrating the cycle of the new year. A pine tree is lavishly decorated with tinsel and baubles in the background. The bubble vanishes again. ¡°Interesting move, Madeline,¡± a voice rings out and everyone can hear it. The snowflakes stop their descent and remain suspended in midair as if time itself had frozen. Hydrangea turns to the source of the voice. ¡°There you are!¡± ??? A figure stands alone in the distance, cloaked in a teal and purple veil and cloak, with lace patterns in the shape of snowflakes. Her eyes glow through the veil and give the impression of a stalwart and caring protector. ¡°Why did you have to do things this way, Maddie,¡± the figure says. ¡°You would have become assimilated with me if you waited a few more minutes.¡± While their tone is feminine, it reverberates with a masculine echo as they speak. Hydrangea gazes towards the figure with a resolute. ¡°I told you many times, I don¡¯t want to be trapped in the manor all my life sealed from the outside world.¡± As Hydrangea says this she feels like there is something important she is forgetting. ¡°Maddie,¡± the figure says. ¡°It¡¯s dangerous out there! Surely you known as much from the time you spent away.¡± ¡°I know that much,¡± Hydrangea says. ¡°But I also know there is something I must do. Something we must do.¡± ¡°But why?¡± the figure says. ¡°Surely that is not worth risking your life¡ª¡° ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Hydrangea says. ¡°I think you for caring for me for all these years, but I know that if I remained here any longer, inseparable from you, I would fade away among the silence of the people already assimilated into you. A corpse of a girl frozen in an unbreakable sleep.¡± ¡°But you¡¯d be safe,¡± the figure says. ¡°Safe?¡± Rose says. ¡°She would be practically dead!¡± ¡°So that is why she wanted to escape last time,¡± Raine says to herself. The other girls realize now what is at stake here, losing here means their consciousness, their lives are forfeit, absorbed into the dungeon and unable to escape, becoming extensions of their will. ¡°Dead?¡± the figure says, in a gentle voice. ¡°Don¡¯t be silly, you would all still be alive, safe with my embrace.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think she quite gets what is going on,¡± Lily says. Strelitizia glares at the figure. ¡°If your definition of ¡®safety¡¯ involves consuming us, then you¡¯re a lousy protector.¡± She brandishes her labrys. The figure sighs, lamenting that it has come to this. ¡°Must we fight, dear Madeline?¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid so, Glacia,¡± the young girl says as she manifests her wand. ¡°Very well,¡± Glacia says. ¡°If you can best me in battle, I will let you go. But be warned, I will bring the full brunt of my power to bear. Brace yourselves!¡± The snowflakes move rapidly as a blizzard forms around them. The field is cloaked as the twilight sky changes into hues matching the figure¡¯s cloak. The previously weightless girls plummet and fall onto an invisible floor, their steps leaving ripples in their wake. A star emerges from the clouds above casting longer shadows. Within the mind of the dungeon core, the Colroaturas battle a form of the dungeon that never bothered to materialize. Hail falls from the sky as Hydrangea steels herself. Her gaze is resolute. ¡°For me, and for my friends, I will fight,¡± she thinks. She uses her wand to create a pillar of ice beneath herself and the others. Glacia retaliates by launching several icicles at them. Raine uses her flames to intercept the projectile and melt them into steam and water. ¡°I don¡¯t like a chilly reception,¡± Azalea says as she manipulates the melted ice around her. ¡°I prefer a big splash!¡± The water expands and transforms into a tidal wave aimed at Galcia, who leaps high into the air and freezes the tsunami into a sheet of ice. Strelitzia manifests a boulder to launch with her axe. The rock strikes Glacia and knowns them down. The minotaur charges at her. Glacia creates a sword and shield of ice and uses them to parry Strelitzia¡¯s charge. The labrys clashes with the sword and shield as Strelitzia tries to strike her. Glacia smirks and creates several tiny ice shards. With a flick of their fingers, the small icicles attack Strelitizia and the ones one by one. One strikes Strelitzia¡¯s legs and coats it in ice. ¡°Strelitzia!¡± Clover¡¯s reflexivity conjures up a wall of gales around the arena, swallowing up the shards and sending them fire in different directions. ¡°Not bad,¡± Glacia says, ¡°but it isn¡¯t enough!¡± She vanishes into thin air. ¡°She can do that!¡± Rose says. ¡°We¡¯re in her mind,¡± Hydrangea says. ¡°Of course she can do that!¡± ¡°On your guard!¡± Raine says, anticipating a sneak attack. With their backs to each other¡¯s, the Coloraturas wait for Glacia to reemerge. ¡°Come out you coward!¡± Strelitzia says. Glacia giggles. ¡°Catch me if you can.¡± Rose sees something move in Clover¡¯s cyclone. She tracks the object and waves her wand. Her lightning reveals it to be a comet-like object heading towards them. ¡°Now!¡± she calls. The Coloraturas move out of the way as the stellar object lands. Emerging from the diamond dust knocked up in its wake is a hoarfrost hound, but dyed a teal hue. ¡°Again?¡± Anemone says. Raine sees another object rapidly approaching them and aimed at Hydrangea. She tackles the smaller girl and knocks her out of the way as the comer falls, revealed to be a cryoc with purple plumage. ¡°A cryoc?¡± Azalia says. ¡°But why is it crying?¡± ¡°Tch,¡± Strelitzia says. ¡°They¡¯re clearly a distraction so that she can escape.¡± ¡°Why would I want to escape my own mind, little one?¡± Glacia says to her opponents. The incensed minotaur tries to move, but her head throbs in pain. ¡°What is the¡ª¡° The other girls grab their heads as a haze forms over them. ¡°Drat!¡± Hydrangea says. ¡°It¡¯s starting!¡± ¡°All there is to do is wait,¡± Glacia materializes over the other two sentinels and looms over the battle. ¡°My head!¡± Rose says as Glacia¡¯s memories and emotions merge with her own and those of the other girls. The hound prepares a ray of ice, just as the first one did while the cyroc tries to divebomb the girls. Anemone sees the attacks coming and dodges them before preparing a spell. Raine pelts the opponents with fireballs and Clover creates a gust of wind to repel the opponents. Azalea then manipulates water from the chilled vapors into a sphere covering the hound. Hydrangea sees the Cryoc and recalls the chandeliers from the ballroom. ¡°Clover, give me a lift!¡± The peryton looksat Hydrangea. ¡°Okie dokie!¡± The cryoc swoops in, but both girls dodge the attacks. Rose casts a bolt of lightning to strike them again. While Clover prepares a gust for Hydrangea to use as a springboard. Hydrangea rushes towards the gust and is lifted several feet in the air. From on high, She uses her want to create a frozen platform beneath her, sliding up and down in various directions. Rose sees what Hydrangea is doing and uses Clover¡¯s just to land on the ice construct, sliding on her belly and tail to follow Hydrangea and hug her. ¡°Ro-Rose!¡± Hydrangea says. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t a girl have some fun?¡± Rose smiles as she hugs Hydrangea. ¡°Do your thing. I¡¯ll keep an eye out for attacks. Hydrangea nodes her head and looks forward. Rose uses her eyes and ears to watch out for incoming attacks. ¡°Left,¡± Rose says. Hydrangea steers them to the left and dodges the cyroc. ¡°Right!¡± they turn right and avoid the hound¡¯s lunge. The construct remains suspended in the air as Hydrangea and Rose continue constructing it. Strelitzia sees what is happening and turns to the other five girls. ¡°Anemone. help me get them beneath that ice!¡± ¡°Got it!¡± the lupine girl prepares a spell to assault the hound with illusions. The hound is bewitched with illusory figures of their opponents in multiples. Attacking them from directions that cause him to steer towards the spot. Raine meanwhile confronts the cryoc and this time grabs the again from above it. ¡°Let¡¯s see if you¡¯re rodeo-worthy birdbrain!¡± the pheonixan girl says. She rides the cryoc as it attempts to shake her off crashing it into the ground. Anemone stands beneath eh surface as Glacia¡¯s thoughts and memories flood her mind. ¡°Focus,¡± the purple-haired girl says. Lily, also assailed by the mental attack of the assimilation struggles to cast her spell. She barely raises her arm over her head. ¡°Give us light!¡± she calls. Fore disk of light shines towards the center as her wand glows. The roc and hound cast shadows in multiple angles, and Anemone stands where they overlap. The bests try to move, but they are somehow unable to move past a certain distance, Anemoe standing at the edges of their shadows giggling. ¡°How¡¯s that for a leash?¡± Anemone says, her wand¡¯s magic pinning the creates beneath the icy object above. ¡°Are we done yet?¡± Rose says. ¡°My head¡¯s getting dizzy.¡± ¡°Almost,¡± Hydrangea says, received that they only have to deal with attacks from Glacia now. Clover suddenly collapses onto the ground, her cyclone is dispelled by her lost consciousness. ¡°Clover!¡± Strelitzia makes a pained expression as she rushes towards her. Her desire to protect Clover harmonizes with Glaicia¡¯s invasive thoughts and memories and causes her to stumble, barely able to stand. Hydrangea can feel the assimilation nearly completing if they don¡¯t act soon, their minds and memories would be lost within Glacia¡¯s. She slows her sly and stops her spell, as she and Rose fly off the edge. ¡°Now!¡± the town turns around and Roses uses the rest of her conscious thoughts to create a bolt of lightning to strike the ground causing it to tumble down into the ground and crash on the Sentinels. Anemone remains unharmed, having observed the places where she would be most unharmed. ¡°Great job!¡± she says before collapsing to the ground. Azalea falls to the ground, unable to swim in the air anymore. ¡°T-t-that¡¯s all folks!¡± she says as she crashes unconscious, landing on the ground with a thud. Soon Hydrangea is the only one left standing, she breathes heavily, trying to prevent her mind from fading as she faces Glacia. The core looks at her with a forlorn expression. ¡°Your friends have fallen not one, but twice,¡± they say. ¡°Yet here you are still willing to fight me? Is freedom really worth that much to you?¡± Hydrangea nods. Glacia sighs. They see the determination in her eyes and realize the lengths she is going to free herself and her friends. They turn around. ¡°I understand.¡± They walk away from hef frozen arena and the mindscape is overran by a snowstorm that whites everything out. ??? Hydrangea wakes up in a strange yet eerily familiar room. Around her, her friends awaken. ¡°That was a brutal dream,¡± Raine says as she rubs her eyes. ¡°Is it a dream?¡± Lily says. ¡°It felt too real.¡± The other Coloraturas awaken and realize that what had happened before was not a dream. ¡°Where are we?¡± Clover asks. Hydrangea touches the walls, feeling a coldness like the rest of the manor. ¡°Back in reality, I think.¡± She says. ¡°Would ice if someone broke off something to use as an ice pack,¡± Azalea says. ¡°Need something for my head. ¡°That¡¯s a bad idea, Azalea,¡± Raine says. ¡°Who knows how cold these the manor¡¯s parts are?¡±. ¡°We¡¯ve spent the last hour as ice statues!¡± Stetlitzia says. ¡°That ship¡¯s already sailed!¡± Lily sneezes as if to prove her friend¡¯s point. ¡°I can confirm that Madeline is right,¡± a voice says. ¡°You are all safe. Safe¡­and free.¡± The girls turn to the source of the voice and see Glacia, beside a cyan chest. Their expression is less confrontational than before but less forlorn. ¡°Go on,¡± they calmly say to the girls, ¡°you¡¯ve earned it.¡± Hydrangea opens the chest and sees a glowing cyan sphere inside. ¡°The Cryosphere!¡± she takes the orb from the coffer and finds several weapons, including a replica of Glacia¡¯s arms. ¡°Your will is strong, Madeline,¡± Glacia says. ¡°Strong enough to tether your friends to you, to anchor them away from me.¡± Their expression is one of sorrow like a mother seeing that her child has outgrown her and is ready to leave her behind. ¡°Your parents would be very proud of you.¡± Their smile is warm and gentle. ¡°Thank you,¡± Hydrangea says. ¡°Within the cryosphere, I¡¯ve granted half of my mana, and the memories of the manor¡¯s residents,¡± Glacia says. ¡°Whoever is lucky to have you, I want them to understand what had happened that day. Please take good care of it, protect is as I would¡¯ve protected you.¡± Hydrangea nods. ¡°Mission accomplished?¡± Rose says. Hydrangea nods. ¡°Mission accomplished.¡± The Coloraturas begin to leave Cocytus Manor. As they leave the dungeon, Hydrangea turns back and sees Glacia waving goodbye to them, alongside the sculptures of those that were there when the dungeon was formed, each bearing bittersweet expressions. A tear falls down from Hydrangea¡¯s eye as she waves back with a warm smile and a final farewell before running to regroup with her friends. ??? Later they return to the diner after a long day at the Manor. The clock reads 10:23 AM as Jacquelyn tends to the dishes. ¡°How was your trip?¡± the waitress asks. ¡°Long and cold,¡± Rose says. ¡°We spent half of it frozen solid." She sneezes. ¡°Oh dear,¡± Jacquelyn says. ¡°I¡¯ll get something to warm you up.¡± Whisper soon arrives. ¡°Did you get what you went there for?¡± Hydrangea takes the Cryosphere out from her bag and shows it to the phantasmal squirrel. ¡°This should help,¡± she says to the familiar. The Coloraturas head to their usual seats as Jacquelyn prepares some nice warm soup for them. ¡°Now please get some rest after eating,¡± she says. ¡°You girls look like you had a rough day!¡± Rose yawns. ¡°The manor took a lot out of us.¡± ¡°What else did you receive from the manor.¡± ¡°Some Amazonite, and some gear that we absorbed on the way back. If its alright, can the others sleep in my room tonight? There is something I want to tell them.¡± Rose turns to Hydrangea with a looks of confusion before realizes exactly what she wants to say. ¡°Of course,¡± the squirrel says. ¡°Thank you,¡± Hydrangea says. The girls finish their soup and then head upstairs. ??? Later¡­ ¡°Your parents vanished!¡± Lily says. The Coloraturas had gathered in Hydrangea¡¯s room, seven of them huddled up in sleeping bags on the floor. Anemone is putting the finishing touches on a certain charm as sunlight shines through the curtains. ¡°Yes,¡± Hydrangea says. ¡°They had gone to Sigurdtein to examine a dungeon that had vanished.¡± ¡°That¡¯s horrible!¡± Raine says. Strelitzia looks at her friend with a conflicted expression. ¡°That seems awesome to be honest.¡± ¡°Strelitzia!¡± Clover says. An awkward silence then fills the air. ¡°What?¡± The minotaur says. The other Coloraturas are somewhat aware of Strelitzia¡¯s perceptions of parents. ¡°I¡¯m sure the dungeon will appreciate this¡ª I mean this nice gift we have,¡± Azalea says. ¡°They¡¯d better after the heck we¡¯ve just been through!¡± Rose says. ¡°Just in case, maybe we should get some more icing for the cake, I heard that there is a party at Gatsby Tower¡­¡± Clover continues prattling on other possible gifts for the Dungeons. ¡°Is it really necessary to get that many gifts for them?¡± Lily says interrupting Clover¡¯s rambles. ¡°A single Magical Girl alone is a huge cost for a dungeon to take in,¡± Raine says. ¡°Since we leech off their mana once they take us on. And there are eight of us here.¡± ¡°Whisper says they¡¯re very far away from Noir, in the Nova Virginia area,¡± Rose says. ¡°I thought it was called New Virginia?¡± Clover says. ¡°I have heard some people call it Neo Virginia,¡± Hydrangea says. The girls exchange giggles at the expense of the region of many slightly different names. ¡°And¡ªdone!¡± Anemone says. ¡°The Revotian charm is finished. ¡°Anemonie,¡± Rose says ¡°Is that really necessary?¡± The lupine girl turns to Rose. ¡°Jacquelyn wants to make sure we are all well rested and not feel the urge to awaken in the middle of the night.¡± ¡°Of course she would, ¡°Rose says with a sigh. ¡°I¡¯ll just say the magic words to activate the charm,¡± Anemone says with a smile. ¡°Anemone! Wait,¡± Rose says. ¡°C-can¡¯t we talk about¡ª¡° ¡°Good night!¡± Anemone says. The charm activates and the Coloraturas simultaneously collapse unconscious, beckoned to a synchronized sleep by the charm, unable to awaken until Stella sines on them the next morning. ??? Within the Black Box, Tim, Heathcliff, Elizabeth, Richard, Sarah, Nina, Minerva, and Charlotte all stand in front of several pods, each one attached to a network of pneumatic tubes. ¡°Sarah,¡± Richard says, ¡°Are you sure this is¡­safe?¡± ¡°Of course brother!¡± the tanned dwarf says. ¡°As a blacksmith and an aspiring engineer, I¡¯d never create something that would break down easily.¡± Heathcliff guffaws. ¡°Glad to hear that. ¡°Besides,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°I can attest to its safety myself.¡± She glances towards the dummies in the corner, still intact after their maiden voyage. ¡°For what it¡¯s worth, Richard,¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoes to the tanned dwarf. ¡°I still have my doubts about this.¡± Richard sighs. ¡°I suppose this is the best way to get to Noir¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s the spirit, cher!¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Allons!¡± ¡°You seem pretty eager to go to Noir,¡± Tim says. ¡°Few places as good for passing a good time as Noir, Tim,¡± the knight says. Charlotte looks at the pod with awe, her mind thinks about the sights and sounds of the city. Richard, despite his misgivings about the tubes, has an unwavering excitement of the city as well, as its potential to help him hone in his designs via its architecture. ¡°Ready to go?¡± Minerva says. ¡°Yeah!¡± Nina says with a bright face. ¡°Let¡¯s go! Let¡¯s go!¡± she enters her pod. The pod seals itself and petrifies Nina in a pose of excitement. Minerva sighs as she enters her pod. Her expression is calm as it closes and turns her to stone from the trip. Tim and Elizabeth enter theirs next, neither caring about the potential hazards of the trip. The dwarf siblings then enter theirs, as they turn to stone, Richard¡¯s face begins to show a sign of worry, while Sarah¡¯s radiance with confidence. ¡°Good night, Emmy,¡± Charlotte says as she enters, expecting to be led to sleep by the petrification process. ¡°Guess I¡¯m the last one,¡± Heathcliff says as he enters his pod. ¡°Ready, cher?¡± he says as he becomes a statue. His face shows a deep trust in Emily to carry them safely. If Emily could gulp in her normal body, she would. ¡°Okay.¡± The dungeon steels her nerves as she begins the process of activating the tubes. One by one the pods are sucked by the tubes and begin their voyage to her outgrowth in the city. They are carried down several paths within her confines, through the nursery room as Lydia places a sleeping child on her webs, to a forest where the parasitized deer prances, through a hall where Carla tends to the Tatzelwurms. The beasts still wounded from the Ninjas¡¯ visit. Soon the pods converged in a room resembling a subway station. Emily activates her avatara there and pushes a button on terminals laid next to each tubes, reversing the petrification process and turning stone to flesh again. Richard emerges from pod, jittery from the trip as he steps on solid ground. Sarah slaps him. ¡°We are here!¡± Heathcliff says as he emerges from his pod. ¡°Now then some ground rules,¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah, no coffee for me,¡± Nina says the incident still fresh on her mind. Emily explain the rules of the trip to them, including avoiding walking alone in the streets and stores, not spending too much money or mana while there and not bothering the locals. With these simple rules in place the group, led by her avatara and Heathcliff, exits Emily¡¯s dungeon body into the wider metropolis of the City Noir. Chapter XIX: Underground Emily and the group have arrived at the city of Noir. They are surrounded by monolithic skyscrapers and bustling streets. The scent of steam fills the air as black cars drive through the streets. The buildings, outlined with reflective chrome and glass, radiate with glamour at every turn. ¡°Welcome to the city Noir,¡± Heathcliff says. Emily needs to be more disoriented by the sheer amount of people around her. The crowd of people carrying luggage as they walk from one building to the next, and the noise of the engines from nearby automobiles roars around her as she tries to walk. She stumbles a bit and nearly falls. Tim catches her hand and prevents her avatara from collapsing. ¡°Thanks,¡± Emily says. Charlotte and Nina are taken aback by the sheer number of people here. Centaurs, Alraunes, Dwarves, Lamias, and humans all move around the streets and sidewalks. ¡°Now then, chers,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Noir is a fine and dandy city, but she holds some nasty secrets.¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± Minerva says. ¡°Many a tale tells of dangers abound here.¡± ¡°Some even went as far as to claim the city itself is just a giant dungeon,¡± Sarah says. Richard looks at the various high-rise buildings, and their gilded decorations, angular and geometric, he takes several notes on them. ¡°Hmm, yes,¡± he says as he writes down the details. ¡°Hmm, I wonder if that can be used for a hemline?¡± he says as he observes the shapes of a car. Sarah sighs as she puts her hammer down and leans over it. ¡°You¡¯re gonna be left behind and lost if you keep dawdling here y¡¯know?¡± Richard realizes that the others have already begun to move towards somewhere and tries to catch up. ¡°I heard Noir has three types of people here, The [Elegere], the [Emperyians], and the [Exsecratii]?¡± Elizabeth asks Heathcliff. ¡°Unfortunately, yes,¡± Heathcliff says. Elizabeth¡¯s brow raises quizzically. ¡°You¡¯ll understand when we meet up with my pal.¡± He looks around several alleyways. He finds one with an unusual shimmer. ¡°Come see!¡± Richard catches up with the group. ¡°What exactly are we doing in an alleyway Heathcliff?¡± ¡°I plan on meeting with the Rouges,¡± Heathcliff says bolster. ¡°The Rouges Guild?¡± Richard says confusingly. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be best to have Emily registered with the Ebony Guard first?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll get to that later, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Gots to talk with an old friend first.¡± Elizabeth is even more confused. ¡°Aren¡¯t the Rouges Guild an unofficial one? Aren¡¯t they dangerous?¡± ¡°They are certainly a dirty lot at least,¡± Richard says. Sarah signs. She then turns to Elizabeth. ¡°You mentioned the three Es of Noir right, Lizzie?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Not you too Sarah,¡± she thinks. Her dismayed expression is not unnoticed by Sarah. ¡°And her I thought she knew everything,¡± Sarah says. ¡°Found it!¡± Heathcliff knocks at a hollow part of the wall. A compartment opens and Alraune answers. ¡°Tramps doze on the window ledges¡­¡± he says. ¡°Let¡¯s see,¡± Heathcliff thinks, scratching his crimson locks for the answer. ¡°Got it.¡± He turns to the Alraune. ¡°Night-walkers pass along the sidewalks, the city is squalid and sinister.¡± The alraune looks at the answerer and sees him familiar. ¡°Esteban¡¯s friend right? Come in and be quick about it!¡± The secret door opens and Heathcliff ushers the group inside before anyone could see. ??? The group finds themselves in a dank tunnel leading below. ¡°One of their guildhalls should be nearby, cher,¡± the red-headed knight says. Richard is less than amused upon seeing the dilapidated walls as the group descends into the underground. ¡°They never bother to clean up the place,¡± he mutters. ¡°It not like they have the resources to,¡± Tim says. His expression stern and alert. The blond dwarf sighs. Both Emily and Elizabeth are concerned as they witness various signs of neglect around them. Water leaks from the rusted pipes and drips into a puddle below. A rat scurries past them, to the fairy¡¯s disgust. The air is thick with the scent of dirt and sewage. The passage is lined with torches on each of the walls. If not for the presence of plumbing, it would be mistaken for a cave. Sarah approaches them. ¡°Not as glamorous as the surface huh?¡± Emily looks around the near-dilapidated tunnel. Being careful with her footsteps as she avoids unknown material on the ground. She nods at Sarah. Elizabeth meanwhile uses her wings to keep her aloft instead of walking on the ground. ¡°Though so,¡± Sarah says. ¡°The open secret to Noir is that there are three kinds of people living here.¡± Elizabeth is curious, the fairy flutters closer to the silver-haired dwarf. ¡°Can you explain more?¡± Sarah looks at the curious fairy. ¡°The three Es of Noir are simple. Empyrean, Exsecratii, Eligere.¡± ¡°I am aware of those terms yes,¡± Elizabeth says. Feigning her knowledge. Sarah gazes at Elizabeth. ¡°I am aware¡­that they exist at least,¡± the fairy says. The younger Arahcne and Alraune approach them. ¡°What are you guys talking about?¡± Nina says. ¡°The three Es of Noir: Empyrean, Exsecratii, Eligere. These words are the terms used for their three classes,¡± Sarah says. ¡°Determined by where they live, or rather where they can afford to live.¡± Emily is confused. ¡°Where they can afford to live?¡± ¡°The Empyreans are the bigwigs. The influencers of the city,¡± Sarah says. ¡°Politicians, executives, celebrities, and the like. They make their home at the peaks of the skyscrapers here, hence the name. If you can rent a room in the fancier buildings, you¡¯re in. Beneath them are the Elegere, the city¡¯s everymen, or so they claim. Living in suburbs or the lower floors of the towers.¡± The group further descends the tunnel, Heathcliff finds a dim light in the distance and smiles. ¡°And the Exsecratii?¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°The vast majority of people living in the city,¡± Sarah says. ¡°The ones that live in the underground.¡± ¡°The underground?¡± Emily says. ¡°Where we¡¯re headed, cher,¡± Heathcliff says, interrupting the conversation. ¡°A series of subterranean tunnel networks and bunkers that was constructed all the way back.¡± They approach the end of the tunnel and find themselves standing high above a large and cavernous city beneath the city, bordered by four large slabs of concrete. Pillars line the cavern, keeping the city from collapsing on the one below. The cavern is filled with several small buildings and towers, a crude parody of the gleaming skyscrapers erected above. Some were built from the city, jutting downward like stalactites, others were constructed from the cavern¡¯s depths and resemble stalagmites. They see an elevator ascent to their position. A flat sheet of metal with no walls or doors. They step onto the platform as it descends. ¡°This is¡­the underground?¡± Emily says. ¡°In all its unglory,¡± Richard says with disdain. ¡°Brother.¡± Sarah shakes her head. ¡°But why does it exist,¡± Charlotte says. Her indigo eyes show curiosity about the unusual place. ¡°No one knows,¡± Minerva says. ¡°The origins of the underground were lost to time.¡± ¡°Some claim that it was created as part of an utopian project, modeled on a legend called Argatha by Messengers.¡± ¡°Others claim that it was in response to a potential disaster of apocalyptic proportions,¡± Minerva says. ¡°A haven for if the world ends. ¡°I heard some claim that it was created at the same time as the rest of Noir,¡± Tim says. ¡°The accounts vary with some claiming it was to hold prisoners and others saying it was meant to be a haven for dungeons.¡± ¡°And haven for dungeons it is!¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°More than half of the dungeons found in Noir are in the underground.¡± ¡°Regardless of how it was originally intended,¡± Sarah says. ¡°The underground now serves as a home for the homeless.¡± ¡°Um, Sarah,¡± Emily says. ¡°How do you know about this? ¡°My brother adores the city,¡± Sarah says as she gestures to Richard. ¡°Claiming it to be the pinnacle of civilization itself.¡± ¡°It is!¡± Richard says. ¡°It¡¯s not my fault that scoundrels and thieves had made this blight on the land their home.¡± ¡°Anyway,¡± Sarah says. ¡°With him gushing over Noir, I took some time to read up on it. You¡¯d be surprised what you can learn from dungeons and customers.¡± Richard humphs. ¡°Rather biased dungeons and customers.¡± ¡°Maybe this can wait until later?¡± Emily says, feeling the air grow tense between the dwarven siblings. Richard looks at Emily. ¡°My apologies, Emily,¡± Richard says. ¡°Perhaps it would be better if you witness this blighted undercity yourself.¡± The platform descends on the lowest layer of the caverns. The concrete on the ground is devoid of warmth as very little of Stella¡¯s light pierces the small openings on the surface. Around them lies people huddled up in ragged blankets and looking from cracked windows. ¡°The Rouges were formed in response to these conditions,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Their goal, besides assisting local adventurers is to help them as many Exsecratii become Elegere.¡± Richard looks at Heathcliff. ¡°How did you wind up mingling with these¡ª these scoundrels?¡± ¡°Hah,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°You¡¯re still a little green I see, cher. There are gonna be many seedy types you encounter as an adventurer.¡± ¡°How come they aren¡¯t registered as an official guild?¡± Elizabeth asks Heathcliff. ¡°Believe me, cher. Attempts were made,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°But none of the Empyreans are having any of it.¡± ¡°For good reason,¡± Richard mutters. ¡°If it makes you feel any better, Richard,¡± the knight says. ¡°My friend here¡¯s on the up-and-up. Made a real name for himself for bringing succor to the downtrodden even before setting up shop in Noir.¡± The two Arachne with them look at the dwarven siblings. ¡°Mommy,¡± Nina says. ¡°Why are they fighting?¡± Minerva sighs. ¡°It¡¯s nothing that concerns you, sweetie. These two have divided opinions on the city.¡± She looks at the two dark-skinned dwarves in the group. One beveling that Noir is a flawless shining city atop the hill, the other sees it as a place where the have-nots are separated from the others. Nina looks at Charlotte, whose face bores an intimidated look. ¡°This place, it is, safe?¡± ¡°Doesn''t look like it,¡± Nina says. Minerva looks at the Alraune child. ¡°You are right to be fearful,¡± Minerva says to Charlotte in a comforting voice. ¡°If only my daughter has your sense of danger.¡± ¡°Hey!¡± Nina says. ¡°I have a keen sense of danger!¡± Minerva chuckles. The group finds the nearest guildhall and enters it. Richard is aghast with how clean the wooden interior is. In stark contrast to the squalor of the outside slums. Torches light the room as the warm scent of food fills the air. Sitting at the table is a dark-skinned man wearing a blue-colored ensemble. Richard is further surprised by the presence of such a stylish man inside the underground. Heathcliff looks at the man. ¡°Esteban my man! How¡¯s the dagger I sent your way?¡± The man turns to his friend. ¡°We had gotten it to the client, she¡¯s able to participate in the upcoming Festival of Rains now.¡± He removes his hat, revealing a clear look at his short azure locks. ¡°Glad to hear it, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ??? Esteban looks at the purple-haired girl from his visit to Rosenkreuz. ¡°Never did get a name from you.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Emily says. ¡°Sorry. My name¡¯s Emily. This is Elizabeth.¡± She gestures to the fairy who waves at the handsome blue-clad man. ¡°My name¡¯s Nina!¡± the alien girl says. ¡°C-charlotte.¡± The alraune girl stumbles with her words, surprised by having to introduce herself to someone outside Hamlin for the first time. ¡°This is Mommy,¡± Nina points to Minerva. Esteban makes a confused expression. ¡°Minerva,¡± Nina¡¯s mommy responds. ¡°Ah,¡± Esteban says. ¡°And these two?¡± he looks at the dwarves. ¡°My name is Richard,¡± the blond and tanned dwarven brother says. ¡°Aspiring tailor and goldsmith. My sister is¡ª¡° ¡°Capable of introducing herself, brother,¡± the silver-haired tanned dwarf sister says. ¡°Sarah, a blacksmith with an eye toward engineering.¡± Esteban turns towards Heathcliff and Tim. ¡°Is that all?¡± he says with a smirk. ¡°Yep,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Now that introductions are out of the way¡­¡± Esteban leads the group towards a table. Richard is further shocked by the wooden table. ¡°I-is that rich mahogany?¡± ¡°The richest,¡± Esteban says. ¡°Well, the richest we can get from the Subterranean Forests.¡± The decor of the guild hall evokes that of Noir itself. To Richard¡¯s shock and awe. ¡°How are you able to get such fine materials like this?¡± ¡°The rouges have their ways,¡± Esteban says. Richard¡¯s awe fades as he remembers the unofficial guild¡¯s reputation for thieves. His brow furrows into a glare. Esteban lets out a sardonic chuckle. ¡°I can assure you they weren¡¯t stolen, at least no more than the usual dungeon materials.¡± Richard sighs. ¡°Ignore him,¡± Sarah says. ¡°Anyway,¡± Esteban says. ¡°First things first.¡± A ghostly grey squirrel enters the room and climbs onto the mahogany table. The rodent is barely visible to all who see it. ¡°Hello there,¡± ¡°A [Familiar]?¡± A sense of concern grows over Elizabeth. Heathcliff places his palm on his head. ¡°Esteban, is this what I think it is?¡± The blue-dressed man nods. ¡°Something wrong?¡± Emily says. ¡°You want to tell her, Lizzie?¡± Heathcliff says. Elizabeth sighs at Heathcliff using that nickname for her. ¡°Emily, are you aware of the presence of [Witches]?¡± Emily thinks about the term. ¡°Do they ride broomsticks?¡± ¡°[Witches],¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Also known as Magical Girls, are a¡­bizarre entity. They are a type of Adventurer that contracts with [Familiars] like our little friend here in exchange for getting their deepish wish granted.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Emily says. ¡°That sounds wonderful.¡± ¡°Before you get your hopes up,¡± the squirrel says. ¡°Know that dungeon cores are unable to contract.¡± ¡°Drat!¡± Emily says. Nina looks at the familiar. ¡°Wanna contact with me?¡± she says with an eager and wide-eyed grin. ¡°Nina,¡± Minerva says. ¡°No.¡± ¡°I am unable to contract with any more children,¡± the squirrel says. ¡°Sorry.¡± ¡°Phooey,¡± Nina says. Elizabeth sighs. ¡°A Witch is granted great power from the contract, and the familiar is compelled to fulfill the terms no matter the cost, but in exchange, they lose mana at a faster rate than other people, passively and with great danger to themselves.¡± ¡°That is correct,¡± the squirrel says. ¡°Which brings us to the reason I¡¯m here.¡± ¡°And here we go,¡± Heathcliff thinks. ¡°Ahem,¡± the squirrel says. ¡°I have under my care eight lovely young girls that I think would be well suited for operating in your dungeon.¡± ¡°Eight!¡± Heathcliff begins screaming internally. ¡°Um,¡± Emily says. ¡°Why are you asking me?¡± Elizabeth turns to Emily. ¡°I knew I forgot something. Emily, dear, do you know about how [Sentinels] are connected to you?¡± ¡°I think so?¡± Emily says. ¡°Just in case,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°A Sentinel draws power and mana from their patron dungeon. Most of that is used to empower them, and they do not leak mana while bound to the Dungeon. A Witch that becomes a sentinel would drain mana, but it would be surprised from the dungeon itself rather than their internal reserves.¡± Emily turns to Heathcliff. ¡°I ain¡¯t gonna say no, cher,¡± he says. ¡°But I¡¯m not saying yes either. This is a large burden this nutcracker is offering here.¡± ¡°My apologies,¡± the squirrel says. ¡°Under other circumstances, I¡¯d not ask this of you, but these are dire straits.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Emily says. ¡°The girls in question,¡± Esteban says. ¡°They¡¯re known as the Coloraturas, all eight had lost their parents to various circumstances.¡± ¡°We have our hands filled with other kids, Esteban,¡± Heathcliff says. Charlotte shies away at hearing that. ¡°Someone had the ¡®wonderful¡¯ idea to bring an entire village¡¯s worth there and entangle them with the core, and we¡¯re in the middle of trying to untangle them.¡± Emily recalls the aftermath of the encounter with Pruflas. And all the children that are now bound to her because of the demonic piper. Elizabeth looks at the familiar. ¡°Orphans are common contractees, but it is for that reason that I want to press you on why that specific case is dire.¡± The familiar makes a solemn expression. ¡°Before I tell you this, please understand that this is something I have not told the children yet. While I had tried to fulfill their wishes and find people better suited than I to care for them, I have failed. None of the Eligere are interested in taking in eight young girls.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll bet,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Three is the limit for most families.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you get them adopted individually?¡± Emily says. ¡°We tried,¡± Esteban says. ¡°But the Eligere are unwilling to adopt Exsecratii kids.¡± Richard is a little surprised. ¡°That can¡¯t be true!¡± he says. ¡°They¡¯re kids!¡± ¡°The average Elegio sees the average Exsecratus as little better than waste, not even the children are spared from their disdain. The Empyreans are even less willing as they prefer those with the potential and malleability to be molded into their heirs.¡± ¡°Why do you think they even have that name, brother,¡± Sarah says. ¡°All of this but pretext,¡± the squirrel says. ¡°The reason why this they are in dire straights is because of me.¡± Elizabeth looks at the phantasmal squirrel and realizes something. ¡°How long do you have left?¡± ¡°A week, at most.¡± The fairy grimaces. ¡°Lizzie?¡± Emily says. ¡°Is there a place we can stay the night?¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°I feel like the place hear had grown heavy.¡± ¡°We can come to my place,¡± Esteban says. ¡°I can introduce you all to my wife.¡± ¡°Thanks ch¡ª¡° Heathcliff realizes something. ¡°You got hitched? Esteban, why didn¡¯t you tell me!¡± ¡°I had tried,¡± Esteban says. ¡°But you had gotten rather busy lately.¡± He gives a cheeky smile. ¡°How long has it been?¡± the knight says. ¡°Six months.¡± The blue-clad man says. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. ¡°Emily,¡± Elizabeth calls to her. ¡°Yes?¡± Emily says. ¡°We need to discuss the witches later, there is one last thing you need to know about them.¡± ¡°If it helps,¡± the squirrel says. ¡°I can arrange for them to arrive at Esteban¡¯s abode as well.¡± ¡°Please do,¡± Emily says. ¡°I¡¯d love to meet them?¡± ¡°This is gonna be a long night,¡± Heathcliff says. The group leaves the guildhall. Esteban begins to lead them to his home. ??? Esteban leads Emily and her entourage towards one of the spires in the cavernous underground. There they find an apartment complex with a more cozy atmosphere. Marred by the peeling paint of the walls and creaky floorboards. Richard finds it more closer to his expectations. ¡°So,¡± Emily says. ¡°How did you two meet each other?¡± ¡°We go way back,¡± Esteban says. ¡°Even before the ol¡¯ Hound went to Charlie.¡± ¡°Those were the days,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Me, Esteban, Chiron, we were a force to be reckoned with back then.¡± He waxes nostalgically. They walk towards another platform, operated by an automated pully system that is visible behind the platform. The group steps on the platform. ¡°Watch your step,¡± Esteban says. As the platform ascends closer to the surface. As they ascent, they catch glimpses of several people going about their lives. Richard looks at these glimpses with interest and confusion. ¡°We¡¯re here,¡± Esteban says as the platform slows. It soon stops upon reaching a hallway lined with several doors. The green carpeting and thick wood walls contrast with the simple wooden walls. ¡°It feels like a hotel,¡± Emily says. ¡°Allegedly, It was a hotel,¡± Esteban says. ¡°The owners got bankrupt and it was supposedly moved here.¡± Tim is incredulous. ¡°How were they able to move a thirty-story building underground?¡± ¡°Legend claims that one of the Empyreans went to great expense to move the building,¡± Esteban says. ¡°I do not know for what purpose, maybe they wanted to taunt us, maybe they wanted to teach the owners something.¡± They walk down the hallway until they reach a specific door. Esteban knocks on it. ¡°Honey, I¡¯m home!¡± The door opens, and on the other side lies a woman with hair in a blue-violet hue. ¡°Esteban?¡± She says with a look of mild surprise. ¡°Back so soon?¡± The group enters the retrofitted apartment, which had a surprising amount of space for an alleged hotel room. Enough to fit the guests and then some. ¡°This is Julia,¡± Esteban says. ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you,¡± Julia says. Emily senses something behind Julia¡¯s calm expression but is unable to describe what it is. One moment, her caring gaze feels like a warm fire, the next it feels like a steel dagger pointed at her. ¡°Are we expecting any more guests?¡± Julia says with a stern expression. ¡°Have to see how much I have to make for dinner tonight,¡± ¡°We are expecting the children from the dinner later,¡± Esteban says. Julia looks around. ¡°Let¡¯s see, two arachne, an alraune¡­¡± she thinks. Her gaze turns towards the red-headed man. ¡°If this that knight friend you mentioned, Esteban?¡± ¡°Indeed it is,¡± the blue-coated man says. ¡°Pleasure to meet you, cher,¡± Heathcliff says with a polite gesture. ¡°Name¡¯s Heathcliff Ford.¡± Julia is taken aback by the knight¡¯s rugged looks before regaining composure and continuing her tally. ¡°A fairy, two dwarves, three humans,¡± she thinks. ¡°With the kids from the diner, that adds eight more¡­¡± ¡°Excuse me,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Is there a place where two girls can talk in private?¡± ¡°Guest room¡¯s over there,¡± Esteban says. ¡°Thank you,¡± Elizabeth says, ¡°Emily, can you come with me for a second?¡± ¡°Oh, right,¡± Emily follows the fairy to the empty guest room. ??? The two girls find the guest room in well-kept condition. The two beds inside it are perfectly made with uncreased betting and pillows on them. The walls are bereft of blemishes like cracks and chipped paint. The wooden furniture is varnished to such a degree that Emily could¡¯ve sworn she saw her own reflection on the nightstand¡¯s top. Above all else the guest room is remarkably clean. ¡°Is it about the witches?¡± Emily says. Elizabeth nods. Her expression is more serious than usual. ¡°There is one other aspect of Witches that I must explain. You¡¯re already aware of them losing mana rapidly, yes?¡± Emily nods. ¡°What about that?¡± ¡°Well it is rather important for a Witch to maintain their mana at all times. A witch¡¯s mana correspond to their emotional state and fortitude. A familiar¡¯s duty, in addition to granting the wish that forged the contract, is to stabilize the mana of all the witches in their care. The squirrel mentioned having eight girls in tow, that means he has eight witches.¡± ¡°Okay?¡± Emily says. She sits down on one of the beds, as her behind rests on the mattress, she notices how soft it feels. ¡°This means that their destiny is bound to that of their patron, in this case the familiar. If the patron were to perish before granting the wish to transferring the contracts, then their mana would grow unstable and the witches would become [Strega].¡± ¡°Strega?¡± Emily says. ¡°A peculiar type of Natural Dungeon. While they share common qualities and traits, their natures are mostly unknown. Even to the familiars and to the [Administrators] themselves. All that is known about them is twofold, that they were once Witches, and that they are dangerous monsters.¡± Emily is surprised by the information. ¡°How dangerous are we talking here?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°The reports vary, some claim that a single Strega can level entire villages, other claim that they are no more stronger than the average pest. Yet is what the squirrel says is true, a [Strega] [Coven] would be inevitable if the contracts aren¡¯t transfered or fulfilled in time.¡± Emily remember the cicada girl that visited her last week. ¡°Wasn¡¯t one of our recent visitors a Witch?¡± ¡°She is,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°That she had two familiars with her is unusual, but she seemed stable.¡± ¡°So If I take these eight on,¡± Emily says. ¡°I could prevent them from being Strega?¡± ¡°Not entirely, no,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°While a new patron means they cannot simultaneously turn, the process can occur in other ways. If a Witch falls into deep despair, if they are on the brink of death or if they are absorbed by another Strega, all of these could trigger the transformation.¡± Emily think about Heathcliff and Elizabeth¡¯s expression of dread when the phantom squirrel explained his purpose. ¡°Is there any reason why you two¡­¡± Elizabeth understands what Emily was trying to ask. ¡°I already mentioned that having Witches as Sentinels means that mana would be passively expunged to maintain them. One is easy, three is manageable, but eight is difficult for all but the most mana dense dungeons. There would be a significant risk that you would be rendered sick try to take care of them, and this time the mana infusion of an avatara would not be able to save you.¡± Emily sighs. ¡°Is there any way to mitigate the costs.¡± ¡°We have managed to gather a higher than usual amount of [Elementalist¡¯s Spheres],¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Those not only grant access to the elements for you, but also multiply our capacity. You were born with the [Photosphere] and I the [Electropshere] as your fairy I am bound to you and thus you have two to begin with. Then we have managed to get the [Aerosphere] and [Geospehre] while helping Richard and Sarah. And the [Pyrosphere] from¡­¡± ¡°Save it,¡± Emily says. Expressing a desire to not think about the Piper. ¡°I mean to say is that we have a better shot of maintaining these girls should you choose to take them on, but it would also mean the amount of available mana we would need to free the other children, those that the [Demon] had entangled within you, would be more arduous to gather. It is possible that if you take them on...¡± Emily¡¯s head lowers. Elizabeth stops her explanation. The room grows silent for a few moments. ¡°If you want to adopt them,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°I won¡¯t stop you, but I want you to at least consider the ramifications of that choice.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Emily says. ¡°Thank you, Lizzie.¡± ¡°My pleasure,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°I¡¯d make a poor guide if I didn¡¯t tell you what you needed to know.¡± The two exit the guest room. ??? Meanwhile, Whisper is already at the diner. The squirrel greets Jacquelyn and the Coloraturas. ¡°What¡¯s up, Whisper?¡± Lily says. Her cheerful smile shines as she adjusts her horned diadem. ¡°Did you meet up with the Dungeon?¡± Rose says while eating a large slice of cake. ¡°It¡¯s rude to talk with your mouth full, Rose,¡± Raine says. Azalea practices a stand-up routine. To the patron¡¯s lack of amusement. The clionid mermaid talks about sea and fish puns. Clover walks down, having just finished looking over clues she had pinned to a corkboard in her room. ¡°Whisper! you came back, already?¡± ¡°Girls,¡± the familiar says, ¡°please get ready, I have arranged for you to meet the dungeon and their entourage tonight at Esteban¡¯s apartment.¡± Strelitzia looks at the familiar and notices something off. ¡°Hey, why are you so transparent lately?¡± ¡°What are you talking about, Strelitzia?¡± Whisper says. ¡°Whisper,¡± the minotaur says. ¡°I can see right through you now. What gives?¡± ¡°I can assure you that it is nothing to be concerned about,¡± the familiar says. ¡°I hope,¡± they think. Jacquelyn glares at the squirrel. ¡°You haven¡¯t told them yet?¡± she thinks. Azalea looks at the squirrel. A sense of dread washes over her as she observes their nigh invisibility. She ends her practice routine and swims to the familiar. Her expression carries an unusual fear of shock and fear. ¡°Azalea,¡± Strelitzia says. ¡°You wouldn''t happen to know anything about this, would you?¡± The mermaid turns to the minotaur and beams a feigned smile. ¡°Of course I do silly,¡± the familiar begins to panic, fearing that she might say something dangerous. ¡°The poor thing is tired. You¡¯ve been running all the way here to tell us, aren¡¯t you., no wonder you¡¯re so pale.¡± The familiar internally sighs with relief. ¡°That is exactly the case, thank you, Azalea.¡± ¡°My pleasure!¡± she winks at the familiar. ¡°Now come on girls, our new dungeon awaits!¡± She swims away to prepare for the visit, taking Whisper with you. ¡°Is it just me,¡± Rose says, ¡°or is she less punny than usual today?¡± ¡°Hope this meant she means she took the hint,¡± Strelitzia says. ¡°Sterltizia!¡± Lily says. ¡°You know that Azalea cares about her puns.¡± The minotaur and centaur girls begin to argue about the mermaid¡¯s attempts at comedy. Meanwhile, Azalea places Whisper down on her nightstand as she gathers some items for tonight. ¡°Thank you, Azalea,¡± Whisper says. ¡°No problemo, compadre,¡± Azalea says. ¡°Can¡¯t have them knowing what could befall us just yet,¡± The mermaid¡¯s mind flashes back to one fateful night. An amphibious monster was prowling the sewers, coating a section of the waterways in sludge. Rose, Raine, and Hydrangea were fighting this beast. Her elongated body swam in the inky waters of the sewers. The sludge turned it into a nightmarish ocean. The monster, with plumes and tendrils lining its long iridescent body, attacks the girls. Her translucent head was bleached white with two crimson circles surrounding the maw. ¡°You¡¯re not funny! You never were!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve seen bluenoses that were more funny than you!¡± ¡°That you think you¡¯re jokes are good? Now that¡¯s a real laugh!¡± Jeers and hisses were hears throughout as the trio fought the Strega. Azalea returns to the present. Her once cheerful face is frozen in shock and stress, before she resumes her usual chipper smile. ¡°I don¡¯t know how they managed to save me without¡­¡± The familiar grimaces. ¡°We do not have much time, Azalea.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Azalea says. ¡°Things have worked out before, right?¡± The mermaid finishes her preparations and swims back to the diner. There she finds that her seven friends were also already prepared. Hydrangea holding the Cryosphere in her hands. ¡°Took you long enough,¡± Rose says. ¡°Ready to go?¡± ¡°Sure am!¡± Azalea says. The Coloraturas set off for the Hermandez¡¯s apartment, with Azalea telling several jokes along the way. ??? Emily and Elizabeth return to the living room of the vacuous apartment. There they find Heathcliff helping Julia prepare food. Richard works on his designs, using an assortment of pictures he has brought with him and his notes. ¡°I feel like this is missing something,¡± the dwarf says as he looks at his designs, trying to focus despite being well aware he is within the underground. His sister looked over some of his reference images. Nina and Charlotte are playing with some toys that Julia has provided. While Minerva keeps a close eye on the young Arachne and Alraune. Tim meanwhile simply meditates on the couch, once more trying to learn about replicating Chiron¡¯s wind shield. A while later, they hear a knock on the door. Esteban answers and finds the rest of the guests have arrived, all eight young girls. Heathcliff¡¯s jovial mood slightly sours as he sees the children enter the apartment. ¡°We¡¯re here,¡± The squirrel says. ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you!¡± the lamia child says. Her pink pigtails frizzle as she slithers into the room. ¡°So,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°These are the girls you mentioned?¡± ¡°Correct,¡± the squirrel says. A young lady with red hair walks inside, the girls notice her hair is tied in a ponytail to the size, as well as the wings and feathers beneath her waist. She is followed by a horned girl with orange hair and hooves and an antlered one with green pigtails and wings on her hooves. Emily looks at the doorway and sees a blond centaur girl canter in and find Nina and Charlotte. She then sees a mermaid swim after her, with blue hair, a translucent tail with an orange orb, and a sphere of water encasing her head. ¡°Hello, ladies and germs,¡± the mermaid says. ¡°Hope you¡¯re ready to get your feet wet!¡± ¡°And here comes the puns,¡± the orange-haired girl grumbles, her tail swishes by Tim¡¯s nose as she walks past him, causing him to break his meditative concentration and sneeze. He directs a glower at the young girl. ¡°Dinner¡¯s almost ready anyway, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. He then observes the next visitor, a girl with a cyan bob, glasses, and a newsboy cap with snowflake patterns, his brow raises when he notices a cyan sphere in her hands. Following her is a girl with violet hair tied up in two ringlets, wearing a black dress with white lace and a pointed hat to match, her right eye is concealed by her bangs. ¡°So,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°These are your girls, cher.¡± ¡°Correct,¡± the familiar says. The phantasmal squirrel turns to them. The young girls see this as a sign to introduce themselves. The pink lamia goes first. ¡°I am Rose Rhapsodia!¡± she says with a hint of bombastic flair. ¡°Blooming in the storm of darkness, an innocent maiden comes forth to fight the evils in the darkness!¡± The red-headed phoenixian girl follows. ¡°Raine. Raine Carnation Cadenza,¡± she says a hint of annoyance towards Rose. ¡°Raine,¡± Rose says. ¡°You sure you don¡¯t want to put a little more oomph into that intro?¡± ¡°I¡¯m saving the theatrics for if we encounter some bad guys,¡± she says, her brow furrows. ¡°We¡¯re trying to get someone to adopt us, not putting on a show.¡± ¡°If anyone¡¯s up for showmanship,¡± the blue-haired mermaid says as she swims towards the center of the room. ¡°It¡¯s me! Azalea Adagio at your service!¡± Her clionid tail gives off a small glow as she greets the others. ¡°Now I know the underground is not in the best of conditions, but that is no reason to be so down in the dumps!¡± The werewolf girl stands up, and uses her darkness spells to create small feats of prestidigitational illusions. ¡°Anemone Aria, let me assure you that we are not witches,¡± she says despite her attire. ¡°We¡¯re magical girls!¡± The centaur introduces herself next. ¡°I¡¯m Lily! Lily Borea Legato! Nice to meet you!¡± her chipper expression shines across the room. ¡°I¡¯m Clover Capriccio!¡± the peryton girl with green pigtails says. ¡°Say, you guys seem like such nice people. How long was your dungeon operating? Any good adventures lately? What kind of treasures did you get?¡± she goes into a small stream of consciousness as she talks about herself and her wind powers. The horned girl sits up. ¡°They call me Streltizia Sonata. Rest assured my axe will be put to good use protecting my friends.¡± She lets out a gentle smirk, framed by her long orange hair and bull-like horns. The last to introduce herself is the girl with the cyan orb. She clears her throat as she checks her cyan hair and glasses for blemishes. ¡°Hydrangea Harmony,¡± she says. ¡°As you can see, we procured something that could be of use to you,¡± Emily looks at the Cryosphere in Hydrangea¡¯s arms. ¡°A Cryosphere?¡± the fairy says. ¡°Where did you find that?¡± ¡°We had braved the Cocytus Manor for it,¡± Hydrangea says, recalling her adventure there with her friends. ¡°It wasn¡¯t easy,¡± Rose says. ¡°We had faced the bitter cold, fought off Wassets and hounds, and even faced the very core themselves for that! But the Coloraturas never back down from a good challenge!¡± ¡°Well,¡± Heathcliff says, ¡°You sure are feisty little brats, I¡¯ll give you that,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Friends call me Heathcliff,¡± ¡°I¡¯m Emily,¡± Emily says to the girls. ¡°And this here is Lizzie!¡± she gestures to Elizabeth. ¡°It¡¯s Elizabeth!¡± the fairy says. ¡°My name¡¯s Nina!¡± the Arachne child says to the slightly older girls. ¡°And this here¡¯s Charlotte,¡± she gestures to her Alraune friend. ¡°My name is Minerva,¡± Minerva says. ¡°Nina¡¯s mother.¡± ¡°Name¡¯s Sarah,¡± the dwarf sister says. ¡°My brother here is Richard,¡± she gestures towards the dwarf furiously scrawling on paper. ¡°Tim,¡± Tim bluntly says while glaring at Sterlitizia. The young minotaur girl¡¯s face bears an intimidated look. ¡°Now that we¡¯re all accounted¡ª¡± Esteban says. ¡°Hold your horses,¡± Heathcliff says ¡°Think we¡¯ve missed someone!¡± Everyone turns to the near-invisible familiar. ¡°Whisper,¡± Azalea says. ¡°Did you forget to introduce yourself? ¡°So I did,¡± the squirrel says. ¡°My apologies. My name is Whisper and as you can see, if am the familiar of these girls.¡± ¡°Well,¡± Julia says, we can talk about things at these tables there.¡± She gestures at the dining room table, as well as two more set up nearby. The Coloraturas take their seats at one of the tables, and most of Emily¡¯s group follows suit. ??? Julia, Heathcliff, and Esteban set the dinners on their tables¡ªtwenty platters with 10 plates and nine bowls. The bowls were filled with a gumbo stew, filled with shrimp, tomatoes, and a chocolate-like roux on top of the base of celery, peppers, and onions. Some of the platters have on them slices of fowl breast meat each, with yucca fries on the side. Others have an assortment of salads. Richard is taken aback by the display of food. ¡°Dig in!¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Where on Titnaia did you get these ingredients?¡± Richard says. ¡°I helped Esteban make some groceries in advance,¡± the knight says. ¡°He really wanted to make gumbo tonight,¡± Esteban says. ¡°What can I say?¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°I had a few recipes I wanted to try my hand in while making.¡± Sarah already digs into the meal, stuffing her face with the gumbo. ¡°This stew is really good!¡± she says with her mouth full. ¡°Sister, manners,¡± Richard says. He turns to see some of the Coloraturas are already stuffing their faces and sighs. Once enough of the food is eaten, Heathcliff gets to the point. ¡°So you want us to take these eight kids on, right?¡± ¡°Correct,¡± Whisper says. Emily notices Heathcliff¡¯s expression carries hints of apprehension. ¡°I see,¡± the knight takes on a more business-like tone. ¡°Do you understand how much mana it would take to sustain eight witches?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± the phantasmal squirrel says. ¡°I do think it is my utmost imperative to find someone, anyone willing to adopt them.¡± ¡°Fair enough,¡± the knight says. Hydrangea chimes in, presenting her Cryosphere again. ¡°Do you need this?¡± she asks. Elizabeth observes the Cyan sphere, cold to the touch, its light radiates an aura that chills those within an inch of it. ¡°Doesn''t look like we have that specific sphere.¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Rose butts in. ¡°We went through a great deal to snag that thing.¡± ¡°I bet you have,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Um, excuse me,¡± Emily says. ¡°I want to ask if you had asked other dungeons beforehand?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve tried, miss,¡± Whisper says. ¡°But they were as unwilling as the families we asked.¡± ¡°They said they don¡¯t have enough room for us,¡± Lily says. Streltizia humps. ¡°They just think they¡¯re too good for us.¡± ¡°Strelitzia,¡± Clover says. ¡°She has a point,¡± Rose says. Emily looks at Rose. ¡°So, um tell us about yourself, Rose.¡± The lamia answers with a grin. ¡°I¡¯m the leader of the Coloraturas, slayers of evil, heroines of justice!¡± Raine blushes with embarrassment. ¡°Rose, that¡¯s when we¡¯re picked for the neighborhood watch!¡± ¡°Ah come on, Raine,¡± Rose says. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to help fight crime?¡± Heathcliff sighs. ¡°You¡¯re a rather naive girl aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not naive,¡± Rose says. ¡°I¡¯m a capable, mature young lady.¡± ¡°You do realize that a good chunk of your time will be spent protecting the dungeon from intruders if we make you sentinels right?¡± ¡°O-of course!¡± Rose says. ¡°Who knows what kind of ne¡¯er-do-wells would want to abscond with your treasures? What kind of scoundrels and dastards would try to steal from you, the innocent crew of an innocent dungeon?¡± ¡°She is somewhat quick-witted,¡± Strelitzia says. Raine turns towards Emily. ¡°Look, we¡¯re just poor orphans trying to survive in a world that has all but cast us off, nothing more, nothing less.¡± Elizabeth notices the Coloratuas¡¯ more unusual features. Strelitzia¡¯s horns, Lily¡¯s equine body, Rose¡¯s serpentine tail, Azalea¡¯s clionid tail, Raine¡¯s wings, Anemonie¡¯s ears, and Clover¡¯s antlers and wings. ¡°It is not unusual to see demi-humans in a place like this, but still¡­¡± She notices something further unusual about them, but for some reason can¡¯t understand why. ¡°There are other matters to discuss,¡± Richard says. He turns to Esteban. ¡°I thank you for your services, Mister¡­¡± ¡°Hernandez,¡± Esteban says. ¡°Right,¡± Richard says. ¡°Mr. Hermandez, but we still have to get our band registered with the local guild.¡± ¡°Already taken care of,¡± Esteban says. ¡°W-what?¡± Richard says. ¡°Called in a favor from an insider,¡± Esteban says. ¡°Heathcliff will attend an anointment tomorrow to seal the deal and your group is already logged in with the Rouges. By this time tomorrow you¡¯ll be free to explore the Dungeons in Noir, both above and underground.¡± ¡°But how?¡± the dwarf is baffled. ¡°Adoption issues aside,¡± Heathcliff says, ¡°not all of the Elegere are thumbing their noses at the Exsecreatii.¡± Emily looks at the dwarf¡¯s conflicted expressions. ¡°I do have a matter of my own to raise,¡± Esteban says. ¡°Heathcliff perhaps you can humor an old friend for an adventure.¡± ¡°Of course, mon ami,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Just tell me¡ª¡° ¡°He wants to infiltrate Gastby Tower,¡± Julia says. The interruption stuns the knight for a few second. He lets out a hearty laugh. ¡°Gatsby Tower? The Empyrean¡¯s party dungeon? That Gastby Tower?¡± ¡°The one and the same,¡± Esteban says. ¡°Oh cher, you do know how to pick ¡®em,¡± the knight says. ¡°Isn¡¯t that place claimed to be heavily guarded?¡± Tim says. ¡°Gatsby Tower?¡± Richard says. ¡°Are you insane? The core would kill you! N-not that I care ¡ª I mean.¡± ¡°Save it brother,¡± Sarah says, her meal has finished and her stomach bloats a little from the food. Nina had also finished her plate, not having eaten anything since the morning¡¯s incident. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to come and meet with top-tier fashion designers¡­¡± Sarah says with a cheeky grin. ¡°Of course I do!¡± Richard says. ¡°It was a lifelong dream of mine to have any designs showcased there, on Noir¡¯s grandest stage! And to learn from the maestros that created them.¡± ¡°Well, there¡¯s your golden opportunity for the latter,¡± Sarah says with a excitable grin. ¡°Are you ready to take it.¡± ¡°In the highs of his passion, Richard look at his sister, ¡°Of course I¡¯m i¡ª!¡± He stops himself upon realizing what he just agreed to. ¡°Glad to hear it, cher!¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°No takebacks!¡± Sarah says. Richard is left dismayed at what had just occurred. ??? Meanwhile, Emily tries to learn more about the Coloraturas. ¡°How about you, Raine, was it?¡± The phoenixian girl looks at her. Her expression is somewhat haughty and aloof. She silently refuses to answer. ¡°Raine¡¯s not one to handle talking to people well,¡± Rose says ¡°That¡¯s so not true!¡± Raine says. The two girls bicker for a bit while Rose turns to Hydrangea. ¡°My hobbies include reading, my talents include ice magic,¡± the bespectacled girl says matter-of-factly. ¡°Ice magic?¡± Elizabeth says. Hydrangea nods. Anemone turns to Emily. ¡°My specialty is in the dark elements, not too dark arts to be clear. Rose and Raine handle lightning and fire, respectively.¡± ¡°Does that mean you each have a different elemental affinity?¡± Emily says. ¡°Sure do!¡± Azalea says. ¡°Mine¡¯s water!¡± she says as she uses the squirt flower on her blouse and manipulates the water into whimsical shapes. ¡°As for my hobbies, I like to get my tail wet with comedy!¡± she says with a cheerful smile. ¡°Mine¡¯s earth,¡± Strelitzia says. ¡°Not that I use it that often, I prefer using it to support my labrys.¡± ¡°Light is mine!¡± Lily says. ¡°It sure befits her personality,¡± Strelitzia says. Emily turns to Clover. ¡°Does that mean you have¡ª¡° ¡°Wind? Sure do,¡± the peryton says. ¡°Maybe you can teach me how to do those spells?¡± Nina says. Her eyes widen with amazement. Her mother sighs. ¡°I am surprised by how you managed to get a basic element each,¡± Charlotte says. Elizabeth meanwhile examines the Coloraturas. ¡°They have each of the basic elements?¡± she wonders if there is more to these children than meets the eye. Dinner is soon over. Everyone regroups in the living room. ¡°I¡¯ll see about getting us a place for us to stay over at the surface,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Think Richard would have a fit if we lingered around the underground for the night,¡± ¡°I trust that you know your way around?¡± Esteban says. ¡°Of course, cher,¡± Heathcliff. ¡°You¡¯d think I¡¯d forget this city after the last several times I¡¯ve been here?¡± ¡°Heathcliff,¡± Emily says. ¡°Can we bring them with us?¡± she points to the Coloraturas behind her. ¡°Cher, are you serious?¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Don¡¯t they have their own place?¡± ¡°It wouldn¡¯t hurt to learn more about these girls,¡± Minerva says. ¡°Minerva? Not you too!¡± Heathcliff says. He sighs. ¡°Fine, Emily, they can come with us.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Emily says. On the way to the surface, as they ascend the tunnel they used to enter the underground, Tim sees something in Emily¡¯s eyes, a mix of confusion and conflict, but also interest. ¡°So,¡± Tim asks. ¡°Why did you want these tagalongs?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Emily says. ¡°I think they needed some help is all.¡± ¡°Help? Tim says, ¡°They seem capable enough.¡± ¡°Tim,¡± Emily says. ¡°They¡¯re still children.¡± The two look at the younger girls following each talking to each other as Azalea tries to use the trip as an opportunity to tell everyone their jokes, with Whisper resting on the mermaid¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Do you want to bring them back with us?¡± Tim says. ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± Emily says. ¡°But if I do would that bother you?¡± ¡°Heh,¡± he closes his eyes and gives a cocky smile. ¡°I used to live with kids like that, that would be no issue, so long as my meditations are undisturbed.¡± Emily giggles. ¡°Glad to hear it.¡± Meanwhile, Richard takes out his notes, writing as he walks. ¡°Let¡¯s see, we¡¯ll need some Electrum, then an alkahest that can bind the mana¡­¡± ¡°Putting together a shopping list?¡± his sister says from beside him. ¡°Of course,¡± Richard says. ¡°I¡¯m gonna need the right materials for this project, especially in the event we return with more people than when we entered.¡± ¡°In¡ª¡° Sarah realizes something. ¡°Richard, you think Emily is gonna adopt these kids?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a possibility I have to account for, Sarah,¡± Richard says. ¡°Nothing more.¡± He feigns aloofness, but deep down he knows he wants the Exsecratii children with them to find a better life away from the filth of the underground. Elizabeth looks over the Coloraturas. Minerva beside her. ¡°Mienrva, just in case, do you think Lydia and the others can handle non-Arachne children?¡± ¡°A broodmother must care for all children in her community, no matter who or in this case what they are.¡± The group soon arrives at the surface. Near the entrance is a hotel, its gleaming brass pieces and stepped signs show opulence. The party of seventeen enters the lobby and finds it similarly luxurious, with tables made of varnished wood and chairs with cushions sewed with silk. Heathcliff turns to the group. ¡°Better get yourselves washed.¡± The knight approaches the counter. His wallet in hand. ¡°Got room for a party of seventeen?¡± He takes something out of his wallet, a medal of sorts. Crimson in color and bearing a coat of arms for one of Charlemagne¡¯s noble houses. The attendant behind the counter notices the prestigious medal. ¡°Of course, sir.¡± He then shows Heathcliff the rates. The knight sighs as he takes out eighty-five pieces of gold. A hefty sum, but they have managed to make twice as much through deals made with the guild at Rosenkreuz. He exchanges the coins for the keys to their rooms. ¡°Merci,¡± he says before leaving to regroup with the others. With rooms secured for the week, they walk into a wooden elevator and are lifted to their floor, where they will rest for the night. Chapter XX: Freeway Shuffle The ninjas return to their hotel room. With their items from the Black Box in tow. Saizo knocks on the door. ¡°Coming!¡± a chipper voice responds. Hoshikage opens the door. ¡°Is is room¡ª oh.¡± ¡°Greetings, Master Hoshikage,¡± Saizo says. ¡°Hoshikage-sensei!¡± Kasumi greets her mentor with a cling, which Hoshikage turns into a hug and a running of her student¡¯s hair. The master kunoichi turns to her peer. ¡°What¡¯s the verdict?¡± Saizo turns his head towards the rest of his party. Kei and Suzume place the various items from their trip on a table inside. The robs, the cubes, and the rabbit statuettes. Saizo also removes his newfound armor and places it on the table. Atsuko arrives, and her two teal tails swish in the air. She looks at the assortment of items, especially the rabbit statues. ¡°How adorable!¡± the cat-eared girl says. Saizo and the others kneel in front of Atsuko. ¡°Our mission was a success, we¡¯ve managed to gather items from the dungeon in New Virginia.¡± ¡°These came from that dungeon you mentioned Saizo?¡± Atsuko¡¯s interest is piqued. ¡°Yes,¡± the ninja says. Atsuko grins as she leaves the room in an excitable mood, taking one of the statuettes with her. She soon dona a labcoat with ¡°A-25¡± emblazoned on the back. ¡°How were the Karakuri arms?¡± Atsuko says to Saizo and Suzume while examining the statuettes. Her two ringlets swoosh as she rapidly moves around several tables and screens. ¡°They proved¡­adequate,¡± Suzume says. ¡°You didn¡¯t get into trouble while you were there did you?¡± Atsuko says. ¡°Nope,¡± Kasumi lied. ¡°No trouble at all!¡± ¡°I¡¯d hope not,¡± Hoshikage says. The expression on her tanned face has a hint of sternness. ¡°Can¡¯t have one of my best students causing a ruckus, can we.¡± ¡°Ehe,¡± Kasumi grins as she appraises a cabinet next to her closest. The cabinet holds several kinds of bobbles some are spheres, others are shaped like the heads of cats, all filled with a liquid each. She takes the baubles and attaches them to her dress. Noboru looks at one of the screens. Intrigued by Atsuko¡¯s research. Kei meanwhile takes to his writing desk and immediately jots down the scenery of the black box. ¡°What would suit such an interesting setting?¡± he asks himself. ¡°A nice picnic perhaps?¡± ¡°I got the food!¡± a cheery voice calls from the door. Hoshikage answers it again. Seeing a teenage woman clad in a dress adorned with lace and bows on the skirt, and bodice. Looking more like a signer than a shinobi. Her black hair is cut in a bob style. ¡°Aika!¡± Hoshikage says. ¡°Where have you been?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been scoping out the city!¡± the raven-haired girl says. ¡°Looking for places to perform, it turns out most of them are underground.¡± Kei hears Aiko¡¯s voice and approaches the young singer. ¡°Hello, Miss Aika.¡± Aika looks at the author and greets him with a smile. ¡°You¡¯re back, Kei,¡± she says. ¡°Maybe you can help me with my lyrics?¡± Atsuko looks at the screens, each one having readings of unprecedented mana density. Her smile widens as she sees these readings. She turns to Saizo with a wide-eye smile. ¡°Saizo you genius, how did you find out about this dungeon?¡± ¡°I simply followed the rumors is all, Lady Atsuko,¡± Saizo says. ¡°What rumors?¡± Aika says. ¡°Some talk about a dungeon suddenly pulling itself back from the brink and repelling most of their visitors,¡± Kasumi says. ¡°There is more to it than that,¡± Saizo says. ¡°There were reports of a dungeon near Websdale vanishing shortly after that.¡± Atsuko looks though a microscope and looks deep into the lagomorphic statue though an nearby microscope. She sees something there that piques her interest. Giddy with excitement she turns to her shinobi, ¡°Everyone, we might have found a suitable dungeon!¡± ??? Meanwhile, in the same building, Emily wakes up in her hotel room. She sees Emily sitting in another bed nearby and opens the blinds. The sunrise illuminates the streets of Noir seen from their room on the twenty-seventh floor. Stella¡¯s light rouses Elizabeth from her slumber. The fairy rubs her eyes and looks at Emily¡¯s avatara awake. ¡°Good morning, Emmy,¡± ¡°Morning Lizzie,¡± Emily says with an energetic tone. The fairy yawns and exits her bed. The pair leave their room to meet up with the others. In the lobby, Emily finds Heathcliff and Tim are already there. ¡°Where are the others?¡± Emily says. ¡°Minerva, Richard, and Sarah had got the room next to the kids,¡± Tim says. ¡°They were tasked with waking them up.¡± Esteban enters the hotel lobby and meets up with the quartet. The five meet at a table and talk about their plans. ¡°Esteban¡¯s gonna take me to the Ebony Guard¡¯s guildhalls,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Still gotta to get us registered there, cher.¡± ¡°But why?¡± ¡°The Rouges Guild,¡± Esteban says ¡°is still considered unofficial as far as Noir¡¯s government goes. You will need to get involved with the Ebony Guards to officially operate on the surface as adventurers, and for people of that guild to visit you on more, shall we say, friendly terms.¡± ¡°How about you, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Any plans?¡± ¡°I was hoping we could tour the city,¡± Emily says. ¡°Maybe meet some people interested in taking care of some children?¡± her nervous expression is visible to all. ¡°I understand,¡± Esteban says. ¡°I wish you the best of luck, but I must also tell you not to hold your breath.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll certainly need it,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°I doubt we can handle eight witches even if we got a Cryosphere to help.¡± ¡°Regardless of where the Coloraturas end up,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Our dungeon still needs to gather mana quickly for other reasons.¡± ¡°That¡¯s another reason why you need to get registered with the Guards,¡± Esteban says. ¡°Combined with our network, they should allow you to find Rouge Dungeons in the city.¡± ¡°Rouge¡­dungeons?¡± Emily says. ¡°[Rouge Dungeons] are Dungeons that are both unaffiliated with a given community and whose actions are considered detrimental to nearby ones,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°They are considered too dangerous to keep around for various reasons and so the guilds send available adventurers to try and steal their [Cores] if able.¡± ¡°In cases where the guilds aren¡¯t up to it, they get involved,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°And by ¡®they¡¯ you mean?¡± Emily says. ¡°National security forces,¡± Tim says. ¡°While [Guilds] are used by the government to outsource smaller scale problems to adventurers, militaries like Libert¨¦ [Armed Liberators] forces handle what they consider to be existential threats to the nation. In many ways, they are considered the second failsafe for if a dungeon grows too powerful. If even they fail, then¡ª that¡¯s a topic for another time.¡± ¡°I can guarantee you don¡¯t want to be around when the Liberators make their moves, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Only the top brass of the largest guilds can handle one of them guys and they have access to resources and mana to ensure they get a leg up on any adversaries they encounter. If they set their sights on you, then you¡¯re out of luck. This is another reason why I have to get us registered with the Guards. Noir seeing you as a Rouge Dungeon would lead to several issues down the road.¡± ¡°Issues that are unhelped by you also being registered with the Rosenkreuz guild,¡± Esteban says. ¡°Conflict with the Guards would risk a legal brouhaha between Noir and Nova Virginia.¡± Emily is stunned by the potential risks to herself she would incur just by being here. ¡°Sorry to spring that on you, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Emily says. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°As long as we don¡¯t lose control, we¡¯ll be fine!¡± she assures Emily with a confident smile. ¡°Lose¡­control,¡± Emily says. She becomes lost in her thoughts as she recalls recent events for several moments. ¡°R-right! Of course!¡± she says to assure herself. An elevator descends and on it are Richard, Sarah, Minerva, Nina, Charlotte, and the Coloraturas. ¡°We¡¯re here!¡± Rose says as she slithers along. ¡°Are we ready yet?¡± the lamia impatiently says. Emily looks at Minerva and the dwarves, who all have tired looks on their faces. ¡°Have I mentioned I¡¯m unsuited to be a broodmother?¡± Minerva says. ¡°Even if you were,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°You¡¯d still need a lot more help.¡± The other Coloraturas, save Raine, follow Rose to Emily and her table. Nina also follows the magical girls to the table. Emily turns to Heathcliff. ¡°Guess it¡¯s time to set off then?¡± ¡°Good luck, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. Esteban tips his blue hat before the two men leave for the guildhall. Emily turns to the others. ¡°Are there any specific places you have in mind?¡± Richard places out a map for the local district, with some places of interest already marked down by him and Sarah. ¡°I¡¯ve also marked some dungeons in blue, for when we are registered,¡± the blond dwarf says. Minerva also places a map down. ¡°This one is for the underground,¡± she whispers. Like the surface maps, this one also has some places marked. One particular location on the corner of Richard¡¯s map, marked in gold, catches Emily¡¯s interest. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Gatsby Tower,¡± Richard says. As Emily¡¯s group talks among themselves, Kasumi and Hoshikage arrive in the lobby, listening to a local restaurant. As they walk by the orange-haired kunoichi sights the group and Tim among them. Her gaze lingers on the familiar man. ¡°What the¡ª¡° she says to herself. ¡°Is that¡ª How did he get here so fast?¡± ¡°Kasumi?¡± Hoshikage is already several steps ahead of her. ¡°Something wrong?¡± ¡°N-nothing!¡± Kasumi turns to her mentor and runs ahead, hoping that she isn¡¯t noticed. She used her ninja training the sneak around the lobby, to Hoshikage¡¯s confusion. Tim looks towards the elevator, sending someone there, but as he terns he finds no one he can recognize and shrugs. Emily¡¯s group sets up their agenda for the day and begins to leave the lobby. Whisper perches himself on Azalea¡¯s shoulder. The purple-haired avatara looks at the phantom rodent and hopes that she can resolve the Coloraturas¡¯ imminent plight. ??? Emily and her group arrive at a subway station to wait for a train en route to their first destination, Anesidora Park. The station is filled with many passengers as they prepare for this day. One man in particular waits next to Emily and Tim as they wait for the train. The man has black hair with brown roots, and a large lyre sits at his back alongside a quiver of arrows. He looks curiously at the group and notices the Alraune child with them. He holds a parcel in his hand. Charlotte gets a glimpse of the return address and her heart skips several beats as she realizes that it is from Hamlin. The train arrives and everyone boards it. Charlotte avoids looking at the older man¡¯s eyes. As soon as everyone boards the chrome and white vehicle, the doors close and it speeds on the rails. ¡°Anesidora?¡± Emily asks Elizabeth. ¡°She¡¯s the Giver right?¡± ¡°Correct, Emily,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°I¡¯m glad you remembered!¡± ¡°Who¡¯s that?¡± Rose says as she slithers next to them. Elizabeth is shocked to see Rose seemingly ignorant of the Administrators. ¡°[Anesidora, the Giver], is the land that this city and all of [Titania], rests on. Sister to The Flood and the Forgemaster. Rose, How do you not know that?¡± ¡°Know what?¡± the lamia asks. ¡°The [Admisntrators]!¡± the fairy says. ¡°You¡¯ll have to forgive Rose there,¡± Hydrangea says while reading a mystery novel. ¡°She¡¯s not exactly well-read on¡ª¡° ¡°Excuse me?¡± Rose says. ¡°I am very well-read on this topic!¡± she turns to the fairy. ¡°The Ad-meen-e-stra-tors are¡­¡± she tries to find the end of her sentence. ¡°The guys who ad-meen-e-strate stuff, right?¡± Elizabeth places her head on her face. ¡°By [Astra], how did you¡­¡± she sighs. The black-haired man turns to the group. ¡°The Administrators are the deities we worship. Anesidora in particular is one of three that are Titania themselves, alongside Halcyon and Obsidian.¡± ¡°To be more specific,¡± Elizabeth says ¡°[Anesidora, the Giver], as I already mentioned, is the land. [Halcyon, the Flood] are the waters, and [Obsidian, the Forgemaster] is the core of the planet. All life on this star owes their existence to these three.¡± ¡°These siblings aren¡¯t the only Administrators to be clear, ¡°Hydrangea says. ¡°They have a mother, Astra.¡± Elizabeth wonders just how neglected these children were to not know about the Administrator. ¡°Okay, smarty-pants,¡± Rose says. ¡°Please explain who this Astra is.¡± ¡°Astra is the Cosmos,¡± Hydrangea says. ¡°¡­you lost me,¡± Rose says. ¡°[Astra, the Cosmos],¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Is the creator and spirit of the universe, and mother to everyone, including her fellow Administrators and all life found on Titania. She is the sky that the stars dwell in.¡± The pink-haired lamia struggles to wrap her head around this. ¡°So she¡¯s like a big deal then?¡± ¡°Very,¡± Elizabeth says. Emily chimes in. ¡°What about Stella?¡± ¡°[The Sunlight]?¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°She is the sun that illuminates Titania¡­¡± While Elizabeth answers Emily and Rose¡¯s questions about the Administrators, Azalea practices her jokes with Clover, Strelitzia, Nina, and Charlotte while hanging onto one of the vertical metal rails in the train. ¡°You know how I wanted a knife right?¡± the mermaid says. ¡°I¡¯d think I can be a cut above the rest if I had one of those.¡± ¡°You¡¯re still on about that knife from a while back?¡± Strelitzia says. ¡°What knife?¡± Nina asks. ¡°We found a Bismuth knife that someone dropped in the Path of Ruin,¡± Clover says. ¡°It was so colorful. Hey did you know that a rainbow is made from the refraction of light¡­¡± Charlotte ignored the conversation as she looked at the bard talking with Emily and Rose. She approaches the man. ¡°Excuse me?¡± she says. ¡°You¡¯re not from Hamlin by any chance?¡± ¡°Indeed I am,¡± the man says as he tips his hat. ¡°Orpheus Arion is my name, little miss. Why do you ask.¡± ¡°O-oh,¡± Charlotte says. ¡°No reason.¡± She realizes that he is related to Euryale and Stheno. A sense of panic overwhelms her. Emily turns to the man. ¡°Hamlin?¡± she says, feigning ignorance. ¡°What¡¯s it like?¡± Orpheus sighs. ¡°Something tragic had happened,¡± he says. ¡°All the children had vanished.¡± Meanwhile, Tim talks with the dwarves. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Tim says. ¡°Writing a ¡®shopping¡¯ list,¡± Richard says. ¡°I¡¯m planning to get some materials for special armor that not even that oaf of a knight wouldn¡¯t resist.¡± ¡°Special armor?¡± Tim says. ¡°Brother here thinks that there should be a dress code for you and the other sentinels,¡± Sarah says as the subway train leaves the tunnel and surfaces. Stella¡¯s illumination shines past the windows as the majestic skyline is visible, alongside a glimpse of Anesidora Park. Tim cocks his eyes. ¡°Look at yourself, lad,¡± Richard says. ¡°You¡¯re a mess! I get that we spend half of our time fighting and adventuring, but I think she should at least try to do it in style.¡± ¡°And do it in a way that ensures repairs and replacement gear aren¡¯t needed as much,¡± Sarah says. Tim examines himself, his leather armor looks out of place compared to the well-suited individuals in the subway. A nearby peryton holds his hose as Tim looks around. ¡°Point taken.¡± ¡°Besides,¡± the blond dwarf says, ¡°We can then use these as a basis for gear that can be obtained from the dungeon,¡± he says. Being careful not to out Emily in public. ¡°Now where can we find some Floenesium?¡± Raine looks at the three, and turns to Tim specifically. ¡°Excuse me,¡± the phoenixian girl says. ¡°Appreciate the sightseeing, but ¡­why?¡± ¡°Rather to the point,¡± Richard says. ¡°That is something you¡¯ll have to ask Emily,¡± Tim says. Nearby Raine are Lily and Anemone who look at the view from outside. A view of the sunlight and of the surface that they rarely get to see until now. The gleaming buildings leave the young werewolf and centaur in awe. As the train approaches the station, Minerva takes a look at her daughter laughing at Azalea¡¯s jokes. She then turns to Emily talking with Orpheus. ¡°So tell me,¡± Orpheus says. ¡°What would you do if you saw the harlot?¡± ¡°I¡¯d¡­¡± Emily tries to think of an answer. She and Charlotte know they can¡¯t tell him the truth about Pruflas or of Carla¡¯s feigned suicide. The train soon stops and the bell rings. Orpheus looks out. ¡°We¡¯ll have to talk next time if we get the chance.¡± He then leaves first. Emily sighs with relief. Charlotte makes a mental note of his appearance, out of a desire to not encounter the man again for now. As Orpheus exits, he takes out the letter. It came from his parents, Douglas and Medusa, and tells them that they had found his sisters but had elected to let them stay with someone outside the village, and assures him that despite all that had happened they are safe. He walks up the stairs wondering what had happened, and why they aren¡¯t in Hamlin despite being supposedly safe. ??? Emily¡¯s group exits the station and heads to the park. They find a lush verdant expanse dotted with trees and tables, with brick roads leading to various amenities. They take one to the nearest landmark, a statue of a young girl, sleeping swaddled in a blanket with presentations of the sun¡¯s rays surrounding her. A plaque reads. ¡°May she one day wake up from her slumber.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± Elizabeth studies the statues. ¡°That must be dedicated to [Stella].¡± This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. Rose looks at the stature and finds the depicted girl to resemble a child near her age. ¡°Why is one of these Admini-whatis a kid?¡± Elizabeth turns to the child. ¡°[Stella, the Sunlight] is said to be the closest [Astra] has to a true daughter, as she considers the others more her peers. Legends tell of how she was cursed into a torpor forbidding her body from awakening.¡± ¡°Okay, and?¡± Rose says. ¡°The implication is that she was unable to grow until she wakes up,¡± Hydrangea says. ¡°Some tales claim she was born right after Astra herself while others say she was born around the same time as Anesidora and her siblings.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t the tales claim that she also assumes a mortal form? ¡°Emily says quizzically. ¡°Correct,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°It is not a mutually exclusive as you¡¯d think, as these tales also say that these forms are her dreaming mind manifesting in the world. And the tales surrounding [Tranqulitas, the Moonshadow] collaborate this.¡± ¡°Tranqulitas?¡± Anemone pipes up. ¡°As in the Moonshadow?¡± ¡°The very same.¡± Elizabeth. ¡°You knew about these guys too Anemone?¡± Rose says. She then indignantly asks ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me about them?¡± ¡°We tried,¡± Azalea says. ¡°But you snoozed though the guild¡¯s classes.¡± ¡°Come on!¡± Rose says. ¡°I needed my rest.¡± Elizabeth is somewhat assured that at least it was seemingly only Rose that was ignorant of the Administrator¡¯s existence. Tim approaches the group. ¡°So what¡¯s the plan?¡± ¡°I want us to split up. take in the sights, explore the city for a bit until Heathcliff returns,¡± Emily says. ¡°I want to ask some people here about something.¡± ¡°Can I come with?¡± Rose says. ¡°Um,¡± Emily¡¯s signs of hesitancy is not lost on Azalea or on the familiar perches on her shoulder. ¡°I¡¯ll go too, you¡¯ll need someone like me to lighten the mood and break the ice. Especially since Hydrangea is pretty good at making the ice to begin with.¡± ¡°I¡¯m gonna scope out some places for later on,¡± Richard says. ¡°As well as use the city¡¯s aesthetic as inspiration.¡± ¡°Maybe I can accompany you then?¡± Raine says. ¡°N-not that I¡¯m interested in your work or anything.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Sarah says. ¡°The more the merrier.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go too!¡± Lily says as she canters towards the dwarves. ¡°I¡¯m just gonna stay here,¡± Tim says. ¡°Find a place to meditate.¡± ¡°Me too,¡± Anemone says. ¡°After staying in the underground, I¡¯d like to see about getting as much fresh air and sunlight as possible.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll stay too!¡± Clover says. ¡°Ditto,¡± Strelitzia says. ¡°As for me?¡± Elizabeth says. She struggles to think of something. ¡°Um¡­¡± ¡°I heard about a library in this park,¡± Hydrangea says. ¡°Maybe we can go there?¡± ¡°Sure!¡± the fairy accepts Hydrangea¡¯s offer. ¡°I¡¯ll go as well,¡± Minerva says. ¡°Nina?¡± ¡°Aww,¡± Nina says. ¡°But I hate reading! Its too complicated.¡± ¡°You can stay with timothy if you want.¡± Minerva says. Nina thinks about the option and realizes it entails doing nothing all day, her mind shudders at the though of boredom. ¡°Which way to the library?¡± Hydrangea points in the direction of a building nearby a stature of a matronly figure coated in stars and galaxies. ¡°I¡¯ll go as well,¡± Charlotte says. ¡°So that will be me, Rose, Azalea, and Whisper in one group, Richard, Sarah, Anemone and Raine in another, Elizabeth, Minerva, Hydrangea, Nina, Charlotte in another and Tim, Strelitzia, Clover and Lily in the last. Is this right?¡± ¡°Sounds about right,¡± Tim says. The others agree. ¡°Glad to hear it!¡± Emily says. With that the groups set off their separate ways, agreeing to meet back at the stature by three in the afternoon. ??? Using a copy of a map they got on the way out from the park. Emily takes Rose and Azalea towards some apartment complexes. ¡°What are we doing?¡± Rose says. Emily turns to the lamia and her mermaid friend. ¡°I¡¯m looking to see if there are other¡­people around.¡± Rose looks around the building and sighs. ¡°You know it¡¯s kinda obvious you¡¯re trying to find other people to adopt us.¡± Emily stutters. ¡°H-how.¡± ¡°This is a residential district,¡± Rose says. ¡°Whisper says they¡¯d been there several times,¡± Azalea says. The familiar on her shoulder nods. ¡°Also, we saw you circled all the residential areas on your map.¡± Emily slumps over. She had hoped to keep this somewhat secret. ¡°Why were you trying to hide that from us?¡± Rose says. Emily remains silent. I¡¯m still conflicted about the idea of adopting these kids. Whisper chimes in. ¡°My apologies again. I know that this is a heavy burden We¡¯re asking you to take.¡± ¡°No, I get it,¡± Emily says. ¡°It¡¯s just that¡­¡± she struggles to find the words. ¡°I think this is a wash, to be honest,¡± Azalea says. Rose glares at her friend before turning to Emily. The lamia can see conflict and hesitance in her eyes. ¡°If you want to try, then go ahead. Who knows? Perhaps there is someone else that can take us on.¡± ¡°Y-yeah,¡± Emily looks at the two children. ¡°Leave it to me, I¡¯m sure there is someone else interested in having you and your friends.¡± A while later¡­ ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but we¡¯re expecting another child already.¡± A woman closes the door on Emily. ¡°Um¡ª¡° A man later tries to think of an excuse. ¡°I think my stove¡¯s on fire!¡± he slams the door. ¡°You want me to take care of eight Exsecratii orphans!¡± a haughty woman says. ¡°Don¡¯t make me laugh!¡± ¡°Get back!¡± a superstitious man says while making an X shape with his fingers. ¡°These people are too dangerous!¡± He panics and slams the door on them. Rose sighs. ¡°That¡¯s five whole buildings now.¡± ¡°I knew it was a wash, ¡°Azelia says. ¡°But the rejection feels like a tidal wave.¡± Emily is left confused as to why the Elegere are adamant about not adopting these girls. She checks her time and sees that it is now 2:15 PM. ¡°We have time for one more building,¡± Emily says. Over there, they find more of the same. The residents are unwilling to adopt the coloraturas, some more brazen about it than others. A dejected Emily leaves the apartments. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Emily says to the children. ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Azalea says. ¡°We all knew this was coming.¡± ¡°Um,¡± Rose says. ¡°About that train thing¡­¡± ¡°What train thing?¡± Emily says. ¡°You and the Alraune girl seemed tense when talking to that bard,¡± Rose says. ¡°Did something happen?¡± Emily stays silent. She is unsure if they should know about the incident in Hamlin and its after-effects. Rose senses the tension in Emily¡¯s eyes, but her concern is eclipsed by curiosity. ¡°I don¡¯t think I can explain¡ª¡° ¡°Come on,¡± Rose says. ¡°You can tell me. I¡¯m a great listener.¡± ¡°Rose,¡± Whisper says. ¡°You know you shouldn''t press people like that.¡± The familiar has already known of the complications Emily faces. Emily tries to change the topic. ¡°We should head back to the park, it¡¯s almost three.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t wait to park myself back there,¡± Azalea says. Rose chuckles at the attempted joke as the three return to Anesidora Park. ??? Meanwhile. Richard, Sarah, Raine, and Lily check out various shops and quest boards, looking for the materials they need. ¡°So,¡± Raine says. ¡°You two are craftsmen?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Sarah says. The four enter a boutique, and Richard asks the cashier to browse the place. As they look over the various clothes. Richard takes some notes. He observes a lime green zoot suit. ¡°Hmm, the colors are interesting, but I¡¯m not sure if suits are appropriate,¡± he thinks. He then turns to a nearby mannequin, holding a tubular dress with fur trim. ¡°That seems a little too warm,¡± he thinks. Lily canters over to clothing more suited to her four-legged physique. She sees several jeans made specifically for her but looks at the price tag. ¡°I can¡¯t afford that¡­¡± she thinks Raine talks with Sarah some more. ¡°You¡¯re a blacksmith?¡± the phoenixian girl says. ¡°Of course!¡± Sarah says with a bright smile. ¡°I aim to work the finest metals into sturdy armor and sharp arms. My brother handles the finer work of textiles and jewelry.¡± Raine looks at the dwarf¡¯s armor, clearly well-worn with little signs of breaking apart. ¡°Why are you so interested in us?¡± Sarah says. ¡°N-no reason,¡± Raine says. She puts up an aloof front to hide her interest in crafting. But Sarah can see right through it. ¡°Y¡¯know,¡± Sarah says. ¡°We could use an extra pair of hands around the workshop, maybe you want to be my apprentice if Emily adopts you?¡± ¡°Would I¡ª?¡± Raine clears her throat. ¡°I mean that would be appreciated, ma¡¯am.¡± ¡°Sarah,¡± Sarah says with a furrowed brow. ¡°Please call me Sarah.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Raine says. ¡°Thank you, Sarah.¡± Meanwhile Lily calls Richard over to examine the expensive jeans. ¡°Hmm,¡± Richard says looking at the four-legged pair of pants and the four-legged girl. He writes a note for Lily specifically. ¡°Anyway,¡± Rciahrd says with curiosity. ¡°How did you handle life in the dreadful underground?¡± Lily beams a cheerful smile. ¡°My friends and I have lots of fun there!¡± she says. ¡°I mean we often end up in peril just moving around and barely have enough food to feed the eight of us, but the folk here are nice!¡± Richard is a little aghast. ¡°How did you get enough to eat.¡± ¡°Whisper took us to a diner!¡± Lily says. ¡°Miss Jacquelyn was very sweet and gave us whatever food she could get from there.¡± ¡°A¡­diner?¡± Richard finds the location odd, ¡°Where did the ingredient come from?¡¯ ¡°Dunno!¡± Lily says with a happy expression. Richard grows a little concerned. ¡°I¡¯ll have to ask about that later,¡± He then realizes the oddity in caring about the wellness of people he had just derided as scoundrels yesterday. After leaving the store the quartet heads towards a materials hop to ask about the locations of Floenesium, Orichalcum, and Arcanite. By the time they finished, they realized is it five minutes to three and rushed towards the park. ??? Elizabeth is at the library in Anesidora Park with Hydrangea, Minerva, Nina, and Charlotte. She and Hydrangea are reading a book on urban legends in Noir. Meanwhile, Minerva finds a storybook for Nina and helps her daughter read it. ¡°The cat and the cuckoo¡ª¡± Nina reads from the text. ¡°Travelled the um¡­¡± ¡°Wonderous,¡± Minerva says, pointing to the word. ¡°One-der-ous world of..of..¡± Minerva sees the name of the setting, finding it unusually complex from the context of a picture book. ¡°Ereshkigal?¡± she thinks. She is aware that it was a name that people recently used to refer to the Pathfinder. ¡°I-res-she-gal?¡± Nina tries to read the word. The fairy and the cyan-haired girl noticed Nina saying the name incorrectly and approached them. ¡°[Ereshkigal, the Pathfinder]?¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Who is that?¡± Nina says. ¡°[The Pathfiner],¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Is a special Administrator.¡± The fairy is uncertain how to broach the topic of death to the young girl, much less the topic of one who oversees the sea of souls. ¡°She is associated with [Revotos].¡± Nina finds the name familiar for some reason before recalling her trip to the valley. ¡°Does that mean she is associated with that village?¡± ¡°No,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°The pair are rather special gods,¡± she says. ¡°Known throughout the world. But¡­¡± Minerva sighs. ¡°We¡¯ll have to talk about them one day, Nina, but not today.¡± ¡°Why not, mommy?¡± Nina says. ¡°The domains of these gods are sleep and death,¡± Minerva says. The Arachne mother is wondering why that specific Administrator was named dropped in a children¡¯s book of all things. Perhaps it was intended to ease the young readers into the topic of death and the afterlife, perhaps the unknown author wrote it to cope with other topics. Hydrangea looks at the picture book and sees that the protagonists have met an unusual end. She also finds the date of the first publication. ¡°This seemed like a very old story,¡± she says. ¡°How old are we talking?¡± Minerva says. Hydrangea shows Elizabeth the date. ¡°Old enough to be around the time of [the Plague of Ruin].¡± Minerva suddenly understands. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Nina says with curiosity. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you when you¡¯re older,¡± her mother says. ¡°Oh come on!¡± the spiderling says. Disturbing the other patrons. ¡°Nina,¡± Minerva says, gazing at her daughter. Nina tries to argue but her mother¡¯s eyes mesmerize away any will to do so. ¡°Okay,¡± Minerva sighs. ¡°I wish I didn¡¯t have to do that,¡± she thinks. ¡°Minerva,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Maybe we should refrain from using those abilities on her?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Minerva says. ¡°Nina can be a handful for me sometimes.¡± Hydrangea is a little curious. ¡°Is your husband¡­¡± ¡°Dead, I¡¯m afraid.¡± Minerva was curt about the death of her beloved. ¡°Was mistaken for a predatory by careless hunters.¡± Meanwhile, Charlotte is ready for a book on animal care. Her mind is still fixated on Orpheus and his sisters. Doubt lingers in her mind as she fears the older brother would want retribution on them if he learns they are at the Black Box and unable to leave. A solemn mood fills the library. The awkward topic leads the group to head to the front desk and leave. Hydrangea checks out several books for Anemone at the desk. ??? Elsewhere in the park. Tim tries to meditate, surrounded by trees. He thinks back to his fight with Chiron and his wind shield. Trying to find out how he did that and how he can replicate the feat. Anemone meanly lays back nearby, taking in the natural beauty of the park. Clover talks with several of the critters, with Streltizia keeping a close eye on her. Tim focuses on the battle and Chiron¡¯s move, after he finishes meditating, he tries to manipulate the wind to create a barrier. With a move of his leg, the wind circles around him, he then thrusts with one of his palms as he assumes a modified horse stance. The wind swells around him. He then slides his leg in an arc and then¡­nothing. The wind slows into a breeze. Tim is left frustrated by the failure. ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± Anemone says. ¡°It doesn¡¯t concern you,¡± Tim says to the little girl. ¡°It kinda does if you¡¯re trying to create tornadoes,¡± Strelitizia says with a blunt tone. Tim glares at the minotaur. ¡°Did you know that twisters are made by warm and cold air mixing togeth¡ª¡° ¡°Yes, I know,¡± Tim says as he walks towards somewhere more quiet. ¡°It seems like you¡¯re trying to replicate a specific use of Bardsong using mana manipulation techniques,¡± Anemone says. Tim is rather surprised by the lycanthrope¡¯s response and stops. ¡°How do you know about that?¡± ¡°I make it a hobby of mine to research magic and how it works,¡± Anemone says with a smile. ¡°That said I don¡¯t think whatever it is you¡¯re trying to do is possible.¡± ¡°Oh really,¡± Tim says. ¡°How so?¡± ¡°Bardsong is an emotional art,¡± Anemone says. ¡°It depends on the emotions of the caster, The principles of the techniques dictate that whatever effect you¡¯re trying to achieve requires a similar emotional stimulus.¡± ¡°Stimulus?¡± Strelitzia is confused by the word. ¡°A cause, basically,¡± Anemone says. ¡°Bardsong predates the more generalized magic, and as such has some effects on it. The emotional connection being the most relevant connection.¡± Tim is reminded of a conversation he had with his mentor. Where he learned that the elements had their own emotions and that he had to learn what the emotions are to use the elements. Elizabeth¡¯s group arrives. Hydrangea hands Anemone some books on loan from the library. ¡°They are due in two weeks,¡± the bespectacled girl says to the wolf-eared one. ¡°Oh, thank you!¡± Anemone eagerly takes the books from Hydrnagea. Tim turns to the fairy, aware that Elizabeth is knowledgeable about Bardsong. ¡°Can you tell me about the emotional side of Bardsong?¡± ¡°Certainly,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°[Bardsong] is said to manipulate both magic and elements. How that does it varies, but it is said that each element is associated with certain emotions.¡± ¡°What does wind represent then?¡± ¡°Wind is said to be the element for confusion and optimism,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Take me for example!¡± Clover says. ¡°I can be very optimistic,¡± ¡°And confusing,¡± Hydrangea mutters. ¡°Did you say something Hydrangea?¡± the peryton says. Hydrangea ignores her. ¡°The wind is a fickle thing, Tim,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°At least in the case of Bardsong. It takes a keen understanding of it to have it act on your behalf.¡± Tim is surprised to hear that, before realizing that he merely uses the wind to repel or to lift himself, tasks that are easily within its nature. ¡°What can be done to say, get it to create a barrier?¡± he asks. At that point, Elizabeth realizes why Tim¡¯s sudden interest. ¡°It¡¯s about Chiron, isn¡¯t it?¡± Tim nods. Anemone knows who he is talking about. ¡°Isn¡¯t that that priest from New Virginia?¡± ¡°The very same, Elizabeth says. ¡°He and Tim fought to the draw once.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± Anemone says. ¡°A draw?¡± Streltizia is confused. ¡°You¡¯re getting worked up over a draw?¡± ¡°A draw and a loss means the same thing to me,¡± Tim says. ¡°I don¡¯t think there is anything I can do to help you learn his skills,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°As the fairy said,¡± Anemone says. ¡°The wind is a fickle thing, you might need to focus on another element if magical wards are what you want.¡± Tim sighs. Richard and Emily¡¯s groups return. One succeeded in their goals, and the other failed. ¡°We¡¯re back!¡± Emily says. The time is now three in the afternoon. There are still a few hours left before having to return to the hotel. ¡°What¡¯s the verdict?¡± Tim says. ¡°Still not takers,¡± Rose says. ¡°Yeah¡­¡± Emily whispers to Tim after approaching him. ¡°They found out I was looking for other people to adopt them.¡± The other coloratura could infer Rose was referring to the Elegere and their attempts to find other adopters. Raine and Strelitzia react with a bit of frustration at that and the implcation that Emily might not be willing to take them on. ¡°We fared better,¡± Sarah says. ¡°Brother found some good ideas and some places to get some choice metals, and I¡¯ve found some good places to eat!¡± ¡°Metals?¡± Emily says. ¡°For the dungeon, dear,¡± Richard says. ¡°I need you to be able to produce certain metals for a project of mine.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Emily says. ¡°Gotta wait for that redhead to return first, right?¡± Rose says. ¡°I think so,¡± Emily says. Her stomach begins to growl. ¡°I got some spare cash, we cna eat at one of these places I found,¡± Sarah says. ¡°My treat!¡± Sarah leads them outside the park and towards their new destination. ??? Earlier in the day, Heathcliff and Esteban arrive at one of the skyscrapers. Decorated with swords and shields that are black in hue. ¡°The Ebony Guards, guildhall,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Thanks for the lift, Esteban.¡± Esteban tips his hat as Heathcliff exits his vehicle. He enters the guild hall and finds a line of various people in front of him. While Heathcliff waits, Esteban enters the building and takes an elevator to a certain floor. There he finds the man he was in contact with for the past several months. He looks out at the skyline from his lofty office. ¡°I heard there¡¯s a new dungeon in town,¡± the enigmatic man says. Stella¡¯s light reveals his dark complexion. A shade darker than Esteban¡¯s. ¡°Yeah, so?¡± Esteban says. He isn¡¯t sure if he should trust the Empyrean man. The man chuckles. He prefers Esteban but doesn¡¯t trust him yet. To him, it is a sign that the Azure Rouge has not lost its edge. ¡°Now then,¡± Esteban says. ¡°Are you certain that Gatsby Tower has info from the Vorhees gang?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± the man says. ¡°My sources tell me that the Syndicate had brokered a deal with the dungeon at a neutral place.¡± ¡°The 4706 nightclub?¡± Esteban says. The man nods. ¡°Jay has always been interested in how others arrange parties, always looking for inspiration.¡± ¡°Tell me,¡± Esteban says. ¡°Why, perched in your ivory tower and with control of a part of the Guards, have you come to the Rouges?¡± ¡°It is because I stand aloft the others,¡± the man says as he turns to the blue-coated man. ¡°That I do not trust the Ebony Guards. I know more than anyone else that they would make the situation worse, for the Syndicate¡¯s leaders are also my fellow Empyreans.¡± Esteban is nonplussed to hear that. It is an open secret in the Underground that the mob¡¯s rulers reside at the peaks of society. It is part of the reason why the Rouges had formed, to begin with. ¡°I¡¯ve also heard you were looking into getting eight girls adopted?¡± ¡°I think that is already taken care of,¡± Esteban says. ¡°Got to give it some time first.¡± ¡°Fair enough,¡± the man says. ¡°If these girls are what I think they are, they are better off away from Noir entirely.¡± ¡°Care to elaborate?¡± Esteban says. ¡°Not today,¡± the man says. ¡°You already know the dangers Strega poses, and anything beyond that should wait until we have a better understanding of each other.¡± Esteban knows he isn¡¯t gonna get anything of value from him right now. He silently leaves the room. The man bids farewell to him as he takes the elevator down. By the time he returns to the ground floor, Heathcliff is waiting for him at a nearby table. ¡°How did it go?¡± Esteban says. ¡°C''¨¦tait un jeu d''enfant, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°How was your own business?¡± ¡°Fine,¡± Esteban says. ¡°Kinda surprised to see the Rouges talking with the top brass of the Guards like that,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Just last year y¡¯all were at each other throats.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think our relationship has improved that much,¡± Esteban says with uncertainty as to why one of the leaders of the guild had asked for another guild¡¯s aid. The two men return tot heir car and ride back to the hotel room. ??? In another place, far away from Noir. The sounds of engines and machinery whirl as Pruflas travels through a Dungeon. The demonic bard sneaks past robot Cells, made of glass and gears as he searches for the core. He plays his pipe to conjure illusions to distract the machines. ¡°That damned wench!¡± A voice bellows through the factories and smokestacks. ¡°How dare she say I was not strong enough.¡± ¡°Looks like this is the right one, indeed,¡± Pruflas says with a smirk. Earlier he had been granted a task from his fellow demons, to grant a certain dungeon exactly what it wants. Pruflas soon arrives at a room where conveyor belts converge at a large furnace. He plays a small tune on his pipe, alerting the core to his presence. ¡°Who dares intrude upon my domain?¡± The dungeon¡¯s voice echoes to the man. ¡°I am but a humble traveler, sir,¡± the bard says. ¡°Here on word that you wanted something new?¡± The furnaces flare up as the conveyor belts accelerate, and scraps of metal on the belts are rapidly fed to the inferno. ¡°Now calm down kind dungeons, I come in peace,¡± the demon says. He takes out a small crystal. ¡°Inside this small gemstone lies certain knowledge. Truths, lies, and means are encoded inside. Accept this gift and what the cat denied you. Shall become yours to do with as you please.¡± The furnace slows down, and the fire quells. ¡°I know what you are fowl demon. What is your catch.¡± ¡°My humble offer, the victor gets the spoils. If you accept this offer, your core unbinds. If your avatara falls to another. The victor shall receive all of your mana. But if you use this gift, it shan¡¯t concern you. A small price to pay for such power, right?¡± The dungeon muses on the offer. He knows that the power the cat woman had denied him would enable him to gather a higher yield of mana than usual and to grow faster. That strength is what he needs to absorb other dungeons and grow more powerful in turn. ¡°We stand across, on the winds of change,¡± Pruflas says. ¡°Refuse this and you might get left behind. She will find a dungeon to her standards. Inevitably, unpreventable.¡± After a while. The core responses. ¡°Very well, demon. State thy name¡± ¡°I am the Piper Pruflas, kind dungeon,¡± the black and red-clad man says. ¡°And if I may ask for your other name?¡± One of the cells relives the crystal from Pruflas¡¯ hand and places it on the conveyor belt. ¡°I am Baron Roberts,¡± the core responds. ¡°The Engines incarnate!¡± ¡°pleasure to meet you, o Baron Roberts,¡± Pruflas says. ¡°May these engines of yours move eternally.¡± The demonic bard then vanishes. Chapter XXI: Dungeons of the Metropolis The next day, at the hotel, Emily and her party discuss the day¡¯s agenda. The Coloraturas play with Charlotte and Nina in the lobby as the others discuss their daily plans. ¡°So you came from a rural village Charlotte?¡± Lily says. The indigo-haired Alraune nods. ¡°What was it like?¡± Rose says. Charlotte is hesitant to answer. ¡°It was¡ª¡± ¡°It was boring,¡± Nina lies. ¡°A total snoozefest.¡± The spiderling tries to make the village of Hamlim as unappealing as possible to quell the curious girl¡¯s questions. ¡°There was only one dungeon there!¡± ¡°Aw,¡± Clover says. ¡°I was hoping it was better than here.¡± ¡°It seems quieter than Noir at least,¡± Hydrangea says. ¡°Icy what you mean, Hydrangea,¡± Azalia says. The cyan-haired bespectacled girl groans at the pun. ¡°How about you, Nina?¡± Strelitzia says. ¡°Yeah, You don¡¯t seem the type to get webbed up in sticky situations often,¡± Azalea says. Nina grins as she talks to the witches. ¡°I want to be an adventurer!¡± she says, showing off her armored lowered body and bladed legs. From the other table, Minerva sighs as she sees her daughter express her dangerous desire to become an adventurer and the stories that inspired her to have such goals. She then turns at the other girls with her and wonders why the Administrators had allowed these orphans to live dangerous lives. ¡°That is admirable,¡± Anemone says. ¡°But are you sure you know how dangerous it is?¡± Hydrangea recalls what happened at the library yesterday. ¡°You do see a little naive,¡± she says. ¡°Naive?¡± Nina says with a flummoxed expression. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Raine sighs. ¡°You remind me of Rose and Lily at times.¡± ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± the pigtailed lamia says. The cheerful centaur ignores Raine¡¯s comment and asks Lamia, ¡°You live in a Dungeon now, that means you have met some sentinels!¡± ¡°Of course I do,¡± Nina says. ¡°Why ask?¡± Raine looks at the almost naive centaur girl and sighs. ¡°Please tell me everything you know about them!¡± Lily says with a giddy smile on her face. Nina responds in kind, but as she gets to the topic, she can only reiterate the most basic of knowledge on them. Charlotte returns the already deed. ¡°My mother is a Sentinel, albeit a new one,¡± the Alraune child says. ¡°Really?¡± Lily says. ¡°What does she do?¡± ¡°She¡¯s a tamer,¡± Charlotte says. ¡°So unlike the others, she doesn''t fight herself, but helps prepare monsters and beasts to fight in her stead,¡± ¡°That¡¯s amazing!¡± Lily says. ¡°Tim is also a Sentinel,¡± Charlotte says, pointing at the martial artist at the other table. Lily¡¯s eyes sparkle at learning that bit of information. Meanwhile, Emily looks at the other members of their medium-sized group. ¡°We¡¯re ready to raid some local dungeons?¡± ¡°Oui, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°The goal is to find Rouge dungeons and get their cores right?¡± Tim says. Emily nods. Richard hands Emily a list. ¡°If we¡¯re going dungeon diving, we should have Emily learn from materials along the way.¡± Emily looks over the list. ¡°Floenesium, Arcanite and Orichalicum?¡± ¡°Those are some scarce materials, are you sure the rouge dungeons have them?¡± Elizabeth says. Richard begins to answer¡­before the blond and tanned dwarf realizes he isn¡¯t sure and lowers his finger. ¡°Don¡¯t worry cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°The Guards gave me a list of Rouge Dungeons on the surface.¡± The red-headed knight takes out a small booklet of longstanding dungeons. ¡°We should be careful though,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°As we strive to protect Emily and her core, the opposing dungeons will go to great lengths to safeguard theirs. If pushed to the brink, they will activate [Last Bastion Protocols] and bring all they have to bear.¡± Lily approaches Tim with the expression of a curious and excitable fangirl. ¡°H-hello, Tim,¡± she says. ¡°What is it?¡± Tim says to the child. ¡°I j-just found out that you a-are a Sentinel and I want t-to¡­¡± her equine legs quiver as she struggles to approach the older boy. ¡°Please tell me everything you know about what it is like!¡± Tim sighs. Emily turns to Elizabeth. ¡°Um, Lizzie?¡± ¡°If I may remind you,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Adopting these children would entail making them your Sentinels as well. It seems like Lily is especially excited about the idea.¡± With that explanation, Emily remembers being asked to adopt these children by their shared familiarity. Her expression is tense as she is still uncertain if she wants to do it. On the one hand, she knows that they would complicate her efforts to free the children Pruflas has bound to her, but on the other hand, she is aware of the consequences that would happen if they don¡¯t find a new patron in time before Whisper fades from existence. She takes her mind off the complicated decision by reminding herself that she would still need more mana regardless. Heathcliff finishes pouring over the list. ¡°Well Richard, you¡¯re in luck, there are five dungeons with at least one of them metals!¡± ¡°Which ones are those?¡± Sarah asks the knight. ¡°The closest one is an art museum,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°The Guards claimed it was once a normal museum and that people were getting lost in there.¡± Emily takes the book from Heathcliff and learns a few things, such as the dungeon had Arcanite gear and ingots, and two of the disappearances of both a young girl and a teenage man. Reading further reveals claims of a blond girl inside the premises and that paintings resembling the victims suddenly appear the next day. She returns the book to Heathcliff. ¡°Want to do the gallery first?¡± Richard is intrigued by the idea, thinking that it might help him gather ideas for finishing touches. ¡°Sounds like a good idea.¡± ¡°I¡¯m in,¡± Sarah says. Tim expresses a lack of care, being distracted by Lily¡¯s barrage of questions on Sentinels. Minerva looks at the other children. ¡°Want to visit an art gallery dungeon? ¡°The Arachne says. To various cheers of interest and delight. ¡°Alright then,¡± Emily says. ¡°It¡¯s settled. Allons!¡± Heathcliff chuckles of her saying that word. The group sets off for the nearby dungeon. The Hallward Gallery. ??? Later, the group arrives at the Hallward Gallery. A place filled with various visitors. It seems like a normal museum, with paintings and sculptures lining the walls. Several of those images of landscapes and still life, others however were peculiar portraits. A sign reads out the business hours. 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM. The security details were peculiar in their absence, with only silent suits of mail in their way. ¡°This place is a dungeon?¡± Emily says. ¡°Hard to say for sure,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°There are some that hide in plain sight, putting up a facade as normal institutions for parts of the day, either to hibernate or simply as a disguise. They are usually found in urban centers as dungeons in more secluded areas rely more on geography and distance to conceal them.¡± Rose looks at one of the paintings, an image of a young girl sitting serenely in front of a tree, thorny vines wrapped around her. Strelitzia and Clover sight a painting of a boy hanging from a tree¡¯s branches. Lily and Clover find a sculpture of a boutique of roses, one red, one blue, and one yellow. The plaque reads ¡°Which of these is the false rose?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the yellow one,¡± Streltizia says. ¡°Never saw one of those anywhere in my life!¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± Clover says. ¡°I think it¡¯s the blue rose, there are few natural pigments outside some far-off dungeons.¡± Rose notices the pair and looks at the sculptures and plaque. ¡°Are you sure it isn¡¯t the red one,¡± she says, wanting to be contrarian. Azaela swims by them. ¡°Maybe none of them are real? It seems like a thorny puzzle.¡± Elizabeth answers questions from Lily, who seems certain that Emily will adopt them and is pressing the fairy for more on life as a Sentinel. Tim looks at a depiction of a gleaming tower, golden and black all around, illuminated by rays of artificial light from below and the moonlight above. He is unaware that he is being watched by someone from a distance. Heathcliff approaches the man. ¡°Looks like someone has an interest in Gatsby Tower,¡± He says. Richard and Sarah follow suit. ¡°Many of these portraits are¡ª¡° he stops upon seeing the painting. He sees the architectural details lovingly rendered in shades of dark yellow and grey amidst the grisaille surroundings. Emily soon chances upon two paintings. One depicts a young girl, dressed in pink with brown tresses, with blue eyes and a pink bow on a headband. The plaque beneath it reads ¡°the Heritor.¡± The painting bears immaculate details. A stark contrast to the one next to it. Which depicts a skeletal figure, with a background that looks like it has been tarnished by the sands of time, with spots on it resembling tears in the canvas. The plaque beneath that one reads ¡°Self-portrait of a fallen man.¡± Later Heathcliff examines the ¡°business hours¡± and realizes that the dungeon is not accessible as such during these hours. He catches up to Emily. ¡°Seems like we¡¯re a bit too early, cher.¡± He hands her his book on rouge dungeons. The avatara looks over the other four listings and sees two that catch her interest, the first one claims there is an illusory garden in Anesidora Park, and the other claims there is an abandoned library. Rose and Nina approach her. ¡°I¡¯m bored,¡± the spiderling says. ¡°I thought this was a dungeon!¡± ¡°We might¡¯ve arrived too early for that,¡± Emily says. The others arrive at the two paintings as Emily asks if they want to try the Library or the Garden next. The Library won out, to Nina¡¯s dismay. The others leave the museum and go there first. As Emily leaves, she looks back, feeling like one of the two paintings is staring at her. ??? A few hours later, the group arrives at the entrance of a nondescript building, seemingly similar to the other skyscrapers in Noir. They enter it to find a normal lobby with several people going about their day, ignorant of their surroundings as they hustle to their jobs. ¡°I thought you said there was a dungeon here!¡± Nina says. ¡°I said there might be a dungeon here,¡± Emily says. ¡°The dungeons we¡¯re looking for have a clever measure,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°According to the Guard¡¯s dungeon guide, it is claimed to have several points of ingress but only opens one of them per day. The entrance differs each day!¡± ¡°Aw!¡± Nina says. Richard surveys the room. Looking for hidden entrances. He sees that a section of the wall is more pale than its surrounding section and heads towards it. ¡°You say this one dungeon has Orichalcium?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what the book says, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Wonder how this dungeon came to be,¡± Rose says. ¡°The rumors claim that a wizard once resided in this area,¡± Raine says. ¡°Right between here and the underground and that he had vanished one day, with his dwellings becoming a Natural Dungeon.¡± Richard feels around the wall and his hand finds a hidden switch. The entrance opens with only Emily and her group noticing. Richard smirks at his discovery. The group enters the hidden passage and discovers that the adjacent room is a massive library, filled with arcane tomes and shifting shelves. With the ceiling being so far up as to be near invisible among the shelves. ¡°Be careful,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Finding this place is only half the battle.¡± Elizabeth looks at her Lifetree diagram and sees a timer counting down from one hundred and twenty minutes, proof that they had entered a Divine Dungeon. ¡°We are here for two things,¡± the fairy says. ¡°The Orichalcum being one of them.¡± The group steps forward and sees the shelves shift around them, separating them into smaller groups. Half of the Coloraturas, Rose, Lily, Anemone and Clover end up as their own group. The other four, Strelitzia, Azalea, Hydrangea and Raine, were grouped with Emily and Elizabeth. Tim, Heathcliff, Sarah, Richard, Minerva, Nina and Charlotte comprise the last group. Now split up, they are forced to find each other and explore this shifting maze of arcane bookshelves. ??? Emily¡¯s group explores the depths of the library. ¡°Dewey need to read some of these tomes?¡± Azalea asks. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Emily says. Hydrangea looks around the arcane shelves. She curiously takes one form the shelves and opens it, but as soon as she does it snaps itself shelf on her hand. ¡°Ow!¡± Hydrangea says. As she and the others see the tomes move from their places and fly around the shelves. ¡°These books are flying hot off the shelves!¡± Azalea says. She and Hydrangea use their wands to cast water and ice spells to halt their assault. ¡°Oh noble water,¡± Elizabeth sings. ¡°Drench these foes in your embrace.¡± A geyser spouts from beneath some of the books and drenches them in water. She tries to sing another one in existence but one of them knocks her on her head and causes her to fall to the ground. Before it can repeat its attack. Emily jumps to the fairy¡¯s aid and slices it in half with her two blades. ¡°Why are the books attacking us?¡± Emily says ¡°They must be the Dungeon¡¯s [Cells],¡± Elizabeth says as more flying books surround them. Strelitzia uses her short stature to dunk under the areal books and her labrys to swat them aside. ¡°Stupid books,¡± she says. Azalia uses her want to finish what Elizabeth started and conjure up geysers. Strelitzia uses her seldom-used earth spells to turn the water spout into mud and works in tandem with the mermaid to ground the books on the floor. Raine meanwhile incinerates some of the swarm with her blazing wings as she confronts them in the air. The books were eventually felled but it took thirty minutes to do so. Elizabeth looked at her diagram and saw the time now reading less than ninety minutes had remained. Emily also sees it and grows dismayed. ¡°We just stepped into this place and it takes up a quarter of our time on the beginning fight?¡± she thinks to herself. ¡°Looks like we¡¯ll have to book it if we want to get to the bosses in time,¡± Azalea says. ¡°But how can we make it past the other cells?¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°They are gonna be on high alert now.¡± ¡°Leave it to me,¡± Raine says. The young pheonixian girl gives a serious expression. ¡°I think my fires will distract them.¡± ¡°Is that really a good idea?¡± Emily says. ¡°The Cells are likely replicas of the actual tomes,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Monsters designed as mimics for the literature, still there is a risk that setting the place on fire would make the dungeon more angry.¡± ¡°Then they¡¯ll have to get past me first,¡± Streltizia says. The young minotaur brandishes her labrys. ¡°You go make a smoke screen, Raine, I¡¯ll handle these stacks of scrap paper.¡± With little option, emily agrees with Streltizia¡¯s plan. They rush through the dungeon with Streltizia as a rearguard, and Raine and Azalea covering their path with steam to mask their precence. ??? Meanwhile, Rose, Clover, Anemone, and Lily are already fighting another swarm of books. Anemone uses her shadow magic to pin several of them down while Rose uses lightning to strike them down. ¡°Rather lousy of them to separate us like that!¡± Rose says as she summons bolts of levin to the aerial tomes. Several books surround Clover. She looks around them and summons a gale to protect themselves from their strikes. The twister moves down the hall and lives every else into the air. ¡°Clover!¡± Anemone says as she is lifted from the ground. ¡°Sorry,¡± the green-haired Peryton girl nervously says. ¡°Whee!¡± Lily rides the wind as she leaps from the hapless Cells, using them as platforms to center high up into the air and grab Rose. With her shadow-pinning spells unusual, Anemone tries to cast gravity spells to weigh the books down and keep themselves aloft in Clover¡¯s tornado. Clover flies to her with her wings and has the lupine-eared girl hold onto them as they fly off. By this point, twenty-five minutes had elapsed since they were separated from the others. As the four Coloraturas ascent midway towards the ceiling. Rose and Anemone unleash their spells. The gravity spells work to weigh the flying books down while keeping themselves near weightlessly aloft. The lightning strikes paralyzing them enough to the point where they cannot fly for a long time. The twister soon dissipated and they gently landed on the floor next to a glowing blue ward. ¡°A whole half hour was spent on these chumps?¡± Rose says, looking at a timer on the ward, reading ninety-two. ¡°This is gonna be a difficult dungeon,¡± Clover says. ¡°Are all the surface dungeons like that?¡± Rose recalls their recent trek through the Cocytus Manor as Clover asks that question. ¡°Some should be easier than others,¡± Anemone says. ¡°However it¡¯s possible that the dungeon sensed our purposes.¡± The ward soon vanishes and the hour Coloraturas move further into the dungeon. ??? At the same time, Heathcliff¡¯s group finds the wells bizarrely devoid of enemies. ¡°What gives?¡± Nina says. ¡°Did the dungeon decide to let everyone else hog all the fun?¡± ¡°It seems it wants to test us through other means,¡± Minerva says. The group moves deeper through the shelves, ten minutes in they see three books on a table between the shelves. As well as a plaque next to an artificial river. The plaque reads. ¡°Which of these three is not associated with Water?¡± Minerva looks at the three books and sees they are titled ¡°Mythologica Halcyonis: Vol 3¡±, ¡°The Cups of Tranquitas¡±, and ¡°The Florilegium of Maimario¡±. ¡°A riddle?¡± Heathcliff shouts. ¡°Of course, it had to be riddles.¡± Nina is dismayed at the thought of having to read to progress. Tim takes a look at the three books and takes the copy of ¡°The Cups of Tranquialitas,¡± recalling a conversation he had with his teachers back in Fairborough about the book in question. He places it on the plaque. The river recedes. Heathcliff is pleasantly surprised. ¡°Lucky guess, cher?¡± ¡°Not quite,¡± Tim says. He begins explaining his deduction. ¡°All the books have to do with Administrators, all bearing water associations. But the book I chose was about the craters of Tranquilitas.¡± Heathcliff smiles. ¡°Alight then, Allons¡± The group travels to find another barrier with another plaque and three red books, fifteen minutes in. The plaque asks ¡°What of these three emotions do practitioners of Bardsong associate with the stars.¡± The red books are titled ¡°Magenta, the Color of the Cosmos¡±, ¡°The Polar Queen¡±, and ¡°The Gate to Eosphoros,¡± all widely acclaimed literary titles. ¡°This one is not gonna be simple,¡± Heathcliff says with a sigh. He, Tim, and Minerva skin through each of the books. There are enough clues from these novels to learn what each of them is about. One tells a tale about a poet who had found the dwelling of Eosphoros. Another is a romance about a woman living in a tundra that melts as she discovers love. The last is a tale of a drop of magenta liquid falling onto a well and corrupting everything, and everyone in its proximity. After five minutes of skimming, they realize that ¡°Magenta¡±, representing Terror is the book in question and place it on the pedestal, solving the riddle. They make their way through the new passage. Along the way, Heathcliff talks with the Dwarves. ¡°So what do you need need those specific metals?¡± ¡°Well,¡± Richard says with a smirk. ¡°We¡¯ve been working on some designs for mana that grows with the wearer,¡± Richard says. ¡°Figured you might appreciate that more.¡± ¡°So this is another plot to get me in one of those frou-frou dresses?¡± Heathcliff says with a chuckle. ¡°Rather clever, but it¡¯s gonna take a bit more than that.¡± ¡°I know Heathcliff,¡± Richard says. ¡°The Flownesium¡¯s properties lend itself well to storming mana proportional to the wear¡¯s strength, growling alongside it. The Orichalcum proves a base for the allow as it¡¯s the most enchanted category of brass.¡± ¡°The Arcanite is where things get rather interesting,¡± Sarah says. ¡°That metal is said to enhance one¡¯s magical capabilities.¡± Heathcliff is a little intrigued by this. ¡°You know my magic is lacking right, cher,¡± ¡°Why do you think we are gathering it?¡± Richard says. ¡°Arcanite is said to be metal laced with pieces of Elementalist¡¯s Spheres and holds some of their properties, it can enhance existing magical powers, but it can also grant the ability to use as well when forged right. Combined with the Floenesium, it can also allow it to grow.¡± Heathcliff smirks. ¡°Alright then Richard, if Emily can get these metals then I¡¯ll consider wearing your silly outfits.¡± ¡°Is that a bet?¡± the dwarf smirks. ¡°Oui,¡± The knight says. They soon reach the third barrier. By now seventeen minutes had passed. Tim reads the third plaque. ¡°Of the three Administrators in the titles, which of these is not associated with death?¡± Nina and Charlotte find the yellow books on the stand. All titles popular with young adults and older teenagers. They are respectively titled ¡°Ereshkigal¡¯s Wake¡±, ¡°The Rise of the Prometheans¡±, and ¡°In the Garden of the Reaper¡±. Nine recognizes Ereshkigal¡¯s name from the recent trip to the library at Anesidora Park and eagerly uses her webbing to snag it and rushes to the plaque. ¡°It¡¯s this one! I¡¯m sure!¡± she says. Minerva tries to stop her daughter from placing the time, but she is too late. The spiderling places the wrong book on the plaque and the shelves quake. Two books fall from the higher shelves and plop onto the floor. A monster each manifested from the open pages of these tomes and Heathcliff and Sarah have to fight one each. The monsters resemble bipedal bison, like a minotaur but with human features. ¡°Is that supposed to happen?¡± Nina says with a nervous smile. Richard takes out his stunner and aims at the monsters. Tim uses his Qiang to strike the one battling Heathcliff and follows with a barrage of palm, elbow, and knee strikes. Minerva uses her Bardsong eyes to mesmerize the one fighting Sarah and causes him to attack its kin for a short while. Charlotte uses her fragrances to lure them toward a shelf as the hypnotized oxen slam the other into it. Defeating it. The oxen grows lucid against roars at everyone but is quickly toppled by Tim attacking its legs and tangled up by Minerva and Nina¡¯s webs. The barrier dissipates after the fight, and the plaque reveals the right answer was ¡°Rise of the Prometheans¡±. ¡°Nina, why did you pick that book?¡± Minerva looks at the title. ¡°I-I thought it was the right one. It has I-Reks-She-Gel on its title right?¡± Minerva sighs. She knows there will be a time when she will have to explain them to her, but she also prefers it come later rather than sooner. Eighty-nine minutes remain on the timer as the group moves deeper into the library. ??? The group reunites in a giant circular room. Emily and Rose are overjoyed to see everyone safe as they head towards a gigantic book in its center. ¡°Is everyone okay?¡± Emily says. ¡°We¡¯re fine, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°All present and accounted for,¡± Rose said with a cheerful smile. ¡°Less than ninety minutes left,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°The monsters here seem tough,¡± Emily says. ¡°They are,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°We will need to be prepared to¡ª¡± The room quakes as the book lifts itself and knocks everyone off it. Its ascension is punctuated by its pages tearing themselves off coating the cover and spinning into a sphere of enchanted ink and parchment. The paper cocoon explodes to reveal a gigantic worm-like construct that dives onto the ground. ¡°That is one giant bookworm,¡± Azalea says. The first Sentinel emerges and slams the ground, causing the floor to give way to a shifting sand pit that sucked several of the group closer toward the beast. The serpentine monster swipes at them with its head. But Heathcliff blocks the attack with its shield. Anemone tries to pin it down in its shadow, but as she walks in its shadow, the beast simply dives into the sand and emerges elsewhere. It slams the ground and causes several apple-like boulders to fall from the ceiling. Raine swoops to incinerate the sand around the wurm-like beast and trap it in glass, while Richard aims his stunner at the invertebrate. The wurm dives into the sand Richard instead hits the phoenixian girl with several volts of energy and causes her to fall. Clover and Time use wind spells to try to reveal the submerged wurm but only manage to blast sang into the air and nearly blind everyone with the earthen particles. Hydrangea covers her eyes as she tries to freeze the sand in the air. Blinded by sand, her spells hit Lily and Sarah, binging their legs to the ground and the beast emerges and slams down on top of the dwarf and centaur. The battle continues for an entire hour before the wurm is eventually felled through a combination of Emily, Rose, and Time¡¯s attack. The wurm on its metaphorical last legs, dives into the ground, sand shooting up in its wake as it approaches Emily with a ferocious furor. Tim sees Emily trying to move away from the approaching wurm and rushes towards her. His mind focuses on protecting Emily as he places himself in front of her and spins his Qiang towards the ground. What happens next shocks him as a swirling vortex circles around him and Emily knocking the sand into the air and revealing the beast. The vortex protects them from the wurm¡¯s slam. Emily uses the opening to attack with her twin blades and leave a grievous wound in the invertebrate, causing it to wriggle before it succumbs to its wounds. A small book falls to the ground and opens, and a treasure chest pops up from its pages. Richard opens it and finds enough loot to compensate for an entire dungeon¡¯s run. Including five Orichalcum ingots and at least one piece of Orichalcum Armor for everyone. Alongside vials of enchanted ink made of Orichalcum powder and several gold pieces. Emily looks at the chest and is confused by the seemingly generous amount of loot there. ¡°[Dungeons] are obligated to scale their loot so that most if not all members of their parties can get something,¡± Elizabeth says, anticipating Emily¡¯s question. ¡°Our party has nineteen people in it now, so they have to give a higher than usual number per loot.¡± Richard takes the ingots and presents them to Emily, as well as the vials of ink. Emily takes the materials and absorbs them, while the Coloraturas help themselves by absorbing a piece of armor each. They realize that there are only thirty minutes left. ¡°Well, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Shall we press our luck?¡± Emily deliberates on the decision. While she does need to absorb dungeon cores, she knows that a half hour is not enough to find this specific dungeon¡¯s and realizes that they have enough for their secondary purposes. ¡°Let¡¯s head back to the hotel, ¡°Emily says. ¡°We need to prepare for the return of the museum.¡± ¡°Lake to play it safe huh, ¡°Heathcliff says. ¡°Good on you.¡± Tim realizes what has happened and tries to replicate it, but the wind doesn¡¯t heed his call. ¡°Drat! Was that a fluke?¡± The group leaves the hidden library with their haul, or what is left of it after Emily absorbs the materials to learn them nd the Coloraturas absorb some armor to keep their mana stable. ??? Everyone returns to the hotel. In their suite, Tim meditates on the fight with the wurm, trying to find out what caused the barrier to emerge last time. Emily arrives. ¡°We¡¯re heading out for dinner now,¡± she says. ¡°Heathcliff¡¯s paying for it, are you coming?¡± Tim sighs and stands up. ¡°Yeah,¡± he says. On the way, the pair walk towards the elevator. Along the way, Emily asks Tim a few questions. ¡°So, how is the city?¡± Emily says. ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± he says. ¡°What about you?¡± ¡°It feels a little intimidating,¡± Emily says. ¡°I¡¯ll bet,¡± Tim chuckles. ¡°This is your first time in such a place.¡± ¡°Hey!¡± Emily says. ¡°It¡¯s true,¡± Tim says. Emily puffs her cheeks¡­before bursting out in laughter. ¡°You¡¯re right. This city, this world, it¡¯s still so new to me.¡± She realizes that even though she has been on Titania for a few months, there are still some things that surprise her. ¡°Give it time,¡± Tim says. ¡°Most adventurers haven¡¯t explored all of Titnaia in their lifetimes.¡± ¡°You sound like you¡¯ve been to several places yourself.¡± ¡°Only Charlemagne, Fairbourugh, and Jiang-hu,¡± Tim says. ¡°Counting Libert¨¦ that¡¯s only four nations.¡± Emily giggles. ¡°Can you tell me about them?¡± ¡°Maybe later,¡± Tim blushes a little. They arrive at the elevator and head to the ground floor. There they meet with Heathcliff and the others, preparing to head to the hotel¡¯s built-in restaurant for dinner. While waiting for the waiters, the dwarven siblings talk about certain things. ¡°Please try not to pig out on the food, Sarah,¡± Richard says. ¡°This is a high-class establishment, remember.¡± ¡°I can mind my manors, dearest brother,¡± Sarah says in a mockery of a posh accent. ¡°But whomst shall challenge the idea that I should go back to the Gallery on a half-empty stomach?¡± Richard sighs. ¡°Besides,¡± Sarah says in a normal voice. ¡°We got the Orichalcum, all that¡¯s left is the Arcanite and Floenesium and we have all we need for these new outfits.¡± ¡°Except the designs themselves,¡± Richard says in a dejected tone. ¡°This artist¡¯s block is getting to me, Sarah.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Sarah says as her voice takes a more parodic tone again. ¡°I¡¯m sure there is someone at Gatsby Tower whomst¡¯ve be able to help you with that.¡± Sarah chuckles at seeing Richard¡¯s brow furrow. The waiter arrives. ¡°Shall I take your orders?¡± he says in a dignified tone. Everyone in Emily¡¯s nineteen-person party makes their orders and the writer leaves. A couple of hours later, when everyone¡¯s bellies are full and happy. Everyone leaves the restaurant and the hotel and the restaurant to return to the Hallward Gallery. ??? The party arrives back at the art gallery, now after hours. The air around them is eerie and quiet with the lack of people there. Even patrollers are absent, it is just them and them alone as they enter the museum. ¡°Be careful,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°If my hunch is correct, things are about to get more dangerous.¡± The party enters the museum, finding that all of the paintings were replaced by blank canvases and all the sculptures had vanished. ¡°Well, that is a whiteout,¡± Azalea says. ¡°Is this really the time for jokes?¡± Rose says. Elizabeth observes the canvases. ¡°Why is this considered a Rouge Dungeon again?¡± Heathcliff looks at the pages of the guide from the Ebony Guards. ¡°According to this, people are claiming that they saw people vanish after visiting the place.¡± The knight notices that the listing also mentions unverified rumors and urban legends of demonic involvement. Exploring the empty gallery, they find that all of the canvases across it are entirely blank. A sharp cry from the art seen earlier in the day. Emily soon sees a wide canvas that hasn¡¯t been there before. And an unbleached painting. It depicts a room covered in chaotic forests. The plaque reads ¡°Spurius Mundus¡±. Whispers can be heard from the painting, beckoning her forward. Tim sees Emily entranced as she walks towards the colored canvas. ¡°Emily?¡± he says with concern in his voice. The avatara is unresponsive as she approaches the painting and touches it. She walks into the panting, a portal to a painted world. Elsewhere in the gallery, Heathcliff, Elizabeth, and Minerva look around the white canvases and missing sculptures. ??? Heathcliff looks around and sees a fallen rose petal. ¡°That¡¯s certainly odd,¡± he thinks as he examines it. It seemed like an ordinary petal and yet there was no nearby plant from where it could have fallen. Picking the rose petal up he finds it feeling off somehow. He soon looks around and sees that several of the canvases are now black, and worse yet, that Minerva and Elizabeth are nowhere to be seen. He heads to the room where he last saw Emily and Tim and sees that they are also absent. The knight sees the ¡°Spurius Mundus¡± painting. He approaches it and finds that his hand can move beyond the frame his expression bears a mix of confusion, concern, and above all, contentment. ¡°So this is the actual dungeon,¡± he thinks as she steps over the frame and into the painted realm. He finds his new surroundings reflect the layout of the gallery and draws his sword and shield. ¡°Better find the others,¡± he says. ??? The Coloraturas, as well as Nina and Charlotte, are inside another part of the gallery, watched over by Richard and Sarah. The eight Witches sense the presence of something sinister all around them. ¡°Well, this is a lousy dungeon,¡± Sarah says. Raine looks around and sees that the canvases have suddenly turned black. She flies towards one of the frames and feels the black paint that suddenly emerges. She finds the feeling familiar for some reason. The phoenixian girl hears Lily cry out and rushes to her on the other side of the room. She sees the centaur¡¯s hind legs and rear ensnared by a web of ebony ¡°paint¡± from one of the frames, dragging little Lily closer to the frame while Strelitzia and Anemonie try to pull her away. ¡°What is going on?¡± Streltizia says. ¡°We need more help!¡± Anemone says. ¡°My gravity spells aren¡¯t working!¡± Raine looks around and sees that where there were once twelve people here, not there were only four of them. Everyone else is gone, and they are the last. The paint consumes Lily and keeps her in Streltizia and Anemonie¡¯s arms. Raine tries to drag them away, but its inky grip remains firm and soon ensnares them as well. As the fluid touches her fingertips, she realizes exactly what that is. It is a Strega. ??? Emily finds herself in an unfamiliar location. The room seems different, lined with paintings that are painted and canvases that are canvases. ¡°Where am I?¡± the dungeon avatara says as she looks around, finding a room reminiscent of the gallery yet not quite the gallery. The texture on everything but the frame feels like paint, and the air is filled with traces of fumes. She soon hears a child giggling in the distance and heads towards the noise. Tim meanwhile lands in a different room altogether. He takes his Qiang out, anticipating opponents. He soon sees a shadow move and uses a rock spell to strike it. The shadow moves in panic and Tim rushes to chase it, only to find it has vanished. He looks at a canvas on the walls, the image depicts a tree with a solitary apple on it. The plaque reads ¡°Temptation.¡± He looks at the details of the painting, finding that the clouds resemble eyeballs and that the roots of the tree resemble hands. Tim sees that this path ends at the ¡°Temptation¡± painting, and that there is no other entrance. Confused he returns to where he started but as he turns around, he finds that the layout has shifted. While Tim walks in this maze, Heathcliff explores a forested room, the paintings depict subjects with uncanny details¡ªa rabbit with wheels for legs, a single tiger superimposed on several buildings, a house with doors and windows resembling mouths and eyes. These eerie images, disturb the red-headed knight slightly. He soon comes across a painting depicting an open mailbox. The plaque reads ¡°Contact,¡± besides it is a dispenser of paper and a pen attached to the wall. Heathcliff notices the painting changing sublist as he views it from different angles. As he observes the image the painting of the tiger changes to depict its absence. ??? At the same time, Richard and Sarah are separated from the kids, as they wake up in an orange room. ¡°Ugh that was a long fall,¡± Sarah says as she lifts her hammer. ¡°Wait,¡± Richard says. ¡°How did we fell? There were no holes in the gallery!¡± He soon hears a vice and takes out one of his stunner crossbows. He keeps an eye out but finds nothing around him but paintings of eerie and unheimlich imagery. He slowly turns around until she sees someone rushing at him. A shadowed figure crawls onto the floor, dragging a picture frame behind him as she rapidly crawls. Richard fired electric bolts at the figure, but the monster¡¯s movement was unhindered. Sarah sees what is about to happen and swings her hammer at the beast, knocking it into the wall and smashing the frame. The shade vanishes as the metal frame breaks apart. Richard breathes heavily as his adrenaline lowers. ¡°Thanks, sister.¡± The pair see a strange figure glaring at them from the distance. Short with a feminine silhouette, her eyes give them a glower as she turns around. ¡°Hey!¡± Sarah says as she and her brother give chase. ¡°Wait!¡±. The figure¡¯s strides were wider, their footsteps faster and she soon vanished. The ten children were lucky to have landed in eh same room, surrounded by a multitude of paintings. ¡°Ugh,¡± Rose says. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°We are in deep trouble is what happened!¡± Raine says with urgency. ¡°This place is a Strega!¡± The other girls gasp, except for Nina and Charlotte. ¡°What is a Stray-ga?¡± Nina asks. ¡°A rather dangerous being,¡± Hydrangea says. ¡°Strega are monsters,¡± Anemone says. ¡°They kidnap innocent people and assimilate them into themselves!¡± ¡°Or so it goes,¡± Azalea says with a small giggle. ¡°Azalea,¡± Rose says. ¡°This is serious!¡± Charlotte is still confused about the topic. ¡°So this Strega is the one that captured us?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Raine says. Clover looks around the room and sees the paintings on the wall. One depicts a metallic forest, with nuts and bolts embedded into the trees while another shows a closed mailbox, and a third a representation of a black hole. That third painting subtly pulls everyone closer to it. ¡°We need to find this Strega and destroy it,¡± Strelitzia says. She takes her labrys out and leaves the room through a white door. The other children follow the minotaur. ??? Meanwhile, Emily wanders the labyrinthine gallery, passing through several artworks as she follows the giggles of the voice. She eventually finds a small child. Dressed in pink, with a matching headband and bow on her brown hair. The child cries in a corner of the room. Emily approaches her. ¡°Are you okay?¡± she asks. The child looks up at the purple-haired girl in confusion. ¡°No?¡± ¡°Are you lost?¡± Emily says. ¡°Yes.¡± The younger girl sniffles. ¡°Can you help me home?¡± Emily takes the smaller girl up. She looks around and sees all the artworks have vanished or been replaced with pitch-black canvases. She finds the shift strange as she turns to the girl. ¡°Can you tell me your name, miss?¡± she says. ¡°Kaitlyn,¡± the child says. ¡°Kaitlyn,¡± Emily says. ¡°Got it.¡± She then looks around and sees a hallway. ¡°Do you what is behind that door, Katie?¡± The timid child shakes her head. Emily looks around and sees there are no other paths anymore, even the one she arrived from has been replaced. She looks at the white and cream-colored door and opens it, revealing an alabaster-colored corridor. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Emily says. ¡°This place is certainly not safe,¡± Kaitlyn agrees and follows Emily into the white hallway. As Emily looks at her, she can¡¯t help but find her strangely familiar for some reason. ??? Emily and Kaitlyn trudge through the painted world of Spurius Mundus. ¡°Do you remember how you wound up here?¡± Emily asks the girl. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. ¡°No,¡± Kaitlyn says. ¡°How about your parents?¡± Emily says. ¡°Do you know what happened to them?¡± The younger girl stays silent. They pass by several paintings and sculptures. Some attacked them but were repelled by Emily, others were more docile. All exuded a strange aura of malevolence. Eventually, they soon end up in a forest, within that forest is a small grey house. Emily looked at the younger child and could not help by see a lot of herself in her. Having lost all of her memories as she awoke in an unfamiliar world. She wonders where the others are. Kaitlyn shows Emily around the building. The place is gray and featureless, like a canvas that has not yet been painted. The building also lacks windows and lightning. ¡°You spend all of your time in this place?¡± Emily says. ¡°Yeah,¡± Kaitlyn says with a forlorn expression. The block¡¯s lack of features causes Emily to envision a prison with little Kaitlyn as its prisoner. Trapped and sealed away from the wider world by the Dungeon they stand in. She wonders if the previous victims were treated similarly. ¡°Have you seen anyone else?¡± Emily says. Kaitlyn keeps her head down. ¡°I¡¯ve seen many people, but they always leave me, and they¡ª¡± The girl¡¯s loneliness is quite apparent to Emily. Tears stream down Kaitlyn¡¯s face as she tries to finish her sentence. ¡°They never came back!¡± Emily comforts Kaitlyn with a pat on the head and then takes her hands. ¡°Do you know how long you¡¯ve been living here Kaitlyn?¡± After calming herself down, Kaitlyn tries to guess. ¡°Several months I think?¡± Emily looks around but finds that there is nothing here that indicates the passage of time. No light in the pitch black sky that moves, no clocks or timers in the room, nothing besides other paintings. She looks at the timid girl. ¡°Would you like to come with me?¡± She says. ¡°You¡¯re not¡ª¡± Kaitlyn sniffles. ¡°Gonna leave me are you?¡± ¡°Of course not!¡± Emily says. ¡°I won¡¯t leave until we find a way out of here, I promise.¡± With a promise made, Kaitlyn agrees to follow Emily. The pair soon leave the featureless house and search for the Dungeon¡¯s core, closer to Emily than she realizes. As they leave the house the phrase ¡°Trying to escape?¡± is written on the walls of the block-like building behind them. ??? Meanwhile, Nina, Charlotte, and the Coloraturas explore the labyrinth in search of the Strega. ¡°You mean to tell me, that these String-gah¡ª¡° Nina says. ¡°Strega,¡± Raine says. ¡°You mean to say that these are also dungeons?¡± Nina says. ¡°They seem to be similar to them at least,¡± Rose says. ¡°If the dungeons all decided on icky black goop and messing with psychics.¡± ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure it¡¯s ¡®physics¡¯, Rosie,¡± Raine says. Nina is lost. ¡°What¡¯s Hy-sics?¡± the spiderling says. ¡°Physics are¡ª¡± Charlotte says before realizing she is having trouble wrapping her head around it too. The conversation is interrupted when they hear a noise coming from one of the corridors. Heading to the source, they find a young brat harnessing some of the living artwork. ¡°What do you mean there is no way out?¡± the girl says, her brown hair adorned with a pink bow while she marches towards a timid figure in a picture frame. ¡°Miss Kaitlyn please,¡± the figure says. ¡°You know this place is impossible for you to escape.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care!¡± the brunette says. ¡°I want out of this hellhole and I want it now!¡± The ten girls look at the one called Kaitlyn with a mix of confusion, curiosity, and apprehension. ¡°She looks like she¡¯s been here a while,¡± Clover says. ¡°But that would¡ª Azalea wait!¡± Raine says Azalea approaches the girl. ¡°Hello,¡± the mermaid says cheerfully. ¡°Oh great,¡± Kaitlyn says sarcastically as she looks at the approaching kids. ¡°More doomed travelers.¡± She sighs. ¡°Name¡¯s Kaitlyn, not that it matters.¡± The girls introduce themselves. Kaitlyn¡¯s foul temperament gives the impression of a spoiled brat. Raine looks at the girl and finds that something is somehow off from her. ¡°Well, Kaitlyn,¡± Azalea says. ¡°We¡¯re looking for something, do you see any weird monsters around lately.¡± Kaitlyn suddenly points to the paintings around her, several of whom express indignation at her silent statements. ¡°Weirder,¡± Rose says. ¡°And maybe larger.¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t seen anything like it,¡± Kaitlyn says, ¡°Now get lost!¡± ¡°That ship already sailed,¡± Nina says. Raine looks at Kaitlyn. ¡°How long have you been here?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a stupid question to ask,¡± Kaitlyn says. Raine glares at the girl. Her glower intimidates Kaitlyn a bit. ¡°I-I don¡¯t know!¡± she says. ¡°I have forgotten nearly everything in my life since I woke up here, for all I know it could''ve been weeks!¡± ¡°Is there anything you do remember?¡± Raine says. ¡°Only my stupid dad,¡± Kaitlyn says. ¡°Dastard was always so busy with his paintings.¡± She stomps around while ranting about her absent father. ¡°Always gallivanting around Noir whining and dining with the Emperyans. He probably doesn''t even know I¡¯m gone.¡± She sighs. Strelitzia looks at the girl with a feeling of empathy. The minotaur approaches the young girl. ¡°We¡¯re searching for a way out too, come with us,¡± she says. ¡°Is that a good idea, Streltizia?¡± Raine says. Her aloof demeanor fades for a bit. ¡°You rather want ¡®left a defenseless kid behind at a Strega¡¯s mercy,¡¯ on your conscious?¡± The orange-haired girl says. ¡°And what if she¡¯s not defenseless?¡± the phoenixian girl argues. ¡°She could be a Fragment.¡± ¡°A fragment?¡± Nina says. ¡°Fragment of what?¡± ¡°Fragments,¡± Azalea cheerfully says, ¡°are entities related to Strega, they look the same but can harbor different personalities or feelings.¡± She leaves one of their other common traits from her explanations. She looks at Kaitlyn ¡°That said they tend to be a lot more hostile than this girl.¡± ¡°She seems pretty hostile already,¡± Charlotte says ¡°I am not hostile!¡± Kaitlyn says. ¡°Well,¡± Rose says. ¡°She hasn''t tried to kill us on sight yet, at least.¡± She slithers to Streltizia and Kaitlyn. ¡°Come on,¡± she says. Raine is still unsure if having Kaitlyn tag along is wise but realizes that Streltizia, Azalea, and especially Rose seem adamant about bringing them alone and agrees. As the eleven girls travel the world of Spurius Mundus, Raine keeps a close eye on the bratty tagalong, still suspecting she might be a Fragment. ??? Tim wanders the labyrinthine gallery, searching for Emily. As he rushes through the dungeon he is assaulted by monsters emerging from the paintings. He fights through these mysterious parodies of art with his Qiang and techniques. He uses a shoulder strike on one of the monsters, a centaur with a bovine torso, and knocks it to the ground. A smaller doll-like monster latches at his leg forcing Tim to try to sake it off while fighting the other paintings. Soon another latches to his arm and pins him down. The bovine centaur sees an opportunity and tries to stampede while Time is down. He struggles to get up and escape, but more dolls arrive to keep him pinned to the painted floor. ¡°Thi-this can¡¯t end like this!¡± Tim thinks. He thinks about Emily. ¡°Emily, I¡ª¡± ¡°Throwing in the tower, cher?¡± a voice calls out. Heathcliff rushes in and blocks the charging beast with his shield. The clash causes the painted monster to be pushed back several feet. Heathcliff turns to Tim and kicks the dolls off him, freeing him enough to use wind arts to blow the rest away. The knight offers him a hand up. The young lad looks at his mentor with both gratitude and shame at his inability to fend off his assailants. Before they could talk, the knight and martial artist heard the centaur-like creature roar as it charged towards them. Heathcliff blocks the attack and strikes back with his sword, slicing one of the creature¡¯s arms. It bleeds a nauseatingly nacreous paint from its veins. It screams as it bleeds out to death. The sight of the display causes a chest to manifest, and one of the framed paintings to change. Heathcliff opens the chest to find¡­more paint, but also a crossbow, some earrings, and two ingots of Arcanite. ¡°Looks like we just felled a boss,¡± Heathcliff says as he takes the items. He turned to Tim. ¡°Now then¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s Emily,¡± Tim says. ¡°I saw her just walk into a painting. I tried to stop her but¡ª¡± ¡°Deep breaths, Tim.¡± Heathcliff places his hand on Tim¡¯s shoulder. ¡°We¡¯ll find her.¡± The two men take a look at the painted portal, showing a forest coated in metal. ¡°We¡¯ll need to find the others too,¡± Heathcliff thinks. ??? Meanwhile, Richard and Sarah had lost the trial of their figure and found themselves surrounded by metallic trees and concrete cliffs. ¡°Well this is lovely,¡± Richard says sarcastically. ¡°Stuck in a ghoulish art gallery with no way out. With no one else in sight.¡± While Richard is ranting, Sarah looks around the bizarre forest. She touches the trees and feels some of the heat of her hand drain. She soon hears another voice. ¡°...help me!¡± the voice calls. ¡°I¡¯m ¡­uck!¡± Sarah turns to her brother. ¡°I can hear something, tone it down please.¡± Richard stops his ranting and listens for the voice. They head towards its direction. A while later they find Elizabeth trapped in a black cocoon. Sarah and Richard attack the mass holding the fairy prisoner and free her shift. Elizabeth coughs out some of the sludge in her mouth and wipes it. ¡°Thanks. Now um¡­where are we?¡± Sarah shrugs. ¡°The last thing I knew,¡± Richard says. ¡°We were inside the Hallward Gallery, and the next thing we knew we were stuck chasing voices around the place!¡± Elizabeth looks around the surrounding trees. ¡°This feels a lot like a [Dungeon],¡± she says. ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°But what?¡± Sarah says. ¡°I think we need to confirm with the Coloraturas,¡± Elizabeth says before realizing they aren¡¯t with the siblings. ¡°Where are the kids?¡± ¡°We didn¡¯t see any of them when we woke up,¡± Sarah says. Elizabeth¡¯s expression changes to one of panic. ¡°We need to find them fast!¡± she hopes that the children are safe. ¡°What about Emily?¡± Sarah says. ¡°Was she with you?¡± ¡°She wasn¡¯t,¡± Elizabeth says. Her panic worsens. The three realize the situation they are in. And begin to search the forest for the others. As they scowl the metallic forest and stone cliffs they can only find paintings of people, none of which they knew, all of which bear expressions of terror. ¡°What is up with all these portraits,¡± Richard says. Elizabeth feels something odd coming from the paintings. She touches one of them and senses an unusual type of mana. The mana of souls that had been been converted and absorbed. Her dread worsens upon realizing this. The trio soon hears growling nearby. Richard aims his stunners in its general direction as a nearby tree becomes inscribed with the phrase ¡°This is your fate!¡± A painted wolf arrives to ¡°greet¡± Elizabeth and dwarven siblings. Its neck is surrounded by rose petals as it voraciously growls at the opponents. Before it could charge, Sarah knocked it into the air with her hammer. ¡°Oh no!¡± Sarah says. ¡°We do not have time for this!¡± The wolf is hurled towards the painted moon, colliding with it and plummeting down to the ground with a thud. ¡°You¡¯d give the Sallets a run for their money with that swing, cher!¡± Heathcliff and Tim arrive, having found Minerva along the way. ¡°Heathcliff, Tim, Minerva,¡± Elizabeth says. Richard looks around and grimaces when he sees no one else with the knight. Tim does likewise. ¡°Well, we¡¯re missing ten kids and Emily,¡± Heathcliff says. Elizabeth examines herself. ¡°Emily seems to be fine for now,¡± she says. ¡°Right, you faeries know if the cores are alive or not,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°It is more than just knowing,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°My mana is dependent on Emily¡¯s safety, if she were to fall I would follow her after.¡± ¡°All the more reason to find her then!¡± Tim says. ¡°Tim¡¯s right,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Allons!¡± The group sets off to fine Emily and the children. ??? The Coloraturas, as well as Nina and Charlotte, follow Kaitlyn around the dungeon. The moody brunette girl is watched over by Raine, who still harbors suspicions of her. ¡°So you seriously do not recall how you arrived here? ¡°Raine says. ¡°Of course I don¡¯t!¡± Kaitlyn says, ¡°I¡¯ve told you a dozen times by now!¡± The other seven Magical Girls hold mixed feelings about Raine¡¯s treatment of her. Some are aware of the possibility of Kaitlyn beginning a Fragment, a pawn of the Strega keeping them here, but on the other hand, if she is a Fragment, then only Azalea could be said to have encountered one as relatively harmless as her. Rose decided to change the topic. ¡°Can you tell us about your dad?¡± she asks Kaitlyn. ¡°My dad?¡± Kaitlyn says. There is a rage in her eyes. ¡°He claims to be some world-renowned artist¡­¡± she says as the group passes by several paintings. The images depicted seem less grotesque than the ones they came across, instead resembling scenes of a painter¡¯s studio and an apartment. Raine takes note of the unusually usual images. ¡°He always spends his time at the stupid studio,¡± Kaitlyn says as they pass by an image of a man holding his daughter in his arms. ¡°He¡¯s always talking to celebrities,¡± she says as they pass an image of a family eating together. ¡°And worse of all he had the gall to¡ª¡± Kaitlin stands motionless for a few moments and collapses. The others tend to the fallen girl, but Rose and Raine instead look at an image of a tombstone. The illegible inscription is seen by two female figures. ¡°Something¡¯s wrong!¡± Lily says. She attempts to use her light to heal Kaitlyn. The phoenixian girl stares at the picture of a tombstone. Raine looks around the other images, seeing pictures of a girl with a happy life and a family. ¡°Raine,¡± Azalea says. ¡°Yes?¡± the aloof redhead says. ¡°Do you think the Strega can be saved?¡± the clionid mermaid says. Raine is confused. ¡°What are you talking about? Is this another one of your jokes?¡± ¡°Nope,¡± Azalea says with a cheeky smile. ¡°Azalea,¡± Raine says. ¡°Why ask such a question?¡± Whisper emerges from Azaela¡¯s pockets and climbs onto Raine¡¯s shoulder. Their form is nearly perfectly invisible. ¡°Raine,¡± the familiar says. ¡°Are you certain the Strega are always monsters?¡± Raine is stunned by Whisper¡¯s question. ¡°Did you say as such?¡± ¡°I said they are the enemies of witches,¡± Whisper says. ¡°Not that they are evil, destructive yes, but not always malevolent.¡± Raine looks over the paintings again, certain they are related to the Fragment that is Kaitlyn. The ground rumbles as something emerges from the painting of the grave. Scrawls emerge on the spaces between the pictures each saying the same thing. ¡°Please, don¡¯t leave me!¡± The emerging sentences soon cover the spaces between the images in a black sludge as a skeletal being emerges from the painting. Clad in a suit and an artist¡¯s smock. And wielding a palette with a paintbrush. The eight Coloraturas, Nina, and Charlotte now must face this deadly foe. ??? Meanwhile, with Katelyn in tow, Emily tries to find a way out of the dungeon. ¡°What is a ¡®Dungeon¡¯?¡± Kaitlyn asks. ¡°Is it something you eat? Have you ever tasted crayons? They¡¯re yucky. Oh, do you know what a sunset smells like?¡± Emily answers each of Kaitlyn¡¯s increasingly weird questions as they scowl the gallery for an exit. They soon find a room with unusably normal paintings. One depicts a small figure practicing her painting. Another image shows her reading alone in a library. Another shows her eating dinner with her family. Emily looks at the images and notices the young girl resembles Kaitlyn. Furthermore, she begins to notice Kaitlyn feel more and more familiar to her even though she is certain this is the first time she ever encountered her. Kaitlyn¡¯s exuberant prattling of questions is interrupted when she looks at a small message written on my walls. ¡°Trying to escape?¡± it reads, ¡°how droll, you know it is impossible to escape¡­¡± The ground rumbles and the images change to ones more in line with the grotesque and uncanny paintings the two had passed thus far. Emily sees a strange emerge at the end of the room. As she trails closer to the frame she hears something tumbling towards her. She soon realizes the sound is coming from the image. ¡°We need to go!¡± Emily says. ¡°But why? Kaitlyn says. ¡°No time!¡± Emily picks up the young girl and runs away from the hall, as she tries to flee a large boulder rolls from the picture frame and follows her. Emily runs as fast as she can as the boulder slowly catches up to her and her young friend. They pass by several paintings of laughing faces and mocking expressions. She turns a corner, but the boulder rolls around a curved path to follow her. After another turn, the boulder still follows. They soon reach the end of the hall, decorated by a solitary painting of metallic trees. ¡°Drat!¡± Emily says. ¡°We¡¯re trapped.¡± The boulder rolls towards Emily and Kaitlyn at accelerating speeds, they only have a few minutes to act or be crushed under its weight. As their backs are on the wall, Emily touches the painting and realizes that she can move into it. This realization gives her an idea. Taking Kaitlyn in hand, she leaps towards the left right before the boulder collides with the wall, it rolls into the painting and down the metallic forest. Emily looks at Kaitlyn. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Evelyn nods, too frightened to speak. She clings to Emily as she examines the painting further. She sees the path the boulder left in its wake as it tumbles down the hill and slams into a concrete formation. They enter the painting and head towards the bottom of the hill. There they find footprints. ¡°Footprints?¡± Emily says. ¡°What are those?¡± Kaitlyn says. ¡°They¡¯re um¡­¡± Emily tries to think of an accurate answer. ¡°They¡¯re like patterns you make with your feet.¡± ¡°I love patterns!¡± Kaitlyn says with a wide smile. She then makes tracks in the loosened soil. Metal particles erupt from the child¡¯s marching. ¡°It¡¯s so fun!¡± Kaitlyn makes an array of tracks in the shape of a butterfly between the boulder and the hill. Emily sees several frames on the nearby trees. She heads out to examine them. ¡°I¡¯m gonna check these trees out. I¡¯ll be right back,¡± Emily says. ¡°Can you wait here for a moment, Kaitlyn?¡± Kaitlyn is a little surprised by the question. ¡°I¡ª can I go too?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a short distance, Kaitlyn,¡± Emily says. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± She smiles as she begins to examine the trees. ¡°O-okay,¡± Kaitlyn meekly says. While Emily is examining the pictures, Kaitlyn sees a wring of writing around her tracks. ¡°She¡¯ll abandon you, just like the others,¡± ¡°That¡¯s not true!¡± Kaitlyn says. ¡°How many visitors had failed to escape?¡± appears in another wring. ¡°How many had you stopped from leaving?¡± appears in a line beneath that ring. ¡°You are rooted to the gallery, a part of it. No one will save you now.¡± ¡°Sh-shut up!¡± Kaitlyn begins experiencing a headache. ¡°Oh dear Fragment, return to me,¡± appears at her toes. ¡°No!¡± Kaitlyn says while collapsing onto the ground, black sludge emerges from her fingertips and shoes. Memories begin flooding back to her. ¡°I don¡¯t want to be here! I don¡¯t want to be alo¡ª¡± Her body collapses as she fails to finish her sentence. Meanwhile, Emily looks at the images on the trees, all depicting various people trapped in either horrified or serene expressions, all coiled by thorns. Touching the feelings shocks her as she senses a peculiar type of mana emanating from the portraits. ¡°What, what are these?¡± Emily says. ¡°Your fate!¡± is suddenly written beside the portrait in front of Emily. The sudden appearance of the text causes her to step back in fright. ¡°And the fate of all your friends.¡± Emily begins to realize that her allies might be trapped in the paintings as well. Her face is awash as horror as she rushes back to Kaitlyn. She returns to the hill and finds Kaitlyn collapsed onto the ground, unconscious and unresponsive. Part of the girl¡¯s body is covered in obsidian muck. She picks the child up. ¡°Leave her be,¡± more text is written on the ground, crimson in hue. ¡°She cannot exist outside this place.¡± Emily ignores the waring and cleans the ooze off her carrying her off. ??? The Coloraturas, as well as Nina meanwhile confront the gigantic skeleton while Charlotte tends to the fallen Kaitlyn. Rose and Clover summon gale-force winds and lightning to attack it, but the boss remains steadfast in its pursuit and the lightning doesn¡¯t faze it. ¡°This guy has got nerve!¡± Rose says. ¡°Really?¡± Azalea says. ¡°I don¡¯t see any nerves on him!¡± She summons conjures spheres of water to attack the skeleton, but the bubbles become filled with paint and the monster turns them on the mermaid. The skeleton monster prepares to cleave Azalea, having been trapped by her backfired attack. ¡°Azalea!¡± Rose cries out. Nina, Hydrangea, and Anemone try to stop the boss¡¯ movements via webs, ice spells, and shadow-pinning magic respectably, but the frozen blasts miss, the spiderling¡¯s webs snap as the monster moves and Anemonie¡¯s magic fails to hinder the monster. Azalea braces for the incoming attack, and closes her eyes. She realizes that the attack didn¡¯t hit her and opens them to see Raine in front of her. Her arm is replaced by a blaze. And a severed arm is seen to their right. ¡°Raine!¡± Azalea cries out. She wriggles her way out of her paint prison. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Raine said curly. A new arm emerges from the blaze and the phoenxiain girl clutches it in pain. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me!¡± The skeleton attempts another attack, but Lily uses her magic to blind it and then rushes towards the monster. ¡°Hey, bonehead! Over here!¡± she says as she rushes towards its fibula and kicks it with her hind legs. Streltizia sees the monster write as Lily¡¯s shin kick and light magic cause it agony and turns to Raine. ¡°Your arm good enough to give me a lift!¡± Raine nods. Rose, Azalea, and Clover also see the rest of Lilly¡¯s attack and work in tandem to sever the bone from the rest of the boss. Azelia swims to use her water closer to the bones, the boss corrupts it into paint and tries to bind their opponents, but she swims out of the way with a backflip before the corrupted watercolor paint can bind her. The missed attacks hit the bone and prime it for Rose¡¯s lightning strike. Closer then uses wind to push it closer to snapping off. Raine meanwhile lifts Strelitzia onto the arm of the skeleton that wields the knife. As the skeleton readies another attack. Raien drops the minotaur onto the blade¡¯s flat edge and she runs along it to the hand. Hydrangea creates a path to slide on with Anemone, but as with Azalea¡¯s water, the ice is corrupted into frozen paint and begins to turn on them. Hydrangea, aided by Anemone¡¯s gravity magic, leaps off and conjures a new ice path to slide on. As they get closer to the arm, She uses her wand to freeze the arm¡¯s joint. Strelitzia sees the frozen joints and uses her forward momentum and her earth-enchanted labrys to cut through the ice, The giant skeleton¡¯s arm falls separated from the rest of the skeleton. The beast tries to take the knife with its other arm, but Streltizia uses her powers to buy it beneath before it can touch the weapon. The resulting tremors cause the movements of the others to be thrown off as a fissure emerges in the arena. Charlotte tries to move the torpid Kaitlyn out of the way but is caught in the pit and left to hand onto its edge, with one hand while holding onto Kaitlyn with the other. Raine sees the alraune hanging on for life and flies towards her, but the skeleton aims to block her. Raine dodges her opponent¡¯s arm as it attempts to obstruct her, weaving through its bony fingers and reaching the newly made cavern. Charlotte tries to hang onto the ledge, but her fingers slowly slip off the edge as she is weighed down by the other child. She loses her grip, but Rain arrives just before she can fall further than a few feet and grabs her arm with both of her arms. ¡°Hold on!¡± Raine says. She tries to lift the two children as the skeleton aims to push them all into the crevasse. ¡°Sorry buddy,¡± Azalea says as she swims at the giant¡¯s arm. ¡°But I think it¡¯s time for you to make like a tree and fall!¡± Hydrangea slings ice spells at the arm of the giant while Azalea uses water magic. They freeze the air before the giant can corrupt it into the paint. Rose and Lily use their wands to conjure blinding light and stunning lightning strikes. With the boss dazed, Nina launches several web-lines at the boss from behind and the Coloraturas sans Raine attack the disjointed leg and the frozen arm, their blows force the painted skeleton to topple closer to the crevasse. ¡°Come on,¡±! Nina says. ¡°Move you big dummy!¡± she struggles to drag her webs as the tension threatens to snap them. Anemone uses her gravity spells to make the boss slightly lighter, but it is not enough to compensate for the sheer weight of the bones of the monster. Raine manages to get Charlotte and Kaitlyn to solid ground. ¡°Thanks,¡± Charlotte says before taking the torpid child and getting to safety. Raine then flies to aid her fellow Magical Girls. The giant is now close to falling over and everyone struggles to finish the job. Rose sees Raine fly to her. ¡°Raine! Ready to go all the way?¡± The phoenixian girl nods as she brandishes her wand. The pink-haired lamia summons hers and they combine their powers. ¡°Skyfire Strike!¡± the two shout in unison. A crimson bolt of lightning attacks the arm and leg of the boss, causing both to break from its body and fall. Losing its balance, the rest of the suited skeleton follows suit and tumbles down into the fissure. The children converse on Cahrlotte¡¯s location as the fissure suddenly closes and the room returns to normal. A new painting deciding a chest appears next to them. Kaitlyn soon wakes up. ¡°Ugh, my head. What happened?¡± ¡°Someone had a bone to pick with us,¡± Azalea says. ¡°He¡¯s gone now!¡± Lily says with a cheerful smile. Azalea looks at the new painting and opens the chest inside. She finds a smaller replica of the palette knife among its contents. ¡°Score!¡± she says as she takes out the pristine blade. Clover and Streltizia look at the rest of it and find three ingots of Flowesinum and several gold coins. ¡°Flowenesium, Didn¡¯t those dwarves want these metals?¡± Strelitzia says as she examines the violet-blue metal. ¡°Yeah!¡± Clover says. ¡°We probably shouldn''t absorb those.¡± ¡°Are you alright,¡± Raine says to Kaitlyn. ¡°Yeah,¡± Kaitlyn says. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°No reason,¡± Raine says. Rose realizes that Raine is cornered for Kaitlyn. ¡°She¡¯s worried about you, you know.¡± ¡°Am not!¡± Raine says. Rose and the other girls chuckle. ¡°Let¡¯s just go!¡± Raine says. The girls secure the coffer¡¯s contents and continue on their way. They see the gravestone had vanished from the painting and had been replaced by a sign with ¡°reunion¡± emblazoned on it. On a hunch, Rose slithers towards the painting and then into it. ¡°Come on!¡± she says to the others. They follow her into the painting. As Kaitlyn enters she sees a message written to her left. ¡°They are your enemies, not your liberators,¡± ¡°They are your enemies,¡± Kaitlyn mutters. The writing vanishes, along with any trace of memory of the covnersation from Kaitlyn¡¯s mind. ??? At the same time. Tim¡¯s group finds themselves in a strange hallway of strangely mundane paintings. Richard examines the image in front of it, depicting an empty bedroom with an easel placed beside the bed. Minerva sees a painting of someone reaching out for a woman as she enters a car. She can tell it resembles a daughter trying to reach her mother, but not why. Heathcliff looks at an image of a handsome man, the plaque reads ¡°At the start of the curse,¡± and next to it is a replica of a painting from earlier in the day. It depicts a skeleton. The plaque beneath it reads ¡°Immortality¡¯s Illusion.¡± Tim looks at the portrait with interest. ¡°Immortality¡¯s Illusion?¡± Tim says, curious about the title. ¡°Looks like someone had failed to escape the Reaper,¡± Heathcliff says. Elizabeth and Sarah see an image of a tiny arm painted on a canvas, a frilly sleeve is visible on the arm. The plaque reads ¡°Progress: Day 491¡± ¡°What do you think this is?¡± Sarah asks. Elizabeth¡¯s expression shows uncertainty. ¡°I don¡¯t know. These portraits seem to be telling something, but what?¡± She sees a twinkle coming from the floor. Her gaze turns to a key, lying prone beneath a painting of a cushion and a plaque that reads ¡°Key to the Heart¡±. She picks up the key and puts it in her pocket. ¡°We need to get a move on, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Got to find the others.¡± The six move deeper into the dungeon, hoping to find Emily and the others. As Tim walks, he keeps a close eye on Elizabeth, knowing that her continued presence indicates Emily¡¯s safety. ??? The group of eleven girls find themselves in another room surrounded by more paintings. Liminal scenes are depicted on their canvases. One painting shows an image of a hallway. Azalea swims into it. ¡°Hello?¡± she calls out, but no one could hear her, the other girls became inaudible to her. She swims out of the painting and examines the plaque. ¡°Silence¡± is emblazoned on it. ¡°Hey Hydrangea,¡± the mermaid shouts to her cyan-haired friend. ¡°Can you come here?¡±. Hydrangea comes to the little mermaid. ¡°You found something Azalea?¡± Azalea swims into the painting and beckons her friend over. Hydrangea climbs into the frame. ¡°What is it Azalea?¡± While the two girls discuss inside the painting, Rose talks to Kaitlyn. ¡°Hello!¡± ¡°What do you want?¡± Kaitlyn says. As moody as ever. ¡°I was wondering,¡± Rose says with her usual perky smile. ¡°Do you know about Magical girls?¡± Kaitlyn racks her head, she knows there is something about the phrase that seems familiar to her. Raine looks at the two. Her expression bears a degree of conflict and concern. Streltizia approaches her. ¡°Hey!¡± the minotaur girl says. ¡°Yes?¡± Raine says. Strelitzia looks at Kaitlyn. ¡°You seemed more tense than usual, are you okay?¡± ¡°Of course I¡¯m okay!¡± Raine says. ¡°Still think she¡¯s gonna turn on us huh?¡± Strelitzia says. ¡°She¡¯s a Fragment, they¡¯ll always attack us,¡± Raine. ¡°Rose doesn¡¯t seem to think that way,¡± Streltizia says. ¡°How did you two know each other?¡± ¡°You want to know, huh?¡± Raine says. ¡°Will you tell us how you and Clover met then?¡± ¡°Probably not,¡± she says. ¡°Why not?¡± Raine says with incredulity on her face. ¡°I just don¡¯t want to tell you, nosy,¡± Streltizia says. ¡°I¡¯m not nosy,¡± Raine says. ¡°You¡¯re the one wanting to ask how I met Rose.¡± The minotaur stomps her foot. ¡°Can¡¯t a girl know how our fearless leaders met?¡± Raine looks back at Rose and Kaitlyn. ¡°May we talk about later, like when we aren¡¯t trapped inside a Strega?¡± ¡°Fine, fine,¡± Streltizia says. ¡°Say if we get adopted by Emily, can you have those dwarves look at my labrys?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll think about it,¡± Raine says, trying to come off as aloof as usual. Strelitzia giggles. Meanwhile in the ¡°Silence¡± painting. ¡°You were a¡ª¡° Hydrangea says. ¡°Shush,¡± Azalea says. ¡°Don¡¯t think the others are ready to know that yet.¡± ¡°But how? Why?¡± The bespectacled girl is confused as to how Azalea swims before them now. ¡°Why tell me this?¡± ¡°You had a dream right?¡± Azalea says ¡°Right after you and Rosie froze back at the manor?¡± Hydrangea recalls her dream, surrounded by mirrors. ¡°All I can say is that there is more to us than you know,¡± Azalea says in an unusably serious mood. The two look at a door at the other end of the hallway. They try to move to the edge but find the walls and ceiling close in on them with each step. ¡°It¡¯s a little cramped isn¡¯t it?¡± Azalea says. Azalea examines that the door is locked and needs a small key. The two return to the larger edge of the corridor and exit the painting. She is seeing Rose continue talking with Kaitlyn. ¡°So Magical Girls can get their wishes granted?¡± Kaitlyn says, in a polite manner that ill-suits a surly girl like her. ¡°Eventually,¡± Rose says. ¡°Though they forget it at first.¡± ¡°But why?¡± Kaitlyn says. ¡°That sounds so stupid!¡± ¡°I know, right?¡± Rose says. ¡°Whisper doesn''t know why either, but they assure us that they will try to help us get our wishes.¡± Strelitzia looks at Raine, ¡°Oh right, you wished for parents?¡± ¡°I think so,¡± Raine says. ¡°Sounds like a waste of a good wish to me,¡± Strelitzia says with a shrug. ¡°Hey!¡± Streltizia says. ¡°It¡¯s true,¡± Streltizia says impudently. ¡°Parents are nothing but trouble if you ask me.¡± Raine sighs. She has known of Streltizia¡¯s opinions on parents for a while now, and that she always dodges the question when pressed why. And that Whisper and Clover had also refused to elaborate on why that is. Meanwhile, Clover, Lily, Anemone, Nina, and Charlotte each look at several paintings for clues. Nina sees a picture of a spider web titled ¡°Sinner¡¯s Fate¡± She tries to examine the painting, but as she does a spider monster pops out and scares her. Lily attacks the emerging monster with a blast of light. ¡°Thanks,¡± Nina said while still quivering with fear. Charlotte looks at the spiderling with concern. ¡°Nina, you shouldn¡¯t approach these paintings.¡± ¡°Says who?¡± Nina says. ¡°Says me!¡± Charlotte says. Nina blows a raspberry at the alraune girl. Charlotte sighs. ¡°How long did you two meet each other?¡± Lily says. ¡°Several weeks now,¡± Charlotte says. Anemone looks at Charlotte. ¡°You look like you have been through a lot lately.¡± Charlotte sighs. She recalls what had occurred at Hamlin. As she thinks about what had befallen the children of the village and what her mother had done. Smoke suddenly emerges from a painting behind her. Everyone sees that a fire is forming near Charlotte, most of all Kaitlyn who suddenly panics. ¡°Fire!¡± The girls escape the room before it is consumed in flames. Kaitlyn¡¯s breathing heavy pants as she barely escapes the blaze before Hydrangea creates a wall of ice to contain it. ¡°Where did that come from?¡± Charlotte says. ¡°You were there!¡± Kaitlyn says, returning to her usual self. ¡°You tell me!¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Charlotte says, confused about what it means. ¡°We did see smoke coming from a painting here,¡± Nina says. ¡°It¡¯s the Strega,¡± Raine says. ¡°They want to kill us.¡± ¡°That track,¡± Azalea says. ¡°But why?¡± Charlotte says. ¡°The Strega are dangerous monsters,¡± Raine says. ¡°They especially want to consume Magical Girls and will target them.¡± ¡°They see them as a threat to themselves, for we have the power to defeat them,¡± Azalea says. Hydrangea muses on the conversation she had with Azalea. She knows that Witches are the only beings capable of killing a Strega, but wonders if that is the proper method to deal with them. ¡°Hydrangea?¡± Rose says. ¡°Huh,¡± Hydrangea says. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just lost in thought.¡± Raine looks at Kaitlyn with a mix of conflict and suspicion. ¡°What exactly do you know about this place? You¡¯ve been here for a while.¡± ¡°No duh,¡± Kaitlyn says. ¡°Can you help us find its core?¡± Raine says. ¡°If we can destroy that¡ª¡± ¡°With pleasure,¡± Kaitlyn says. ¡°Stupid thing keeping me captive here for Astra knows how long! Sure, I¡¯ll help you take it down.¡± The other Coloraturas are concerned. They know that Fragments are parts of the Strega, and that if they defeat that then they defeat Kaitlyn. Yet at the same time, they agree that they cannot let the monster exist in its current state. ¡°Are you sure you know what you¡¯re getting into here?¡± Rose says. ¡°It could get dangerous.¡± ¡°Like that matters,¡± Kaitlyn says. ¡°I¡¯m in.¡± ¡°Raine,¡± Lily says. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°What we have to do,¡± Raine says. ¡°Follow me,¡± Kaitlyn says. The Coloraturs follow Kailtyn. Raine prepares herself fro the coming battle, whether it be a trap or the conflict with the dungeon themself. ??? Emily and Kaitlyn are now inside a ravine with paintings shown on the cliff faces. The cheerful girl looks at Emily with the awe of a little sister as they travel along the ravine. Emily looks at the artwork in all its creepy glory. She sees a painting of a hand with more hands as fingers, then an abstract piece of a tree made of limbs, and then an image of a bird contorted into the shape of a human foot. ¡°Do you know why these paintings are so¡­¡± Emily says. ¡°Creepy?¡± Kaitlyn says. ¡°I don¡¯t know why. They¡¯ve always been like that.¡± Emily sighs. It feels like they had been there for hours. The sky above them remains static, not indicating what the time actually is. To her, it could be hours, or it could be days. ¡°I¡¯d bet your parents are worried sick about you,¡± Emily says. ¡°Parents?¡± Kaitlyn says. ¡°What are those?¡± Emily is stunned by the question and wonders how she doesn¡¯t know about family. ¡°Parents are,¡± she realizes she does not quite know what they are either, least of all how to properly explain it to one as young as Kaitlyn is. ¡°Well they are people that take care of kids, people like you.¡± ¡°Like me?¡± Kaitlyn says as she points to herself. ¡°Yeah,¡± Emily says. ¡°Emily,¡± Kaitlyn says. ¡°Would you be my parent?¡± The innocent question surprises Emily. ¡°Um, I¡¯m not that old.¡± She ends up explaining the ideas of family, siblings, and adults to the young girl. Teaching her a little bit more about the world beyond the painted borders of Spurius Mundus. ¡°Will you be my sister then?¡± Kaitlyn says. ¡°Um¡­¡± her mind turns to the familiar asking Emily to adopt the Coloraturas. And her hesitancy to give a definitive answer to that question. ¡°Kaitlyn, I¡¯m sorry but¡­¡± The child¡¯s smile fades as she sighs. ¡°It¡¯s okay I understand. You don¡¯t want to be around me anymore.¡± ¡°Kaitlyn it¡¯s not like that at all,¡± Emily says. ¡°That¡¯s what they all said too,¡± Kaitlyn says, ¡°But they always leave me alone in the end.¡± Emily wonders how many people have abandoned Kaitlyn. She wonders how many planned to return but couldn¡¯t. ¡°Kaitlyn, I¡ª¡± The ground rumbles as a rush of water comes in, threatening to flood the ravine. Emily looks at the incoming tsunami. Panic is visible on her face. She instantly grabs Kaitlyn¡¯s arm and runs away from the incoming wave. The tsunami, resembling blue, cyan, and green paint more than water, rapidly floods the ravine as the two try to hurry to find a way toward higher ground. ¡°The time for games is long past over!¡± is scrawled in the sky above as the water threatens to submerge Kaitlyn and Emily. Emily sees a cliff with that rock wall that seems more climbable and rushes towards it, placing Kaitlyn on her back as she begins to climb the tall cliff. ¡°Hold on!¡± Emily says as she begins to scale the cliff face. Kaitlyn grabs onto Kaitlyn as tightly as she can while the emerging river rises towards them. Emily makes her way hallway to the top of the cliff when she suddenly feels someone biting her ankle. She winces in pain and sees the emerging river has piranhas in its painted waters. She tries to maintain her composure while Kaitlyn cries in fear of what is happening around them. Emily looks to her right and sees another torrent incoming, its crest higher than even the top of the cliff. She tries to get to the top as fast as she could, but as her hand grips the edge. The wave arrives and swallows them, and Emily loses her grip on the cliff that is now the river¡¯s wall. Emily and Kaitlyn are carried away by the rapids. Kaitlyn is rendered unconscious from the water filling her lungs and the speed of the river. Emily tries to swim against the current but the waters are stronger and the river¡¯s flow inescapable. They are soon carried over the edge of a waterfall and plummet into the lake below. ??? Tim¡¯s group is now in a painted rainforest. Tim looms over the fallen corpse of a pterosaur-like entity as it melts into paint, revealing a chest. Sarah opens the chest and sees an ingot of Floenesium and several Arcanite armaments. Her and Richard¡¯s jubilation was short-lived when they realized they were still trapped in the dungeon and separated from both Emily and the young girls that were with them. Heathcliff puts the treasures away as they hear a gigantic splash in the distance. ¡°What was that?¡± Elizabeth says. Minerva looks around and sees several creatures running past them. ¡°That way!¡± the Arachne says. Meanwhile, the children hear the same splash from another part of the jungle. ¡°What was that?¡± Azalea says. ¡°Come on!¡± Kaitlyn says. ¡°That stupid core will be here!¡± The eleven kids rush to the source of the sound and find Emily crawling out of the lake, dragging another Kaitlyn with her arm. A sense of dread washes over Raine, knowing that Emily is in proximity to another Fragment. ¡°Emily!¡± she cries out. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Emily places the other Kaitlyn on the shore and tries to get the water out of her lungs. Heathcliff and Tim¡¯s group arrive shortly after. ¡°Cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Are you alright?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Emily says. ¡°But this child. She needs help!¡± Elizabeth looks at the twin Kaitlyns as Emily tries to prevent the one near her from drowning. The Coloraturas and Tim rush towards Emily. A replica of ¡°Silence¡± emerges from the lake, with a plaque that reads ¡°Path to the Heart¡± beneath it. Roses use her lightning magic to restart Kaitlyn¡¯s heart while Azalea tries to remove the excess water. The unconscious Kaitlyn wakes up and sees Emily and other people, including herself. ¡°Emily? What happened?¡± Emily is relieved to see Kaitlyn is alive. Tim notices Raine¡¯s expression. ¡°Is she the core?¡± Tim asks her. ¡°No,¡± Raine says. ¡°She is to this place as a Cell is to an average dungeon.¡± ¡°Can we get a move on already?¡± the other Kaitlyn says. ¡°I want to escape this place and I wanted it yesterday.¡± ¡°And who is this spunky little lass?¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°We found her on the way here,¡± Rose says. ¡°You found her?¡± The Kaitlyn near Emily says. Heathcliff senses imminent danger. Elizabeth notices that both Kaitlyn¡¯s mana resemble that closer to Dungeon Constructs and that the key in her pocket begins glowing. The Kaitlyn near the Coloraturas expresses her desire to leave again. ¡°Do you know how?¡± Emily says. ¡°Did the fairy tell you of Strega?¡± Raine says. ¡°I did, yes,¡± Elizabeth. ¡°That simplifies things then,¡± Raine says. ¡°We kill them, you get the core¡¯s mana we get to escape. Everyone wins.¡± Rose knows that isn¡¯t quite the case. ¡°Raine¡­¡± ¡°You know it has to be done, Rose,¡± Streltizia says. ¡°A-are you so sure, Streltizia?¡± Hydrangea says. ¡°Of course. Hydra, what¡¯s gotten into you?¡± the minotaur says. ¡°I know the dangers Strega poses,¡± the cyan-haired girl says. ¡°But perhaps there¡¯s another way.¡± ¡°Another way?¡± Raine says. ¡°You can¡¯t be serious.¡± ¡°Sure she can,¡± Azalea says. ¡°I¡¯m the better jokester here, remember?¡± ¡°Debatable,¡± Streltizia says. The bratty Kaitlyn approaches her counterpart and extends her hand. ¡°You wanna quit this place or not?¡± ¡°O-of course!¡± the two grips the other¡¯s arm. Their memories flow into each other. Storm clouds gather over the rainforest. The Kaitlin with Emily grows silent ¡°Y-you¡¯re¡ª¡± ¡°Katie?¡± Emily says to the Kaitlyn she encountered. ¡°You promised!¡± Kaitlyn shouts to her. ¡°Drat!¡± the other Kaitlyn says before being repelled. The key in Elizabeth¡¯s pocket flies out and into the ¡°Path to the Heart¡± painting. ¡°Everyone stay back!¡± Rose says. ¡°The Strega¡¯s coming!¡± ¡°Why, why, why?¡± The fragment of Kaitlyn that Emily had encountered floats into the painting. ¡°Why did you break our promise?¡± The painting morphs into a cocoon of black inky sludge around her. The Kaitlyn fragment looks on in terror as the orb changes into a monster, resembling an animated bed. With a metallic frame holding a mattress made of black goo, and the other Kaitlin sealed inside. The monster roars as everyone prepares for a fight. ??? Sarah glares at the demonic bed. She tries to grab its attention, but the Strega simply swats her aside. Tim leaps at the bed monster, using his wind powers, and stabs it with his Qiang. He can hold on to it for a while but is eventually shaken off by the monster. Richard rushes to Sarah¡¯s aid as she fires several bolts, but they too prove ineffective against the beast. Elizabeth observes the Strega as Raine and Rose step in with more effective attacks. Emily is stunned by what has just happened and is unable to move. ¡°Kaitlyn,¡± Emily says. ¡°What had¡ª¡± Speaking of which, the other Kaitlyn composes herself. ¡°Screw it, I¡¯m out of here!¡± she tries to flee but the bed simply leaps in front of her. Ribbons emerge from the obsidian mattress and bind her arms and legs, slowly pushing her towards it as she struggles to run away. Kaitlyn is left helpless in the face of the Strega she is a part of. Before she is consumed. The ribbons freeze over and shatter, freeing Kaitlin. Hydrangea arrives to save the fragment from the Strega. ¡°T-thanks,¡± she says, shivering as she slides on Hydrangea¡¯s ice paths. Raine attacks the bed with fire attacks, but the bed evades them with agility. ¡°Clover,¡± Streltizia says. ¡°Give me a boost!¡± ¡°On it!¡± Clover uses wind spells to propel Strelitzia into the air, from which she plans to pin the bed down with her axe. She slams her weapon into the mattress and down the monster. Everyone but Emily, Elizabeth, and Kaitlyn attacks the monster, dealing some damage to it. But the fallen Witch soon roars and shakes off the minotaur weighing her down. The bed tries to move, but Anemone uses her shadow spells to keep it in place. Lily attacks it with light spells, while Heathcliff attempts to get its attention. The bed¡¯s ribbons clash with the knight as he notices Elizabeth is fighting. ¡°You think this fight to sit out, cher?¡± Elizabeth is unable to move, her mind, linked with Emily¡¯s freezes as Emily is too shocked to act. The bed tries to attack the fairy, but Sarah tackles Elizabeth and knocks her out of the way. ¡°Skyfire Strike!¡± Rose and Raine use their combination attack on the bed and call forth a rain of lighting and fire on it. The duo manages to get it to the ground where Azalea and Hydrangea freeze it from the bottom. As the bed falls, Hydrangea approaches Rose while the Kaitlin fragment drops from the ice path. Hydragia calls to Rose. ¡°What is it?¡± Rose says. ¡°Can¡¯t you see we¡¯re busy here?¡± Hydrangea whispers an important piece of knowledge into Rose¡¯s ear. Her eyes widen in shock as she learns certain information. Streltizia makes another swing with her axe and breaks off a piece of the hardened ooze revealing Kaitlin trapped within. The other Kaitlin realizes from her gleamed memories that Emily had bonded with her. ¡°Snap out of it!¡± The Fragment says to the catatonic avatara. ¡°She needs you! I need you!¡± The bed breaks free from its binding and makes an attack on Emily. Tim sees this and immediately rushes towards her. ¡°Emily!¡± he calls out. He reaches Emily and adrenaline takes over. A whirlwind begins forming around him, Emily, and the Kaitlin fragment and causes the attack to nearly miss. The impact jolts Emily awake and she realizes she is in a battle. She sees Kaitlin on the bed monster and another Kaitlin beside her. ¡°You want to save her?¡± the brattier Kaitlyn says. ¡°Then do it!¡± Elizabeth escapes her daze at the same time as Emily, as she sees Tim¡¯s wind shield. She turns to see the Colorturas preparing to down the Strega, and Heathcliff clashing with it while Sarah, Richard, and Minerva support him. Clover sees Tim¡¯s wind shield and rushes to Emily. ¡°Want a lift?¡± Emily looks at the bed monster and nods. ¡°Leave it to me!¡± Clover says with a wink as she uses her wind magic. ¡°I¡¯ll help too!¡± Anemone uses gravity spells to lighten Emily as Tim realizes he has created a wind barrier again. His surprise gives way as he hears the thud of the bed being downed once more and begins channeling one of his usual spells. The three manage to propel Emily into the air and onto the top of the giant bed monster. Rose also slithers onto the bed top to support her. ¡°Got any plans?¡± Emily says. ¡°It¡¯s pretty simple,¡± the younger lamia says as she uses lightning magic to stun the bed. The voltage causes another piece of hardened ooze to break off and wake Kaitlyn trapped within. Emily rushes to Kaitlyn ¡°Katie please wake up!¡± The child awakens. ¡°Emily? You¡¯re still..¡± Rose helps Emily try to break Kaitlyn free while Emily looks into the child¡¯s eyes. ¡°I¡¯m not gonna leave you, Katie. I¡¯m not gonna break my promise, please.¡± Rose uses lightning magic to chip at the hardened cocoon. ¡°If there is a chance that you can still be saved¡­¡± Kaitlyn looks to the lamia in confusion. ¡°Of right, that was the other you. Name¡¯s Rose.¡± She says with a ditzy expression before resuming her spells. ¡°Now hold on.¡± The bed monster begins to rouse as Raine sees Rose and Emily trying to free Katie from her binding. ¡°Rose, what are you doing?¡± ¡°What does it look like I¡¯m doing?¡± Rose says. ¡°That girl is dangerous!¡± Raine says. ¡°That girl is my friend!¡± Emily says. ¡°That girl can still be saved!¡± Rose says. Determination shines in both of their eyes. ¡°You think a Strega can be redeemed?¡± Raine says as the bed begins to rise. Rose glares at her friend, ¡°I don¡¯t know, but if there is a chance I want to take it.¡± ¡°Rose, why are you doing this?¡± Raine shouts. ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious you dummy?¡± Rose says. ¡°I¡¯m a Magical Girl! We save people, remember?¡± Rose recalls all the times Rose had said that to her, ever since they first met. ¡°You naive brat¡­¡± ¡°Are you gonna help?¡± Rose says, already knowing the answer. Emily pulls at Kaitlyn with all her might, but the girl is still rooted to the Strega. Raine looks at the vulnerable girl trapped in the black cocoon, a far cry from the fragment of her they had encountered. She sees that Emily would not give on on saving her and Rose would not give up on helping her would-be adopter. Raine sighs. ¡°Come on, then!¡± Rose smiles as the two Magical Girls and Emily work to free Kaitlin from her prison. The two Coloraturas summon their wands. ¡°Confracta Celestia!¡± the two shouts in unison as fire is called from their wand and ignites the cocoon. Melting it enough for Kaitlin to move. Emily pulls on Kaitlyn with all of her strength and liberates her from the cocoon. The bed monster grows agitated and rears up, shaking everyone off them and aiming to trap both Kaitlyns within themselves once more. But Raine counters with a wall of flame. ¡°Coloraturas,¡± Raine calls to her fellow Magical Girls, ¡°It¡¯s time to end this!¡± Lily and Clover use Wind and Light in unison. ¡°Heavensward Storm¡±. A radiant wind blows around the bed and blinds and buffets it. Hydrangea slides around and freezes it once more while Azalea distracts it with her water. The ice coats the bed and roots it to the ground while Streltizia slams into it with her labrys. Lastly, Anemone uses Gravity magic to increase the force on the bed monster and pin it down. ¡°Now!¡± Raine says. Rose twirls her wand and calls down a heavenly bolt. ¡°Lightning Allegro!¡± The bolt strikes at the bed, charring its already black ooze and its metal frame. Mana begins to seep from it as the bed lies motionless. ¡°Emily!¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°R-right!¡± she attunes to the mana seeping from the Strega and absorbs it. The core of the dungeon is absorbed by her. Kaitlyn and Katie begin to vanish as she does so, being absorbed by her as well. ¡°Thank you, Emily,¡± Katie says as she vanishes. ¡°About darn time!¡± Kaitlyn says. ??? The paint on the canvas fades into a blank white as Emily absorbs the mana of the core of Spurious Mundus. Before they knew it, they were back in the Hallwald Gallery. Stella¡¯s light peeking just over the horizon outside. A chest lies in the center of the room. A farewell gift from the dungeon. Inside lies several suits of armor. ¡°Wait!¡± Emily says ¡°Where did they go?¡± ¡°You absorbed the Dungeon,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°As they were part of it, they too were absorbed.¡± Emily¡¯s expression darkens. ¡°But don¡¯t worry,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°I think it is possible for you to see that girl again.¡± ¡°So that means we¡¯re done here?¡± Tim says. ¡°I¡¯m tired,¡± Nina says. ¡°Not quite,¡± Emily says. She has witnessed a Strega firsthand and knows what strife it can bring to others and themselves. ¡°Is Whisper here?¡± The squirrelly familiar climbs out from Azalea¡¯s pocket and greets Emily, barely visible.. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°You still want these girls adopted?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Whisper says. ¡°We must hurry.¡± Elizabeth and Whisper walk Emily though the process of taking the eight girls on as Sentinels. A process that entails Emily absorbing the familiar and all their accumulated mana, and taking on both their memories and the knowledge of the wishes used to contract with them. The Coloraturas give Whisper their thanks and their farewells and the squirrels fades from existence. ¡°No turning back now,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Welcome to the crew, chers,¡± The young witches celebrate their new patron and the group pass by normal paintings and sculptures as they leave the empty museum as the day dawns on Noir. Chapter XXII: Gatsby Tower Emily¡¯s group returns to the hotel. There she waits in her room. She prepares herself to sleep for the night, but as he is about to lie on her bed, she hears a knock on the door. ¡°Lizzie?¡± Emily says. ¡°You¡¯re back already?¡± She opens the door and sees that it is not the pink-haired fairy, but instead Hydrangea. ¡°Hello,¡± the magical girl says. ¡°May I come in?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Emily says. ¡°Come in!¡± The two discuss their recent experiences in the Hallward Museum and the Strega Dungeon of Spurious Mundus. Hydrangea presents Emily with the Cryosphere again. ¡°I forgot to give you this, sorry.¡± Emily looks at the chilled cyan sphere, its refulgent light exhibits an icy aura. Emily takes the sphere from the child. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°My pleasure,¡± Hydrangea says. ¡°So If I may ask, are you missing any other Elementaltist¡¯s Spheres?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s see,¡± Emily says. ¡°I¡¯ve startled with the Electrospehre and Photosphere. Then got the Aerosphere and Geosphere next and then the Pyrosp¡ª¡± She suddenly recalls how she had gotten the Pyrosphere and all that surrounded it. Hydrangea notices Emily¡¯s expression changes. ¡°Is something wrong?¡± she asks. Emily shakes her head. ¡°No it¡¯s nothing, anyway this makes six spheres now.¡± ¡°So that leaves the Aquasphere and the Umbrasphere,¡± Hydrangea says. Emily nods. Hydrangea looks around her room before looking at Emily again, her expression is polite and stoic, but with a small warm smile. ¡°My friends and I look forward to our adventures together. Thanks again.¡± ¡°My pleasure,¡± Emily says. Hydrangea leaves the room, wondering if something had recently happened before their encounter. Emily begins to head to her bed but hears another knock on the door. ¡°Come in!¡± she says. She sees Esteban enter. ¡°I hope this isn¡¯t a bad time, Emily,¡± the rouge says. ¡°Not at all,¡± Emily says. ¡°How¡¯s Julia?¡± ¡°She¡¯s doing well,¡± Esteban says. ¡°Heard you encountered a Strega and decided to adopt the Coloraturas?¡± ¡°Did Heathcliff tell you? Emily says. ¡°I have my sources,¡± Esteban says. His cerulean suit is pristine. ¡°Now then, I want to ask how much you know about Gatsby Tower?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know much,¡± Emily says. ¡°Why do you ask?¡± She is aware that Heathcliff is interested in visiting the dungeon with Esteban and Julia in a few days. ¡°Gatsby Tower is a Dungeon well known for its collection of fine arts and their lavish party.¡± Esteban begins explaining Gatsby Tower, as well as the gregarious core, Jay Gatsby. ¡°The fact that we know who the core is should be indicative of how secure he is in exposing himself, and the fact that the dungeon has remained standing for decades despite that should be indicative of how warranted is his confidence.¡± Emily is surprised to hear that. ¡°Is he a strong dungeon?¡± ¡°Not quite,¡± Esteban says. ¡°His defenses are more fixated on his extensive treasure trove than they are on protecting him himself. His actual defenses come from Noir itself.¡± ¡°But why?¡± Emily is curious about that. ¡°I can see she has much to learn,¡± Esteban thinks. ¡°While Jay Gatsby is mostly hosting these because hew ants to, these gatherings serve as a way for Elegere and Empyreans to gather among themselves and mingle,¡± Esteban explains how the luxurious tower became the backdrop of most of Noir¡¯s most important business and political deals and how that gives the Dungeon a reputation for being the place to be to find connections with the elite, and also that it consequently is privy to information that its partygoers do not want in the hands of others. ¡°¡­It is known as the Ivory Tower of the Ebony City for these reasons.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Emily is a bit confused by the explanation. ¡°Does this mean we can¡¯t enter the tower?¡± ¡°Not quite,¡± Esteban says. ¡°It is still a Dungeon and as such will permit adventurers. They will have to earn the right to move beyond the third floor, where several of the more prominent parties and treasures are held.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Emily says. ¡°Why did you ask Heathcliff for help?¡± Esteban tips his hat. ¡°I got a tip that some nefarious folk had visited Gatsby Tower. They had bargained with Jay to keep knowledge of their operations within his walls. Knowledge that could be key to stopping a prominent threat to those forced to call the Underground home.¡± ¡°A threat?¡± Emily says. ¡°The Voorhees Gang,¡± Esteban says. ¡°Part of the Syndicate, the other unofficial guild of Noir.¡± He then explains how the Syndicate had terrorized citizens of Noir, Exsecratii, Empyrean, and Elegere alike, and had committed acts unbecoming of a normal guide such as marauding the nearby dungeons to kill or extorting unlucky Adventurers and stealing their gains from Dungeons, as well as attempts to take the cores of Dungeons themselves rouge or otherwise. Emily struggles to wrap her head around this. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Esteban says. ¡°For now know that they are dangerous and that it is my mission to take them down.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Emily says. Elizabeth walks in and is surprised to see Esteban in the room with Emily. ¡°Esteban? What are you doing here?¡± ¡°Just discussing some matters with Emily.¡± Esteban leaves the room. Elizabeth looks at Emily. ¡°Hey Lizzie,¡± Emily says. ¡°Are all guilds good?¡± Elizabeth sighs. ¡°That is a rather complicated question, Emily. [Adventurer Guilds] are well¡­¡± The two end up discussing the nature of Guilds and adventurers in general as well as how some can act in a malicious manner. Emily looks at the clock on the wall and realizes that two hours have already passed. ¡°Whoops,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°It¡¯s getting late!¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Emily says. ¡°I was supposed to rest a few hours ago, but¡­¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Elizabeth says as she flies to her bed. ¡°Good night Emily.¡± The two turn in for the night. ??? The next day, Minerva takes Nina, Charlotte, and the coloraturas out of the hotel to explore the surface more. ¡°So,¡± Rose says. ¡°Does this mean we¡¯re Elegere now?¡± ¡°Rose,¡± Raine says, ¡°We¡¯ve been over this already. Just because we¡¯re adopted by a Dungeon now doesn''t mean we¡¯re Elegere.¡± ¡°We probably have to move out of Noir soon,¡± Clover says. ¡°Emily and her entourage are visitors, remember?¡± ¡°So why are these Ex-cre-crat-tii underground anyway?¡± Nina says. Minerva sighs, ¡°I¡¯ll tell you when you¡¯re older, dear.¡± Charlotte looks at a corner store selling flowers and fruits. ¡°Miss Minerva, can we head there next?¡± Minerva looks at the corner store. The rustic wooden exterior contrasts heavily with the glass and concrete titans of engineering that surround it. The sign reads ¡°Florilegium¡± in cursive font. Likely references to the flowers on display in its storefront. The shop feels out of place within the surface of Noir. ¡°Hmm,¡± Minerva says. ¡°Why do you want to go there, Charlotte?¡± ¡°I want to give my mother a souvenir from the city,¡± Charlotte says, the wind causing small fragments of her petals to be displaced. ¡°Ah.¡± Minerva looks to the other young girls in her care. ¡°Alright then.¡± The Arachne and the ten kids enter the flower store. They find the cashier is a Minotaur, to Streltizia¡¯s surprise. ¡°Thank you,¡± the cashier says. ¡°Come again!¡± His horns are adorned with a strange species of sunflower, with petals graduating from green to yellow to orange. He looks at the new visitors and sees some very unfamiliar faces among them. ¡°Welcome to Florilegium. How can I help?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here to help someone find a souvenir,¡± Minerva says. ¡°Tourists huh?¡± the horned man says. ¡°Say no more.¡± Strelitzia uncharacteristically hides behind Clover, much to the peryton¡¯s confusion. ¡°Stre, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Clover says. ¡°N-nothing!¡± Streltizia lies. After talking to the cashier. Minerva looks at the ten girls. ¡°We can look around, but please try not to eat the merchandise. I can¡¯t afford to pay for ruined plants.¡± ¡°Got it, mommy,¡± Nine says. ¡°We¡¯ll be at our best behavior,¡± Azalea says. ¡°Won¡¯t want to be a thorn in their sides.¡± Hydrangea looks over the various flora on display. ¡°Let¡¯s see¡­¡± She looks at a bed of hortensias on display here. One batch of the plants displays a vibrant crimson hue. ¡°Infernal Hortensias? Those are from Yae.¡± She sees a man enter the rustic building, his wooden prosthetics are visible for all to see. He takes a look at the crimson flowers before heading to one of the store employees. Hydrangea ignores the unusual man and directs her attention to a hortensia with cyan petals. Part of the tag reads ¡°-gea celestia.¡± ¡°Is that a Celestial Hortensia?¡± Hydrangea thinks. ¡°Those certainly don¡¯t grow here!¡± she leaves to find Minerva for assistance in procuring the rare plant. Azalea, Anemone, and Charlotte look over a bed of flowers. Azalea is already eyeing a dark blue rhododendron plant while Anemone looks over a Lunar Drop plant. A plant that is used in rituals devoted to the moon and Tranquilitas. ¡°What do you think, Charlotte?¡± Azalea says. ¡°Any of them want to make you bloom?¡± Charlotte looks over the flowers. She is unsure what her mother Carla would want. She soon looks over a plant with a pair of five-petaled flowers. The petals on one of them gradiate from yellow to green, and the other¡¯s petals shift from violet to blue. Looking at these flowers reminds her of herself and Carla. ¡°How about that one?¡± she asks. Anemone looks at the tag on the plant. ¡°The Calytrices?¡± Charlotte nods. Azalea looks at the flowers. ¡°They look like stars!¡± she says. The three girls see an employee and ask her to pot their chosen plants. Meanwhile, Streltizia is looking over some bird of paradise flowers, while Nina and Clover are nearby. ¡°Why did she hide from that Minotaur,¡± Nina asks. ¡°She¡¯s rather shy around other Minotaurs,¡± Clover says. ¡°I can hear you, you know?¡± Strelitzia says. She looks over a bird of paradise flow with the tag. ¡°Apus Astra.¡± The classification indicates a connection to the Cosmos. The orange and blue petals are decorated with starry dots. ¡°Wow!¡± Clover says upon noticing the flower. ¡°So pretty!¡± Nina says. Rose and Raine meanwhile look over a bouquet of Rainbow Roses. ¡°You think these are real?¡± Rose says. ¡°I heard stories of messengers always claiming similar plants from their old world are fake.¡± ¡°You can sense mana from them, right?¡± Raine says. ¡°Of course they¡¯re real.¡± The phoenixian girl looks over some Diantha plants, her eyes gazing at a pink one with the tag ¡°Dianthus elpis.¡± The pink and red petals are marked with strange inscriptions. The man with the prosthetics looks at these plants as well. ¡°These flowers are interesting,¡± the man muses on them before leaving. Raine notices the metallic elements of the prosthetic arm and the sword at the man¡¯s waist. A while later, after Nina asks her mother for some spider lilies, Lily asks for a sunflower similar to the one on the cashier¡¯s horns, and Clover gets someone to pot a Jasmine plant. Everyone has selected their flowers. Minerva asks for the minotaur cashier to put the ten plants and brings them to the cashier. ¡°Let¡¯s see,¡± the male minotaur says. ¡°Apus Astra, Rosa iris, Jasminun arcanus, Anemone luna, Dianthus elpis, Caltryx augustus, Lycoris radiata, Azalea aquarius, Helianthus stellae, any Hydrangea celestia.¡± He appraises the flowers. ¡°That will be one gold and eight silvers.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Minerva says as she hands the currency over. She notices that bags of seeds are attached to the plants and looks at the minotaur. ¡°We¡¯re having a sale,¡± the cashier says. ¡°Buy one plant, get seeds for them for free.¡± ¡°Ah, thank you.¡± Minerva leaves and the man with prosthetics approaches the chasier. ¡°Got everything you need, Saizo?¡± the minotaur says. ¡°Aye,¡± the ninja says. He gets the plants appraised and paid for. ¡°Are those for Atsuko by any chance?¡± the minotaur cashier says. ¡°No, they¡¯re for me,¡± Saizo says. ¡°I want to try my hand at flower arrangements.¡± He then leaves. ¡°Best wishes,¡± the cashier shouts. Minerva and the kids look at the man with confusion and intrigue. ¡°That man,¡± Minerva notices that he resembles one of the ninjas that visited the Black Box recency. A few minutes alter. She leads the children to Anesidora Park to rest. ??? Meanwhile, Richard is busy tailoring formal suits for the incoming mission. ¡°Those are a lot easier than my other project at least,¡± he says. ¡°Working on the party suits?¡± Sarah says. ¡°Yes, sister,¡± Richard says. ¡°It¡¯s a good thing the hotel had an empty room to use.¡± Richard takes a strip of black cloth and sews it into another strip with a machine. ¡°We have the three metals right?¡± ¡°We should,¡± Sarah says. ¡°Emily already learned the Oricalicum from that library trip and core at the art gallery should¡¯ve allowed her to learn the Arcanite and Flowesium as well.¡± ¡°Even if it didn¡¯t,¡± Richard says. ¡°We still have five days to try before the party.¡± Sarah notices his voice is a little relaxed. ¡°Happy that we adopted those kids, brother?¡± she says. ¡°Of course I¡¯m happy,¡± Richard says. ¡°No one should have to live in such squalor!¡± ¡°On that, we agree,¡± Sarah says. She is aware that her brother still has a low opinion of the other subterranean denizens of the underground. ¡°Blast!¡± Richard realizes he forgot something. ¡°Measurements, I need measurements!¡± ¡°You always were rather rather obsessed with details,¡± Sarah says. ¡°Guess that¡¯s why Dad taught you what he knew about goldsmithing and texting.¡± Richard takes a moment to recall his father and his mentorship. A collection of happy and bitter memories as she strove to achieve the same heights his father once did. ¡°You know, sister,¡± Richard says. ¡°In honing my eye for detail, I can tell that father held an exceptionally high standard.¡± ¡°Oh really,¡± Sarah said. ¡°You sure it wasn¡¯t those times he had my first suits of mail smelted down? Or how he once had your first shirt used as a washrag?¡± The two dwarves share a laugh as they reminisce about their late father. ¡°I suppose it¡¯s true, but I want to ask you something, do we really know anything about him, sister?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Sarah is confused. ¡°What do you mean, Richard?¡± ¡°We learned a lot from father, that is true,¡± Richard says. ¡°But at times it feels like we didn¡¯t know much of him at all. Mother told us how they met, but beyond that, we don¡¯t know how he learned the skills he taught us or what he did before we were born.¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Sarah realizes that for all the time they spent together she doesn¡¯t know that much about the man¡¯s life before their birth. ¡°I guess you¡¯re right. I have to go, maybe Minerva and the others are back now.¡± Sarah leaves. She looks at the lobby of the hotel and sees that the Arachne and the children have not returned. Instead, she sees several families moving through the hotel¡¯s doors. She breathes a melancholic sigh as she ruminates on what her brother had helped her realize. ¡°Dad,¡± she thinks. ¡°Just who are you?¡± ??? A few days later, Emily and her group stand in front of Gatsby Tower, a tall tower that stands high in the skyline of Noir. The tower is coated in black paint and goth gold and brass decorations. ¡°So tall,¡± Emily says. ¡°One thousand, two hundred and fifty of sheer brass, steel, and concrete, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. Esteban approaches the group with Julia in tow. ¡°Here to earn some invitations?¡± ¡°You know it,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Let¡¯s see if ol¡¯ Jay had decided to pull some new tricks.¡± ¡°He¡¯d better,¡± Esteban says. ¡°He¡¯s still dealing with what happened after the time we stole the Galatine Proxima.¡± ¡°I thought that was water under the bridge!¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°He might be over it, but his Emperyan patrons aren¡¯t,¡± Esteban says. The now nineteen-strong group enters the tower, unaware that an orange-haired kunoichi is following them. The interior of the tower is even more opulent, with white marble floors and images showing the Administrators on the wall, each designed in an opulent style. They see a receptionist on the other side of the room. ¡°Good after¡ª¡± The mermaid receptionist sees Heathcliff and Esteban among the group. ¡°We¡¯re here to secure some invites, cher,¡± Heathcliff says The mermaid sighs as she picks up a phone. ¡°Boss,¡± she says. ¡°We got a returner. The red-head knight from Charlemagne. One of the Rouges is with him as well.¡± The voice on the other line reacts with a mix of surprise and a hint of fury, before giving the receptionist a set of instructions. The mermaid turns to the group. ¡°How many, and for what date?¡± ¡°Nineteen,¡± Esteban says. ¡°Two days from now.¡± The mermaid talks with her boss once more. She observes Emily¡¯s attire and the presence of a fairy beside her and brings it up with him. The man hangs up, and the mermaid faces the party. ¡°You have to go through the gauntlet if you want these spots, but Mister Jay will set some aside for you.¡± For some reason, hearing ¡°Mister Jay¡± conjures an image of a maniacal clown in Emily¡¯s mind. The receptionist leads them to a door at the right of the room. Above the arched doors is a sign that reads, ¡°For wandering adventurers and Exsecratii.¡± ¡°For Exsecratii huh?¡± Rose says. ¡°This door leads to one of the more¡­difficult layouts,¡± the mermaid receptionist says. ¡°But I¡¯m sure you¡¯re able to prevail with the redhead with you.¡± She swims back to her deck as the doors open. ¡°Be on your guard, chers,¡± Heathcliff says. The group enters the door as the kunoichi sneaks in behind them before the door closes. The door leads to a corridor with a black floor made of sleek, waxed tiles. With statues of stylized eagles lining the golden walls. ¡°Welcome to Gatsby Tower,¡± a jovial voice echoes to the visitors. ¡°I understand how the humble folk of the underground want a taste of the high life, but do understand that I¡¯d want to test¡ª¡± He notices that eight of the Excreratii in the group are children and Magical Girls at that. ¡°Long story, Jay,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°I never expected you to take up babysitting, old sport,¡± Jay says. ¡°The rumors claimed you were looking to be a dungeon master.¡± ¡°And I gots me the position,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Um¡­¡± Emily says. ¡°I take it the purple girl here is your Dugneon¡¯s core?¡± Jay says. Emily is shocked to hear that. ¡°H-how?¡± Heathcliff and Elizabeth sigh as Jay chuckles. ¡°Relax, miss. Your secret is safe with me, and speaking of secrets¡­¡± Large fans emerge to blow away the mist. The force of the winds forces Tim to create a counter gust, but he is blown back by the stronger winds. The kunoichi¡¯s presence is revealed. Kasumi grows flustered as her presence is known and Emily and Tim recognize her. ¡°Seems someone wanted to tag along with your ¡®little¡¯ crew Heathcliff,¡± Jay says. Elizabeth recognizes the girl from her prior visit to the Black Box. ¡°One of the ninjas are here?¡± ¡°Oh boy,¡± Heathcliff says. Kasumi tries to throw an ornament from her dress, but Tim makes a charging leap and grabs her hand. ¡°Tell me why are you following us?¡± The kunoichi blushes at Tim as he grips her arm. ¡°I-I just noticed you from the hotel and wanted to ask you why you are here. Name¡¯s Kasumi, by the way!¡± she says in a flustered tone. ¡°She¡¯s already invited, by the way,¡± Jay says with a chuckle. Raine and Sarah notice the ninja¡¯s body language. ¡°Seems like little Timmy here¡¯s got an admirer,¡± Sarah quips. ¡°Knock it off, Sarah,¡± Tim says as he lets go of the ninja¡¯s hand. Emily looks at the kunoichi. ¡°Nice to meet you Kasumi, My name¡¯s Emily.¡± Heathcliff looks at Kasumi¡¯s unusual attire. Richard also takes a look at Kasumi¡¯s dress with some interest. ¡°I heard that some styles took root in Yae Shoto,¡± Richard says. ¡°I¡¯m assuming this is one of those styles?¡± Azalea looks at the dress, ¡°I thought ninjas are supposed to be inconspicuous,¡± the mermaid says. Kasumi scowls. ¡°Well if someone hadn¡¯t decided to blow my mists away¡­¡± ¡°You kids play nice now,¡± Jay says. The walls begin to turn and reveal a massive labyrinth to either side. The walls begin to shift and separate the group. ¡°The rules are simple,¡± Jay says. ¡°Three groups shall find one of my Sentinels each. If you can defeat all three of them then I will gladly welcome you and the party to the erm, party. You have two hours. Good luck, old sport!¡± The shifting walls separate Emily, Tim, Elizabeth, Kasumi, Richard, and Azalea into one group. Heathcliff, Sarah, Esteban, Julia, Lily, Clover, and Streltizia end up being sorted into a second group. While the others, Minerva, Nina, Charlotte, Rose, Raine, Hydrangea, and Anemone are in the third group. Gatsby Tower places these groups in different places in the maze. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ??? The walls of the golden labyrinth stop shifting, and Emily¡¯s group finds themselves in front of a sealed door. They see a large-scale tiled towards the left. ¡°The challenge is simple, old sport,¡± Jay says. ¡°Balance the scales, but beware, for the weight will change periodically.¡± Kasumi looks at these scales with dread. ¡°How are we supposed to balance these?¡± The dungeon doesn¡¯t respond. Richard looks at the left cup, seeing a large block that reads ¡°180 pounds.¡± ¡°Guess we have no choice but to explore,¡± Tim says. ¡°I love a good exploration!¡± Azalea says. ¡°But I don¡¯t wanna be weighted down by great expectations.¡± ¡°Where do we go, Emily?¡± Elizabeth says, Emily draws her twin blades as she prepares to encounter the Cells in Gatsby Tower. She jumps towards the left path. ¡°How about this way?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go with you!¡± Kasumi says. ¡°With my misty powers, no one will see us.¡± ¡°Assuming the dungeon doesn¡¯t decide to blow it away again,¡± Tim says. ¡°He has a point,¡± Richard says. ¡°Yeah revealing you was a breeze for the dungeon,¡± Azalea says. Kasumi puffs her cheeks. ¡°Don¡¯t mind them,¡± Emily says. ¡°Lizzie and I will provide some cover with my wind magic.¡± The group sets off to find items that can help them balance the scales. They soon encounter a patrolling Aureatevore¡ªsix-legged, golden, and bearing features of a reptile. ¡°An Aureatevore?¡± Richard whispers. ¡°Figures he¡¯d still hold onto the things,¡± Tim says quietly. ¡°Have you been here before, Tim?¡± Emily says. ¡°A few times,¡± Tim says. ¡°These creatures are usually fixated on collecting and eating gold. ¡°They probably weigh a lot thanks to their diet?¡± ¡°So, kill it and use its corpse to weight the scale,¡± Kasumi says. ¡°Got it.¡± ¡°That does seem to be the most logical plan,¡± Elizabeth says, Tim sighs. ¡°You can¡¯t fell one easily. Their hides harden with each chunk of metal they consume. And they can launch their spines as ranged weapons.¡± ¡°Well then,¡± Emily says. ¡°Is there a weak point?¡± Tim tries to recall the creature¡¯s weaknesses. ¡°Their underbellies, but you¡¯d have to get them to rear to expose them.¡± ¡°Leave it to me!¡± Emily says. Kasumi already prepares to cloak the party of six in fog. The Aureatevore notices the fog and begins sniffing for intruders. Elizabeth prepares a song, with three notes she beckons the air to swirl around the fog around, spreading it around their opponent and blind them to the other¡¯s attacks. Emily attacks the beast with her twin blades, but the metallic hide repels them. The best tries to swipe at her, But Azalea uses the water vapor to conjure up orbs of water to slow its attacks while Emily dodges. The beast launches its back spines. Azalea swims away, but her arm is cut by one of the projectiles. The beast rears up to swipe with four of its legs, but Kasumi takes the opportunity to close the gap with a barrage of punches and palm strikes. Emily then slices at the beast while parrying its claws with her blades. The forelegs of the beast grip Emily¡¯s swords and the two are locked at a standstill. ¡°Now!¡± Richard fired bolts from his stunner crossbows at the beast¡¯s underbelly, while Azalea drenched it with water spells to ensure the lightning coursed throughout the beast¡¯s body. The beast is stunned by Richard¡¯s aim as the mist recedes. The paralyzed beast is then skewered by Tim¡¯s Qiang and falls over, dead. ¡°Woohoo!¡± Kasumi says. ¡°A rather shocking end,¡± Azalea says. Emily tries to lift the carcass, but they are heavier than expected. Tim, Richard, and Azalea help her lift the beast and place it on the scale¡¯s right cup. After loading the beast onto it, the two cups become closer in altitude, but they are still not equal, in fact, the left cup is now lighter than the right. Emily looks at the number and learns that it now reads ¡°45 pounds.¡± ¡°Forty-five pounds?¡± Kasumi says. ¡°The dungeon did claim that the weights change periodically,¡± Elizabeth says, Azalea swims to the weight on the left cup and sits on it. ¡°I¡¯m tired,¡± she says. Her added weight causes the scale to shift slightly and gives Emily an idea. She jumps to the weight and lands on a ledge overlooking the cup. She walks on top of the weight and it descends further. Richard realizes what Emily is doing and climbs up the cup. The three of them weigh down the left cup to the point where both cups are leveled. The scale locks in place as a door opens. ¡°Nailed it!¡± Emily says. ¡°Aw,¡± Azalia was hoping to use the opportunity to rest, but alas. ¡°Come on!¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°I¡¯m coming, I¡¯m coming!¡± Azalea swims after the others. The group ventures deeper into the maze. ??? Heathcliff¡¯s group meanwhile has finished balancing the scales on their end. With Lily and Clover in one cup and Sarah, Streltizia, and himself in the other. Esteban and Julia see a door open as the cups become equally weighed. The group prepares to enter the next section of the labyrinth. ¡°So,¡± Clover says. ¡°What is this place like?¡± she begins asking everyone various questions about the dungeon. ¡°Gatsby Tower is a noted hub for high-class social gatherings,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°I¡¯ve heard from Esteban that you two used to raid the place often?¡± Julia says. ¡°You¡¯d be surprised what you could find in a place where everyone whose anyone frequents,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°It is part of why old Jay can go around gallivanting and partying without rival dungeons angling for him. The Monsuiers and Mademoiselles here would be pretty mad if people try to absorb him.¡± Strelitzia looks around as Lily paws on the floor. ¡°Heard someone nabbed some famous sword from this dungeon¡¯s gallery.¡± ¡°The Galatine Proxima?¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°That was one of the best hauls we got from here.¡± Lily continues pawing on the ground. Clover notices the usually exuberant girl quiet. ¡°Is something wrong Lily?¡± ¡°O-oh nothing, Clover,¡± Lily says. The peryton girl knows the girl long enough to know when she is hiding something. ¡°Come on, you can tell me. We¡¯re friends remember.¡± Strelitzia notices Lily¡¯s anxious expression. ¡°Is it because of how gaudy this place looks?¡± Lily shakes her head. ¡°I-it¡¯s not that.¡± As the group continues, Clover and Streltiizia notice Lily is shying away from the adults in the group. Julia and Sarah also notice the filly¡¯s shyness. The group finds the next puzzle¡ªa mural with yellow, orange, green, and purple tiles next to another scale. Three similarly colored statures of gargoyles are placed in the center of the room and identical ones are weighing down the cups. ¡°I¡¯ve tailed this one to your elemental affinities,¡± Jay says. ¡°I¡¯m a man of honor after all old sport.¡± Heathcliff sighs. He tries to cast a wind spell with his sword, but the spell fizzles as he attempts it. ¡°You¡¯d think I¡¯d been capable of some magic by now,¡± he mutters. Clover looks at the statues and the titles. She casts a wind spell on the corresponding statue and causes a small weight to fall on the left cup. The weight reads ¡°5 pounds.¡± Strelitzia enchants her labrys with earth and strikes the orange gargoyle with it, but the attack causes it to come alive and attack everyone. ¡°What the¡ª?¡± Strelitzia says as the statues come to life and attack the party. She blocks the incoming attack with her weapon. ¡°Guess this thing wants a fight,¡± Sarah says. She uses her hammer in tandem with Strleitzia and knocks it down. The gargoyle statue vanishes as does the orange one in the right cup, replaced with a weight similar to the one that fell. The scale begins to equalize a little bit. Heathcliff looks at the scale and the conspicuously purple gargoyle in the left cup. Sarah approaches Lily. ¡°Hello there!¡± Lily is a little startled. ¡°O-oh, hello.¡± ¡°My name is Sarah!¡± the dwarf says. ¡°You¡¯re called Lily, right?¡± ¡°Y-yeah.¡± Meanwhile, Julia observes the purple gargoyle statue. ¡°Shadow magic huh?¡± she thinks. She takes out her dagger and makes a magic. ¡°Oh, santos del inframundo, dad la bienvenida a vuestra esencia en esta hoja.¡± She says. The dagger becomes surrounded by a dark mist. She looks at her husband, who understands what she is planning to do. ¡°So, you want to be a Sentinel, right?¡± Sarah says. ¡°Y-yeah!¡± Lily says. ¡°I can help arm you and your buddies up for the task if you want,¡± Sarah says. ¡°Um, s-sure!¡± the centaur says. She turns to Clover and Streltizia. ¡°Do you do wands?¡± Clover says. ¡°We tend only to use those.¡± ¡°To our detriment,¡± Streltizia says. ¡°Huh?¡± Lily says. She sees the Hermandezes preparing to awaken the purple gargoyle. Meanwhile, Esteban cloaks himself using his enchanted suit and prepares for Julia to rouse the purple gargoyle with her weapon. She throws the shadow-enchanted dagger into the stature¡¯s heart. It begins to awaken, but the invisible Esteban immediately grabs it with his arm, preventing it from flying and swiping at it. Heathcliff sees what is happening and jams Julia¡¯s blade deeper into its chest. The winged stature vanishes and the dagger falls to the ground. The corresponding statue fades and the cups begin to grow closer in weight. ¡°Three down, one to go,¡± Esteban says. Lily takes a look at the yellow gargoyle and turns to Sarah. ¡°Wanna help m-me take care of this one?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Sarah says while punching her hand. She takes out her Warhammer. ¡°Ready when you are!¡± Lily turns to the stature and begins casting a spell. The horn on her diadem glows as a beam of light emerges from its tip. She then takes out her wand and casts another spell. The statue remains still. ¡°Huh?¡± Clover says. Lily tries again. The stature doesn¡¯t move or vanish. From he scales a cry can be heard. Everyone looks out and sees that while the stature on the floor remains inanimate, the stature in the right cup is very much animate. It flies across the room and begins to swoop down, only for Heathcliff to intercept the attack with his shield and slash at it with his sword. The gargoyle recoils from the attack and ascends from the air, lobbing conjured boulders at the group from on high. ¡°This guy is tougher than the others,¡± Heathcliff says after dodging a boulder. Sarah stands her ground and waits for the opponent to attack her. When it does, She grips her hammer and swings it, causing it be redirected towards the winged foe. The gargoyle conjures out a gust to assists its agility as it swerves to the right. The yellow Gargoyle swoops down and rams Sarah to the ground. The dwarf is stunned and dazed for a few moments as the beast ascends tot eh air and conjures up orbs of light and shadow. Julia throws a knife at the arm of the gargoyle that carried the light orb. The orb explodes and blinds it. It tries to conjure another one, but Lily aims a spell fo light at the other orb and destroyss the orb of shadow. The beast is infuriated and swoops down, but as it descend, Clover lifts Streliztia and she ascends to the air. From on high she slams her labrys onto the descending beasts and pins down one of tis wings. Heathcliff takes his sword and slices the throat of the yellow stone creature. Pinned and bleeding a glowing substance, the gargoyle keels over. ¡°Congratulations,¡± Jay¡¯s voice echoes to the group. ¡°Those gargoyles love taking my guests by surprise. And speaking of surprises¡­¡± Two items drop from the cieling. One is a wight that falls onto the scales, the other is a chest that lands onto the ground. The scales are equalized as Heathcliff examines the contents of the coffer. Finding six gilded envelopes as well as a gold ingot and some formal wear. Two suits and four dresses. Three small enough for a dwarf or a child to wear. ¡°I¡¯m not sure is Richard is gonna like the time saved or be annoyed,¡± Sarah thinks as she examines her dress. Two doors open. ¡°You are free to go if you wish,¡± Jay says. Heathcliff lets out a ¡°Hah, there are two two more Sentinels left, right?¡± ¡°Indubitably,¡± Jay says. ¡°You wish to help your friends?¡± ¡°Of course I am!¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°You think I¡¯d leave them out to dry, Jay?¡± Strelitizia looks at the knight. A little impressed by his declaration of loyalty. ¡°You¡¯ve never changed, old sport.¡± Jay closes the door to the right. Everyone travels down the left door. ??? As they traverse down the corridor. Streltizia looks at the red-haired knight. ¡°Hey,¡± she calls out. ¡°Oui?¡± Heathcliff answers. Streltizia expression is one of stern curiosity. She is skeptical of Heathcliff¡¯s display of loyalty. At the same time she wants to ask the knight some questions. At the same time Heathcliff still harbors some doubts on whether Emily¡¯s decision to adopt the Coloraturas would lead to burden later on. ¡°Don¡¯t trust me, huh?¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°I have reason to not be so quick to trust someone,¡± the minotaur says. ¡°Rather smart of you,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Trusting someone blindly will always lead to trouble.¡± ¡°So why did you become a knight then?¡± Strelitzia says. ¡°A knight, moi?¡± Heathclfif says. ¡°Don¡¯t hide it,¡± Streltizia says. ¡°I¡¯ve seen many a gallant with that type of swordplay. Charlemagne, right?¡± ¡°Perhaps,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°But I gots my secrets, as I¡¯m sure we all do. Though since we in the mood for questions. I have one of my own.¡± ¡°Oh really?¡± Strelitzia says. ¡°I know the underground is a lot more varied then the surface,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°But I have to ask how on earth eight little orphan girls wound up gathering in a place that isn¡¯t an orphanage. Even with things as they were, the city ain¡¯t as heartless as to leave children starving.¡± ¡°You¡¯re definitively a knight,¡± Streltizia says. ¡°They tend to be rather naive fools.¡± Heathcliff laughs. ¡°Rather mouthy kid aren¡¯t you?¡± The young minotaur smirks. ¡°My parents failed to teach me proper manners.¡± The knight is amused. ¡°Well someone ought to fill that void. Now then, my question, cher?¡± Streltizia recalls the time she and Clovered encountered Rose. Near the end of a dark time in her life. ¡°I was escaping a dungeon with Clover,¡± she says. ¡°Rose and her friends happened to met us along the way.¡± The child¡¯s curt but vauge respond alerts Heathcliff. ¡°There¡¯s gotta be more to it,¡± he thinks. But he accepts the answer, figuring Strelitzia¡¯s past is a matter for another day. ??? Meanwhile, Rose had finished defeating the last of a hoard of smaller hoard of Aureatevores, as Minerva and Nina web up the fallen. With the beasts dead, Anemone uses her gravity magic to lift and make the corpses weightless. Raine flies them to the empty cups on the scale and places them down so that they are of equal weight. ¡°Phew,¡± Rose says. ¡°That was an easy fight.¡± ¡°Rose,¡± Hydrangea says. ¡°The Aureatevores nearly defeated us.¡± ¡°If Minerva hasn¡¯t lulled them with her eyes,¡± Raine says as she continues loading the scales. ¡°We would¡¯ve been toast!¡± The adult Arachne looks at the children with her as she helps load the scales. ¡°Thank you, Raine,¡± she says. ¡°Mommy is very strong,¡± Nina says. ¡°She¡¯s the strongest mommy I know.¡± ¡°I¡¯m¡­¡± Rose says. ¡°Not in a position to test that.¡± Rose slithers over to one of the corpses and places it on her back, while Anemone and Hydrangea work on helping her carry it to the cups. By the time she places the corpse in the cup, the scales are now fully equalized and the Aureatevores vanish as the doors. ¡°How are the others doing?¡± Charlotte says. ¡°I hope they¡¯re okay.¡± Minerva leads the group down to the next room, making sure they are protected by the dangers that lurk in the walls, to Nina¡¯s chagrin. Rose notices that Anemone¡¯s ears are straightened. A usual sign of her alertness. ¡°Something¡¯s off, Anemone?¡± The wolf-eared girl searches the corridor for more threats. ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡± Charlotte notices something about the four coloraturas with her. ¡°Hey, so¡­¡± ¡°Yes?¡± Hydrangea says. ¡°I was thinking, did you style yourselves after the spheres?¡± Charlotte says. ¡°Huh?¡± Rose says, looking at her magicalized pink attire and realizing it matches the color associated with lightning and the Electropshere. ¡°Coincidence I guess?¡± Anemone and Hydrangea look at their clothes and realize that they also match their respective elements of darkness and ice and that Raine¡¯s crimson attire and feathers also fit the element of flame. ¡°It¡¯s a bizarre coincidence,¡± Anemone says. Raine realizes that Strelitzia, Azalea, Clover, and Lily also have outfits matching their elements as well and that they all have hair colors matching them too. ¡°It seems bizarre,¡± Hydrangea says. ¡°How so?¡± Nina says. ¡°A magicalized outfit is determined by several factors,¡± Anemone says. ¡°Personally, subconscious desires and the nature of their patron. That¡¯s what Whisper says, at least.¡± ¡°You think they thought it was important to make the elemental affinities that prominent?¡± Rose says. ¡°It wouldn''t explain the hair colors,¡± Raine says. ¡°Unless everyone has been using magic dye behind each other¡¯s backs.¡± ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure Azalea would¡¯ve put hair due to different uses,¡± Rose says. ¡°Besides I know my hair has been pink for as long as I can remember.¡± ¡°My hair is also natural,¡± Hydrangea says, ¡°but that in turn carries its mysteries.¡± ¡°That reminds me,¡± Rose says. ¡°You said you¡¯ve been dabbling in star magic Anemone?¡± ¡°Un-huh,¡± the purple-haired girl says. ¡°I realized that my books had gravity spells in addition to normal darkness spells.¡± ¡°Gravity spells?¡± Charlotte feels a strange curiosity about that type of magic. ¡°Can you teach me?¡± Rose says. ¡°Umm,¡± Anemone is nervous about the idea of teaching gravity magic. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if that is possible. These spells are difficult to master and star magic in general is rather rare.¡± ¡°All the more reason to teach us!¡± Rose says. ¡°I wanna learn too,¡± Nina says while facing Anemone with a certain intent. ¡°Nina,¡± Minerva says with a stern glare, aware of her intention to hypnotize Anemone. ¡°Phooey,¡± the spiderling thinks. ¡°Y-you don¡¯t have to if you don¡¯t want,¡± Charlotte says, despite her own burgeoning interest. Anemone considers teaching her friends star magic as she walks along the corridor. The party of seven soon reaches another room. ¡°Staff is having issues with the scales here,¡± Jay¡¯s voice echoes to the group. ¡°And it came to my attention that we have a litter cheater in the group, so it¡¯s time to mix things up a bit. Good luck old sport!¡± The room depicts a mural featuring a scene of a figure hammering an anvil in a volcanic subterranean landscape, this figure is flanked by murals of a matronly figure among verdant trees and a forlorn figure beaten the waves. The images depict three of the most important and worshiped Administrators. The ceiling shows a more opulent display of a young child shining brightly while being cradled in her mother¡¯s arms. The image is itself another mural, depicting the Sunshine and the Cosmos. Yet these murals are but a mere backdrop. The true challenge lies in the avian creature swooping in and introducing itself with a screech. ¡°This Pyroc¡¯s been couped up in its next for so long that it¡¯s been begging to stretch its wings,¡± Jay says. Raine sighs, knowing that her spells are useless against the equally firey avian. Minerva examines the Sentinel as it prepares to fight. The Pyroc uses its wings to conjure a conflagration aimed at the group which then scatters as it fires its attack. Hydragnrea knows that as a creature of heat, its weakness is cold, and so she tries to freeze it with her spells. The Pyroc manurers around the room and dodges her attempts to freeze it. Rose tries to strike it down with her lightning, but the avian is unfazed by her thunderous spells. ¡°What is the¡ª¡° Raine moves Rose out of the way before the Pyroc can dive bomb into her and takes the attack in her place. The avian and phoenix clash and Raien ends up injured by burns while the Pyroc prepares another attack. Anemone tries to pin it down with her shadow spells, but the agile firebird is too fast her her to stay in its shadow. She tries using her gravity spells, but the creature swoops in and breaks her concentration with its heart. Charlotte stands motionless at the sight of the Pyroc, its flames remaining her last sight in Hamlin. The Pyroc sees the terrified Alraurne child and attempts to charge at her at her. Nina sees Charlotte in danger launches a line of webbing at her, and barely pulls her out of the way before the beast can sear her with its wings. Minerva sees an opportunity and lands on the beast, her chitinous underbelly begins to warm up from proximity to the bird as she tries to pin it down and looks for its eyes. Anemone uses the opportunity to cast her gravity spells, weighing both Minerva and the Pyroc down as the Arachne woman attempts to use her Bardsong eyes to pacify the beast. Minerva soon gets a good look into the eyes of the avian. ¡°It¡¯s time to go to sleep,¡± she says as she gazes into the firebird. The Pyroc tries to resist but her Bardsong eyes overpower its will and cause it to fall into a torpor. Minerva climes off the slumbering bird as Hydrangea encases it in chilling ice. The boss is defeated and vanishes into gold dust. ¡°Well, that was interesting,¡± Jay says as he observes the fight. Two doors and a chest manifest on the murals, the chest appearing in front of the open depicting the Forgemaster while the doors stand behind his image and the other murals. The left one is locked, and the right one is opened. ¡°I have a feeling you want to try to help your friends,¡± Jay asks the group. ¡°You know it!¡± Rose says. Minerva opens the chest and sees seven tickets, as well as formal attire for them and a gold ingot. As Minerva gathers the loot, Nina Charlotte still standing motionless. She approaches her friends and stares deep into her. ¡°Wake up please,¡± she pleads with her friend to awaken. Her bardsong spell compels her out of her stupor and she looks around. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I want to know,¡± Rose says as she slithers to the Arachne and Alraune children. ¡°You seemed totally out of it.¡± Charlotte realizes that they were fighting a Pyroc before she blanked out. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Minerva looks at the three and begins to wonder about Charlotte. She considers talking to Carla about her daughter¡¯s moment of stupor when they return. When eh group is ready they take the open path to the right of the Forgemaster. ??? Emily¡¯s group finishes another puzzle in a room filled with Kasumi¡¯s mists. A structure resembling a coat of arms hangs onto the wall as Tim approaches one of the downed gryphon statues. It resembles a blue shield with a round silver edge. ¡°Well need to place these [Gryphon] feathers behind that shield, right?¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°I think so,¡± Emily says as he places a loose feather from the stature near her and places it diagonally behind the shield. Tim and Kasumi do the same, with Kasumi¡¯s feather pointing straight to the floor and Tim¡¯s mirroring Emily¡¯s. Nothing had happened. ¡°Hmm,¡± Richard says. Looking at the golden structure. He notices that there are some details on the feathers. A variable amount of dots on them. The one Emily had placed on the left side had three dots. The one Tim placed on the right had one, and the one Kasumi placed in the center had two. He then observes the shield. He places his palm on it to feel for anything unusual, but couldn''t find anything. ¡°What is it Richard,¡± Emily says. ¡°The feathers,¡± the dwarf says. ¡°I think they are placed in the wrong configuration.¡± Emily removes the feathers and notices the dots on them. She turns around and finds a similar pattern on the floor. The solution was hidden in plain sight. She observes the floor pattern and sees that it consists of three paralleled lines. The lines are around with a total of six diamonds. The leftmost one has two, the rightmost one has three and the center has the remaining diamond. Emily approaches the shield and pits them in the appropriate order, the two-dotted feater on the left, the three-dotted one to the right, and the last one in the center, all facing downwards. The shield changes color to match the gilded walls¡­before returning to normal. No passageway appears in the current room. Emily tries to remove the feathers but they remain stuck to the wall. ¡°Well that is a bust,¡± Kasumi says. Emily struggles to remove the gilded gryphon feathers from the shield but they refuse to be removed. ¡°Come on!¡± she cries out as she struggles to remove them. The gorup is at a loss and is forced to see if there is another route they can take. As they enter the corridor, Kasumi asks Tim about his bajiquan techniques, and Emily in turn asks the kunoichi about herself and her companions. Azalea meanwhile tries to make the others laugh with metal and gold puns. At the other side of the corridor, they found that the previous room had drastically changed, there were no scales in sight, and the shape had changed into a circular arena with the stature of a knight in the center. ¡°Tomas¡± is emblazoned on the plaque behind it. ¡°We¡¯ve saved the best for last! Get excited, won¡¯t you old sport?¡± Jay¡¯s voice echoes to his fellow dungeon and her group. Emily understands the presence of the stature and what it means. She takes out her two blades as the statue begins to move. ¡°Tomas here shall keep you entertained,¡± Jay says. The stature begins to move and slams his fist onto the floor. A handle manifests in the golden fist and the Tomas pulls out a golden greatsword. Kasumi takes out a bobble from her dress and uses it to refill her mists, she rushes around the circular arena and covers everything in fog. Azalea swims around and opens with water attacks conjured from the vapor. ¡°Hey there Tommy,¡± the mermaid says. ¡°You seem like the dungeons¡¯s gold sport.¡± She dodges a slash from the silent knight. ¡°What¡¯s your diet? ¡°Azalea says. ¡°I bet you eat a lot of karats.¡± Tim makes a charging step at Tomas and uses attacks with his a flurry of strikes with his knees and arms. The heavy gold-armored automaton blocks¡¯ Tim¡¯s attempts, but the martial artist smirks as Emily and Elizabeth use magic to attack the statue. Kasumi charges towards the knight herself and uses the momentum to land a punch on the chestplate. The force of the blow causes Tomas to fall back a step. Time smirks and closes his eyes as he uses a barrage of punches and palm strikes, in a slow methodical rhythm. Kasumi copies his moments and does the same. The two know the golden knight to the wall. ¡°Impressive,¡± Tim says to Kasumi. ¡°How did you learn these techniques?¡± ¡°My teacher,¡± Kasumi says with a cheeky smile as she observes Tim¡¯s movements. She knows they are similar to moves Hoshikage had taught her and knows where they differ and where they are most effective. The two land a synchronized punch that causes the gold chest piece to shatter and expose its weakness. Emily sees the opening and waltzes forward, leaping over Tim and Kasumi and jamming her two blades into the stature¡¯s chest. The impaled knight recoils after being impaired by Emily¡¯s swords and lets out a mighty roar, summoning a whirlwind that pushes the three back and causes the mists to vanish. Tomas takes the two weapons piercing its chest and rips them out before stomping the ground. The shockwave causes a wave of golden cubes to ripple from Tomas and force the party into the air. Azalea tries to swim out of the way, but Knight tacks the mermaid and swats her to the ground. Everyone but Elizabeth sustained injuries from the attack, but they remain determined to prevail. Elizabeth prepares a song to enchant everyone¡¯s arms ¡°Oh blessed light, reflect the gilded radiance.¡± The fairy¡¯s enchantments cause Tim and Emily¡¯s weapons to glow with golden light. Emily rushes around the arena to grab her blades while Tim makes a charging step towards Tomas. ¡°What? ¡°Kasumi says. ¡°I don¡¯t get supper glowy powers?¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t the time!¡± Richard says as he fires his stunners at the boss¡¯ exposed core. Emily waltzes with her weapons and clashes with the knight. Her blades parry the opponent¡¯s heavier weapon with grace and elegance as Tim uses the opportunity to strike the core with his weapon and the others prove cover with Richard¡¯s stunner bolts, Elizabeth¡¯s light magic, and Azalea¡¯s water magic. Emily manages to disarm the knight by slashing off the gilded gauntlet that held the great sword. The knight recoils as Tim pushes it back. Now separated from his weapon and weakened, it makes another shockwave. Tim and Emily leap above it and Emily combines her swords into a chakram. As the shockwave reaches the edge, Emily lifts Richard while Kasumi leaps and Azalea swims to avoid the golden cubes. Emily spins her combined weapon before throwing it into the core of Tomas. The circular chakram deals enough damage to topple the golden knight stature for good. ¡°Well,¡± Azalea says. ¡°That¡¯s knights going to sleep for a very long time. Good Knight, Tommy.¡± The knight vanishes into dust that gleams like the glistening of gold and a chest appears in the center of the arena. ¡°That¡¯s three for three, congratulations,¡± Jay says to Emily¡¯s group. Emily approaches the chest and sees formal outfits and invitations in equal measure with five of each. She also sees an equal amount of golden weapons and two gold ingots. Heathcliff and Minerva¡¯s groups soon converge on the arena, finding that Emily has already defeated the boss. ¡°Well you did it,¡± Jay¡¯s voice echoes to the entire group. ¡°I¡¯m a dungeon of my word, I hope to see you tomorrow night.¡± Heathcliff is surprised to see Emily and Tim were able to defeat a boss without him. He lets out a boisterous laugh. ¡°They grow up so fast.¡± Tim punches his mentor in the shoulder. ¡°It wasn¡¯t that hard.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s nineteen, right?¡± Emily says. ¡°Nineteen?¡± Kasumi says before remembering that she was already invited as a result of Atsuko being invited. ??? Everyone heads back to the lobby with their gains in tow, carried in three bags by Heathcliff and Richard. ¡°All my hard work, rendered redundant, ¡°Richard mutters. ¡°Look on the bright side, brother, ¡°Sarah says. ¡°You have more time for the more important project.¡± The Coloraturas look at their outfits with giddy joy, while Nina notices Charlotte¡¯s sad face. ¡°Something wrong?¡± Nina says. ¡°I-its nothing,¡± Charlotte says. Kasumi sees Atsuko and Saizo waiting in the lobby and realizes they are here looking for her. Atsuko looks towards the group. ¡°Ah, so that¡¯s where you went off to.¡± Kasumi begins to intentionally panic as her Lady and fellow shinobi approach them. ¡°Crap!¡± she thinks ¡°busted.¡± Saizo approached the group, ¡°I hope Kasumi hasn¡¯t been too much trouble for you.¡± ¡°Trouble? Her?¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t know. Emily, Tim?¡± The orange-haired ninja irrationally panics further. ¡°Maybe I can get¡ª¡± ¡°Kasumi hasn¡¯t been of any trouble to us,¡± Tim says. ¡°You on the other hand,¡± Saizo looks at Tim and recognizes him from the Black Box. ¡°Heh, so you came all this way here for a rematch?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here on other matters,¡± Tim says curtly. ¡°We¡¯re just here to visit the town, and help someone with a thing,¡± Emily says. Atsuko looks at Emily with curiosity and takes something out of her pocket. Revealing one of the rabbit statuettes the ninja obtained from their trip. ¡°Do you recognize this?¡± Emily looks at the statue. ¡°Aw, it¡¯s so cute.¡± She begins to realize it was from the items she made when she was first asked to produce swords. Atsuko sees the look of embarrassment on her face as proof enough. ¡°I¡¯m Atsuko,¡± the cat-eared girl says. Emily notices her cyan ringlets and her two feline tails as she introduces herself. ¡°And you are¡­?¡± ¡°E-Emily,¡± the purple-haired avatara says. ¡°Emily, huh?¡± Atsuko says. ¡°What a nice name.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Emily says. Heathcliff looks at the Yanese girl with curiosity. ¡°I heard someone from Yae set up shop in Noir. Tell me, cher, what brings you here?¡± ¡°Not one for small talk?¡± Atsuko says quizzically. ¡°Atsuko is here looking for something that allegedly couldn¡¯t be found in her homeland,¡± Esteban says. The nekomata girl looks at the blue-coated rouge. ¡°So the famous Azure Rouge knows what I¡¯m up to huh?¡± She turns back to Emily. ¡°I¡¯m indeed looking for something here, but I can¡¯t explain it in a place so¡­crowded. I¡¯d want to talk to you at the party tomorrow night if you want.¡± ¡°Um, sure!¡± Emily says. Heathcliff groans, fearing that whatever Atsuko wants would further complicate matters. ¡°If you¡¯re willing to help,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°I¡¯ll make it worth your while, you have my honor.¡± She turns to Kasumi. ¡°Kasumi? We have much to discuss.¡± Kasumi waves goodbye to her new friends before leaving with Atsuko and Saizo. ¡°I have to go make preparations for tomorrow,¡± Esteban says. ¡°I¡¯ll see you then, ¡®old sport,¡¯¡± ¡°Ay, don¡¯t you go starting now!¡± Heathcliff says to Esteban¡¯s amusement. He and Julia leave Emiiy¡¯s group as they head to the hotel. Chapter XXIII: Rhapsody in Blue The day of the party comes and Stella¡¯s glow shines on Noir as everyone wakes up to the day. At the hotel, Richard looks over the various attire earned from Gatsby Tower, while Sarah slumbers like a log on her bed. He looks over the various dresses and suits in the closet to his rented hotel room. The dresses are all black with various details. The shorter ones have sleeves and a back, as well as a white skirt for all but one. They were outfits designed with an eye towards modesty, as they come with black shorts. The larger dresses lack those features and instead are sleeveless with spaghetti straps. The bodices of the dresses have a tubular look to them, designed to obscure the feminine silhouettes rather than accentuate them, especially around the waist. Richard then looks at the three suits among them. Like the dresses, these tuxedos are also black but also have white undershirts and golden ties. These vary in size, with a large one for Heathcliff, a medium-sized one for Tim, and a small one for Richard himself. Richard feels the various outfits for their material, the black and gold pieces are all silken with an exquisite finish while the white pieces are made of cotton. ¡°Room service!¡± a voice cries out. The sound of the hotel employee rouses Sarah and she rushes towards the door to pick up her food. A veritable smorgasbord of breakfasts is carted into the dwarves¡¯ room. Sarah takes her cart and moves it to her bed, bumping it into Richard in the process. ¡°Ow,¡± the blond dwarf cries. ¡°Sister be careful! These clothes are delicate!¡± Sarah ignores her brother as she pushes the card next to her bed and climbs back onto it. She takes a platter of toast and eggs and begins to eat. ¡°Why are you looking at those clothes, brother?¡± she says with her mouth full of food. Richard examines the clothes further. ¡°A black base would be useful for making the other elements, pop,¡± he thinks. Sarah sees Richard is too focused on his task and continues eating the first course of her morning meal. In the midst of his musing and note-taking, Richard¡¯s stomach begins to growl and he looks around and takes a platter of toast and pancakes to a desk in the hotel room. He wonders if the dreamcloth or the Arachne silk from the denizens of the Black Box can be used for his designs. The two dark-skinned dwarves hear a knock on the door. ¡°May I come in?¡± a familiar voice says. ¡°Of course!¡± Richard says. The door opens and Minerva enters. The Arachne mother greets the dwarven artisans. ¡°Hello,¡± she says. ¡°Are you done with the formalwear Richard?¡± ¡°Almost,¡± Richard says. He knows the party isn¡¯t until tonight. He takes one last look at the seventeen outfits. He looks at the designs of the dresses once more. He notices that several were designed with the anatomy of their wearers in mind. He takes out two dresses of identical shape, he sees that the shorts on the smaller one are among a few lacking shorts or legwear in general. He hands the dresses to Minerva, more than aware that the arachnid body of the Arachne is usually exposed. Minerva takes the clothes. ¡°I¡¯ll be back for the Coloraturas and Charlotte¡¯s next,¡± Minerva says before leaving. ¡°Very well,¡± Richard says. He turns to Sarah, now gorging on a giant muffin. Sarah notices her brother staring at her and takes a second muffing from the cart. ¡°Want one?¡± she says. Richard shakes his head. ¡°Sarah¡­¡± Sarah finishes her muffin with a large gulp and then stands up from her bed, walking to the closest. ¡°I heard. I¡¯ll help you get the kids¡¯ clothes out.¡± A few minutes later, after Sarah places her discarded platters on the cart, nine formal outfits are laid out on the bed. The main part of eight of the dresses, intended for the younger among them remain identical, but the nine lacks the white skirt and the pieces that come with them vary in shape. The shorts for Charlotte, Hydrangea, Streltizia, Clover, and Clover resemble short pants, with the only difference being a hole for the tail in the latter two cases. Clover¡¯s also has slits for her wings in hers. Lily¡¯s ¡°shorts¡± are more unusual, suited to her equine body it uses as much material as the dress itself, for it is designed to cover everything between her legs. This subdress also has a hole for her tail as well. Rose¡¯s and Azalea¡¯s have no legs to speak of, just a tail, because of this their shorts resemble short tubes rather than the kind of pants that come to mind for most. Raine¡¯s formal shorts are designed to cover her birdlike body. Being more rounded while having slits for her wings to protrude through. Sarah munches on the last of her breakfast as she and her brother look over the formal wear for the children. ¡°Come to think of it,¡± Sarah says. ¡°Do we know how to take care of Lamia, Centaur, Minotaur, Mermaid, Werewolf, Peryton, and Phoenix kids?¡± ¡°That is a matter for me, Lydia, and her assistants.¡± Minerva returns to pick up the outfits. ¡°Minerva,¡± Richard says. ¡°I¡¯m curious as to how you raise your young?¡± As Minerva places the clothes on her abdomen, she answers Richard¡¯s question. ¡°You¡¯re aware of our broodmothers yes?¡± ¡°Quite,¡± Richard says. ¡°While the parents still have a role in the development of our children,¡± Minerva says as she places another dress on her body. ¡°The broodmother and her assistants are the ones tasked with their general care and education. Many of these assistants are the parents of children themselves. They are the responsibility of the brood and it is the broodmother¡¯s chief duty to organize and lead them as they care for the children.¡± ¡°I think I heard you say something like that once,¡± Sarah says. ¡°But¡ª¡± ¡°One of the broodmother¡¯s duties is also serving as a surrogate parent to those without,¡± Minerva says, knowing what Sarah was about to ask. ¡°I¡¯m certain Lydia is up to the task of taking care of the Coloraturas.¡± Minerva places the last of the dresses on the bed on her abdomen and leaves the room. ¡°Okay, what¡¯s next?¡± Sarah says. A few minutes later, Richard and Sarah place Emily¡¯s, Elizabeth¡¯s, Heathcliff¡¯s, and Tim¡¯s on the bed. Heathcliff enters the room shortly after. ¡°Good morning, chers,¡± the red-headed knight says. ¡°You ready to party tonight?¡± ¡°I fear you and I have different definitions of ¡°party¡±, Heathcliff,¡± Richard says. The knight takes the four outfits and leaves. ¡°See you tonight!¡± he says. With Heathcliff leaving with the four outfits all that is left is the formalwear for the dwarves themselves. Sarah heads to the bathroom to wash her hands while Richard looks at the remaining attire. ¡°So Mr. Fashion Expert, can you tell me why the dresses are all black?¡± Sarah asks from the bathroom. ¡°Black is one of the most versatile colors in general,¡± Richard says. ¡°But If I have to trace its trendiness in fashion, that stems from the influences of two people from a few decades back. One took influences from both mourning dresses and maid attires, the other derived his from tailcoats. Though who those are black are beyond me. I heard midnight blue is the common popular color for evening suits.¡± ¡°As for the pastels?¡± Sarah recalls seeing several people in brightly colored suits during her stay in Noir. ¡°The ¡®Zoot¡¯ phenomena,¡± Richard says. ¡°Seems more specific to younger people.¡± He wonders if he can weave influences from that subculture into his designs. He looks over the formalwear and sees signs of the aesthetics he wanted to research. The reason he wanted to go to Noir, was to begin with. Sarah leaves the bathroom and looks over her dress, all black with straps and no back. ¡°Hmm,¡± Sarah says. ¡°That¡¯s rather simple, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Simplicity is its elegance,¡± Richard says. Sarah shrugs. ¡°Can I¡ª¡± ¡°No,¡± Richard says. ¡°We can¡¯t sully these outfits.¡± Sarah slumps. ¡°If you¡¯re concerned about the fit, I¡¯ll take care of it,¡± Richard says. ¡°But we have to look out best for when we return to Gatsby Tower.¡± ¡°I was asking if we can have Emily escort the suits after the party?¡± Sarah says. ¡°In case there is some exotic fabric that she could learn from it.¡± ¡°¡­oh,¡± Richard says. He muses on the idea. ¡°I don¡¯t think there is, at least none that could be replicated from the spinnerets of our Arachne friends or brought in bulk from specialty stores. In fact, I¡¯m pretty sure the Rosenkreuz guild already has a surplus of cotton and silk.¡± ¡°Really? ¡°Sarah says. ¡°I was sure these fancy pants empery use more unique materials.¡± ¡°They likely do, but that doesn¡¯t mean Gatsby Tower would weave them into these clothes,¡± Richard says. ¡°They are for people that had earned invitations, not for those Jay himself invites.¡± ¡°Aww,¡± Sarah says. Richard chuckles. A while later, Sarah is reminded of something. ¡°Hey, didn¡¯t Dad mingle with the Noirians a lot?¡± ¡°He did, why?¡± Richard says. ¡°Maybe I can find some of his old clients? Get to ask them what he was like?¡± Sarah says. ¡°Sarah, are you sure that might work? Some of these people might be dead by now,¡± Richard says. ¡°You might never know!¡± Sarah says. Richard considers the possibility. ¡°He did say that some of his works went to rather well-lived individuals. It might be wroth a shot,¡± he says. The dwarves look at their formal wear before heading to the lobby to meet up with the others. They tang the two sets of formal attires back on their closest, makes sure their beds are made, push the breakfast cart outside for the staff to return and then leave the room to head towards the lobby of the hotel to ask what the agenda is for the time before the party at Gatsby Tower tonight. ??? Later, Heathcliff leads Emily, Minerva, Nina, Charlotte, and the Coloraturas back to the underground. ¡°Why isn¡¯t Tim coming again?¡± Emily says. ¡°I asked if he can check on you,¡± Heathcliff says, referring to Emily¡¯s dungeon body. He turns towards the eight Magical girls now under Emily¡¯s care. ¡°So where is this diner you girls used to live at?¡± ¡°Over there!¡± Rose slithers in the direction of a medium-sized building. The group follows the lamia and sees an eating established with some other patrons. The kids greet one of the employees there. ¡°Jacquelyn!¡± Lily says, ¡°We¡¯re home!¡± The employee notices the young girls, and some less familiar faces. ¡°Welcome back!¡± She notices the strangers with them and wonders what this means for Whisper¡¯s plans. ¡°You know a ghost squirrel named Whisper? ¡°Heathcliff says. ¡°I do,¡± Jacquelyn says. ¡°I take this means you decided to take these girls under your care?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Emily says. ¡°My name¡¯s Emily. Over the next several hours. The group tells Jacquelyn about the events of the previous week. Including the encounter with the Strega at the Hallward Gallery and the dungeon trips. ¡°¡­you managed to get invited to Gatsby Tower?¡± Jacquelyn says with shock. ¡°Uh-huh!¡± Rose says. ¡°Pretty good right?¡± ¡°We only did half of the work,¡± Raine mutters. ¡°We did very well,¡± Rose says. ¡°In fact we¡ª¡± Her gaze suddenly turns to a small statue that caught her eye. ¡°Wow. Where did you get that?¡± ¡°A customer handed it to me, Jacquelyn says. ¡°He was very generous.¡± Strelitzia looks at Heathcliff with some suspicions. ¡°There is no way someone could be that chummy,¡± she thinks. Minerva notices Streltizia intensely glaring at the knight. ¡°So this means you¡¯ll be moving out of Noir soon?¡± Jacquelyn says with a mix of sadness and relief. ¡°I think so?¡± Clover says. ¡°They re,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°I¡ªerm, the dungeon we live at is in New Virginia,¡± Emily says in an attempt at a businesslike tone. ¡°That is rather far,¡± Jacquelyn says. ¡°Yeah,¡± Emily thinks. ¡°I don¡¯t know how it was possible.¡± She looks back on the children from Hamlin, and the encounters with Pruflas, knowing the demon is responsible, but even beyond that she is unsure of why the extension created from the mana led to Noir to begin with. Jacquelyn looks at the girls. ¡°Your rooms have not been touched, I¡¯ll give you some bags to pack your things.¡± The Coloraturas climb upstairs to the floors where their bedrooms are, Leaving the others alone with Jacquelyn, Nina, and Charlotte following the magical girls. The diner employee looks at the knight and realizes that he seems familiar before. ¡°I''m sorry sir, have we met before?¡± she asks. ¡°I don¡¯t think so, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°My name¡¯s Heathcliff, Heathcliff Ford.¡± The name is definitely unfamiliar to Jacquelyn. Her expression remains bittersweet as she expresses her gratitude for adopting the Coloraturas. ¡°Excuse me,¡± Emily says. ¡°How long have you known these girls?¡± ¡°A few years now,¡± Jacquelyn says. ¡°Rose and Raine showed up at the diner one say with their familiar friend, and they¡¯d been living here ever since. Boss had a soft spot for orphans and the diner kinda turned into an impromptu orphanage, over the years.¡± ¡°Why this diner?¡± Minerva says. ¡°Were there not any other places here?¡± "''Fraid not,¡± Jacquelyn says with a sigh. ¡°The Vorhees Gang had raided the only orphanage in the underground and kidnapped the people living there. While the other ones are all on the surface and managed by Elegere. The Rouges had tried to shelter as many as they could within their guildhalls, but most of the children here were left to fend for themselves on these subterranean streets.¡± Minerva gasps with shock. ¡°That¡¯s horrible!¡± Emily says. ¡°Why was there only one orphanage here?¡± Minerva says. ¡°People tried to build more,¡± Jacquelyn says. ¡°But the Ebony Guards forbade them, wanting them to be authorized by the city council first.¡± ¡°And they just sat around on their derri¨¨res as the last one falls,¡± Heathcliff says with disgust. Jacquelyn nodded. ¡°The Empyreans on the council agreed with the idea in principle, but argued that the city didn¡¯t have enoughs money for such projects, and also argue the risk that could be incurred by developing on rouge dungeons.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°And the Mayor¡± ¡°He argued the fiercest for the orphanages, and for trying to improve the underground in general, but his hands were tied, the councils denied his proposals.¡± A somber mood fills the diner counter. One that is broken by one of the patrons asking for Jacquelyn to take their order. ¡°Coming!¡± Jacquelyn shouts. ¡°I thank you again, travelers. Maybe these girls could now be able to live a better life away from the city.¡± She leaves the counter to address the customer. ??? Meanwhile, The Coloraturas show Nina and Charlotte around their rooms as they gather their things for the move. Anemone takes her spellbooks and reading material. Azalea takes several comedy props. Rose and Lily take several toys and the others take their belongings. Nina looks around the floor and sees it in various states of disrepair. The floorboards creak. The walls have some holes and a draft blows from the ceiling. She moves around a gaping hole in the hallway by crawling on the walls. ¡°You guys lived here?¡± she says. ¡°Yep,¡± Rose says. ¡°Not the best of places, but we had to make do?¡± Charlotte looks outside a broken window and sees the various buildings of the underground. Some extruded from the surface down to the floors, others were small enough to be nearly invisible behind the taller structures and most showed various signs of urban decay. She also sees various wires, pipes, and tubes on high, each one connected to the surface. Strelitzia looks outside a different window and sees an entrance to a place even further down, beneath the underground itself. She recalls nightmarish memories of her time spent there. ¡°Stre!¡± Clover calls to her, the green-haired fawn looks out and sees the same entrance. ¡°That¡¯s¡ª¡± She begins to recall how the two used that egress to escape their tormentors before realizing why she called Streltizia to begin with. She takes out a small item from the minotaur¡¯s room. ¡°You forgot this!¡± Clover says. Stretlizia looks at a broken picture frame with two torn pictures. One shows a younger version of her, a mere calf, while the other shows a younger version of Clover. One was torn deliberatively, the other by accident. Yet Streltizia took the two images and merged them together. A sign of their bond, and of the life the minotaur wished she had. Strelitzia looks at Clover. A look of determination is in the winged fawn¡¯s eyes. ¡°Still haven¡¯t given up on finding them?¡± Strelitzia asks. Clover gives a wide smile and closes her eyes. ¡°You know it!¡± she then gaps. ¡°Maybe Emily and the others can help me find them?¡± Strelitzia expresses her skepticism about Clover¡¯s little quest. As she always does, yet she tries to be less blunt and more careful around her friend¡¯s desires. ¡°We searched everywhere in the underground,¡± She says. ¡°And as much of the Surface as we could. Clover I know you miss them, but¡ª¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you dare say it!¡± Clover says while maintaining her smile. ¡°I know they¡¯re alive, I just know it!¡± The minotaur relents. ¡°Right, she was always hard-headed about that,¡± she thinks. Charlotte continues looking out at the abject display of squalor that is the Underground. Rose sees her looking out and calls her. ¡°Hello? Charlotte? You home, buddy?¡± Charlotte is shocked by Rose¡¯s presence. ¡°Oh, Rose.¡± ¡°What are you looking at?¡± the lamia says as she looks out the broken window. Realizing that she was peering into the underground itself. ¡°The underground?¡± ¡°Rose,¡± Charlotte says. ¡°How did you and your friends survive down there?¡± She has begun to see a different side to the glamorous city of Noir. ¡°It wasn¡¯t easy, I¡¯ll tell you,¡± Rose says. ¡°Maybe we can ask Emily if she can shelter everyone here?¡± Charlotte is curious about Rose¡¯s idea. She is reminded of the children of Hamlin who are now bound to Emily and is filled with uncertainty about whether the Black Box could house a population of that magnitude. ¡°Why would you want to do that.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious?¡± Rose says. ¡°I¡¯m a Magical Girl! Isn¡¯t it my job to help as many people as I can?¡± ¡°Is that really what Witches do?¡± Charlotte says. ¡°Of course!¡± Rose says. ¡°At least I think so. Come on, Nina¡¯s getting a little antsy and we finished packing.¡± The children head down to the diner floor. There they see Emily and the others waiting for them. ¡°Are everyone¡¯s things¡¯ packed?¡± Emily says. ¡°Yep,¡± Rose says. ¡°We¡¯re ready to go. The eight Coloraturas turn to Jacquelyn. The employee turns to the young children who lived on the floor above the diner. ¡°Good buy girls!¡± she says, wanting to wish them a fond farewell. The magical girls bid to say their own farewells to Jacquelyn in turn. By noon, the group leaves the diner. As they do, Emily begins seeing messages appear in front of her. ¡°I want to be a hero!¡± ¡°I want to have a family¡± ¡°I want to make people smile!¡± ¡°Help me find my parents!¡± ¡°Please, help me learn what had happened to them.¡± ¡°Grant me strength, so that I can protect her!¡± ¡°Let me be a light that shines in the shadows!¡± ¡°Can you bring them to life?¡± Each phrase is accompanied by flashing images of one of the Coloraturas. Emily¡¯s avatara stumbles as she takes in all that information. Heathcliff looks at her with concern. ¡°Emily! Are you alright?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± she says as she regains her balance. ¡°Just a little clumsier than usual today.¡± She wonders what the contexts of these phrases and vivid images are. Now forever burned into her mind. The group has one more destination at the underground before the party at Gatsby Tower over on the surface of Noir. Everyone heads towards the hotel-turned-apartment complex where Esteban and Julia are currently residing. With the intention of picking them up so that they could all head to the tower together. ??? While Emily and her group prepare for the party at Gatsby Tower. Esteban meets with one of his fellow rouges. A burly man wearing a tabard coat approaches Esteban. His jovial expression hides a stern demeanor. ¡°I heard you managed to get the Coloraturas adopted?¡± ¡°Perhaps, Raoul,¡± Esteban says. ¡°I¡¯ve put them in contact with a potential patron, but the choice was theirs.¡± ¡°Regardless, it¡¯s a good thing to get them out of the city,¡± a woman says while putting a tube of nicotine in her mouth. Her attire reveals her as someone who spends her time singing in the local lounges. ¡°These girls needed a patron from what I had gathered.¡± A man in a ragged black suit looks at his peers. His ducktail hairstyle is scuffled from his many brawls. ¡°Speaking of patrons, I got the deets on that Empyrean youse in contact with.¡± He hands Esteban the files. ¡°He seems like a clean fella.¡± The blue-coated man looks over the information on hand, public information, and news clippings that tell of a man who built up a fortune despite his humble beginnings from the underground. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Soprano.¡± ¡°My pleasure,¡± the black-coated man says. ¡°So with eight kids set up to escape this hellscape,¡± another woman says. ¡°I have to ask one thing. How are we certain the Guards won¡¯t go after their new patron?¡± ¡°For one thing,¡± the smocking woman says. ¡°They seem not to express any interest in Witches. The Syndicate on the other hand.¡± ¡°Rebecca,¡± Esteban says. ¡°I have it on good faith that the patron in question is a formidable dungeon, and that an old friend of mine is helping to maintain it. They will be safe there.¡± ¡°Speaking of which,¡± the burly man says. ¡°Since the dungeon is registered with us, I want to have someone on hand to help oversee it and keep out the more nasty sort for if the Guards let ¡®em slip. Esteban, you got your hands empty, so I¡¯m assigning you to the task.¡± ¡°Raoul,¡± Esteban says with some shock. ¡°Are you¡ª¡± ¡°Yer the Azure Rouge,¡± Raoul says. ¡°Outta all of us here, you¡¯re the one with all these connections to the Elegere and more recently the Empyreans. If anyone can help protect that place it¡¯s you. And if things come to a head we¡¯re gonna need a place to escape to.¡± ¡°By Astra,¡± Mr. Soprano says. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°By all accounts,¡± Rebecca says. ¡°He¡¯s right. The Ebony Guards are patrolling the catacombs leading here more often and some of the Elegere are complaining about having former Exsecratii in their backyards. Even some of the councilmembers are making a fuss about this.¡± Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°We can try to bring as many as we can out of poverty,¡± Esteban says. ¡°But the Syndicate and the Guards are angling to bring them back down.¡± ¡°You understand,¡± Raoul says. ¡°This is also why it has to be you to help this dungeon out. If they ever decide to act on their selfishness, then we will need a way to evacuate everyone.¡± Esteban looks over everyone. While he is a good adventurer and gatherer of intelligence, the tasks before him are something he thinks is beyond his capacity. ¡°Mull over it,¡± Raoul says. ¡°You got time. And besides you got a party to attend, ¡®old sport,¡¯¡± he chuckles. ¡°Very well,¡± Esteban says. ¡°Thank you, Raoul.¡± He tips his hat before leaving. On the way home, Esteban considers Raoul¡¯s request. He knows that his peer expects something on the horizon. Something that would come to alter Noir in its entirety and as such wants to prepare for it when it arrives. Esteban knows this well. He also knows that the other leaders are busy with their own objectives. Rebecca looking for kidnapped Exsecratii, Raoul organizes the larger missions for the guild, Mr. Soprano looking for intelligence on the Emperyan, the Ebony Guards, and the Syndicate, and Lysistrata organizes a political lobby for addressing the increasing wealth gab that defines the division betwixt Exsecratii and Elegere. Symbolized by the high cost of loving on the surface. ??? A while later at the refurbished apartment complex, Julia is making lunch. She uses her knives to chop some tomatoes with expert precision. Esteban walks into their apartment and greets Julia. ¡°Esteban, you¡¯re back already?¡± Julia says. ¡°Pack your things,¡± he says. ¡°We¡¯re moving out.¡± ¡°But why?¡± Julia says. He explains that the Rouges had tasked him with overseeing the Black Box¡¯s extension in Noir. Julia understands the reasoning. ¡°You think the Syndicate and the Guards would destroy the underground.¡± ¡°Eventually,¡± the blue-coated man says. ¡°Raoul thinks change is coming and that it is a chance that would destroy the Exsecratii. He wants everyone to prepare for it when it happens.¡± Julia understands. She takes several suitcases. ¡°Can you help me pack, honey?¡± ¡°With pleasure,¡± Esteban says. The two begin to pack their clothes and belongings. Julia rolls her clothing into tight cylindrical shapes with the speed of a cheetah and packs them into her suitcase with tight precision and no space. Esteban takes a slower approach to his luggage. Both to ensure their clothes are packed as nearly as possible. By the time they are finished packing, there are only two sets of clothing remaining, the formal attire obtained from the previous incursion to Gatsby Tower. A tube-like dress and a suit with a golden tie. Esteban examines the black tuxedo. ¡°Heathcliff will be arriving in a few minutes,¡± he says as he takes the outfit and changes. While her husband changes, Julia reminisces about the day she first met Esteban. On a dark and dank night, she had crossed paths with him several times. As she tries to reach her mark. One particular night she recalls her confronting an employer of hers. ¡°We had a deal, Julia,¡± the employer says. ¡°You claimed he was a villain,¡± she says with a glare. ¡°Of course he is,¡± the employer says. ¡°He seeks to obstruct the fine work of the council, does that not make him evil?¡± ¡°He only stile the food to feed his family!¡± The ex-employer chuckles. ¡°And? He failed to earn his keep, much like the other Exsecreatii that defile our fair city. Is it not right to rid Noir of such lazy and cancerous vermin before they sicken the city?¡± The memory ends when Julia hears a knock on the door. ¡°Bonjour, chers.¡± It was Heathcliff. Emily and her group had arrived to pick them up. ¡°Hello,¡± Julia says. ¡°We¡¯re in the middle of packing.¡± ¡°Packing?¡± the knight says. ¡°For what? Esteban arrives clad in his new formal attire, as well as a black hat he finds that suits the ensemble well. ¡°The Rouges had given me a specific assignment regarding you and your dungeon.¡± He explains that assignment to the group as Julia prepares to get dressed for the party. Heathcliff is surprised to hear that The Rouges want to use Emily as their escape route in the event of certain parts of the city bearing down on them. ¡°You want them to¡ª¡± Emily is also shocked to hear that. ¡°Aye,¡± Esteban says. ¡°Raoul thinks it necessary to find a way to house the Exsecratii in the event the council decides that they are not welcome in the city at all.¡± ¡°But why?¡± Emily says. ¡°Perhaps you¡¯ll find the answers at the gathering,¡± Esteban says. ¡°For now know that the only ones making your dungeon their new home would be me and Julia, and the eight witches of course.¡± ¡°Glad to have you aboard,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°It¡¯ll be just like ol¡¯ times.¡± Emily looks at the man with confusion. ¡°Are you sure that the dungeon is a good place as an escape route?¡± ¡°Ideally such a route would be unnecessary, but alas we do not live in such an ideal world,¡± Esteban says. It was at that point that Julia emerged from their bathroom, dressed in her newfound evening wear. ¡°Tim and the others will be meeting us at the tower!¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Allons!¡± Emily¡¯s party heads to the surface to prepare for the party at Gatsby Tower. ??? Meanwhile, Tim, Elizabeth, Richard, and Sarah look at the part of the Black Box in Noir. They see that the extension has been undisturbed since they left. Elizabeth places the ten pots of plants that Minerva had bought the children onto a compartment and manifests a terminal to interact with it. The plants begin their journey to the core, alongside a message for Carla. Richard looks at his various notes so far. ¡°Party¡¯s gonna start in a few,¡± Sarah says. ¡°We¡¯ll need to get ready.¡± She nudges her brother. Richard snaps to the present and realizes that his sister is right. ¡°Elizabeth, do you know where the changing rooms are?¡± The fairy obliges the dwarf¡¯s request and leads everyone to specialized changing rooms. Tim is the first to change into his suit and step outside. He takes the opportunity to meditate on the times he succeeded in conjuring a wind shield. He knows that Emily is the constant factor in both successes, but could not fathom why. Sarah is the second to finish and sees Tim meditating. ¡°Not one to let a good moment go to waste huh?¡± the dwarf says. Tim sighs. He knows the opportunity is short-lived and that the part, no matter how dignified, would never be quiet enough for him to practice. Elizabeth finishes donning her dress next and Richard follows suit. ¡°How do I look?¡± the blond dwarf says. ¡°You tell me, Mr. Fashonista,¡± Sarah says in a teasing tone. ¡°You look fine,¡± Tim says curtly. ¡°Is everyone ready?¡± The others affirm their readiness and exits the Black Box to meet up with the others at the tower. ??? The two groups reconvene at the entrance to Gatsby Tower. As the sun sets on the horizon and weaves a curtain of red and orange over the sky. Nearly everyone is dressed for the occasion, except Emily herself. Elizabeth notices the discrepancy. ¡°Emily, what happened?¡± ¡°I was unable to change my clothes,¡± the avatara says with a sigh. ¡°I¡¯ll go see if there is a changing room nearby,¡± Elizabeth says. Lily twirls her formal dress skirt around as she prances in her custom-fit dress. ¡°She sure seems to like it,¡± Streltizia says. ¡°So does Nina,¡± Rose says as she gestures towards the spiderling joining Lily in her prancing, to her mother¡¯s look of slight confusion. The group enters the tower and finds the lobby filled with more people than usual, several of them waiting in single-file lines. The receptionists ask the liens for their invitations as they enter the golden elevators at the other end of the room. Elizabeth sees the ladies¡¯ restroom to the side and points it out to Elizabeth. The avatara and fairy rush to the room so that Elizabeth and help Emily wear her dress, while the others hold their place in line. While waiting in line, a bored Rose looks at the various shiny objects decorating the lobby. The lamia¡¯s eyes are enthralled by the various gold and silver statues. She spaces out for a few moments. ¡°Rose?¡± Clover says. Rose snaps out of her daze and turns to the peryton fawn. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°You ever notice some of these guest looks a little¡­¡± Rose looks around, all of the Emperyan guests look as dignified as they are expected to be, yet the two girls sense a foreboding mana emanating from some of them. They don¡¯t know why, but they felt like several of them are dangerous. Clover wonders how much men and women were victimized by these Emperyans. A while later, Heathcliff greets the receptionist. ¡°Party of nineteen, cher,¡± he says as he presents the respective amount of envelopes. Tim keeps an eye on the restroom room awaiting Emily¡¯s appearance. As the knight finishes giving the invitations to the receptionist, Emily, and Elizabeth leave the restroom with Emily now wearing her formal attire. Emily¡¯s purple hair is now done up in a bun. Tim looks at Emily with a feeling he cannot explain. Emily in turn expresses embarrassment about this dress. The group then heads towards an elevator that the receptionist points to. The nineteen members of Emily¡¯s party begin their ascent to the 70th floor. Above the levels where Elegere and especially Excecratii are usually barred from entering. The domain of the Emperyans of Noir. The elevator stops at the 70th floor, a place where the golden aesthetic changes from a brilliant gleaming yellow to a rhapsodic blue. A hue that reminds Emily of herself and her walls in a sense. The various guests ignore the new arrivals, as they are too busy chatting among themselves and enjoying the various amenities at the tower. ¡°We gots time before we have to see what ol¡¯ Jay has here,¡± Heathcliff says to Richard. ¡°If you want, try to mingle with the locals a bit.¡± Richard looks at Heathcliff and nods. ¡°Thank you,¡± he proceeds to take the opportunity to find out and talk to as many fashion experts as he can. Sarah meanwhile sees the all-you-can-eat buffet and immediately walks toward it. Emily sees a man in a white suit on a stage in an ornate corner of the room. His dark skin contrasts with his white coat. She can feel mana emanating from him. ¡°Is that¡ª¡± Her thought is interrupted by the man¡¯s gregarious greetings. ¡°Greetings one and all. I suppose you know why I¡¯m hosting this party?¡± The voice matches the one that talked to them during their previous visit. The various guest chatter in agreement, though only a few know the actual reasons, they all know that Jay is looking for any excuse he can find to host his bash. ¡°What is the excuse du jour this time?¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°A thief being caught by the Ebony Guards.¡± Atsuko approaches the party, clad in a traditional kimono from her homeland. ¡°Glad to see you¡¯re here.¡± Emily is started by her attire. ¡°Oh this?¡± Atsuko says. ¡°Saizo¡¯s idea. He wanted me to ¡®take the opportunity to represent Yae Shoto,¡¯ here.¡± ¡°So why is it you wanted to¡­¡± Emily says before Atsuko cuts her off. ¡°Shush,¡± the teal-haired nekomata says. ¡°This may be private but it isn¡¯t that private. Follow me.¡± Emily, Elizabeth and Tim follow Atsuko to a table away from most of the other partygoers. At the table they find that Kasumi is there alongside another kunoichi. Kasumi greets her new friends as they sit down on the table. ??? At the party, Richard sees a gathering of men and women dressed in unusual attire. One of them is a woman dressed in crimson threads with sequins that shine in the bright blue lights, and a cloche hat that matches. Another was a man draped in midnight blue with gold accents. A third was another man wearing a striped argyle sweater, a felt hat, and trousers. The latter was reading a magazine. Richard knew the man as one of the princes of Ablion. ¡°Excuse me,¡± the dwarf says to the man. ¡°Are you by any chance Prince Edward of the house of Thorne?¡± The man drops his paper in response to the inquiry and looks at the young dark-skinned dwarf before him. ¡°Indubitably, and you are?¡± He is well aware that his reputation had preceded him. Richard maintained his composure despite meeting one of the renowned fashion icons. He tries to break the ice first and struggles to think up a topic. The prince is aware of his admirer¡¯s silence and chuckles. ¡°Cat got your tongue, I see?¡± He is used to such behavior. The red-clad empyrean woman at his side simply glares at the dwarf in disgust. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about world news,¡± the prince says. He first opines about his homeland in Albion and how it lacked certain amenities compared to Libert¨¦ such as heating. Richard is somewhat confused by the mundane comparison. ¡°Really? I heard that Albion was the birthplace of steam power and heating.¡± ¡°That may be true, but to me, it is clear that the reputation had left them complacent,¡± Edward says. Heathcliff looks at the prince with a look of disdain. ¡°Should¡¯ve known the manchild would be here,¡± he thinks. Richard talks with Edward for several minutes before finally cutting to the chase. ¡°I¡¯m something of a tailor myself. My sister is a smithy, and I was wondering if we could discuss fashion for a bit?¡± ¡°But of course,¡± the two talk about the current fashion trends and styles from the Empyrean trends to advancements in mana-derived armor, robe, and tabard design. The riveting discussion has given Richard several ideas. And he leaves satisfied. ¡°So how did it go?¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Better than I thought,¡± Richard says. ¡°Great,¡± the knight said with subtle sarcasm. ¡°It¡¯s time, Esteban and Julia are waiting for us.¡± The two lead to where the other two are as they prepare to infiltrate the higher vaults of Gatsby Tower. With Richard out of sight, the red-clad lady turns to the prince ¡°Why did you give that dwarf fashion advice? Are you suddenly in the mood to influence childrenswear?¡± Edward turns at the woman. ¡°I know when someone comes to seek my counsel and if I am to be king one day, it would help to address concerns now more than later.¡± ¡°You say that,¡± the blue-clad man says ¡°but I don¡¯t see you actually studying the concerns of the people here.¡± ¡°Hush Flash,¡± Edward says. ¡°I¡¯m well aware of Noir¡¯s Esecreatii problem, a demographic concern similar to Albion¡¯s. But I think it a problem that would eventually solve itself¡± ??? Meanwhile, Atsuko talks with Emily, Elizabeth, and Tim about her plans. ¡°Microdugneons?¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°You think that there are hidden [dungeons] in items?¡± The Yanese girl nods in affirmation. ¡°Correct, I believe these microdungeons exist. A microcosmos that permeates every item, or at least every mana-rich item in existence.¡± ¡°Why do you need a Dugneon for this?¡± Emily says. ¡°My hypothesis is that the dungeon cores, as alleged creations of the Forgemaster, are suited for facilitating access to the microdugneons,¡± Atsuko says. Her speech is polite and matter-of-fact. ¡°And that some were able to access the microdugneosn and use them to unlock the latent mana in their items. This would explain unusual aberrations where certain dungeons, such as the Crypt of L¡¯a, would yield legendarily powerful arms and armor in such a short timeframe.¡± ¡°Latent mana?¡± Emily says ¡°[Mana] permeates everything,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°But it has been noted that the average item only allows access to ten to twenty percent of the mana stored inside. The more powerful weapons can allow use of half or higher of its capacity, but those tend to be very rare.¡± She then looks at Atsuko with skepticism. ¡°Which is part of the reason why I¡¯m skeptical of the existence of these microdugneons. Forgive me.¡± ¡°Your skepticism is warranted,¡± Atsuko says. She is aware of how dungeon fairies are convinced they know everything there is to know about dungeons. ¡°I know it is difficult to believe, worlds inside humble objects and all, but my studies in Yae had led me to this point. The problem is that I need a dungeon that has not only the ability to generate strong mana-dense items, to begin with, but also one that can access and manipulate them at a near molecular level. Judging from my observations of the items Saizo and his team had gathered from here, your dungeon is the most capable for the task out of those we have encountered thus far.¡± Emily is surprised to hear that. ¡°Thank you, b-but I¡­¡± The jazzy tunes begin to slow down, and the dancers performing dances such as the Charleston give way to couples performing waltzes and tangos. Tim looks at Emily with curiosity. ¡°Maybe a dance will help you clear your head, Emily,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°I¡¯ll discuss the matter with Atsuko in the meantime.¡± Emily looks at the paired dancers and begins to feel like she needs a partner. ¡°Tim, maybe you can¡­¡± she says with a flustered expression. ¡°Sure,¡± he says, thinking little of the request. He takes his friend¡¯s hand and they move toward the dance floor. They pass Hoshikage and Kasumi along the way, the latter¡¯s expression furrows a little as she sees Tim and Emily head out to dance. As Tim and Emily dance together, the young man is surprised at how clumsy their steps are. A stark contrast to her more element manuals when fighting with her two weapons. ¡°How is the avatara?¡± Tim says. ¡°Are you used to it now?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Emily says. ¡°It feels like a second body to me.¡± Her expression is forlorn as she sees the couples dancing around her, many of them watched by younger spectators. As the two dance together Emily accidentally bumps into a stranger in a white coat. ¡°Sorry!¡± she says. The man and his partner move away from the two. A while later, another couple bumps into Emily and causes them to nearly fall. Tim catches her before her head collides with the floor. The two blush in flustered embarrassment. ¡°M-maybe you could help me with my coordination a bit?¡± Emily sheepishly asks. ¡°Of course,¡± Tim says. He walks her through the steps of a waltz. As the two dance, Elizabeth and Atsuko discuss the latter¡¯s plans. ¡°What about [Gatsby Tower]?¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Maybe Jay could help you with your plans?¡± ¡°This place was the first one I tried,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°But it turns out that despite his collection of priceless artifacts, he lacked the proper qualities I¡¯m looking for. In fact, none of the dungeons in Noir had exited the capacity to manipulate objects on small scales.¡± ¡°Interesting.¡± Elizabeth is still skeptical about the microdungeons but sees potential in Atsuko¡¯s hypothesis. ¡°What exactly do you need to prove your hypothesis?¡± ¡°Well,¡± her tone takes on a more informal one. ¡°Besides the dungeon, I¡¯ll also need an idea with a high mana capacity, something that has been used for years. A weapon. I think that the memories of its wielder might help shape the microdungeon itself. Aside from that, I¡¯ll need to construct a portal to shrink our explorers so that they can enter the microdugneons, to begin with.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°You do realize the implications of an item being a dungeon core unto its itself, no matter how small?¡± ¡°That the items are basically alive in a sense?¡± Atsuko says. ¡°Yeah. There is precedence for living weapons and empathic armor in history, some see them as tall tales or legends, but the frequency of these instances implies something else is at play here.¡± ¡°How versed are you in the topic of [the Administrators]?¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Very,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°They tend to pop up a lot in my research and I can see the connecting threads to dungeons. These are claimed to be the spirits of locations, the Cosmos, the seas, the volcanoes, the continents, the sun, and the moon. All claimed to be alive and deified. In a sense, they see these locations if not every location as having a will of their own, much like how a dungeon has a will of its own. An animating consciousness. A Genius Loci.¡± Elizabeth is somewhat cognizant of the connection but is stunned when she hears Atsuko spell it out forthrightly. ¡°It¡¯s been said that the Forgemaster created the dungeons, but he too was born by the Cosmos. Whose to say the dungeons don¡¯t have their progeny in a sense?¡± Atsuko says. ¡°Your reasoning is¡­sound,¡± Elizabeth says. She seems nearly convinced that there is a possibility that the microdungeons do exist. ¡°But then why?¡± she thinks. ¡°Why do I know nothing about them?¡± Atsuko looks patiently at the fairy, waiting for her response. After a while, Elizabeth speaks. ¡°How dangerous would these experiments be?¡± ¡°I cannot say,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°I¡¯m well aware this is uncharted territory for me as well, and there are some risks, but I can assure you that the dungeon itself would not be destroyed in the process.¡± ¡°How so?¡± ¡°Many of my failures had left them no worse for wear,¡± she says. ¡°Even ones as far back as the tri-forked roads of Cerberus.¡± Elizabeth mulls over the risks. She sees a fiery determination and conviction in the nekomata¡¯s eyes. ¡°Alright, if you think these types of dungeons do exist, then we¡¯ll see what we can do to assist you.¡± ¡°Great!¡± Atsuko says. ¡°I¡¯ll be there in a couple weeks. Got to gather the equipment first.¡± Emily and Tim finish their dance and find a familiar white-coated man watching them like a hawk. ¡°That was a marvelous turnaround,¡± the man says. ¡°Going from two left feet to having proper coordination. Well done, old sport.¡± Emily and Tim deduce from the man¡¯s speech that he is an avatara of Jay Gatsby. Tim looks at the avatara with suspicion. ¡°Um, think you mister¡­¡± Emily tries to feign ignorance of his identity. ¡°I¡¯m just a humble master of ceremonies,¡± the gregarious man says. The atmosphere grows tense as the other partygoers look at their host and the two guests. ??? The Coloraturas, Charlotte, and Nina, under Minerva¡¯s supervision, mingle with some of the younger guests at the party. Lily introduces herself to a young boy. ¡°Hello! I¡¯m Lily!¡± she says. The young Elego is startled by the centaur lass¡¯s exuberant greeting. ¡°Um, hi?¡± the boy responds. The mood is awkward as the lad tries to find a topic to talk to Lily about. ¡°So, do you play with toys?¡± he says. ¡°What a dumb question!¡± he thinks. ¡°I have some dolls!¡± Lily says. ¡°You wanna see my teddy?¡± she takes out a well-worn plush bear toy. ¡°This is Freddie, say hi, Freddie!¡± The boy¡¯s parents see Lily and her plush toy. The sight of the dirty plush doll, causes her eyes to widen in shock. She calls her son over. ¡°I have to go,¡± the boy says. ¡°Mother¡¯s calling me.¡± He excuses himself from Lily. ¡°Okay, we can talk later!¡± Meanwhile, Rose and Raine take some of the sweets from the buffet, they bump into Sarah. ¡°Hey guys,¡± Sarah says. ¡°Here to try out the grub?¡± ¡°We wanted to see what treats they have,¡± Raine says. ¡°That¡¯s all.¡± ¡°Rose takes some chocolate-covered cookies from one of the platters. ¡°It¡¯s not every day you get to eat sweets like¡ª¡± She sees a cake being placed on an empty tray and slithers to its immediacy. ¡°Rose¡­¡± Raine says. Sarah chuckles, before turning to Raine. ¡°You two seemed like such good friends.¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Raine says. ¡°We¡¯re just teammates is all.¡± Rose gorges herself on the cake as she overhears Raine¡¯s res ponce. ¡°Raine and I knew each other for years,¡± she says with her mouth full. To the aghast expressions of nearby diners. She swallows her food before continuing. ¡°She and I are the first Coloraturas.¡± ¡°It was an alliance of convenience!¡± Raine says. ¡°Sure it is,¡± Rose says. Though Raine tries to deny it, Rose and the others know the phoenixian girl cares deeply for them. Sarah giggles. She takes a large platter of meat. Raine sighs. ¡°So, how did you and your brother wind up with them?¡± ¡°Got lost trying to get materials, got kidnapped, got rescued by Emily and her friends,¡± Sarah says. ¡°Rather simple you know?¡± ¡°Uh-huh,¡± Raine says. ¡°Who kid¡ª¡± A banquet of Rose-shaped chocolates and sparkling soda rolls in and catches Rose¡¯s eyes. ¡°Sparkly!¡± she says as she slithers away. Meanwhile, Clover asks several people around for certain information. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± one Elego man says. ¡°I know nothing about your disappeared parents.¡± ¡°Never heard of them,¡± an Exsecratii man says. ¡°Now scram!¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid I do now know where your parents went my dear,¡± an Empyrean woman says. ¡°My apologies.¡± The woman leaves. Clover sighs. Azalea swims to Clover. ¡°Still no luck?¡± the mermaid says. ¡°Yeah.¡± Clover hangs her head in disappointment. Streltizia approaches the two, with three plates of salads in her palm. The three end up eating with Anemone, Charlotte, and Nina at a table near Minerva. ¡°I heard they are filming the next movie in the ¡®Fairy Princess¡¯ series!¡± Anemone says with a cheerful smile. ¡°Isn¡¯t that exciting?¡± ¡°It would be,¡± Streltiiza says ¡°if they weren¡¯t so samey!¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Nina says. ¡°Young girl has a horrible life, meets a dude, falls in love and gets a happy ending,¡± Streltizia says. ¡°It¡¯s the same plat with a new coat of paint every time!¡± ¡°That¡¯s not true!¡± Awesome says. ¡°Yeah,¡± Azalea says. ¡°Sometimes there¡¯s two coats of paint. Like that one film with the mermaid clan off the Yanese coasts!¡± Nina and Charlotte are confused about the subject matter, not having entered a movie theater before. Hydrangea approaches the group as they talk about the film franchise. ¡°What about the one where one of them traveled with three companions in a faraway world?¡± ¡°The one with the dog and scarecrow?¡± Azalea says. ¡°That one had me in stitches.¡± ¡°What about the one about the lamia who discovered she was the missing princess?¡± ¡°Those are a dime a dozen!¡± Streltizia says. ¡°You¡¯ve seen one of those cheap flicks, you¡¯ve seen them all.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not true!¡± Anemone says. ¡°There is more depth to these films than you give them credit for.¡± ¡°Sow so?¡± Streltizia says. ¡°¡®The Girl and the Glass Slipper¡¯ had a subplot about the stepmother and stepsisters¡¯ reasons for being mean to the heroine. ¡®La Libertad,¡¯ explores the perils of colonialism through the eyes of a native woman and her decision to spurn the colonist love interest. ¡®The Phantom of the Opera¡¯ had themes of possession and an ending that reveals that the heroine, in letting herself be charmed by the Phantom, had been forever separated from those she held dear. You would know all this if you¡¯ve seen the movies, Stre.¡± Streltizia takes a bite from her salad, ignoring Anemone¡¯s impassioned words. Azalea notices that the alraune and spiderling remain dumbfounded at the unfamiliar topic. ¡°Um, what are you talking about?¡± ¡°Movies, silly!¡± Azalea says. ¡°What are those?¡± Nina asks. Azalea and Anenome are shocked. Minerva arrives. ¡°Is there a problem, ladies?¡± ¡°You bet there is!¡± Azalea says. ¡°These two girls have never seen a movie in their lives?¡± ¡°You do realize Charlotte came from a rural village, right Azalea?¡± Streltizia says. The clionid mermaid makes a stunned face as she recalls that fact. ¡°Okay about what about Nina then?¡± Minerva explains. ¡°I¡¯ve tried bringing my daughter to a few years back, but the owner and other guests found her too noisy and kicked us both out.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a lie!¡± Nina says. ¡°I did not cry through three hours of flickering pictures.¡± Minerva giggles. ¡°Well, maybe we can have a movie night when we return home.¡± ¡°Is there a theater in Rosenkreuz?¡± Clover says. ¡°Of course, dear,¡± Minerva says. ??? Tim and Emily look at Jay, who expresses a clear interest in them. ¡°I¡¯m glad to see you again, old sport.¡± ¡°Um,¡± Emily says. ¡°Thank you?¡± The air is tense and awkward as Jay tries to make small talk with the fellow dungeon and her sentinel. ¡°Did you know about the counsel¡¯s decision to have the Ebony Guards police the underground more often?¡± Jay says. ¡°No,¡± Emily says. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°They believe that with the recent capture of the Exsecratus hooligan, that they need a closer eye on it.¡± Jay looks around at Tim before looking back at Emily. ¡°Of course, that needn¡¯t concern you. The Guards are very protective of the dungeons under their aegis.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Emily says. Tim sees Richard talk with Sarah at the nearby buffet. He is aware of how ¡°protective¡± the Ebony guards are of the city¡¯s dungeons. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t a man mingle with another?¡± Jay says. ¡°Heathcliff told me all about you,¡± Tim says. ¡°Whatever plans you have for The Black Box, you can forget it!¡± Jay maintains his jovial tone. ¡°I see, I had heard the knight had taken on an appearance recently. He looks around and sees that Heathcliff is absent from the party. ¡°Rather curious indeed,¡± he thinks. ¡°Hello there,¡± Sarah says as she approaches the three. ¡°The buffet is excellent!¡± she lets out a small burp. ¡°You should give it a try guys.¡± Emily looks at the buffet and notices that half of the trays were outright empty. ¡°By the way, sir,¡± Sarah says to Jay. ¡°Perhaps you can tell us some stories of your more unusual guests?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Jay says. ¡°Gather round! For I shall tell you of the many attempts on my halls and how I repelled them.¡± Minerva, Nina and Charlotte notice Emily, Tim and Sarah near Jay. ¡°Mommy,¡± Nina says. ¡°Is that?¡± While Jay is distracted by his story. Sarah signals to Minerva to get the others and leave. Elizabeth and Atsuko also see Sarah with Jay and also notices Heathcliff and Esteban are missing. She turns to Atsuko. ¡°How good are you ninja are at escapes?¡± The nekomata realizes what is happening and that the fairy with her realizes that they will have to bow out of the party soon. ¡°I¡¯ll see what Hoshikage and Kasumi can do.¡± The Coloraturas also notice their new patron near the avatara of Gatsby Tower. Minerva approaches them. ¡°Girls, its time to leave.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Rose says. ¡°But why?¡± ¡°I suspect that someone is gonna disrupt the party, and we do not want to be here when it happens.¡± She gathers the eight magical girls, as well as her daughter and the alraune child and begins to head towards the elevator. ??? A while later, Jay tells of how he fended off the pirate crew of Morgan Sternwater when the azure lights suddenly turn crimson. ¡°What in the¡ª¡± he says before realizing that this means someone had intruded on more private areas. ¡°Excuse me,¡± he says. As Jay leaves, Elizabeth flies to Emily. ¡°We have to go. Minerva has already left with the kids.¡± Atsuko instructs Kasumi to discretely fill the room with mist, confusing the patrons, but allowing a cover for Emily, Tim, Sarah, and Elizabeth to escape from the confused masses. The four meet up with Atsuko and her kunoichi as they make their way to the stairwell leading to the ground floor and descend it under the cover of Kasumi¡¯s fog covering the entire halls of the seventieth floor. They make their way to the ground floor and escape through an unguarded passage. ¡°You might want to find a safe place to hide,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°I know just the place,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Thank you,¡± Emily says. ¡°My pleasure,¡± Atsuko smiles. ¡°I¡¯ll be seeing you in a few weeks. Toodles!¡± She and Hoshikage leave. Kasumi takes a good look at Tim and Emily before she follows her fellows. Emily leads the others towards where her extension in Noir is located. Under the certainty that Minerva and the children are already there. Chapter XXIIIS: Secrets of the Gallent Heathcliff, Richard, Esteban, and Julia converge in front of the door leading outside. The quartet sees that Tim and Emily are approached by Jay. Heathcliff expresses concern for the dungeon avatara and his squire, but Esteban has an idea to turn it to their advantage. ¡°Richard,¡± Esteban says, ¡°Can you have your sister help distract Jay?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°A dungeon may be omniscient to all within their halls, but that omniscience wanes while using an avatara, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°And we all know Jay loves to use one during his parties. If we can keep him distracted, it would make our job easier.¡± Richard begins to understand and rushes to the buffet. There he sees Sarah still voraciously consuming food and the look of horror on the nearby partygoers¡¯ faces. ¡°By Astra,¡± one Elegeo says. ¡°Was she born with a bottomless pit for a stomach?¡± ¡°Jay will have to revise the all-you-can-eat policy after this,¡± an empyrean sardonically notes. ¡°With such a gluttonous appetite, one man sneers, ¡°You¡¯d be almost forgiven for thinking she hadn¡¯t eaten in decades, almost.¡± Richard comes to Sarah and gestures to her to come here. The dwarf, having had her fill of food cleans up after herself and walks to her brother. ¡°At least she possesses some manners,¡± the man sneers behind her back. Sarah ignores the elite man¡¯s barb. ¡°Yes, brother?¡± Sarah whispers. Richard gestures to Emily and Tim talking to Jay. ¡°Can you help them with Jay over there?¡±. The dark-skinned dwarf understands and nods. She walks over to them while Richard heads back to Heathcliff¡¯s group. ¡°Okay,¡± Richard says. ¡°Sarah will help distract him.¡± The four exist the party discreetly and begin their small quest for Esteban¡¯s objective. ??? Esteban¡¯s group sneaks over the tower avoiding the patrolling Cells and security guardmen under his and Heathcliff¡¯s guidance. They make their way towards a gallery, lined with exquisite paintings and artifacts. Richard is surprised at the lack of security there. ¡°What the why are there no guards here?¡± he whispered. ¡°It¡¯s a decoy,¡± Julia says. ¡°A decoy?¡± Richard says. ¡°You know how some crypts have rooms that are either empty or filled with fake treasures,¡± Heathcliff whispers Richard nods. ¡°Same principle,¡± Heathcliff says. He considers taking some inspiration from this for Emily¡¯s layout. The group sneaks around the false gallery, passing counterfeit replicas of famous artworks and jewelry. ¡°Why would he go to such lengths?¡± Richard says. ¡°Ol¡¯ Jay may be rich, but that doesn''t mean he owns everything in this tower,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Quite,¡± Esteban says. ¡°Part of his claim to fame is his security, few adventurers can plunder anything from the tower. As such many people trust him to safeguard their items, especially those who have gotten them from illicit means.¡± ¡°The Empyreans don¡¯t like that part of his reputation,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Some even tried to go after his core to control or eliminate him. Either to reclaim their stolen works or to steal everything else.¡± ¡°Then why are we here?¡± Richard says with a sense of fear. ¡°While the artwork is valuable,¡± Esteban says. ¡°The objective is information on some of their sources. The Vorhees Gang specifically.¡± ¡°The Vorhees Gang?¡± Richard says. ¡°Those are the dream eaters right?¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± Julia says. ¡°My old acceptances often made contact with them. Though in most cases the rumors of them stealing dreams is less literal than it appears.¡± Richard looks at Esteban and sees something in his eyes, a look of determination, hurt, and sadness. As if Esteban had lost something or someone to the Vorhees Gang. They exit the fake gallery and find another hallway. ??? A while later, they find the room they are looking for, a seemingly unguarded office. They check the room for any patroller. While Heathcliff tries to recall any potential hiding spots. They see that there are no guards present. ¡°Typical,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Jay tends to underestimate the information he receives from his clients.¡± They enter the office and surveil the file cabinets. While Esteban looks over the files. Julia looks at Heathcliff. ¡°You know I have been thinking of something.¡± ¡°Oui?¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°How did you come across that knave of yours?¡± Julia says. ¡°Tim?¡± Heathcliff says with a laugh. ¡°I went for a drive one day and found a stowaway from Fairborough. He seems too well-dressed to be one of the smallfolk and he claims he sought me out to find a way to get stronger.¡± ¡°Stronger?¡± Julia says. ¡°For what purpose?¡± ¡°He says he wants to prove himself to his brother, a prince,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Claims to be having nightmares about the small duchy¡¯s clash with the neighboring Sigurtein. I tried to push him away at first, but the would-be princeling insisted I took him with him.¡± ¡°He does seem like the persistent fellow,¡± Richard says. ¡°But why would he be having dreams like that?¡± ¡°Who knows?¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°It¡¯s commonly said that recurring dreams are messages from the administrators, but the thing is that they tend to be for Messengers and Tim didn¡¯t strike me as one.¡± ¡°Even though he uses Far Eastern arts?¡± Richard says. ¡°You can be rather presumptuous, you know,¡± Esteban says. ¡°I did some digging into that,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Turns out his mother came from Jiang-Hu and had known several martial artists from the nation.¡± ¡°Do you have any idea what the rogues had gone through to obtain that knowledge?¡± Esteban says. ¡°I can only fathom what you had to give up, mon ami,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°I hope helping you bust the Vorhees can help make up for that.¡± Esteban sees a peculiar founder, with a photograph of a man taped to it. The black-and-white image depicts a deathly pale man with dark hair, a refined outfit, and a rapier. A village that Esteban remembers vividly. He recalls a fire breaking out in his childhood home and seeing that man in the center of it all. ¡°This is the one,¡± he thinks. He takes the folder out and places it on a nearby desk. He then takes out his notebook while Julia uses her assassin skills to ambush a patrolling Cell and kill it before it notices the intruders. Esteban writes down various details including that the man had a wife who also carries a high ranking in the gang, as well as his very name; Vladimir Draconis. He also writes down information pertaining to the Vorhees network in both the surface and the Underground as well as supply chains of stolen loot and recent murders of adventurers and abductions of Witches in the Underground. He places the folder back in the cabinet. And the group begins to leave. As they do, Richard stumbles and bumps into a potted vase, causing it to fall from its podium and break. The sound causes an alarm to trip and causes the golden hallways to be bathed in crimson light. ??? Esteban¡¯s group realizes that the dungeon will notice their presence if something is not done soon. Heathcliff has an idea. ¡°Did Jay change the location of the ¡®shrine¡¯?¡± ¡°Fifty-second floor,¡± Esteban says. ¡°Two doors to the right, three to the left, and then at the far end.¡± He then hands the knight a spray bottle of mist. ¡°Try to get out of here,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°I gots an idea.¡± He rushes towards the new destination while Esteban, Julia, and Richard escape. Esteban uses his powers to make the three invisible. Heathcliff sneaks past several cells and guards, knocking out a few with his shield until he makes his way to the fifty-second floor. ¡°Two doors to the right, then three to the left,¡± he thinks. He follows the directions until he sees a long corridor. Heathcliff takes out Esteban¡¯s bottle and sprays it around the hall revealing lines of red light all over the corridor. He moves towards the edge, avoiding the light then breaks open the door. There he sees the portrait of a woman, as well as several items, the centermost one being a necklace contained in a glass case. The knight takes his shield and breaks the glass, stealing the necklace. ¡°This will get the heat off them,¡± he says. ??? Esteban, Julia, and Richard sneak their way past the now-alert patrollers. Julia and Richard use their skills to take out and distract cells with distractions while they are looking for the intruders. They so see a familiar golden knight patrolling the halls. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. They eventually find and exit, an open window. Esteban had came prepared. He takes out a rope and hooks to attach to it. While they set up the escape, Richard notices the patrollers ignoring the corridor that the three are in. ¡°Heathcliff¡¯s ruse worked, vamonos!¡± Esteban says. After the rope is secured, Richard and Julia scale down the tower. They land on the lower rooftops of the tower. Esteban takes the rope and jumps off the tower. He uses magic to cushion his fifty-story descent and land without injury. After a safe landing, Esteban take the room and hook and attaches it to the side of the building, leading down towards the back. ¡°What now!¡± Esteban says, knowing that most of their fiends are still inside the tower. ¡°Heathcliff will evacuate them!¡± Esteban says while they rush towards a nearby entrance to the underground. Esteban knocks on the door. ¡°They have watered the street,¡± he says. ¡°It shines in the glare of lamps.¡± The fawn at the gate immediately opens the secret passes and closes it as soon as the three enter. Richard¡¯s disgust is subsumed by his concerned for his sister and their friends. They work they way towards the underground and through it, until they find another passageway leading back towards the surface. ??? Heathcliff, with his stolen necklace in hand, rushes towards the nearest false gallery. There he finds the men he expected to find. Jay, surrounded by several Cells. Jay expresses a look of disapproval as he witnesses the necklace in Heathcliff¡¯s hands. ¡°That was a real low blow,¡± the avatara says. Heathcliff smirks. ¡°Sorry, cher.¡± He tosses the necklace back to Jay who puts it in his pocket. Jay looks at the knight. He knows something isn¡¯t right. He knows Heathcliff wouldn''t stoop as low as to steal the necklace unless something else was at play. ¡°Tell, Crimson Hound. What was your real objective.¡± ¡°Wish I could tell you, Jay,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°But we all know that your ¡®friends¡¯ makes it a mite too risky.¡± Jay is well aware of Heathcliff¡¯s tendencies to help a friend in need, a fact he had used to his advantage a few times. The white-suited man ponders who asked for his help. ¡°Boss,¡± a guard reported, we looked at the scene of the burglary, aside from a broken pot there is no signs of intruders.¡± ¡°Was anything stolen, Jay says. ¡°No sir,¡± the man says. ¡°Are you absolutely certain?¡± Jay says. His expression furrows into a rare scowl. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± The man sighs and turns his attention back to Heathcliff. ¡°We both you you have friend sin high places, and also low places,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Some of them bigwigs who did nasty things they want swept under the rug. Others the secretive heads of the Syndicate. Others still kind, decent folk. Yet they all have you at the center.¡± Jay understands. ¡°Let him go, tell the guest that it was a false alarm.¡± The cells and guardsmen disperse. Jay looks at Heathcliff. ¡°Look, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°We both know you are one of the most important dungeons, and the most important people in the city. Noir needs a place where people can gather regardless of class or creed. My friends and I can¡¯t jeopardize that.¡± Jay sighs. ¡°What is going on, Heathcliff?¡± ¡°Times are changing, cher.¡± Heathcliff looks at the avatara with a determined look. ¡°The winds had been blowing ever since the war, and we have to find a way to ensure people survive the coming storm.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not normally one for such high-minded ideals, old sport,¡± Jay says. ¡°Not since you left Charlemagne.¡± ¡°The outcome of that is my cross to bear,¡± Heathcliff says. He waks past Jay. ¡°Say hi to Daisy for me.¡± He leaves Jay alone. ??? Meanwhile, Esteban, Julia, and Richard arrive back at the Black Box, there they see Sarah, Tim, Elizabeth, Minerva, and the ten young girls. ¡°Where¡¯s Heathcliff?¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoes to Richard. ¡°Where did he go?¡± Emily was aware that Esteban and Heathcliff were plotting something at the party. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Richard says. Esteban explains Heathcliff¡¯s plan to Emily. ¡°He split from us to cover our escape, leaving alone to draw Jay¡¯s attention way,¡± ¡°He did what?¡± Emily asks with shock. ¡°Hmm, sounds like that knight is a lot more reckless than it first seemed.¡± Atsuko emerges from nearby and introduces herself to everyone. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Atsuko. It¡¯s nice to meet you. A shame I couldn¡¯t meet that dungeon master of yours.¡± Tim sighs. ¡°He was always fond of stunts like that.¡± ¡°And you didn¡¯t stop him?¡± Sarah asks her brother. ¡°There was¡ª I¡ª The alarms¡ª¡± Richard tries to find the right words to quell his sister¡¯s anger. ¡°Should I go out and find him?¡± Atsuko says. ¡°I had Hoshikage check us all out of the hotel. So don¡¯t worry about that.¡± ¡°He knows the way back,¡± Esteban says. ¡°He¡¯s been here far too many times to lose track of places.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not staying?¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°I want to gather my instruments first. They are very vital to microdungeon experiments. Don¡¯t worry I¡¯ll see you all back in Rosenkreuz.¡± The Teal-haired Yanese woman leaves. Minerva looks at everyone. ¡°I guess this means our time at Noir is at an end.¡± ¡°For now,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°As long as this extension remains we should be able to return there if necessary.¡± Rose perks up upon here that. ¡°You here that fowl villains of Noir. The Coloraturas may no longer be living in Noir, but we shall return to smite your wickedness!¡± Raine¡¯s palm is now on her face as she shakes her head. ¡°I should take the time to practice for the return trip,¡± Azalea says. The blue-haired mermaid swims around to the tubes. ¡°It will be a breath of fresh air to see the breeze at New Virginia¡¯s towns.¡± Strelitzia sighs, Clover and Lily giggle and Anemone and Hydrangea express their confusion. Nina turns to her mother. ¡°Can we introduce them to the other kids, mommy?¡± Her face has an excited expression. ¡°Of course, sweetie,¡± Minerva says, aware that she will have to talk with Lydia about caring for the orphans. Charlotte meanwhile wonders what to tell her mother first regarding her first visit to the city. Emily gets the group to calm down. ¡°It¡¯s getting late, we should tried to head back to Rosenkreuz.¡± ¡°Right.¡± Elizabeth leads the others to the tubes. ¡°Everyone please enter the pods and leave transportation to Emily.¡± ¡°I¡¯m gonna stay here,¡± Esteban says. ¡°Wait for Heathcliff.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take the opportunity to say goodbye to the city too,¡± Julia says. Know that this is not the last time she will return to Noir. Minerva leads the Colorturas to several pods. ¡°I must apologize,¡± the Arachne says. ¡°But You might feel numb for the trip. Don¡¯t worry it will fly by quickly!¡± The magical girls bear confused expressions as the pods close and the petribeams activate, transforming them to stone, protected from the trip while Emily delivers them to their new homes. Julia is a little surprised to see earth magic used this way. Minerva, Charlotte, Nina, Richard, and Sarah are next. They enter the pods and become petrified by the Geopshere¡¯s magic. Their pods then embark on their course. Last are Tim and Elizabeth. The fairy turns to Esteban and Julia. ¡°I understand you¡¯ll be also coming with us?¡± Esteban nods. ¡°The Rouges want me to help ensure the safety of this dungeon.¡± Tim enters his pod, ignoring the conversation as his body transforms into a stone statue, and his pod is carried away. ¡°I look forward to working with you two. Goodbye for now,¡± Elizabeth says before boarding her pod. As the last pod leaves the extension. Emily¡¯s voice echoes Esteban with concern for Heathcliff. ¡°You¡¯ve known him a long time, yes?¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± Esteban says. ¡°Can you help me make sure he doesn''t do something like this again?¡± Esteban chuckles. ¡°You really should have faith in the man. He¡¯s been through hundreds of scrapes like this and came out no worse for wear.¡± ¡°I know, but still,¡± her voice carries a fear that things could be very different if he runs off on his own again. ¡°If anything happens, I¡¯ll be there to bail him out. You have my word,¡± Esteban asyas. ¡°Thank you,¡± Emily says. The three begin to wait for Heathcliff. ??? The red-headed knight walks back to the party and sees that the rest of his group has already left. And that only a few of the guests had even noticed. Upon confirmation of that fact, he leaves Gatsby Tower. Walking alone in the Noirian streets, he ponders upon his past. Once a paladin beloved by all, now a man who is hated by his former countrymen, accused of treachery based solely on rank. He fled Charlemagne during the tumultuous times. He stops and gazes at several of the neon lights. Before turning his attention towards the skyline. The lit skyscrapers remind him of the capital city of Orlandopolis. The home of the paladins of the House of Roland. The peaceful calm of Noir at this hour, even with the noise of late-night shoppers and tortures surrounding him, is a far cry from the chaos of the other city. He thinks back to the day he met the boy that would be called Timothy. He was prepared to escape via a ship, arranged by some former knights who anticipated the storm. It was there that he would shed to the identity of the Crimson Knight, Paladin of the house of Roland, and live as a humble adventurer. Yet he knows that was a reprieve. He knows that he has failed Charlemagne, and he knows that another storm will come to Libert¨¦ and all other realms of Titania. A while later he arrives at the Black Box¡¯s extension in Noir. There he finds Esteban and Julia. ¡°Took you sweet time,¡± Esteban says with a small smile. ¡°Did Jay hold you up?¡± ¡°Nah,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Just wanted to take a stroll is all. Is Emily here?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here,¡± the voice of the Black Box echoes to Heathcliff. Her voice has a tinge of both anger and concern. ¡°Whatever you had done was very dangerous!¡± ¡°Hah, Jay wouldn''t hurt a fly,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Heathcliff!¡± Emily says. ¡°Right, sorry, cher.¡± Heathcliff looks around. ¡°Are the others back?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Esteban says. ¡°The Yanese folk had helped them evacuate.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Heathcliff says. Emily speaks to Esteban. ¡°I hope that information was worth it.¡± ¡°Trust me, Emily, it is.¡± Esteban looks at the notes he jotted down. ¡°I must apologize for involving you in this little war of mine.¡± Esteban¡¯s notes contained accurate recreations of the information he gleaned from the documents, including the name of the Vorhees Gang¡¯s head, Vladimir Draconis, and several routes and details for their smuggling rings and black markets. Julia turns to the tubes. ¡°Perhaps we should talk about this away from Noir,¡± she says. ¡°I¡¯d love to explore the town of Rosenkreuz for a bit.¡± Emily activates the tubes. Julia and Esteban board the pods and let Emily temporarily petrify them for the trip. Their pods begin the trip to the core area of the Black Box. Heathcliff is left alone in the extension. ¡°Things worked out in the end, right.¡± He gives a hearty laugh. Emily is unamused by the reckless action of the man she had made her dungeon master. After some silence. Emily¡¯s voice echoes to him again. ¡°Please, don¡¯t do anything like that again.¡± Her voice is akin to laughter pleading with a father who had risked his life. ¡°Of course, Emily,¡± Heathcliff says in a fatherly tone. ¡°Bonne nuit, Emily.¡± ¡°Good night, Heathcliff,¡± Emily says. Heathcliff boards his pod and prepares for the return trip to Rosenkreuz. Chapter XXIV: Cyberworks With everyone back from their trip to Noir, and with eight new sentinels in tow. Richard and Sarah get to work on creating the new designs. ¡°Let¡¯s see.¡± Richard takes out his notes. All pertaining the the architecture and clothing styles of Noir as well as some observations he had made of Emily¡¯s attire and the appearance of her mechanical Cells. ¡°So, Armlet, Bascinet, or Sallet? Sarah says. ¡°Neither, sister,¡± Richard says. ¡°I fear that with these designs the head would be better off bared.¡± ¡°It does get stuffy wearing helmets all day,¡± Sarah says. ¡°How about the weapons?¡± Richard says as he looks over his notes. ¡°Emily¡¯s twin sword are the most unique of the bunch, but could be doable. Elizabeth uses staves. Tim uses a Qiang, and Heathcliff uses the sword and board combo.¡± Sarah is already aware of her preference for the hammer and Richard¡¯s recent affinity for stunner crossbows. At this point, little Nina approaches the Dwarves. ¡°Hi hi!¡± she says cheerfully. ¡°Hello, Nina,¡± Sarah says. ¡°Working on the new gear?¡± the spiderling says with an eager face. ¡°Nina,¡± Richard says with a groan, ¡°I know you want to be an adventurer, and I also know you have obtained some arms and armor, but don¡¯t you think you¡¯re a bit too¡­young right now?¡± ¡°Too young?¡± Nina says. ¡°Didn¡¯t Emily bring in eight kids as Sentinels?¡± ¡°There were extenuating circumstances,¡± Richard says. ¡°I¡¯ll go talk to Minerva,¡± Sarah whispers to her brother, ¡°They¡¯ll both need armor anyway.¡± She then turns to Nina, ¡°Come with me, Nina, I¡¯ll talk with you about the armor.¡± ¡°Yay!¡± Nina says. Sarah leaves Richard to address Nina¡¯s request. Richard then realizes something. He hadn¡¯t asked the Coloraturas about their fighting styles yet. He puts his notes away and leaves his atelier to find the new magical girls and learn about their combat. ??? Meanwhile, Elizabeth is finished affixing the Cryosphere to the empty space next to the Aerosphere. The addition of the cyan crystals leaves only two empty spots in the ring. Two spots adjacent to each other on the right side of the ring. Between the Magenta Electropshere and the cyan Cryosphere. ¡°You know,¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoes to Elizabeth. ¡°If my ¡®primary resources¡¯ are nanomachines, then why can¡¯t I use them?¡± ¡°Use them?¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°In what way?¡± ¡°Shapeshifting perhaps?¡± Emily asks. ¡°Like turning the arm of my avatara into a whip?¡± ¡°Oh, that?¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Those are [Mana Skills]. You¡¯ll have to learn those.¡± ¡°Mana skills?¡± Emily says. ¡°Techniques that use Mana, unique to the Dungeon and adventures, in contrast, he schools of magic like [Bardsong] and the [Stardeck], which can be leaned with all, if the school or the innate element allows it.¡± ¡°Huh.¡± Emily¡¯s interest is piqued. ¡°How do I learn these skills.¡± Elizabeth manifests a screen in front of her. The same screen is also conjured up in Emily¡¯s mind and takes up all of her vision as a dungeon. ¡°Let¡¯s see.¡± She observes a tree-like chart on the screen as well as a reading of ¡°2550¡±. She shows the number to Emily. ¡°These are your [Skill Points], We can use these to enhance your Avatara¡¯s capacities.¡± She looks for the option for shapeshifting. ¡°Bear in mind that while they allow you to learn the skills, they cannot allow you to master them. For that, you¡¯ll have to use them yourself.¡± ¡°Is there any reason why you waited until now to tell me,¡± the dungeon core says. ¡°I forgot, sorry,¡± the fairy says with her eyes closed in a nervous smile. She uses thirty points to unlock the skill for Emily. The respective node brightens and two more nodes appear adjacent to it. ¡°Your Avatara is now able to assume any form you wish. Emily gazes at the new nodes. She instinctively learns that the one above grants her a defensive ability, a fifteen percent chance that her body would deform around melee attacks. The one to the left meanwhile tells of an ability to create smaller duplicates of her avatara, by using the nanomachines that comprise her remote body. She spends ninety points for both upgrades. ¡°You¡¯ve unlocked {Shapeshifting}, {Duplication}, and {Ripple Evade}. Remember, you still have to practice with these abilities,¡± Elizabeth says. Five more nodes appear. Elizabeth looks over them. ¡°Let¡¯s see, {Assimilation} costs two hundred, {Coat of Armor} costs fifty, {Lakeside} costs thirty, {Nanobreaker} costs one hundred, and {Calcification} costs fifty.¡± Emily looks over the five options. With a total cost of four hundred and thirty, she feels enticed to unlock them. She allocates the points to these nodes. More options open up, but they are all obscured with padlock symbols. ¡°Huh?¡± Emily says. ¡°There is a limit of points you can allocate onto a given category,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Removing these locks requires acclimating to your existing skills, and mastering them. There are other skill categories we can look at in the meantime if you wish.¡± Emily thinks it over. ¡°Is there any benefit to saving them instead?¡± ¡°Not really,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°You currently have a cap of three thousand points. Five hundred for each sphere you had obtained. You can raise the cap by getting more Elementalist¡¯s Spheres and being recognized by the [Administrators], but as it stands, by the time you can unlock skills that would warrant saving up for you¡¯re would be stuck at three thousand.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Emily says. She looks over the trees on the screen. They are labeled ¡°¡±, ¡°¡±, ¡°¡±, ¡°¡± and ¡°¡±. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Emily says as the Management tree glows. ¡° is for your [Cells] and [Sentinels] It allows you to do certain things with them.¡± Emily is intrigued, she looks at the Management tree. ¡°The options available there are {Resurrection Protocol ¦Á}, {Skill Legacy}, and {Deactivate Sentenel},¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°These seem¡­pricy.¡± Emily notices that Skill Legacy and Inactive Storage costs two hundred and fifty each, while the Resurrection Protocols only cost fifty. ¡°They are,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°The Management and Dungeon branches naturally pertain to you as a dungeon instead of your avatara and their combat prowess, as such they need more skill points for most things.¡± Emily looks around and sees that there are no other options, she allocates the five hundred and fifty points to unlock the skills. Now with less than one thousand and five hundred points, he takes a look at the Twin Blades tree and sees that several nodes are already lit. Sensing Emily¡¯s confusion, Elizabeth explains. ¡°You have come across these skills naturally as a result of your use of the weapons. Thus there is no means to use skill points for those.¡± ¡°That makes sense,¡± Emily says. Emily looks over the unlocked skills. They are labeled ¡°{Bladedance}¡± ¡°{Parry Twirl}¡±, ¡°{Charkram Formation}¡±, ¡°{Arcane Blade}¡±, ¡°{Spinning Parry}¡± and ¡°{Twister Waltz}¡±. Emily doesn¡¯t recall using some of these moves before. She then looks at the unlit nodes adjacent to them. To the right of Twister Waltz is one labeled ¡°{Fire Fans}¡±. She notices that it is tied to the Pyrosphere and decides to ignore the node for now. She finds one called ¡°{Cocytus¡¯ Flurry}¡± and uses forty points to allocate it. She then finds one labeled ¡°{Thunderclap}¡± and uses fifty points to unlock that skill. She then sees two labeled ¡°{Photon Ring}¡± and ¡°{Anesidora¡¯s Boon}¡± at both thrifty five points each. She allocates the seventy to unlock both. She then looks over to the magic trees and sees several sub-trees. ¡°Um, Lizzie, a little help here?¡± Elizabeth looks at the tree labeled ¡°¡± and taps it, binging Emily to the tree. There she eight nodes, ¡°{Tune of Earth}¡±, ¡°{Tune of Lightning}¡±, ¡°{Tune of Water}¡±, ¡°{Tune of Ice}¡±, ¡°{Tune of Light}¡±, ¡°{Tune of Fire}¡±, ¡°{Tune of Darkness}¡±, and ¡°{Tune of Wind}¡±. Arranged in a similar pattern to the Elementalist¡¯s Spheres. The Tunes of Darkness and Water are the only two of eight that are not lit. She sees an outer ring of locked skills. ¡°Maybe it is best if we save those for later.¡± Emily thinks. She then heads towards the final tree, the Dungeon tree. ¡°I¡¯ll walk you through the myriad magical systems you have at your disposal later,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°As for the Dungeon Tree, that is something we¡¯ll have to bring up with Heathcliff. As the [Dungeon Master] his advice and council are needed for how best to approach the three.¡± Emily and Elizabeth dispel the screen, and Emily¡¯s vision returns to normal. ¡°With one thousand, three hundred and forty points left,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°You still have a bevy of options available to you. How you choose to use these skills points is up to you.¡± ¡°Thank you, Lizzie,¡± Emily says with a giggle. Elizabeth leaves the core room to check up on the others. ??? Richard meets Rose Rhapsodia in a room designed to resemble a diner, at the child¡¯s request. The pink-haired lamia slithers near the tanned dwarf as he beckons to her. ¡°What¡¯s up, Richard?¡± Rose says. ¡°I wanted to talk to you about your and your friend¡¯s armaments,¡± Richard says. ¡°Sarah and I are working on something special for the Sentinels.¡± ¡°Armaments?¡± Rose asks with a confused look. ¡°Weapons,¡± Richard says. ¡°Oh.¡± Rose thinks back on a few things. ¡°Whisper had taught us to channel magic through wands that appear when we magiclaize. Though Streltizia also uses an axe.¡± Richard takes notes. ¡°And?¡± Stretlitiza enters the room and sees Rose and Richard talking. ¡°Heard from your sister that you¡¯re working on new gear?¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± Richard says. ¡°You use an axe I heard?¡± The minotaur nods. Her orange have flipped as she showed Richard her labrys. ¡°Pretty neat, but that is now why I came here.¡± Rose bears a look of concern as she knows what Streltizia is about to say. ¡°The wands are cool and all, but I feel like they are not quite enough in a fight. I want to ask if you can get something to help us better in close-range combat.¡± Richard is taken aback by the suggestion. ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°She¡¯s sure,¡± Rose says with a sigh. Strelitzia boasts a confident smile. ¡°I simply feel like we should have options in case we have to get up close and personal with them. Plus Azalea also recently got a knife from that gallery Strega¡± Richard ponders the suggestions. He is uncertain about letting the eight girls have access to dangerous objects. ¡°I¡¯ll talk to Sarah about it,¡± he says. ¡°But I¡¯ll need to talk to each of you about your preferences.¡± ¡°A sword does seem nice,¡± Rose says. ¡°An elegant weapon for the heroic age.¡± ¡°Axe, spear, dagger, got it,¡± Richard says. ¡°There is one last thing,¡± Rose says as she presents her potted rainbow rose. ¡°Anemone says that these flowers can make excellent decorations for staves and wands.¡± Strelitzia also shows Richard her Apus Astra plant. ¡°Noted,¡± Richard says. ¡°Bring the plants to me or Sarah and we and Emily will see what we can do.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take you to the others,¡± Rose says. She and Strelitzia leas Richard away from the diner room. ??? Richard, Rose, and Strelitzia encounter Anemone and Hydrangea reading some books. The plants they obtained at Noir, the Lunar Drop, and the Celestial Hortensia, are respectably at their side. Hydrangea notices their friends and the dwarven craftsman. ¡°Hello,¡± she says. ¡°Hey,¡± Rose says. What are you reading?¡± ¡°Applications of Runic Magic,¡± Anemone says. ¡°Hydra¡¯s reading some novel about a girl in love with a vampire.¡± The cyan-haired girl closes her vampire romance novel and looks at the dwarven weaver. ¡°I already heard you¡¯re trying to create new gear for us?¡± ¡°You¡¯re an astute one,¡± Richard says. ¡°Thank you,¡± Hydrangea says. ¡°I¡¯d want to as¡ª¡± Richard¡¯s question is interrupted by Anemone¡¯s response. ¡°Is this about melee weapons?¡± the purple-haired girl says. ¡°Yes¡­¡± Richard says. Anemone looks at Streltizia boasting a confident smirk and sighs. ¡°Stre¡­¡± ¡°What?¡± the orange-haired minotaur says. ¡°You know our magic is dangerous in close range.¡± Anemone looks at Rose. ¡°She was pretty insistent,¡± the pink-haired lamia says. Hydrangea looks at Richard. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in melee weapons, but perhaps you and your sister can create a grimoire for me?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll see what I can do,¡± Richard says. ¡°Heathcliff already alerted me that Emily can create metal-infused ink as a result of absorbing the Strega¡¯s mana.¡± Anemonie looks at Richard. ¡°How about a bow?¡± ¡°A bow?¡± Streltizia says. ¡°You want to fight with your hair?¡± the lamia says. ¡°It¡¯s not that kind of bow, Rose,¡± Anemonie says. ¡°I think it can help with my shadow spells.¡± ¡°That makes sense.¡± Strelizia is aware that Anemonie¡¯s shadow and gravity-focused spells are suited more toward support than offense. ¡°Strelitizia,¡± Anemone says. ¡°Why are you adamant about having us use weapons?¡± The young minotaur answers the wolf-eared girl¡¯s question. ¡°I just think we need to protect ourselves. We can¡¯t always be fighting from a distance all the time, and using our spells at this range always risks backfiring mid-cast.¡± Anemone understands Streltizia¡¯s reasoning, but she is still a little confused. ¡°That aside,¡± Richard says. ¡°I also want to incorporate these plants you¡¯ve gotten into your new staves.¡± Anemone¡¯s lupine ears perk upon hearing that .¡±That¡¯s a brilliant idea! They are a good focus for channeling magic.¡± She and Hydrangea allow Richard to take the plants. ¡°So, ax, sword, bow, and grimoire,¡± Richard says. ¡°That is four out of eight right?¡± Azalea swims toward the group of five. ¡°Five actually, you¡¯ll find my pick to be sharper than my wit.¡± The clionid mermaid says while displaying her palette knife. ¡°Oh and here¡¯s my Azalea Aquarius as well.¡± ¡°Okay, that¡¯s five,¡± Richard says, ¡°By the how, how did you know about that Azalea?¡± ¡°I knew Stre would wear everyone down eventually,¡± the mermaid says. ¡°Stubborn as a bull that one.¡± ¡°I¡¯m over here!¡± Streltizia says. ¡°Hi, Streltizia!¡± Azalea says with a cheerful smile. The minotaur sighs. ¡°Let¡¯s just go find the others.¡± Everyone leaves to find Clover, Lily and Raine. ??? Clover meets with Charlotte, who introduces her to Euryale and Stheno. ¡°Hi there!¡± Euryale says, acclimating better to her recent circumstances. ¡°Pleasure to meet you,¡± Stheno says in a polite tone. ¡°You too,¡± the green-haired fawn says. Before she blurts out her train of thought the four are approached by a young child. ¡°Hello,¡± the child says. Clover and Charlotte look at the young girl. Her features include the rounded mouse ears and tails that were found on the children of Hamlin, but neither Charlotte, Euryale, nor Stheno recognize her from the village. And as far as they know, The Piper Pruflas hadn¡¯t attacked other villages before that faithful attack on the Black Box. The mysterious child carries a paintbrush in her hand and wears a black dress with white lines. Her brown hair is tied into small pigtails. ¡°Hello there,¡± Charlotte asks. ¡°And you¡¯re name is?¡± The little girl looks at her in confusion. ¡°My name? What¡¯s a name?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have a name?¡± Clover says before she rambles on about anecdotes about strange names she had encountered. ¡°Clover was it?¡± Stheno says. ¡°Can you get to the point?¡± ¡°Oh, sorry.¡± The winged fawn turns to the nameless girl. ¡°Anyway a name is. It is¡­huh actually I don¡¯t quite understand it myself, but I do know that everyone needs it.¡± The child with the paintbrush racks her head. Scatted memories about a fabricated world and a monster resembling a bed appear in her mind. Then memories of people, including those with a resemblance to Clover and Charlotte. Then the image of a picture frame with a painting of herself and a plaque labeled ¡°The Heritor¡±. ¡°Is my name ¡®the Heritor¡¯?¡± she says. ¡°Who would name their kid that?¡± Euryale says. The first of many questions about her. Richard and the Colorturas with him approach Clover. Strelitzia rushes towards her lifelong friend. ¡°Hey, Clover! I¡¯ve been meaning to ask, have you decided on a weapon yet?¡± The flighty fawn thinks about it. She airs her opinions on various types of weapons like the greatsword, the spear, the one-bladed axe, and even a pistol. The latter of which caused Ricard to express his disapproval of them using firearms vehemently. ¡°Oh, I know!¡± Clover says. ¡°Give me a nice big fan!¡± ¡°A¡­fan?¡± Streltizia says. Richard is just as confused by the bizarre suggestion. ¡°I heard there were legends of someone that did use a fan as a weapon,¡± Anemone says. ¡°A cultivator that was once wed to a minotaur in Jiang-Hu.¡± ¡°I¡­see,¡± Richard says. ¡°I¡¯ll have to look into it.¡± Rose looks at the child with the paintbrush. ¡°Whose that?¡± the lamia says. ¡°Beat¡¯s me,¡± Clover says. ¡°She doesn¡¯t even have a name! Like who on Titania is born without a name?¡± Rose and Anemone notice a strong resemblance to someone they met while in Noir, and some they met in the Strega¡¯s lair specifically. ¡°Wait, is that Kaitlyn?¡± Rose says. ¡°Kaitlyn?¡± the child says. ¡°What a pretty name!¡± She decides to take it for herself. ¡°But how is that possible?¡± Strelitzia says. ¡°It¡¯s more likely than you think,¡± Azalea says. ¡°What nonsense are you spouting now, Azalea?¡± Streltizia says. ¡°No, she might be right,¡± Hydrangea says. Aware of both what Azalea told her at the lair and also about how Dungeons create constructs. ¡°Excuse me, but do you remember anything, Kaitlyn?¡± Kaitlyn realizes that several of the girls around her are very familiar to her, even though she cannot figure out why. ¡°I remember a dark scary place, and some kind of monster wandering it.¡± ¡°Uh-huh, and?¡± Strelitzia says. ¡°I remember¡­is there a purple-haired girl around here?¡± Anemone points to herself in confusion. While Kaitlyn vaguely remembers her, she had someone else in mind. ¡°No I think she was taller,¡± Kaitlyn says. ¡°Might you be referring to Emily by any chance?¡± Richard says The utterance of the name causes Kaitlyn to recall her more clearly. ¡°Yes! That¡¯s the one, can you tell me where she is.¡± ¡°All around us?¡± Clover says. ¡°It¡¯s¡­complicated,¡± Rose says. Charlotte turns to Kaitlyn. ¡°Do you know what a dungeon is?¡± ¡°A place you hold criminals in right?¡± Kaitlyn says. ¡°Close,¡± Richard says, ¡°but not quite.¡± ¡°We can take her to Lydia,¡± Euryale says. ¡°Lily is already there by the way.¡± ¡°You guys already met Lily?¡± Rose says. ¡°I thought she was shy around strangers!¡± ¡°Lotte and Nina already introduced her to Lydia, and she handled the rest,¡± Stheno says. The group follows the Arion sisters to the recently established daycare and school. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ??? Lily plays with several of the other children under Lydia¡¯s care. The young spiderlings and Cells play with the centaur with smiles on their faces. Richard and his group see Lily playing with the other children. Charlotte, Euryale, and Stheno look at the Cells among them with looks of confusion and dread. Anemone picks up on this. ¡°Those mice-kids did seem quite off,¡± Rose says. ¡°It¡¯s a long story,¡± Euryale says. ¡°Hey, Lily! We want to talk to you!¡± Strelitzia shouts. Lily hears the minotaur¡¯s voice and cheerfully shouts back. ¡°Coming!¡±. She then turns to her playmates. ¡°I have to go, see you guys later.¡± Before joyfully cantering towards Stretitzia and her group. ¡°Hello!¡± Lily says with a smile. ¡°What did you want to talk about?¡± Richard clears his throat. ¡°I¡¯d want to discuss the items Sarah and I are crafting for you and your friends. Specifiably the weapons.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± the centaur says. She looks to Strelitzia and understands what¡¯s going on. ¡°Hmm, did everyone else already choose one?¡± ¡°We haven¡¯t asked Raine yet,¡± Rose says. ¡°Oh,¡± Lily says. ¡°How about a spear then?¡± ¡°A spear,¡± Richard says. ¡°At least it is something simple,¡± he thinks. ¡°Oh, how about a trident?¡± Lily says. ¡°If Azalea is using knives that is.¡± ¡°That is¡­possible,¡± Richard says. ¡°That just leaves Raine,¡± Rose says. ¡°I know where she is.¡± ¡°You guys go without me,¡± Charlotte says. ¡°I still have to bring Kaitlyn to Lydia.¡± She leaves with Euryale and Stheno. Anemone looks at the Alraune child¡¯s eyes and notices signs that she has been through a harrowing ordeal in them. With the departure of Charlotte, the Arion twins, and Kaitlyn, the group follows Rose to find Raine. ??? Richard¡¯s group finds Raine talking with Heathcliff about their job as Sentinels. ¡°So, do you have an idea of what we are guarding?¡± Raine says. ¡°Give it time, cher,¡± the red-headed knight says. ¡°You just got here. Take the time to relax.¡± Elizabeth approaches Heathcliff with a message. She whispers something in his ear. ¡°I gots to go,¡± Heathcliff says to the phoenixian girl before leaving with Elizabeth. Raine sighs before she turns her head and sees her friends and Richard are here. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Trying to help figure out the schedule?¡± Rose says. ¡°Yeah,¡± Raine says. She then turns to Richard. ¡°Is my apprenticeship starting?¡± ¡°Not quite,¡± the blond dwarf says. ¡°I¡¯m here to talk about your arms.¡± ¡°My arms?¡± Raine gestures with her arms. ¡°Your staff and other weapons,¡± Richard clarifies. ¡°Oh,¡± the red-headed girl says. ¡°Wait other weapons?¡± The other Coloraturas point to Strelitzia. ¡°Of course,¡± Raine says. ¡°If it¡¯s help,¡± Richard says. ¡°Some of your friends expressed a preference for ranged weapons. That said, I draw the line at firearms.¡± Raine recalls seeing Emily use chakrams instead of two swords. ¡°Can you make me a pair of large rings?¡± Raine says. ¡°With pleasure,¡± Richard says. He at least understands how Chakrams are constructed. ¡°One last thing. I also want to incorporate your plants into the staves.¡± Raine thinks on it. She sees that the other girls had their potted plaints in hand, implicitly displaying their allowing the craftsmen to incorporate theirs into their own. ¡°Alright then,¡± Raien says after a few moments of careful consideration. She picks up her Dianthis elpis from a nearby table. ¡°We can prolly grow some more with those seeds anyway.¡± With the consent of the Coloraturas, Richard takes the eight potted plants. The potted Apus astra, Rosa iris, Dinathus elpis, Azalia aquarius, Jasminus arcanus, Anemone luna, Helianthus stellae, and Hydrangea celestia, are now in his hands. ¡°Thank you, girls,¡± he says. ¡°I¡¯ll get to work on the designs posthaste.¡± He carries the plants with him back to his atelier. ??? Heathcliff and Elizabeth head to the core room. There Elizabeth explains to him the skill tree system and that she had forgotten to tell them earlier. ¡°Skill Trees?¡± Heathcliff says with some bemusement. ¡°All Divine Dungeons and some advanced Natural Dungeons have them,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°There is a tree for the dungeon itself,¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoes to Heathcliff. Elizabeth brings up the screen with the tree in question, aptly labeled ¡°¡±. ¡°Ah, so this is part of my job as a dungeon master?¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Correct,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Be careful, you have a limit of five hundred and fifty points to spend, right now¡± The knight looks over the tree and sees several complex starting points. He eyes one of the already lit nodes, labeled ¡°{{Layout Randomization ¦Á}}¡± The adjacent nodes are labeled ¡°{{Layout Randomization ¦Â}}¡± and ¡°{{Material Learning ¦Á}}¡±, the latter also being lit and had one labeled {{Material Learning ¦Â}} to its right. The two unlit nodes are respectably one hundred points, and one hundred and fifty points. Heathcliff allocates the amount of points to these two nodes. He then sees another lit node nearby. Labeled ¡°{{Recette Analysis}}¡±. The nearby nodes all cost two hundred at minimum. ¡°That doesn¡¯t seem worth it,¡± Heathcliff thinks. ¡°What do you think, cher?¡± Emily looks at the nodes. All specialized towards refining the gear generated by her dungeon. She recalls how powerful her initially created weapons were, yet she thinks that it might be useful to enchant them sooner rather than later. She eyes the nodes labeled ¡°{{Enhanced Manaflow ¦Á}}¡±. ¡°That one,¡± Emily says. ¡°Alright then,¡± Heathcliff allocates the points. ¡°I¡¯ll leave the last hundred to you, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. Emily looks over the tree herself. Soon finding a node adjacent to one of the lit ones. Labeled ¡°{{Telepathy}}¡±, its price is exactly one hundred points. ¡°Elizabeth, can you explain this?¡± ¡°{{Telepathy}}? It¡¯s a common skill for Dungeons, as it allows those under the core¡¯s aegis to share their thoughts and emotions more easily. Allowing for better coordination while inside the dungeon. However it is also easily misused, leading to cases where the minds of those linked in that way become irreversibly entwined and merge with each other. Especially when more advanced skills are involved. It is something you will need to be careful with if you wish to pursue this path.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Emily says. She thinks about the benefit of the skill and how it could help her understand her friends better. On the other hand, she also considers the potential risks. After a few minutes of careful consideration, she decides to unlock the skill. ¡°Heathcliff, can you please unlock Telepathy?¡± ¡°On it, cher,¡± Heathcliff allocates the skill points and gains the final skill for the session. Leaving Emily with only nine hundred and thirty points left. ¡°Is there anything else on the agenda?¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°I think Clara was asking for you earlier today,¡± Emily says. The knight contemplates why the Alraune beast tamer would want to see him as he leaves the core room. ??? Later, Lydia had brought someone to the core room, a young girl distinguished by her brown pigtails and her paintbrush. ¡°Excuse me,¡± the Construct says. ¡°Is Emily here?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± the dungeon¡¯s voice echoes to the child in response. Elizabeth is confused. ¡°Why did you bring one of the kids here, Lydia? The core room is dangerous!¡± The Arachne broodmother turns to Elizabeth. ¡°I figured she¡¯d wanted to meet Emily face to face.¡± Elizabeth looks at the young girl. She notices something familiar about her. Emily also notices the girl is familiar to her. ¡°Is that, Kaitlyn?¡± The young girl smiles at Emily immediately learning her name. Elizabeth understands what Lydia meant when she explains her reasons and sees that Emily has already activated her avatara. The humanoid form materializes in the core room, and an elated Kaitlyn proceeds to hug what she sees as her older sister. Emily put down the child and turns to Elizabeth. ¡°I told you there was a chance we¡¯d see her again,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°But¡­¡± She explains that Kaitlyn had become a Construct, recreated from Emily¡¯s memories and the mana absorbed from the Strega. Emily is disheartened, as she realizes that she may not be the same girl she met in Spurius Mundis. ¡°Katie¡­¡± The cheerful artist smiles at Emily. Emily asks her several questions, learning that Kaitlyn does vaguely recall her previous life as a Strega, but little else, save for Emily herself. The reunion is bittersweet, as Emily is unsure if Kaitlyn is the same timid girl she was when she first encountered her. ??? Carla is busy tending to her newfound ¡°pets¡± namely the cordyceps deer. She takes great care to make sure the parasitized ibex does not enter her veins. The room was decorated by various starflowers, chartreuse green, and indigo blue in hue. A souvenir Charlotte brought from Noir. Heathcliff enters the verdant room. ¡°Hello, Carla.¡± ¡°You¡¯re here,¡± the Alraune says. ¡°Heard you wanted to talk to me?¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°I heard from Charlotte about her experiences in Noir, and from Emily about your risky endeavor there,¡± Carla says. ¡°Heh,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°I have experience, cher. It¡¯s going to take more than Jay to keep me down.¡± ¡°Maybe you can regale me with some of those experiences?¡± Carla says. She finishes tending to the deer and dismisses it. The deer gazes at Heathcliff before leaving. ¡°Sure thing, Carla,¡± Heathcliff says. He sides down on a nearby chair. ¡°What should I bring up first? The raid on Caltrop Fortress? The heist at Museum Memoria?¡± Carla and Heathcliff begin to talk about the man¡¯s exploits. Carla asked several questions about the locations traveled to and learned so much about the world beyond her former home in Hamlin and the dungeon of Revotos¡¯ Valley. While Heathcliff tells her about his many adventures with Esteban and Chiron and later with Tim. ¡°You hail from Charlemagne?¡± ¡°I thought that was obvious!¡± Heathcliff says with a laugh. ¡°My accent was more local to Libert¨¦ but my connection to old Charlie is something I wear on my sleeves.¡± ¡°So why did you leave for Libert¨¦?¡± Carla asks the knight. Heathcliff hesitates. ¡°It¡¯s a long story, cher. One we do not have the time for.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Carla says. ¡°You have your burdens as well.¡± She sighs. ¡°Don¡¯t we all?¡± Heathcliff says. The two begin to talk about something else. After a nice chat and a discussion about Noir and its Underground, the two parted ways. ¡°Thank you for the talk, Heathcliff,¡± Carla says. ¡°I appreciate your company.¡± ¡°No problem, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Remember to talk to me if you need something.¡± He leaves. Carla then looks back on her earlier talk with Charlotte, how the indigo-haired and petaled girl told her mother about what she saw at Noir. The most disturbing revelation, one that she didn¡¯t bring up with Heathcliff, is the encounter with the man known as Orpheus Arion. She wonders if he should know what befell the children of Hamlin, and the potential consequences of that fate. She wonders if she could be trusted with the knowledge of his sisters¡¯ fate. She intuits that Douglas and Medusa at least told them that Euryale and Stheno are safe, but she also knows that if the parents trusted him, they would''ve been more forthright. Clara also muses about the extension of the black Box. With Emily now having a permanent presence in Noir, there is now a chance that adventurers from the city would visit the dungeon herself and try to raid her for her treasures, and the chance that Orpheus would be among these future visitors. She wonders what would be done with the kids in such an event. Whether to ensure they are scurried away while he visits or left to wander and risk being discovered. Clara leves the room, wondering about what risk the future holds. ??? Meanwhile, Tim meditates. He focuses on the wind shield and the times he had managed to cast it. Sarah approaches him. ¡°Still hung up on Chiron, huh?¡± the dwarf lady says. ¡°What do you want?¡± Tim says. Sarah flashes a cheeky smile. ¡°Brother and I are working on new armaments and vestments for everyone. And I¡¯ve been wondering, do you want a new polearm?¡± ¡°Pass,¡± Tim says. Sarah shrugs. ¡°Was worth a shot,¡± she thinks. She looks at the Qiang next to Tim. ¡°Seems like that Qiang was used a lot,¡± she says. ¡°How long had you used that thing?¡± Tim sighs. He stands up and picks his spear from the ground. ¡°This Qiang, it was given to me by my teacher, far in the depths of Jiang-hu, in the depths of Wu-lin. There I learned the art of bajiquan and spearmanship. This weapon is the only physical thing I have left of him.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± Sarah says. Tim begins explaining how he obtained the spear. ¡°The dojo where I was training was attacked by the armies of the kingdom of Wu-Kong. They had sacked the school and set it ablaze. I was the only survivor. The day before the attack, my teacher handed me a qiang and told me to run. He also told me to never lose the spear, as it is now my teacher. By the time I headed to the port, I saw the smoke rising from the dojo, the next day the papers tell of the massacre. I had departed back to my home in Fairborough that day.¡± Sarah is a little surprised to hear that. ¡°I know the bishops and such love to prattle on about how everything has a spirit and such, but to think that a humble weapon could teach someone is still¡ª¡± ¡°Regardless of your opinion,¡± Tim says. ¡°I know my teacher as a wise and learned man, who had mastered arcane secrets. I believe that his words are true and so I kept the Qiang at my side as my sole companion until I met Heathcliff.¡± Sarah grows silent. ¡°Okay, I understand, now did he say anything about the clothing, Brother would be cross to learn that you refuse to change your outfits.¡± ¡°This outfit is common traveler¡¯s garb. I have no objections to replacing that is that what you want to ask,¡± Tim says. ¡°Thank you,¡± Sarah says. ¡°I¡¯ll be seeing you, Tim.¡± The silver haired and tanned dwarf leaves. ??? Over the next several days. Richard and Sarah had worked on their project, during which they had occasionally consulted Emily about the design of certain outfits. A week later, they had finished. That morning Sarah approached Elizabeth. ¡°Hi Lizzie,¡± Sarah says. ¡°Hello,¡± the fairy says. ¡°Did you want to ask me something?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve finished Emily¡¯s new armor,¡± Sarah says. ¡°I want to ask how to put it on her.¡± Elizabeth explains to Sarah the process of changing an avatara¡¯s form and then asks Sarah where the armor is. Over at the atelier, a black and purple suit of armor is displayed. The armor consists of a black fabric undercoat and is painted with metallic purple pieces and accents. Their plates resemble the outer chassis of a machine as much as it did a suit of mail. Sleek, elegant, but mechanical. It looked like something out of a science fiction story. Elizabeth looks around and sees that one was tailed for her as well, with magenta hues instead of purple. She then sees that there are several suits for eighteen others, including Heathcliff, Tim, Carla, and the Coloraturas. Each of them bears a distinct color. ¡°Emily?¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Yeah?¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoes to Elizabeth. ¡°Sarah and Richard appear to be done with their work.¡± The dungeon focuses on the purple suit of armor in front of Elizabeth. She is surprised at how well it matches her previous outfit and the aesthetics of her dungeon body. Elizabeth conjured a screen and used it to scan the attire and the accompanying twin blades. ¡°Let¡¯s see,¡± she uses the screen to examine the armor¡¯s structural integrity. The metal pieces, crafted by Flowesium, Arcanite, and Oricalcum provide stability and enhanced flow of mana, the black pieces were made using Dreamcloth for a nacreous sheen and common black leather for texture. Elizabeth finished her scan. ¡°Emily?¡± ¡°It¡¯s already done,¡± Emily says. ¡°What now?¡± ¡°Your avatara will manifest with the armor incorporated going forward.¡± Elizabeth flutters to the other suits. ¡°Why did you make twenty of them?¡± ¡°Well,¡± Sarah gestures to the ten made for the Sentinels. ¡°After working on Emily¡¯s brother I got started with the Sentinels.¡± She looks over at Tim¡¯s, bearing an orange hue and elements of a Jiang-Hu warrior. ¡°This one was designed with his spearwork in mind.¡± She then turns to the chartreuse one, bearing a skirt that resembles petals ¡°I insisted on designing this to protect Carla from the beasts living in Emily.¡± She then gestures to a suite of nearly identical outfits, black with pastel accents and various pieces accommodating the Coloratura¡¯s biology. ¡°The Magical Girls were a bit more difficult.¡± Elizabeth examines the coral pink one and notices it includes armored parts designed to be worn by Rose¡¯s tail. She then sees the light red one made for Raine Carnation Cadenza and notices the slits on top of the skirt. She then passes the peach-colored one designed for Strelitzia and looks at the yellow one designed for Lily. Which had to be mounted on one-and-a-half mannequins for display. ¡°You accounted for Lily¡¯s quadrupedal form?¡± ¡°Seemed like an obvious feature,¡± Sarah says. ¡°I¡¯m aware that some Centaurs prefer not to dress their hind legs, but Richard insisted on protection for the area. Plus we had the formalwear from Jay as a reference.¡± Elizabeth does recall the dwarves asking to examine those sets of clothing the night they won them from Gatsby Tower. Elizabeth looks at the magic mint green armor made for Clover. She notices it bears slits for her wings, similar to the light red armor. She then looks at the baby blue armor created for Hydrangea, similar to Strelitizia¡¯s peach-colored armor in all but color. Elizabeth then sees the periwinkle-colored armor created for Azalea. She notices that the armor lacks something present on all the others except Rose¡¯s. Sarah notices Elizabeth¡¯s quizzical look. ¡°We decided to forgo wrapping Azalea¡¯s tail after learning that she is a clionid and that her tail would be too gelatinous for anything on it to not fall off while swimming.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± Elizabeth says. She then takes a look at the last armor designed for the Coloraturas, a lavender color armor created for Anemone. She notices that it is also similar to Streltizia¡¯s. ¡°We did add holes for their tails where appropriate to be clear,¡± Sarah says. Sarah fights higher in the atelier to get a better view of these eight outfits. Nearly touching the purple ceiling. From this vantage point, she sees several common designs. A sailor-esque color, skirts with musical patterns, black pants for all except Azalea and Rose, and besides them are staves and a unique weapon. Azalea then looks to the right and sees that there was an outfit she missed next to Carla¡¯s, tropical indigo-colored and with a similar shirt as seen on her mother¡¯s armor. She then sees a white-colored one designed with Arachne¡¯s body in mind, and a rather young one at that. ¡°Nina wanted one too,¡± Sarah says. ¡°That figures,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Did you make one for Minerva?¡± ¡°She refused,¡± Sarah says with a shrug. ¡°She wanted me to make sure the armor isn¡¯t too dangerous for her daughter.¡± Emily chimes in. ¡°Sarah, what about Heathcliff¡¯s?¡± her voice echoes to Sarah. Sarah points towards a crimson suit of mail right between Emily¡¯s and Tim¡¯s. The armor¡¯s spauders resemble dog heads and the shield bears the visage of one on it as well. ¡°Brother wanted our dungeon master to be more stylish, and as you recalled we set out on getting certain metals to ensure they are adaptable and become more powerful with the wearer.¡± ¡°I remember,¡± Emily says. She then turns to a pair of short armors next to Tim¡¯s one is golden and seems to be modeled with marksmen in mind, and the other is silver and is designed for protection all around. ¡°Those are ours!¡± Sarah says with a grin. ¡°What? You think we¡¯d design gear for everyone but ourselves?¡± ¡°She does have a point,¡± Emily says. ¡°That leaves three unaccounted for. I¡¯m assuming two are for the Hermandezes?¡± ¡°Indeed they are!¡± Sarah says she directs Elizabeth and Emily¡¯s attention to the azure and indigo-colored ones. ¡°By the way, did you know the shade we used for Charlotte¡¯s is called ¡®a?il¡¯ in Cynthia?¡± ¡°Y-yes!¡± Elizabeth lies. In truth she didn¡¯t know that fact. She examines the two suits of powered mail and observes from the shape and proportions that the indigo-one is for Julia and the azure one is, firring for Esteban. She then looks to the teal colored armor next to it. ¡°If Minerva didn¡¯t want one¡­than who is this for?¡± ¡°Atsuko,¡± Sarah says. ¡°She talked to brother before leaving if you¡¯d recall. She wanted one for when she returns here with her instruments.¡± Elizabeth notices a second pattern. ¡°Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Cyan, Blue, Indigo, Magenta, White.¡± She says as she observes that two shades of each were used for the outfits. ¡°That was my idea.¡± Sarah says. ¡°I didn¡¯t want everything to be the same colors.¡± ¡°Where is Richard anyway?¡± Emily asks Sarah. ¡°Off on an errand,¡± Sarah says. ¡°He wants to be the one to introduce everyone to their new outfits, so please keep it to yourselves until tonight.¡± ¡°Will do!¡± Emily says. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°You have my thanks as well,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°It was my pleasure,¡± Sarah says. ¡°I had wanted a good reason to try out some smithing techniques I¡¯ve picked up from Noir as well.¡± Elizabeth leaves the atelier. ??? That night, Richard gathers Emily¡¯s Sentinels, as well as Heathcliff, Mienrva, Nina, Charlotte, Esteban, Julia, and Kaitlyn, at the Atelier within the Black Box. Elizabeth and Sarah are already at the building. A few others had also arrived out of curiosity, mostly the Archne. A small stage with a curtain was set up an hour ago to build suspense. ¡°So your little buddy had finished that project he told us about?¡± Esteban says. ¡°Yeah,¡± Heathcliff says, with a look of annoyance. ¡°This armor had better be the bee¡¯s knees!¡± Chiron is also here, learning that Esteban has moved to the Black Box. ¡°It¡¯s always nice to meet an old friend.¡± The centaur priest says. ¡°Ah, Chiron,¡± Esteban says. ¡°Heard you took to teaching some students.¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± Chiron says to the blue-coated man. ¡°I thought it my duty to the Administrators to shepherd the next generation of heroes.¡± ¡°Maybe if you are lucky, you might one day mentor a Messenger!¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Heh, wouldn¡¯t that be the day.¡± Meanwhile, the Coloraturas whisper amongst themselves about their new outfits and arms. While Tim grumbles at the sight of the centaur priest. Richard arrives at a podium he had set up in advance. Clad in his formal attire from Gatsby Tower. ¡°Bet you thought this outfit would only be used once,¡± he says to the crowd with a nervous smile. Heathcliff places his palm on his head. ¡°This is gonna take a while, isn¡¯t it?¡± It did indeed take a while before Richard could mustard the courage to showcase his new works. ¡°As you know, I¡¯ve used the trip to Noir as an opportunity to learn and to gather some materials with Emily¡¯s assistance. As such I felt it appropriate to begin with the dungeon herself. Emily?¡± ¡°With pleasure,¡± Emily¡¯s voice is heard from beneath the curtain. Her avatara walks to the stages, donning her new violet armor. The crowd notices the subtle differences from her previous outfit. Tim looks at her with curiosity. ¡°Hello, everyone,¡± Emily says. ¡°With that said,¡± Richard says while snapping his fingers. In a puff of smoke, his outfit changes into his new golden armor. Sarah and Elizabeth also take to the stage in theirs. ¡°I wanted to be certain that certain individuals would bear a distinctive look. One that is unique to the Black Box and the Black Box alone. So I had created a suite of garments and armors designed for us to use.¡± ¡°We¡¯d worked rather hard on these designs,¡± Sarah says. ¡°And accounted for each detail possible. It was a very long week.¡± ¡°I bet it was, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°The ones we are wearing now, are but a fraction of the fruits of our labor.¡± Richard approaches a rope suspended at the top of the stage. ¡°The rest shall be unveiled now!¡± he jumps and grabs the rope, as he lands, the tug of the rope causes the curtains to recede and reveal the mechanical armors. Each on a mannequin with a plaque with the names of the intended recipients. Fifteen armors in all. As the curtain rises Richard calls out the name of this line of armors; Cyberworks. ¡°Please come to the stage to receive your armor as we call you name,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°The changing rooms are over there.¡± She points in the direction of the stage¡¯s left. She begins with the Coloraturas. ¡°Rose Rhapsodia.¡± ¡°Coming!¡± Rose slithers onto the stage and takes the coral-pink armor. Her fluffy pigtails bob as she takes the pieces of the armor off the mannequin. Sarah helps the lama girl to the changing room, making sure Rose''s pink snake tail doesn''t tip the other mannequins over. ¡°Anemonie Aria.¡± The purple-haired girl moves to eh stage and takes the parts of the lavender armor. Emily directed her to the changing room. ¡°Azelia Adagio.¡± The clionid mermaid swims to the periwinkle armor. ¡°Wow!¡± she is dazzled by the design of the suit as she picks up the pieces. ¡°It¡¯s so light, I bet it won¡¯t sink like a stone!¡± she swims to the changing rooms, seeing where Rose and Anemone went. ¡°Hydrangea Harmony.¡± The skeptical girl walks to the stage and picks up the baby blue armor. Her fingers notice it is cold to the touch, a consequence of its metallic composition. She curtly follows Azelia. ¡°Clover Capriccio.¡± Streltizzia looks to the green-haired fawn and tells her ¡°Got get them.¡± The flighty girl prances on stage to take the magic mint green suit and then runs to the left, nearly tripping. By that point, Sarah and Emily had returned from leading Rose and Anemone to their changing rooms. ¡°Lily Borea Legato¡± ¡°Coming!¡± the blond centaur girl gallops towards the stage and takes the pastel yellow armor. Emily offers to help her, but Lily instead places all the pieces in a pile on her equine body and canters to the changing rooms without any of them falling over, to everyone¡¯s surprise. Elizabeth clears her throat. ¡°Streltizia Sonata.¡± The orange-haired minotaur simply walks to the stage,s takes the peach-colored armor, and follows Lily. ¡°Raine carnation Cadenza.¡± The last of the Coloraturas to get their armor was the red-headed phoenixian girl. She simply flies from her spot towards the light red armor. Taking the pieces in hand she carries to to the changing rooms. I¡¯ll go make sure these outfits are retained while they¡¯re magiclaized,¡± the fairy says. She follows Raine to the changing rooms and hands Richard a list. The dark-skinned blond dwarf clears his throat as he prepares to list the rest of the people yet to receive their new armor. ¡°Timothy Howard.¡± Tim walks onto the stage and takes the orange armor. ¡°Heathcliff Ford.¡± The red-headed knight sighs before walking to the stage. He takes the crimson armor as Sarah directs him to a changing room. ¡°Esteban Hernandez.¡± The dark-skinned man already wearing an azure suit walks towards the azure armor and takes it, he then walks towards a changing room. ¡°Julia Hernandez.¡± Julia walks to the stage and takes the indigo armor. Her violet-blue locks match the accents. ¡°Clara Truce.¡± The chartreuse skinned alraune gets her chartreuse colored armor. ¡°Charlotte Truce.¡± The indigo-petaled daughter of Clara follows suit and takes the pastel indigo armor. ¡°Nina Lycosa.¡± ¡°Yay!¡± Nina cheers as she runs on her eight arachnid legs. The white-haired spiderling climbs into the stage and takes the remaining platinum-colored armor. Minerva helps her daughter to the changing rooms to get dressed. A while later, everyone exists in the changing room, now clad in the dwarven-crafted armors. ¡°These suits are designed to grow as you grow,¡± Richard says. ¡°With these, you will never want for a sturdier armor or a sharper blade again.¡± Heathcliff does some movements with the armor and finds it rather comfortable. ¡°I guess it¡¯ll do for now, cher,¡± he says. Richard is satisfied by Heathcliff¡¯s response. He turns to the remaining audience. ¡°Thank you all for coming.¡± ¡°Was all this pomp and circumstance really necessary?¡± Heathcliff says. Esteban chuckles. ¡°Got a case of stage fright?¡± Heathcliff groans. Sarah hands everyone the weapons that correspond to the armor. The crowd cheers as they celebrate Richard¡¯s new armor and their models. With only the teal armor left to be claimed by its recipient, everyone but Richard and Sarah leave the atelier. ??? Time later sees Emily¡¯s avatara admiring her new outfit. ¡°Doesn''t that drain your perception of everything else while active?¡± Emily looks at Tim with surprise. ¡°Tim! Hello there.¡± Tim sighs. ¡°How is the fit?¡± Emily says. Referring to Tim¡¯s armor. ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± he says. In truth, he has an issue with how form-fitting some of the pieces are. Emily giggles. She looks back on the events in Noir. ¡°A lot of things happened while we visited the city.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Tim says. He looks at Emily¡¯s avatara and feels something he could not describe. Emily looks towards an opening in her dungeon body, a window she had created so that she could look outside while piloting her avatara. The moonlight illuminates the blue and black room. ¡°We have six spheres and ten new residents, and an eleventh on the way,¡± Tim says. ¡°It seems like things are gonna be more hectic around here.¡± ¡°It does, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Emily says with twee excitement. ¡°And I¡¯ll be counting on you and the others to help me handle it all, Timmy.¡± Tim is exacerbated with how chipper Emily is today, and annoyed with her choice of nickname. ¡°Timmy?¡± he says while blushing. Emily giggles some more at seeing Tim¡¯s flustered face. Tim sighs again. ¡°So how is your meditation?¡± Emily says. ¡°Did you manage to learn how to create a wind shield?¡± ¡°Kinda,¡± Tim says. ¡°As you could probably attest.¡± He is not sure how it only seems to work when he is near Emily. He feels like he is missing something. Tim is lost in thought as he tries to find out what the missing piece is. Emily grabs Tim¡¯s hand. He feels the warmth flow into his hands and a sudden gust of wind suddenly enters through the window. The gust nearly blows the two off their feet. ¡°What is the¡ª¡± Tim wonders how did that happen. The radio mentioned that the night would have nothing but still winds tonight. He feels another gust coming and braces himself. Emily¡¯s avatara holding his hand. He readies his Qiang and prepares to defend them however he can. He makes some movements¡­and the gust never comes, instead, the wind begins swirling around him and Emily. It was in this calm that Tim had an epiphany. He called on the wind to protect Emily. He laughs at this sudden realization. The wind stills and Emily looks at Tim with a look of concern. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Tim says. ¡°I just realized something that I should¡¯ve realized long ago. Thank you Emily and good night.¡± Tim leaves the room, to sleep and then to mediate on why he can only successfully call a wind shield when Emily is in danger. As Emily looks at the boy she wonders what fate has in store for them next. Chapter XXV: The Whammy Bid A few days pass as everyone is getting used to their new Cyberworks armors. Esteban looks over the notes he had copped from the files from Gatsby Tower and discovers something in the route¡¯s the Vorhees Gang. A route stops in a dungeon in the Underground, in the Slate Grey district of Noir. Meanwhile, Heathcliff and Emily are working on something. ¡°Are you sure a radio is necessary?¡± Emily says. ¡°Of course, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°The guild can sometimes be slow with the news.¡± He fiddles with a radio and a set of speakers. ¡°Plus I didn¡¯t see any function in the Dungeon skill tree.¡± Elizabeth flies in. ¡°Amenities like that are usually installed by other means,¡± she says. ¡°How are the children?¡± Emily says to Elizabeth. ¡°No luck,¡± the fairy says. ¡°The kids of Hamlin are still under the impression that they here all their lives, and rousing their memories of the village is proving difficult. Even proving they were kidnapped by Pruflas is proving difficult.¡± A sorrowful wind blows through the core room. Heathcliff furnishes setting up the radio. The device turns on in the middle of a news report. ¡°¡ªthe two men, who were found on the surface at 2:00 AM last night. The Guards had claimed that the corpses were found in the Slate Grey district of Noir.¡± ¡°Hehe, got it!¡± Heathcliff says. The report tells of the incident in Noir. A pair of adventurers were killed following an excursion into the underground near the sewer entrances. The Ebony Guards had released a press statement claiming it was a monster attack. ¡°A monster attack?¡± Emily asks. ¡°A belligerent [Sentinel] may have attacked these two,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°But why would they do that?¡± Emily says. ¡°A Sentinels¡¯ job is to protect the dungeon first and foremost,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°That includes finding a way to supply them with mana is necessary. Several malignant Dungeons usually facilitate this by sending their Sentinels out to attack adventurers, especially if they are unable to create an avatara or move outside by themselves. The reason is that adventurers slain by these sentinels can absorb their mana.¡± Emily wonders if that was the goal of the priests in Tarantulopolis when they kidnapped Sarah and Nina. ¡°There is another option,¡± Esteban walks in. ¡°A few Dungeons had been used by the Syndicate for shelter and base of operations, usually for bootlegging. The corpses were reported to be in the Slate Grey district, yes?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what the radio says,¡± Emily says. ¡°It is possible that the monster was used as a hitman,¡± Esteban says. ¡°Though the bigger question here is why.¡± ¡°You want to go investigate, huh?¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Indeed,¡± Esteban says. ¡°If this is tied to the Syndicate then it presents a threat to the Exsecratii and Elegere and a threat to fellow dungeons. I will try to investigate the matter at Noir.¡± Heathcliff nods. ¡°Let us know if you find the root.¡± Esteban leaves. Emily mulls over the idea of Sentinel being used to kill people in cold blood. The through of terrifies her. ¡°Why would they do something like this?¡± she thinks. ??? At the same time, The children are busy playing with each other. Rose and Anemone look at Kaitlyn as she paints a portrait of her technological surroundings. Rose looks at the young girl with curiosity. ¡°She seems like a good painter,¡± Rose says. Azalea swims towards Kaitlin. ¡°Hey, Katie.¡± ¡°Hello Azalea,¡± Kaitlyn says. The clione mermaid examines the painting, of a forest of dead trees beneath a large moon in a Grey sky. Reminiscent of one of the settings of Spurious Mundus. ¡°You have a knack for panting huh?¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± Kaitlyn says. Rose notices a strange lack of humor in Azalea¡¯s dialog. ¡°Hmm, she usually quips to everyone.¡± Kaitlyn turns to Rose and Anemone, ¡°You guys want to see my painting too?¡± Rose was taken aback. ¡°She caught us!¡± Azalea giggles. ¡°You guys blend in worse than the paint on her palette.¡± ¡°And there¡¯s the quips,¡± Anemone thinks. The lamia slithers over towards the easel and sees the eerie painting. ¡°Looks a little creepy,¡± ¡°What do you mean ¡®creepy¡¯?¡± Kaitlyn says. ¡°Where are the leaves?¡± Rose says. ¡°The fuzzy animals? The sunlight? It looks dead.¡± Kaitlyn looks at the painting and realizes despite its elegance, it does depict a dead forest. ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°Why did you paint this landscape?¡± Anemone innocently asks. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Kaitlyn says. ¡°It just popped in my head and felt I had to draw it.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Azalea says. ¡°I¡¯m gonna go make a like a tree and leaf.¡± The blue-haired child swims away. The awkward silence fills the air. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m gonna go follow Azalea.¡± Rose slithers away. Anemone looks at Kaitlin, a little forlorn. The purple-haired girl walks to the painter. ¡°It¡¯s beautiful,¡± she says. ¡°Really?¡± Kaitlyn is surprised by Anemone¡¯s complement. ¡°Of course,¡± Anemone says with a smile. Kaitlyn, elated, replaces the canvas and gets to work on a new piece. Anemone hears someone calling her name. ¡°I have to go,¡± Anemone says. ¡°See you later.¡± Kaitlyn is too focused on her work to hear Anemone. The wolf-eared girl leaves Kaitlyn to find out who called her. Anemone arrives to see Strelitzia arguing with an Arachne child. The belligerent minotaur was shouting about the drink. ¡°Heh,¡± the boy says. ¡°First come first serve. You should¡¯ve known that. The cocky child smirks. ¡°You little brat!¡± Streltizia says. ¡°That was the last cup of chocolate milk!¡± Azalea tries to quell the tension. ¡°Maybe we should moo-ve on guys?¡± Streltizia glares at Azalea. Rose sighs. ¡°Guess Stre woke up on the wrong side of the bed today.¡± Strelitzia humps and storms off, grumbling to herself. ¡°Is she always like this?¡± an Arachne girl says. ¡°Only when milk is involved,¡± Rose says. Anemone then notices Euryale and Stheno talking to some of the child Constructs. She turns her attention to the sisters. ¡°Demon pipers?¡± one girl says. ¡°There are no demons here, silly.¡± ¡°And why are you insisting we come from this ¡®Hamlin¡¯ place?¡± a boy asks. ¡°Hamlin?¡± Anemone knows that Charlotte comes from there, but she had no idea that there were other children from the village here. ¡°It¡¯s true!¡± Euryale says. ¡°A demon brought you guys here!¡± ¡°You two sure have vivid imaginations,¡± the mouse-eared girl says. ¡°Jenny,¡± another girl says. ¡°Dinner is almost over.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Jenny says. ¡°You¡¯re right Danielle. See you guys later.¡± The two girls leave alongside the boy. To Euryale¡¯s frustration. ¡°Why won¡¯t they believe us?¡± Euryale says. Anemone approaches them. ¡°Is something wrong?¡± Euryale notices that the wolf-eared girl had watched their futile attempt to remind their fellow children about the village they called home. ¡°Umm¡­¡± she tries to think of something to say. ¡°We were simply talking with them is all,¡± Stheno asks. Anemone is curious. ¡°Are you two from Hamlin?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Euryale says. ¡°That seems like a faraway place,¡± Anemone says. She then recalls their introduction. ¡°You¡¯re Charlotte¡¯s friends, right?¡± ¡°Yes we are,¡± Euryale says. ¡°Indubitably,¡± Stheno says. Anemone could sense that unlike the other Construct Children here these two felt more normal. She couldn''t place her finger on why, or why the others feel off to her. ¡°How did you two come to be with Emily?¡± The sisters are unsure whether or not they should answer Anemone¡¯s question. Anemone takes their silence as suspicious. But before she could press them she hears Lydia call out to the children. Lydia and several of her helpers alert the children that it is bedtime. Several of the spiderlings had already climbed up the walls to the webs they usually rest at. Other spiderlings had buried themselves neck-deep in the floor. Anemone sees one of them scolding Streltizia and the Arachne boy for arguing over chocolate milk. She finds that Raine, Lily, Hydrangea, Clover, Azalea, and Rose are already placed in several resting holes dug specifically for them, with Nina talking with Minerva nearby. She then finds her own ¡°bed¡±, between Rose¡¯s and Azalea¡¯s. She then sees the constructed children walk into another room as she shimmies into the resting hole. Rose yawns. ¡°This is surprisingly warm!¡± The Coloraturas were aware that it is a common practice of Arachne broods to have their young sleep in either silken cocoons suspended on webs or buried in the ground. But some struggle with the lack of a proper bed. Several of them see Strelitzia move towards her hole, between Lily and Raine. Raine sighs. ¡°You got worked up over the chocolate milk again?¡± Strelizia rolls her eyes. Lily yawns. Her ¡°bed¡± is wider than average, owning to her centaur body. ¡°So do you have any plans today?¡± ¡°I want to ask Emily if there is anything we can do at Noir tomorrow,¡± Rose says. ¡°We just left that city and you want to go back?¡± Strelitizia says with a sigh. ¡°Typical.¡± The girls end up chatting until Lydia arrives. The broodmother greets the girls. ¡°Hello, ladies.¡± ¡°Hello Miss Lydia,¡± the Coloraturas say in unison. ¡°How are the beds?¡± Lydia asks. The girls give various opinions of them. Rose notes how warm the floor is, Hydrangea asks how they avoid sickness. Raine simply asks if the floor is insulated. Anemone asks if Emily helps with preparations. ¡°She does, dearie,¡± the broodmother answers. Streltizia asks about the webs, Azalea asks about Charlotte. ¡°I¡¯d bet she be well planted here,¡± the mermaid says afterwards. ¡°Charlotte has a bedroom near Carla,¡± Lydia says. Lily and Clover both ask a more pertinent question. How would they sleep with the ground hugging them so tightly. Lydia chuckles. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, leave it all to me, just look deep into my eyes¡­¡± The Coloraturas gaze into the broodmother¡¯s eyes, being lulled to sleep by her hypnotic gaze. The lullabic effect of Lydia¡¯s eyes sends the magical girls drifting off into asleep they shan¡¯t wake from until the sun rises or until Lydia breaks the spell. With the Coloraturas slumbering like little logs, Lydia leaves them be to check on the other kids in her care. ??? The next day, Azalea prepares some of her stand-up routines with the other girls. ¡°There is this new car on the streets, the Centurion, It claims to have one hundred horsepower, but I only saw one horse there.¡± Lily was among the few who laughed at the joke. Strelitzia rolls her eyes. Anemone meanwhile focuses more on Charlotte and her two friends. She looks at the Alraune and the two Constructs. Rose sees her purple-haired friend is distracted from Azalea¡¯s comedy reversal. ¡°Something up, Anemone?¡± Rose says The wolf-eared girl¡¯s hat falls off as she turns to see Rose. ¡°No, I mean it¡¯s just¡ª¡± Rose looks at Anemone with a knowing look. ¡°Come on, don¡¯t try to lie to me.¡± Anemone sighs. ¡°I think there is a lot more to these three, and to our fellow kids, than they are letting on.¡± She points to Charlotte, Euryale, and Stehno talking about various topics. ¡°You don¡¯t say?¡± Rose says sarcastically. ¡°I¡¯m serious Rose,¡± Anemone says. She picks up her hat, the one carryover from her old outfit. ¡°Haven¡¯t you noticed these mouse-like kids acting strange?¡± Rose did notice Charlotte was acting strange on that train ride. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll go ask them what is going on!¡± Rose slithers towards Charlotte. ¡°Rose, wait!¡± Anemone follows her. ¡°Hey, girls!¡± Rose greets Charlotte, Euryale, and Stheno. ¡°Hey, Rose!¡± Euryale says. ¡°Hello,¡± Charlotte says. ¡°To what do we owe the pleasure?¡± Stheno asks. ¡°One of my friends was wondering about something,¡± the pink-haired lamia says. ¡°Oh?¡± Charlotte says. The Arion sisters see Anemone running to Rose and recall what had happened last night. ¡°I see,¡± Stheno says with a polite tone. ¡°Alas, the matter Anemone wants to inquire about is rather complicated.¡± ¡°Complicated?¡± Rose says. Rose noticed Charlotte¡¯s expression changing to a forlorn one. ¡°What happened? If you need anything, you can count on the Coloraturas to help!¡± Euryale sighs. ¡°Look, can this wait until later? We¡¯re kinda busy.¡± ¡°With what?¡± Anemone asks. ¡°With¡­¡± Euryale struggles to think of an excuse. Stehno and Charlotte look at her with a confused expression. Anemone intuits that this is a topic she doesn¡¯t want to talk about. ¡°Alright then. I won¡¯t bug you anymore. Come on, Rose.¡± She leaves the table. ¡°Wait, what?¡± Rose says. ¡°Hey wait up!¡± Euryale breathes a sigh of relief. Charlotte looks at her. ¡°Thanks,¡± she says. ¡°No problem,¡± Euryale says. ¡°Pardon me,¡± the other sister says. ¡°But I fear they will eventually learn what became of us, and of the other children of Hamlin.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Charlotte says. ¡°It¡¯s just¡ª¡± Her mind flashes back to the day of her mother¡¯s trick on the village. ¡°That wolf girl seems rather knowledgeable,¡± Stheno says. ¡°What makes you think that?¡± Euryale says. The three girls talk about Rose¡¯s offer. Meanwhile, Rose and Anemone return to Azalea¡¯s rehearsal. The mermaid recently cracked a joke about the term ¡°dungeon¡± that has a few of the kids chortling. ¡°What was that for?¡± Rose says. ¡°It¡¯s clear that it is a sensitive topic for them,¡± Anemone says. ¡°And for Charlotte especially.¡± Rose recalls the Alraune girl¡¯s expression. ¡°Yeah, but¡ª¡± ¡°You know we can¡¯t be butting into other people¡¯s business like that!¡± Anemone says. The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Raine sees the two girls talking and sighs. ¡°Rose, what did you do?¡± ¡°I was simply asking those girls over there what¡¯s going on! That¡¯s all.¡± Rose says. Hydrangea and Clover look at Raine as she sighs. ¡°Rose, you know Anemone¡¯s right.¡± Hydrangea expects Rose to make the usual hyperbolic comparison. ¡°Before you say it, it is clearly evident that their lives are not in danger.¡± Rose tries to raise a finger in protest but fails to think up a proper retort. Raine sighs again. ¡°I get that you want to help, but you need to respect other people¡¯s privacy.¡± Azalea finishes her practice routine. ¡°Thank you everybody. I¡¯ll be here all week!¡± The children head off to do various tasks. With Lily, offering to help Lydia take care of Nina and the other spiderlings and Rose slithering off to a secluded location. ??? Emily looks over her skill trees, with a little over nine hundred points remaining. She looks at her unlocked skills. Namely Telepathy. ¡°Hey, Lizzie?¡± her voice echoes to Elizabeth near the dwarves¡¯ atelier. ¡°Yes?¡± the fairy responds.¡± ¡°I just realized something about Telepathy,¡± Emily says. ¡°Don¡¯t I usually communicate that way without an avatara?¡± ¡°Ah,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°There is a distinction here. {{Telepathy}} is the reading of others through. The normal way a dungeon core communicates without an avatara is by projecting its thoughts onto others. The skill only makes it a two-way process.¡± Emily hears someone calling to her from elsewhere. She turns her ¡°vision¡± to the source and finds Rose on her lonesome. ¡°Hello, Rose. What¡¯s up?¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoes to the pink-haired girl. ¡°Hey Emmy,¡± Rose says. Emily decided to test telepathy on Rose and see what her question was. ¡°Maybe she can tell me why those mice-kids are so ¡­strange.¡± Rose thinks. Emily is unsure if she should answer the question. She fears what would happen if they learn about how Pruflas tricked her into absorbing them, and also how Clara had turned herself in and faked her demise to buy them time to devise a way to free them. ¡°I¡¯m sorry Rose, but that is a question I can¡¯t answer,¡± Emily says. ¡°Wait, I hadn¡¯t even asked anything yet,¡± Rose says. ¡°You wanted to ask me about the Hamlin children, right?¡± Rose is surprised to hear that. ¡°That obvious, huh?¡± ¡°Rose,¡± Emily says. She is aware of the hypocrisy inherent in lecturing her about privacy after reading her mind. She decides to change the topic. ¡°How about I bring you and your friends with me on the next adventure?¡± ¡°She¡¯s totally changing the topic, Still¡­¡± Rose thinks. ¡°Of course,¡± she says. ¡°I¡¯d like to to test my new sword out.¡± She slithers on her way. Emily reminds herself about the risks that come with overuse of Telepathy. She then hears Heathcliff call out to her and prepares to ask him what he needs. ??? Meanwhile, Esteban is in Noir¡¯s Slate Grey district. Wearing a disguise, he looks over the crime scene. Two chalk outlines and a puddle of blood were plastered on the sidewalk. The area is outlined with yellow tape, a security border that would incur the wrath of the Guards if trespassed. He looks at the puddle of blood and notices a glint coming from it. He sees a strange bump in the ground. A metallic object is slightly visible in the sanguine puddle. He picks up the metal object and examines it. It resembles a pellet with a diameter of less than half an inch. ¡°Point forty-five bullets.¡± Esteban knows the ammunition well, having first-hand experience avoiding gunfire with his skills. He leaves the scene of the deaths, knowing that a suspicion of his is confirmed. Later, in the oft overlook crevices of the Underground, he meets up with Mister Soprano. ¡°I hear youse are looking into those deaths?¡± ¡°Nothing gets past you, Mr Soprano,¡± he hands the shell to the fellow rouge. ¡°Any idea where this comes from?¡± Mr. Sorpano examines the bullet. He takes out an enchanted magnifying glass and looks through it. After a few minutes of looking through the arcane item, he returns the discarded bullet casing to Esteban. ¡°Radio claimed they were adventurers right?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Esteban says. ¡°I might know a guy,¡± Mr. Soprano says. ¡°Follow me.¡± An hour later, Esteban and Mr. Soprano arrive at a pawn shop on the surface. The Elego appraiser greets Mr. Soprano with a warm smile. ¡°Hey, ragazzo,¡± he says. He turns to the disguised Esteban. ¡°Whose your friend?¡± ¡°A guy looking into them murders,¡± Mr. Soprano says. Esteban hands over the bullet. The appraiser sees the bloodstains on it. ¡°Not afraid of the Guards huh?¡± Esteban nods. ¡°Tell ¡®em, what does this say about the hit?¡± The appraiser examines the bullet. ¡°Looks like it was made from mythril. Scarce stuff.¡± She then smells the bullet. The scent of blood fills his nostrils, but he detects a faint whiff of alcohol as well. ¡°Seems like someone had his happy juice.¡± ¡°Mythril huh?¡± Esteban knows of a few dungeons in Noir that produce the metal, but none are in the Underground, he then considers where the metal was processed. I understand that it is commonly used for ammunition for guns.¡± ¡°As fast as quicksilver, as light as cloth,¡± the appraiser says. ¡°A mythril bullet can kill a man or two before they even know it. These things are vastly regulated across all of Libert¨¦¡± Esteban asks the appraiser something. ¡°Do you know who could get their hands on these types of bullets?¡± The appraiser thinks about the question for a few minutes. ¡°Hmm, I heard rumors of someone having bought out of Joyfuller Island. Near the abandoned amusement park. Ever since then, people have told me they saw strange vehicles coming and going to the factory. Said they saw black hayburners lining up in front of the gates at midnight every night.¡± Esteban wonders something. He knows that Slate Grey is not a well-watched district and that the Guards usually send one patrolman to look over the area. ¡°How do you know about these vehicles?¡± Esteban asks. ¡°A friend told me,¡± the appraiser says. ¡°He says he saw two guys get carried into a truck on that caravan.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Esteban says. ¡°Thank you for the information.¡± ¡°No problem, any friend of the ragazzo here is a friend of mine.¡± The appraiser says. Esteban and Mr. Soprano leave. ¡°How did you find him?¡± ¡°You¡¯d be surprised the folk you see willing to help a guy out.¡± Mr. Soprano looks at Esteban¡¯s disguise. ¡°I¡¯d add a few patches, by the way.¡± Esteban¡¯s disguise is centered on a tattered suit with holes and a scarf obscuring his mouth. ¡°Noted,¡± Esteban says. ¡°You learn anything lately?¡± ¡°Nada,¡± Mr. Sorpano says. ¡°I need to get closer to them consiglieres to gather useful information.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± Esteban says. ¡°Good luck,¡± ¡°You too,¡± Mr. Sorpano says. The two men part ways. ??? Esteban heads towards Joyfuller Island. The scent of carnival food wafts in eh air as the disguised man walks down a carnival. The streets were lined by stands selling various trinkets and several rides constricted a year ago. He inquires about local factories in the area, but the carnies claim not to know what he is talking about. He asks them about the vehicles but they deny seeing anything like that. Esteban leaves them be. A clown bumps into Esteban. Running down the streets filled with people seeking a good time and carnies looking to entertain them. Esteban then something following the clown. He uses his magic to cloak himself and sees several people strutting down the walkway. He observes their clothing, grey suit, red tie, and gauze wrapping their heads. Their eyes are obscured by sunglasses. ¡°Vanishers,¡± Esteban thinks. The strangely attired men are unaware of Esteban¡¯s presence as they ask everyone about a running clown. One of them lifts a child by the collar after receiving an unsatisfactory answer. ¡°Let them down, Bruno,¡± one of the suited men says. ¡°Not much to be gained here.¡± Bruno puts the child down, they run towards their mother, who glares at the man. He then addressed the crown. ¡°We know someone had paid a small visit to one of our nearby facilities. Though he could get away with purloining a souvenir. If we find out that anyone is harboring our thief behind our backs, then both of you will learn what it¡¯s like to swim with the fish.¡± The three mobsters leave. Esteban, still cloaked, follows the trip away from the carnival. He tracks them to a complex near the shores of the island. Its perimeter is secured by fences with barbed wire and manticores patrol the other side of the fence. Esteban sees several signs of a Natural Dungeon here. The most obvious ones are the manticores. He refreshes the duration of his cloaking spell and then uses the opportunity to learn what he can about this new Dungeon. Throughout the next few hours, he learned that the manticores were being trained by Vanishers. He overhears two mobsters gloat about the two fallen victims heard about on the radio. Their gloating confirms they had killed the two adventurers and moved their corpses to the Slate Grey district. As night falls, he leaves the Dungeon. ??? The next day, Esteban returns to the Black Box and tells Emily what he knows. ¡°Vanishers?¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoes to Esteban. ¡°One of Noir¡¯s Five Families. So-called because they tend to make people ¡®vanish¡¯,¡± Esteban says. ¡°A defector from them had taught me certain tricks.¡± ¡°And they are residing in a Dungeon?¡± Emily asks. ¡°Yes, quite a recent one too.¡± Esteban looks at Heathcliff entering the room. ¡°They are likely using it to supply them with ammo.¡± ¡°So they are using a Mythril-producing dungeon to make bullets,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Sounds like the mob alright.¡± Emily is confused, by Heathcliff¡¯s statement. ¡°The firearms are heavily regulated in Noir and most of Libert¨¦ following a long string of shootings on guildhalls and several other places. Only the military and certain guilds can legally use them, the Syndicate being neither,¡± Heathcliff explains. ¡°And before you ask, the resources needed to bulletproof a building and everyone in it is not exactly easy to get. Unless the place is lucky enough to be in a dungeon or be a dungeon, it takes a lot to protect it from firearms and magic.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve checked with my contacts on the way back, and they have confirmed that the Guards¡¯ records have no mention of a registered dungeon in Joyfuller Island. It¡¯s Rouge.¡± Emily considers the option. On one hand, she doesn¡¯t think that a dungeon that new would yield that much mana, on the other hand, she knows that if it is allowed to exist then innocent people would get hurt. ¡°How long would it take for us to reach Joyfuller Island?¡± Emily says. ??? A few days later. Emily¡¯s avatara, Tim, Esteban, Julia, and the Coloraturas arrive on Joyfuller Island. The magical girls immediately take to the carnival trappings. ¡°Are you sure this is a good idea?¡± Esteban says. ¡°I said I would bring them with me on my next adventure,¡± Emily says. ¡°Plus Rose claims they have experience dealing with mobsters.¡± ¡°That is true,¡± Esteban says. He notices that Emily has a statue of a rabbit she had created. ¡°Why did you bring that with you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s cute,¡± Emily says. ¡°The rabbit statue is one of the first things I made as a dungeon.¡± She then looks around the carnival. The smell of fried food fills the air as the sounds of carnival games and whirling rides echoes for miles. ¡°We have a few hours until sunset, right?¡± ¡°Right,¡± Esteban says. ¡°Nightfall is out best opportunity for infiltrating the factory.¡± Tim notices that the carnival is hosting an auction nearby. Curious, he checks it out. The carnie running the auction begins advertising the next item. ¡°Alright, ladies and germs, what we have here is a special one-of-a-kind project car, the Genic 7200 refurbished with rare upholstery and lovingly washed. The carnie gestures to a busted-up car that shows signs of water damage and tacky furnishing. ¡°Bidding starts at twenty silvers.¡± A man raises a sign, ¡°Twenty-one!¡± he exclaims. ¡°Thirty!¡± a woman exclaims. ¡°One gold!¡± a lamia mother says. Tim rolls his eyes. ¡°This is absurd,¡± he thinks. He begins to leave before his eyes catch something in the auctioneer¡¯s other wares. A purple sphere of concentrated energy. An Umbrasphere, there is no mistake about it. Meanwhile, Raine buys several chocolate churros from a stand. The Phoenixian girl gives the other Coloraturas one each. Later, Clover, Lily, and Streltizia ride one of the roller coasters. Anemone meanwhile sits next to a goldfish catching stand. Emily sits next to her. ¡°Something on your mind?¡± ¡°No,¡± Anemone says. ¡°Just thinking about something. ¡°Maybe I can get Lily that bear plush from the ring stand? ¡°Anemone thinks. Emily hears that thought, despite knowing that she hasn¡¯t activated her telepathy. ¡°Huh?¡± she thinks. She then begins sharing the thoughts of the other coloraturas. Rose is thinking about sweets, Clover is frightened by the ride she and her friends are on. Azalea thinks about sneaking into one of the goldfish bowls as a prank. Emily hears each of these thoughts. ¡°What is going on?¡± she thinks as she ¡°hears¡± the magical girl¡¯s thoughts. She struggles to block them. Anemone sees Emily and thinks she is suffering from a migraine. She notices sparks of purple lightning emanating from the avatar¡¯s cranium and realizes something is amiss. She takes some of her items and constructs a small charm. ¡°Here,¡± she says. ¡°Take it.¡± Emily takes the charm and the intrusive thoughts stop. Her head is clear. ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°Telepathy is one of those skills that flare up from time to time, often activated at times where you don¡¯t want it to,¡± the fellow purple-haired girl says. ¡°Wait, I haven¡¯t told anyone my skills!¡± Emily says. ¡°You¡¯d be surprised at how dungeon skills manifest on avataras,¡± Anemone says. ¡°How do you know about this?¡± Emily says. ¡°Lizzie hadn''t told me until last week!¡± ¡°I make it a point to learn about magic in general,¡± Anemone says. She stands with a proud posture, her fists held above her waist. ¡°Such arcane knowledge is useful for dealing with dungeons and Strega!¡± ¡°Oh, thank you,¡± Emily says ¡°In that case¡­¡± Tim approaches them. ¡°Anemone was it? Can you verify something for me?¡± ¡°Sure!¡± the wolf-eared girl says. Tim leads his purple-haired friends to the auction. ??? Tim, Emily, and Anemone see the purple sphere being set up. Anemone examines the feature. ¡°Is that an Umbrasphere?¡± she says. ¡°That¡¯s what I want to find out,¡± Tim says. ¡°Compared to everything else here it could be a forgery.¡± Anemone approaches the carnie, bearing a wide-eyed curious smile. ¡°Excuse me, sir, could you mind telling me what that is?¡± ¡°Why of course, little miss,¡± the auctioneer says. ¡°There is here is a rare Umbrasphere, one of the Elementalitst¡¯s Spheres. Capable of granting or enhancing powers of darkness.¡± While the carnie prattles off knowledge Anemonie already knows, the young girl carefully examines the sphere. Its dark amethyst visage bears no scratches. A faint purple glow emanates from the sphere. At its center lies a black mass that is characteristic of Umbralspheres, always shifting but unable to break from its confines¡ªthe representation of the crystallized dark mana. ¡°If it¡¯s a counterfeit,¡± Anenome thinks. ¡°It¡¯s a rather convincing one.¡± She is certain the Umbrapshere is real. She thanks the auctioneer and returns to Emily and Tim. Emily knows the Umbrapshere is one of two that she knows she is missing, the other being the azure Aquaspehre. ¡°We have to get it!¡± she says. ¡°It¡¯s gonna cost a fortune,¡± Anemone says. ¡°Ladies and germs, ¡°the auctioneer says. ¡°We have a real gem of an item for sale! A one hundred percent, authentic, Umbrapshere. Bend the shades to your will. Master the light-sucking powers of darkness. Enhance the latent darkness within. Will darkness within darkness await you? Bidding starts at one gold.¡± The crowd clamors as they try to outbid each other. ¡°Two gold!¡± ¡°Three gold!¡± ¡°Five gold¡± ¡°Fifty gold!¡± The price inflates as Elegere patrons outbid each other, but Tim has an idea. ¡°Emily, You said you brought one of your rabbit statues?¡± ¡°Yes, why?¡± Emily says. ¡°May I borrow it for a bit?¡± Tim says. Emile senses Tim is up to something, and realizes that there is a chance that she might now see the specific statue again. She hands Tim the statue. ¡°Seventy gold!¡± ¡°Seventy-five gold!¡± Some of the poorer bidders had already left, knowing that the umbrasphere was priced out of their range. Tim, with rabbit statue in hand, approaches the auction. ¡°Excuse me, sir, are you interested in a trade?¡± ¡°A barter you say?¡± the carnie asks. ¡°If it¡¯s for the Umbraspehre then you¡¯ll have to prove the value of the item in question.¡± Emily is unsure if Tim¡¯s plan will work. Tim presents the statue to the carnie. ¡°What I have here is a usual statue, made of an unheard-of material that is seldom seen on Titania, if it is seen at all. I had obtained this relic from a faraway dungeon and had it analyzed by experts,¡± Tim partially lies. ¡°They say this object is made by and of technology that is only heard in the whispers of those claiming to have made contact with Messengers. It carries a large amount of mana within.¡± The carnie humors Tim¡¯s claim and takes out his tools. The skeptical crowd murmurs amongst themselves as the auctioneer takes out a microscope and uses it on Tim¡¯s statue. He sees several small entities through the lens. He chips off an ear from the statue but sees it reabsorbed and reformed into it. He feels around and notices it doesn''t deform with his touch. He takes out an instrument used for ganging mana levels and places the stature on it. He finds that it holds an equal amount of mana to the Umbraspehre. ¡°Astra forfend,¡± the man is shocked to see the readings. He turns to the other bidders. ¡°Folks there has been a recent development. Someone here is offering an item that is worth the equivalent of five hundred platinums.¡± ¡°Five hundred platinums!¡± one of the bidders says. ¡°This can¡¯t be right,¡± the lamia mother from before says. Emily is stunned to learn her dinky little statues were worth that much. ¡°A novelty above novelties, this item is being accepted as a bid of five hundred platinum. Is anyone going for five hundred platinums and one gold? Going once!¡± The crowd stays silent. ¡°Going twice!¡± There is still no response, save the dejected murmurs of the bidders. ¡°Sold, to the fine young man in exchange for the statue. Thank you for your business.¡± ¡°My pleasure,¡± Tim says. He takes the purple sphere and returns to Emily and Anemone. ¡°Was my statures really that valuable?¡± Emily says. ¡°For now,¡± Tim says. ¡°But we should regroup with the others.¡± Emily takes the sphere and tries to absorb it through her avatara. ??? As they approach the entrance of the auction house leading to the wider carnival, they hear a voice calling out to them. ¡°Hold it.¡± The trio is approached by a man. He dons a white jacket, with brown pants on suspenders. He is flanked by two burly-looking men carrying weapons. The man looks at the purple sphere in Emily¡¯s hand, bearing a smile that does little to hide the underlying malice. ¡°That Umbrasphere belongs to me.¡± He says aggressively. Tim sizes up the man, he smells of nicotine and alcohol. The two men looked poised to fight. ¡°Oh?¡± Tim closes his eyes and flashes a cocky smile. ¡°Yes, really,¡± the man says. ¡°Whatever swill that carnie told you is wrong. His goons had swindled it from me.¡± Anemone notices some features of the man were somehow familiar, his outfit most of all. As if she should recognize the white jacket and brown lacks combo from before. ¡°How did you come across this sphere then?¡± Emily says curiously. ¡°What¡¯s it to you?¡± the man says. ¡°Answer her question,¡± Tim says. ¡°If you do have a legitimate claim to the item, then you should explain how you chanced up it, should you not?¡± ¡°That¡¯s none of yer business!¡± one of the bodyguards says. The man raises his hand, gesturing to his bodyguard to shush. ¡°I gots it from a dungeon, you see,¡± the grinning man lies. ¡°I don¡¯t recall which one, but it was certainly a dungeon. Satisfied?¡± Tim examines the man¡¯s face as he gives his claim, he notices his hesitance towards answering Emily¡¯s question and his absence from the bidding war. At the same time, he is aware that the Umbraspehre is very out of place alongside the junk that the auction house was selling. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you alert the Ebony Guards? Surely they would¡¯ve known if such a rare and powerful item was stolen and would address the theft if you were forthright with them.¡± ¡°Are you calling Vinny a liar?¡± one of the bodyguards says. Vinny gives a confounded expression. ¡°Vinny?¡± Anemone says. It suddenly clicked. She recognized this man as one of the Syndicate. Emily considers using Telepathy to verify Vinny¡¯s claims but realizes it wouldn''t work as he is not a resident of the Black Box. She looks at Anemone and sees her mouth agape at the realization. She loosens her charm while holding the Umbrasphere. As he removes it from her arm, the purple orb glows. The lights suddenly turn off, confusing everyone in the auction house. ¡°What in Astra¡¯s name?¡± one bidder yells. ¡°We are expecting technical difficulties, please be assured the lights will be back on shortly.¡± The auctioneer tries to assure everyone. In pitch-black darkness, Emily feels an influx of dark-aspected mana. At this time she learns what Anemone had thought of the man. She had reconciled him as Vinny Smiles. A ¡°Cleaner¡± of the syndicate who is tasked with procuring various items under false pretenses on behalf of the five families. She recognizes the mobster is a charlatan. Tim uses the opportunity to take down one of the bodyguards. By the time the power was resorted to the lights, the large man was knocked stone cold. Vinny¡¯s brow furrows as his teeth are clenched. Emily notices the sphere has vanished. She had absorbed it just as she did the Aerospehre in Websdale. Whether Vinny liked it or not, the power of the Aerospehre is now Emily¡¯s. ¡°You little¡­¡± Vinny is fuming at Tim for knocking out one of his goons, and Emily for causing the sphere to vanish. Emily draws one of her blades, now coated in a misty dark aura. ¡°Are you sure you want to fight here, Cleaner?¡± The bidders turn their attention towards what is now a standoff. Vinny glares at Emily, Tim, and Anemone. He grips his other arm at the elbow. ¡°I¡¯ll teach you to mess with me!¡± The lone bodyguard sees Vinny¡¯s gesture and takes out a submachine gun with a round drum magazine, but before he can open fire, Tim makes a charging step towards him and makes a rapid palm and elbow moment, that forces the bodyguard to let go of his weapon. As the firearm moves in the air, Tim catches it and breaks it with his knee. Sweat falls down Vinny¡¯s face. His jaw agape at seeing Tim casually disarm one of his men. He then turns to Emily and Anemone. Emily glares at the mobster. ¡°Any more tricks up your sleeve?¡± she says. The Cleaner is filled with adrenaline, he attempts to grapple with Tim, but Tim lands a punch on his stomach. He then moves to Vinny¡¯s back and leans on him with his shoulder as Vinny stumbles. The move was enough to knock Vinny down. Tim dusts off his hands. Julia arrives at the auction house and sees Tim in front of the downed Vinny and his two goons, with spectators watching them in confusion and disarray. ¡°Seems like I missed something good,¡± Julia says. She takes out her dagger. ¡°Guardianes de las sombras, llevadnos a un lugar m¨¢s all¨¢ de las miradas indiscretas.¡± A veil of shadows surrounds Tim, Anemone, and Emily. When the veil vanishes so were the three. ??? Tim, Emily, and Anemone find themselves behind the auction house. Julia waves at them. ¡°Usually it takes tourists three trips before they start causing a ruckus in Noir,¡± Julia quips. ¡°I assume normal tourists don¡¯t usually encounter Syndicate Cleaners,¡± Tim says. ¡°They tend to encounter the soldiers first,¡± Julia says. ¡°Now what led to you mopping the floor with them?¡± ¡°We found an Umbrasphere!¡± Emily says. ¡°That guy wanted to take it from us but¡­¡± Julia sees Emily¡¯s weapons sheathed in a dark mist. ¡°I see,¡± Julia says. ¡°Well, it can¡¯t be helped now. Chances are that the Guards will greet ol¡¯ smiley-face soon.¡± Emily realizes that the sky is pink with twilight. Stella is receding into the horizon. ¡°We need to gather the other¡¯s its almost time.¡± ¡°I have a trick that can help with that,¡± Julia says. She explains how she can warp them to behind the auction house. ¡°That¡¯s a teleportation spell!¡± Anemone says. ¡°I think I can help with that as well.¡± With what Julia had told them, the two purple-haired girls prepared their spells. ¡°Guardians of the Shadows,¡± Emily says. ¡°Take us to the the carnival¡¯s maw.¡± With that sentence, dark mist envelopes the four. Before they knew it, they were at the entrance of the carnival. Esteban is already there, looking at the four people before them with some incredulity. He is aware of Julia¡¯s shadow arts, and how they helped her in her assassinations. Anemone tries her hand at the spell next. ¡°Guardians of the Shadows, bring my friends to me.¡± Seven pillars of dark mist appear, and the other Coloraturas emerge from them, each with befuddled expressions. Clover had with her several plush toys. ¡°What the?¡± Rose says. ¡°This isn¡¯t the ring toss stand!¡± Azalea giggles. ¡°Seems like we mist some shortcuts.¡± ¡°Sorry guys,¡± Anemone says. ¡°Games were rigged anyway,¡± Raine says. ¡°Really?¡± Clover says. ¡°They seemed like a breeze for me. I landed the ball on the bottom all the time.¡± ¡°Clover,¡± Hydrangea says. ¡°You¡¯re supposed to land the skee balls in the center?¡± ¡°I was?¡± Clover says. ¡°Oh well, at least I did well on the darts.¡± ¡°Only because the carnie messed up and overinflated the balloons,¡± Streltizia mutters. Esteban leads the group to his vehicles, while the Coloraturas discuss Clover¡¯s luck with the carnival games. Including an incident where one of the operators was left dumbstruck at her ability to miss one milk bottle with rings but land on another that was worth more points. Emily, Rose, Raine and Streltitzia rine with Esteban. Tim, Clover, Hydrangea, and Anemone rise with Julia. Lily decides to gallop with the vehicles instead and Azalea swims with Lily. With everyone in Esteban and Julia¡¯s cars. they drive them towards the factory-turned-dungeon. Chapter XXVI: Mythril Mayhem While Emily and her group are heading towards the factory on Joyfuller Island. Heathcliff and Elizabeth head to the guild hall at Rosenkreuz. ¡°You think Emily and Tim can handle this on their own?¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°They¡¯re on their own?¡± Heathcliff asks with a heavy laugh. ¡°Cher, they had Esteban with them, I trusts him to keep them safe.¡± Elizabeth is curious about Heathcliff¡¯s history with Esteban Hernandez and Chiron. ¡°How long had you three known each other.¡± ¡°Ever since I left ol¡¯ Charlie.¡± Heathcliff and Elizabeth arrive at the guild halls¡¯ doors. ¡°Now let¡¯s come see what Pauline wants.¡± The two find Pauline working at the counter this time, a slimonid adventurer is already there. His gelatinous body is clad in a brass suit of armor, containing his slime body from the neck down. ¡°Sorry that adventure was a bust, hon,¡± Pauline says. ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± the green slimomind says. ¡°I¡¯ll find another way to stabilize my body.¡± He walks away, dripping a green fluid from the spaces between his armor¡¯s plates. Heathcliff and Elizabeth approach the counter. ¡°Bonjour, cher. What¡¯s up?¡± Pauline sees Heathcliff and hands him a paper. ¡°This is a notice from Cerberus, dears.¡± Reading over it, the red-haired knight learns that the notice warns of vanishing dungeons in the region, just a stone¡¯s throw to the west of Rosenkreuz. As well as a lesser string of other areas seeing dungeons mysteriously vanishing in the night and sightings of steam-powered automata. Elizabeth finds this news disturbing. ¡°How on Titania are [Dugneons] just disappearing.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what the local guild wants to know too,¡± Paule says. ¡°Please be careful, dears.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure Emily is safe.¡± ¡°Where is she anyway?¡± Pauline says. ¡°She¡¯s at Joyfuller Island,¡± Elizabeth says. Pauline is surprised to hear the fairy¡¯s response. ¡°Joyfuller? Did those girls want to go to the carnivals there?¡± ¡°Long story, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Any dungeons here up and left?¡± ¡°Fortunately,¡± Pauline says. ¡°Our other dungeons are accounted for. Though I heard that a Mythril Natural Dungeon near Noir was among the missing dungeons.¡± ¡°Mythril huh?¡± Heathcliff says. He wonders if this is related to the factory Emiyl and Esteban are investigating. ¡°Thanks again, cher.¡± ¡°My pleasure,¡± Pauline says. ¡°Do be careful dears.¡± Heathcliff and Elizabeth leave. Elizabeth is wondering why the dungeons are disappearing. ??? Over the next hour. The group drives towards the new rouge dungeon. Esteban has cloaked everyone as the two vehicles and their two followers drive down the highway. ¡°Richard used Orichalcium for these armors,¡± Esteban says, his car had Emily in the passenger side and Rose, Raine, and Streltizia in the back. Lily gallops behind the car with Azalea swimming beside her. ¡°He did,¡± Emily says. ¡°Why do you ask.¡± ¡°It should protect us from the Mythril projectiles,¡± Esteban says. Rose complains in the backseat. Her tail is laid out on the floor where Raine and Strelitzia¡¯s feet and hooves respectively push on it. ¡°Raine, your talons are too digging into my tail!¡± ¡°This car is too small!¡± Raine says. ¡°My apologies,¡± Esteban says. ¡°They were rentals. And the lot didn¡¯t have any models accommodating for demi-humans.¡± Streltizia reclines a little. Her hooves squeeze the tip of Rose¡¯s tail. ¡°Ow!¡± Rose says ¡°Sorry,¡± the minotaur girl says. In Julia¡¯s car. She asks Hydrangea, Clover, and Anemone about their run-ins with the mob. Tim is riding in the passenger side. ¡°We often encounter them while patrolling the Underground Neighborhoods,¡± Hydrangea says. ¡°How so? Tim says. ¡°A lot of them tend to try to racketeer on the streets, usually in places they know the Guards won¡¯t tread.¡± ¡°Let me guess,¡± Julia says. ¡°Grimly alleyways, sewer entrances, and anywhere where they risk dirties their pretty little boots?¡± Julia says, ¡°That sounds about right,¡± Anemone says. ¡°Small wonder their reports claim there is nothing to report,¡± Julia says. Lily keeps pace with the two vehicles. Azalea swims above the centaur, trying to encourage it to continue. ¡°So¡­tired.¡± Lily breaths heavily after galloping fifty miles in ten minutes. ¡°You can do it, Lily!¡± Azalea says, using her water magic to keep her hydrated. ¡°Show them the true meaning of horsepower.¡± The group drives through a fence opening, breaking the dungeon''s perimeter. They find an empty parking lot and everyone exits their vehicles. Lily plops her rear on the ground to catch her breath, the hind legs spread. Raine and Streltizia exit the car first, much to Rose¡¯s tail¡¯s pain. ¡°Note to self,¡± Emily thinks. ¡°Ask if Heathcliff and the dwarves can get a customized vehicle.¡± Rose leaves after them and rubs her serpentine tail. Everyone in Julia¡¯s car also exits the vehicle. They see Azalea playing with some water constructs she made from the water vapor. Esteban sees the factory in the distance. ¡°The ¡®employees¡¯ should be gone, but we should still expect some resistance. This is still a Dungeon after all, and one involved with the Syndicate at that.¡± ¡°We need to be careful,¡± Emily says as she gestures to the girls. ¡°Got it!¡± the Coloraturas say. Tim wonders if the Magical Girls can handle this type of dungeon, and how effective the Cyberworks armor is at protecting them from bullets. Esteban refreshes the duration of his cloak and then scouts ahead for patrols. He sees a small manticore being led around by a Vanisher, as they enter a building. Esteban approaches the entrance and sees it is locked by mystical wards. Esteban returns to the party. ¡°They had warded the place. We¡¯ll need to find a Unseal to enter.¡± ¡°An Unseal?¡± Emily says. ¡°A spell used to break wards,¡± Anemone says. ¡°It takes the form of an enchanted item.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± Emily says. Esteban addresses the group sans Julia. ¡°I am unable to refresh the cloaking magic anymore. The spell will fade in a few minutes. When that does we would be at risk of being seen by the Vanishers. Be careful.¡± With the warning given, Emily and her group sneak around the perimeter, looking for the Unseal.¡± ??? The cloaking magic fades as the group draws near a watchtower near the factory. They hide behind some creates and overhear two Vanishers. ¡°Ey Bugs,¡± one of them says. ¡°Youse heard about what happened to the base in Cerberus?¡± ¡°The place that just up in vanished?¡± Bugs says. ¡°Ay, Pinky. I know.¡± ¡°Think the boss had decided to get rid of the place?¡± Pinky says. ¡°Hell if I know,¡± Bugs says. ¡°All I heard was claims that dungeons in the region just poofed away.¡± ¡°Disappearing Dungeons?¡± Emily whispers. The group sees two manticores exiting the watchtower, and Bugs and Pinky entering the tower in their place. ¡°These beasts will be easier to lure away,¡± Tim says. ¡°Leave it to me!¡± Azalea whispers. She uses her expertise as a prankster to create a trick for the brutish monsters. Conjuring up a small rain cloud that causes a nearby mobster to get wet. ¡°What is the¡ª¡± The hapless mobster¡¯s clothing becomes soaked. Rose chases a spell. A lightning bolt emerges from the rain cloud and hits a nearby crate. The boom of the thunder alerts the two beasts. They leave their post in search of the source. With the manticores distracted, Emily and her friends break the watchtower. They see the two men at the top of the tower, looking not at the soaked mobster or the errant beasts, but instead at the factory itself. ¡°Why do we bother with sitting at this place?¡± Pinky says. ¡°No one ever comes here!¡± ¡°You want to anger the capo?¡± Bugs says. ¡°He made it clear that this place is to be secured at all times.¡± ¡°You think adventurers would waltz into this place all the way out on Joyfuller Island?¡± Pinky says unaware of the presence of Emily and her group. ¡°I could go for some all-the-way right now,¡± Bugs says. Rose¡¯s stomach growls. ¡°He¡¯s not the only one,¡± she whispers. Julia sees that the two men are distracted and that Pinky has a glowing object in their back pocket. She turns to her husband. ¡°You want force of finesse?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think Finesse is possible,¡± Esteban whispers. Julia nodes and sneaks onto the top floor of the tower, her deft footfalls ensuring she isn¡¯t prematurely caught as she silently approaches the two men. She then pokes Bug¡¯s on the shoulder. ¡°What the¡ª¡± Bug was immediately knocked out of the tower. Pinky tries to punch her, but she dodges and shanks him for his efforts. With the man downed she relieves him of his unseal. She turns to the others. ¡°They¡¯ll be coming here soon. Hydrangea creates an ice path for the group to safely descend from the tower. Raine melts it and Azalea takes the icemelt water with her for later use. Emily is a little disturbed by most of the girls¡¯ lack of disturbance towards Julia¡¯s attack. They sneak towards the entrance of the entrance. After making sure there is no one around, Julia takes the glowing object and presents it towards the door. The door glows brightly bright enough to be noticed by a nearby Vanisher and two manticores. Tim immediately makes a charging step while Emily sings three notes to strike the manticores with lightning. The mobster tries to block Tim¡¯s punches and elbow strikes before reinforcements arrive, but Tim knocks him off his feet. Before his fall, the mobster presses a device on his coat that triggers the alarm. Emily and her group are surrounded by manticore, led by five vanishes. The beasts attack with their feline claws and scorpion stingers while the mobsters attempt to aim at the intruders. Azalea drenches two of the mobsters with her icemelt and Rose strikes them with lightning. One of the manticores tries to attack Clover, but she uses her wind magic to propel her away and the attack instead hits another mobster. Anemone uses her gravity magic to make the guns too heavy to lift. ¡°You dastards!¡± one of the mobsters shouts before Streltilitiza conks him with her axe. The manticores try to attack her, but Julia lands sneak attacks on them that kill the beasts. Emily, Tim, Esteban, and Julia rush into the factory with the Coloraturas following suit. ¡°So much for the element of surprise,¡± Emily says. ¡°The Varnishers will be on high alert,¡± Esteban says. ¡°Hah,¡± Rose quips. ¡°Criminal scum like them are no match for the Coloraturas.¡± The group follows the corridor into a large factory floor. ??? At the factory floor, Emily and her friends see molten metal flowing into bullet molds, the red-hot casings are placed onto conveyor belts attended by several factory workers. They all give the impression that they were not here willingly. Their arms and legs are cuffed to the conveyor belts. ¡°These are¡­¡± Clover says with horror. ¡°Likely abducted by the Vanishers,¡± Esteban says. ¡°Typical,¡± Hydrangea says. ¡°That¡¯s horrible!¡± Lily says. ¡°It¡¯s what they do,¡± Raine says. The group hears a voice from above barking unreasonable orders to the factory slaves with the tone of a man uncaring for their well-being. Clover sees the man and glares at him, before rushing towards him. ¡°Clover!¡± Strelitzia rushes after the peryton fawn. Clover reaches the center of the floor and shouts at the boss. ¡°Hey!¡± she shouts at the mobster. She then uses her fan to channel a surge of wind that destroys the platform he is standing on causing him to plummet to the ground. The slaver turns down the young girl. ¡°Who do you think you are?¡± Clover says to the mobsters. ¡°Forcing these innocent people to do your bidding.¡± ¡°I could say the same thing about you, missy,¡± the mobster says while standing up and dusting off his suit. He takes his hammer out. The Warhammer glows with mana. Clover silently glares at the mobster. ¡°Not gonna sing?¡± the man says. ¡°I¡¯ll go first then, They call me the Whacker.¡± He brandishes his weapon and tries to swing at Clover, but Strelitizia intercepts the attack and clashes with the man. ¡°Only one getting Whacked her is you!¡± Strelitzia says. Three doors open behind the Whacker. Each contains a pair of Manticores. The six manticores move in front of the others, preventing most of them from assisting Clover and Strelitzia. Hydrangea and Emily attempt to free the slaves but find that wards were placed on the bindings. Tim uses his wind magic to propel himself behind the Whacker and strikes at him. Rose, Azalea, Raine, and Lily deal with the manticores. Esteban and Julia search for the Unseal and Emily takes a page from Elizabeth¡¯s book and sings to enchant everyone¡¯s weapon. Rose takes out her new sword, a rapier that uses her Rainbow Rose-tiped staff as a sheathe. Sparks fly as she thrusts with her new weapon. Raine takes her rings and throws them onto another of the manticores. The chakrams blaze bright as they slash the beasts. Lily charges with her spear, using her magic to make it blindingly bright as she approaches the manticore. Azalia swims around, annoyed by the smoke the smelted mythril produces, and uses her water to cool the molten metal. She uses her knife to direct the water over the metal. A manticore attempts to swipe at her, but she dodges with a swim and counters with a slash of her knife and a dolphin kick. Emily, Julia, and Esteban fight the remaining three beasts. The one in the middle attempts to poison Emily with its stinger. She does it and slides beneath it, her two swords slashing at the chimera underbelly as she does so. Esteban and Julia work in tandem to defeat the one on the left, with Julia¡¯s enchanted knife allowing her to slash the stinger off the beast. The rightmost one is defeated by all three attacking with dark magic. Tim, Clover, and Strelitzia fight the Whacker. Clover uses her fan to make larger gusts of wind that blow the mobster back. Strelitzia tries to swing her axe, but the Whacker dodges and slams his hammer at her knees. Knocking her to the ground. Clover uses her fan and staff to create a mighty wind that lifts herself in the air. ¡°What excuse do you have for this?¡± The Whacker chuckles. ¡°It¡¯s not like these Exsecreatii¡¯re good for anything else. Lazy good-fer-nuthings.¡± Clover is angered by his responses she tries to conjure a spell, but as she does, she suddenly feels a sense of pain. She grabs her shoulder as she plummets to the ground. Gunners arrive on the upper balconies of the floor, firing at everyone on the floor, regardless of who. Emily sees the gunmen and parries their bullets as she forces her way upstairs. Esteban and Julia use their abilities to hinder the snipers¡¯ accuracy. Emily arrives on the balconies and draws the gunmen¡¯s fire, dodging their bullets and retaliating with her Chakram and spells of fire, ice, and lightning. One by one, the gunmen are disarmed. Strelitzia tends to Clover, who is still holding her shoulder. The bullet had bounced off from the fawn¡¯s skin, providing a wound, but the projectile¡¯s force was still enough to break her focus and cause her to plummet. Tim is left to face the Whacker. ¡°Any more tricks?¡± the martial artist says. The Whacker¡¯s reinforcement has been whittled down to nothing, but the man¡¯s pride forbade him from admitting defeat. He attempts to slam his hammer on Tim, but he merely dodges. An Angered Streltizia was the one that dealt the finishing blow. With a mighty swing of her labrys, the mobster is disarmed. His hammer lands on the ground with a mighty thud. Clover stands on her hooves, having recovered from the wound. The mobster is defeated, but he attempts to fight even though his body is being turned into golden dust. ¡°No!¡± the Whacker says. ¡°I can handle these fools. I can HANDLE THEM!¡± The Sentinel vanishes before he can land a punch. The wards over the slaves are suddenly dispelled and they are freed from their shackles. The freed hostages thank their saviors. ¡°Where is the core?¡± Esteban asks one of the freed abductees. They point towards the door. ¡°I think they are on the highest floor, these stairs will take you up!¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± Esteban says. ¡°You should get out of here!¡± Rose says. ¡°It is not safe here.¡± ¡°It¡¯s also not safe outside,¡± Raine reminds Rose. ¡°We need to absorb the core,¡± Emily says. ¡°I think it would stop them.¡± She turns to Clover. ¡°Clover, are you okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Clover says. ¡°It¡¯s gonna take a lot more than bullets to stop a magical girl!¡± Lily and Streltizia. Tim turns to Emily. He sees that her expression bears doubt and intuits that she is uncertain about letting the Coloraturas accompany her. Clover soon heads towards the door the freed slaves pointed to. ¡°This way, right?¡± Her strides show her being no worse for wear. Yet Emily still harbors doubts, yet she also realizes that it is too dangerous for them to leave alone while the Vanishers prowl the factory. They head towards the large door. A chest emerges to the right, and inside the coffer are several Mythril items, including a gun with some of the bullets. Emily takes the gun and ammunition, not wanting anyone to use them. She sees a slab beneath a case of bullets. It reads ¡°Plea5e, h3lp me.¡± The message is barely legible, but it is enough for Emily to know that the dungeon itself is suffering. The group delves deeper into the dungeon. ??? Emily, Tim, Esteban, Julia, and the Coloraturas arrive at a fork in the hallway. A sign hangs on the wall. Reading that the left path leads to an area called ¡°Foundry¡± while the right led to a place called ¡°Casting mold production¡± ¡°¡®Foundry¡¯?¡± Emily asks. ¡°It¡¯s the use of molds to create metal, right?¡± Rose says. Hydrangea expresses surprise that Rose knew that. ¡°What?¡± Rose says. ¡°I paid attention in class¡­sometimes.¡± ¡°This won¡¯t help us find the core,¡± Julia says. Strelitzia notices a look on Clover¡¯s face as she looks to the right. ¡°Let¡¯s take the right, it might be closer to the core!¡± Clover says ¡°Are you sure?¡± Emily says. ¡°The left might be safer.¡± ¡°I doubt it,¡± Esteban says. ¡°The Vanishers likely have Sentinels on both ends.¡± ¡°It is also possible that the dungeon¡¯s core might be guarded by both,¡± Tim says. ¡°Perhaps it is best if we split up, and cover both paths.¡± ¡°Alight, then,¡± Azalea says while swimming towards Emily. ¡°I¡¯ll follow Emmy to the left.¡± Anemone takes out her bow. ¡°Me too.¡± Rose slithers to Clover. ¡°I¡¯ll help Clover with the right. Streltizia is already at Clover¡¯s side her stance already made clear. ¡°Great idea,¡± Azalea says. ¡°Take the mold makers by storm.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll keep an eye on them,¡± Julia says. ¡°Thanks,¡± Esteban says. Lily and Raine follow Clover while Hydrangea follows Emily. Tim goes with Clover¡¯s group to ensure the children are unharmed. The groups are settled, Emily, Esteban, Anemone, Azalea, Hydrangea, and Lily head to the Foundry while Clover, Strelitzia, Raine, Rose, Julia, and Tim take the right path towards the part of the factory where the molds are made. ??? Emily¡¯s group arrives at the Foundry part of the dungeon. The group feels the heat rising as they enter their room, and beads of sweat begin dripping from their skin. Signs are plastered all around the areas warning of the extreme heat. There they see a more elaborate and automated setup, devoid of any people, not even the Vanisher is present. Instead, there are monsters made of metallic sludge patrolling the area. Their hands and legs glow with an incandescent orange and red hue. ¡°These are Surtrians,¡± Anemone says. Emily observes the monsters. One of them holds their arm over a mold, and the molten hand drips liquid metal from the palm. ¡°Those shouldn''t be here. Noir is nowhere near any volcanoes,¡± Hydrangea says. ¡°We can add illegal importation of monsters to the list of the Syndicate¡¯s activities.¡± Esteban notices something is off. ¡°Except, how were they able to smug several six-foot-tall monsters made of metal and magma without anyone noticing?¡± ¡°Magma and metal?¡± Emily says. She recalls her trek through Gatsby Tower with Kasumi and also her ability to generate mist. She develops a plan for getting past these creatures and neutralizing their convection. She loses her charm before preparing a Bardsong incantation. ¡°Frozen song of ice, sheath us in the cold,¡± Emily quietly sings. ¡°Protect us from the heat, as we cut down these molds.¡± An aura of ice mana enveloped the mana. Lily shivers from the enchantment. Azalea rubs her hands. ¡°They need to chill out anyway. Blow off some steam.¡± She uses the water vapor from the hallway and moves it into the factory, before the water can evaporate, Emily and Hydrangea coordinate to chill the surrounding air enough to keep the water liquid. The metal monsters express confusion about the orbs of water coming at them, as they collide, steam forms around them. Soon the room is filled with a fog of steam. The presence of the water vapor and Emily and Hydrangea¡¯s spells lowered the temperature down to the point where they could enter deeper into the room without fear of burning. The Surtrians feel their bodies harden from the chilled air as everyone moves past them. One of the monsters is rendered unable to move. Its body was rendered sessile from the inability to melt. Those that can still move, notice the party and try to strike them with their hardened arms, but their cumbersome movements are easily dodged. Esteban uses a kick to cause one of the monsters to topple and fall on another. Emily uses her Cocytus¡¯ Flurry attack to freeze another in the steam. Anemone fires an arrow into the shadow of a Surtrian conjured by Lily¡¯s light and uses the enchanted arrow to bind it in place. A few minutes later Hydrangea uses her grimoire to turn the steam into a blizzard that slows the remaining Surtrians down to stillness. In the aftermath of the battle, the furnaces were rendered inoperable and the room¡¯s temperature stays at a low enough level for Emily and her group to safely traverse. They soon enter a hallway at the other end of the Foundry. Charred corpses and refuse litter the corridor. ¡°Gross,¡± Azalea says. Esteban noticed the remains were recent. He examines one of them and intuits that the Varnishers had killed some of their victims by locking them in the foundry. Emily feels the temperature rising as they approach the edge of the corridor. She repeats her incantation to keep everyone cool enough to fight. They enter a large room with a giant furnace in the center. ??? Meanwhile, Clover¡¯s group has finished defeating mobsters in the mold-making part of the factory. Unconscious bodies litter the floor. Clover sees a door to the side of the aftermath and enters it. Her hooves trot into an office filled with several documents. The others follow the peryton into the office and look over some of the files. One document catches Julia¡¯s interest. Titled ¡°Project Stronghold, Day#412¡± It is written in the Sigurdtienian language, but notes to the side translate it into Albionan. Cover sees another document, a memo from a few months back that tells of an operation to claim a dungeon core and infuse it to a man named ¡°Joe the Hazard.¡± She looks over the documents and is mortified by what they are. ¡°An artificial dungeon?¡± Clover says. Julia gathered as many of the documents as she could. ¡°The Rouges will need to bring these documents to light.¡± Strelitzia, Rose, and Raine meanwhile talk about Clover. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ¡°Seems she is riled up tonight,¡± Rose says. Raine looks at Clover, noticing an expression of sorrow, shock, and rage. Strelitzia finds another memo, mentioning the string of dungeon cores going missing at Cerberus in the past few days. And also a few quips about competition for their plans. Clover finds a strange document. Labeled ¡°Captives (Fawn)¡±. She curiously takes a look at the document, hoping to find certain names among the list of Fawns abducted by the mob. She pours over the document but does not recognize any of the names. She sighs. Strelitzia sees her and tries to approach her, but she trips to a file cabinet. Raine notices the fallen Minotaur and picks her up. ¡°Thanks,¡± she says. Raine aloofly ignores her gratitude. ¡°Raine¡¯s in one of those moods huh?¡± Rose says. ¡°Moods?¡± Tim is confused. ¡°I¡¯m not in a mood!¡± Raine says with a raised voice that contradicts her statement. ¡°I¡¯m just mulling over some things.¡± She looks at Clover, aware that she is still looking for her parents, and sighs. Rose looks at the phoenixian girl. Ever since they had met, Rose knows that Raine had no recollection of her parents. She is the only one among the Coloraturas that does not know what they look like. Let alone if they are even alive or not. The lamia slithers to Raine, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll find those memories of them one day.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not about that,¡± Raine lies. Rose sees her microexpressions tell the truth and chides her for trying to hide her true feelings. ¡°I¡¯m not!¡± Raine says. ¡°Ugh, let¡¯s get going.¡± She wants to not discuss this with her or anyone else. Tim sees the two children and notices something odd. Julia notices Tim¡¯s curious expression. ¡°Thinking of something?¡± The martial artist turns to the assassin. ¡°All of these girls are orphans yes?¡± Tim says. ¡°But they surely must have other family members living in Noir. Why were they living at the diner?¡± Julia notices the oddity in this. ¡°From what I heard from Esteban, their family had gone to extant family members first, but they either were not living in the city or considered them cursed.¡± ¡°Cursed¡­¡± Tim did observe them occasionally sweating out a dark fluid, one he assumed was something else. ¡°The people in the city that were related to them think them the cause of their deaths. And those that do not think this way are too far away to even know of them.¡± ¡°Hydrangea and Anemone seem to be more¡­refined,¡± Tim says, noting his observations of their behavior differ slightly from the other six. ¡°What about their families.¡± ¡°That I do not know,¡± Julia says. She is uncertain about Anemone, suspecting she might be connected to the Syndicate in some manner. Clover soon finds a map of the factory with places marked denoting the presence of Sentinel. As well as notes claiming that the Core is warded and that the defeat of these sentinels would unseal the ward. The group left the offices with several documents in tow. They are surprised by the lack of mafioso in the building, save the ones that were either stunned or slain. Clover rushes ahead of the group with a look of determination in her eyes. ¡°This way!¡± she says leading them to an empty room. Clover takes out her fan. ¡°I know there¡¯s a Sentinel here. Show yourself!¡± Tim senses something nearby as the group hears noises clanging above them. Rose approaches Clover. ¡°Are you okay Clo?¡± ¡°Of course, Rosie,¡± she says in her usual air-headed effect. But Rose senses something off about her. Not the most obscure is how suddenly the fawn went from demanding a fight to her normal tone of voice. It was a shift that is eerie to Rose and Raine, but not to Streltizia. Strelitzia approaches the center of the room. ¡°You heard her! Come on out you coward!¡± A voice echoes out towards them. ¡°So the rats are looking to meet the exterminator huh?¡± ¡°We¡¯re not the ones harming innocents here!¡± Clover shouts in her ditsy tone. The contrast between her statement and tone is unnerving. ¡°Nor are we one forcing people to work against their will!¡± More clanging is heard. ¡°Oh, right some of you are Witches. Typical. Wide-eyes lasses and lads think yourselfs bringer of justice in this dog-eat-dog word. Yet people tend to die around you, curious.¡± The dungeon¡¯s remarks confuse Rose. Rose addresses the dungeons. ¡°What are you talking about, we try to save people from the likes of you and your Vanishers.¡± ¡°Oh you sweet summer children,¡± the dungeon retorts. ¡°Well ignorance is bliss, and I¡¯d nothing if not merciful. So let me spare you the pain of having the learn the truth.¡± The ground rumbles as everyone hears clanging on the walls. A mechanical Sentinel lands on the ground, coated entirely in Mythril and with gunbarrels for arms. ¡°I call this baby the Gatling Golem,¡± the dungeon tells the intruders. ¡°This ought to take care of you. Now to deal with the rest of the vermin.¡± The machine lets out a mighty roar as it engages Clover and her part in combat. ??? Emily, Esteban, Anemone, Azalea, Hydrangea, and Lily find themselves in a warmer-than-usual place. They hear the dungeon¡¯s voice call out to them. ¡°Welcome to me, rats! I¡¯ll be serving as your judge, jury, and tome. The executioner is on your way to greet you right now.¡± Emily addresses the other dungeon. ¡°Who are you? Why are you helping the Varnishers.¡± ¡°I¡¯m a made man,¡± the dungeon responds. ¡°I¡¯m da capo of this place.¡± The place suddenly warms up as a plume erupts from the opposite end of the area. A giant twelve-foot Surtrerian emerges from the fiery geyser. ¡°Ah, there¡¯s the Executioner. Deal with these trespassers!¡± the dungeon commands the Sentinel. Azalea uses her knife and staff to direct the water vapor to condense, forming a veil of steam. Around the arena. Hydrangea uses her staff to create a spell of ice freezing the legs of the Executioner. The titanic Surtrian slams the ground, trying it incinerate the intruders, but Azazale swims away and Emily¡¯s ice spell freezes the arm in place. Anemone climbs on the metallic monster¡¯s arm and reaches its shoulder. The monster opens its maw and attempts to burn her its its blazing breath, but Anemone takes several shots with her bow. The arrows land on the tongue of the Surtrian, allowing Anemone to use gravity magic to enleaden it. The heat from the beast¡¯s hand and leg melts the bindings and it breaks free. Even with Anemone¡¯s gravity magic, she cannot prevent it from lumbering around. The Executioner slams Anemone into the wall, the veil of chilled mana prevents her from burns and the armor saves her from severe injury. She soon stands up. Lily tries to help her, but her advance is thwarted when she hears a barrage nearby. ¡°There are the rats,¡± the dungeon commands. ¡°Shoot them dead!¡± The gunmen shoot but the fog of steam hinders their accuracy. Lily uses her staff to cast a spell that makes the glint from the mobsters¡¯ guns visible through the fog. Allowing her and her friends to anticipate incoming forces and evade them more easily. Azalea sees the flashes and has an idea. She gestures to Emily. ¡°Hey Emmy, this is a shocking development isn¡¯t it?¡± Emily is confused by the mermaid¡¯s pun, to Azalea¡¯s annoyance. ¡°You need to be more direct than that,¡± Hydrangea says as she creates ice pillars to block the Executioner¡¯s slams. ¡°Why would I need to do that?¡± Azalea says. ¡°I think Emmy has the spark to get watt is going on.¡± ¡°Shock, spark, watt,¡± Emily thinks. She then sees Azalea manipulate the icemelt from Hydrangea¡¯s pillars and the steam to create rain from the ceiling. Emily intuits the mermaid¡¯s hints. ¡°By Halcyon¡¯s grace. Bolt from the heavens,¡± Emily chants. ¡°Testify, electrify.¡± She combines her sword into a chakram and unleashes her Thunderclap attack. Bolts of levin strike the drenches mobsters, causing them to let go of their guns. The water makes them slippery thought of their attempts at recovering them to instead cause them to fall on the Executioner as its body heats up. The dungeon is furious at the gunmen being thwarted like that. ¡°You bozos are swimming with the fishes next!¡± The executioner feels pain as the raindrops fall on its gargantuan body. Esteban notices this. ¡°Emily, Azalea, the rainwater!¡± Emily sees the monster¡¯s pained expression as the rain drenches it and causes its molten body to harden. ¡°On it!¡± Azalea swims around the monster, gathering water from her trail. Anemone uses gravity magic to allow herself, Emily, and Hydrangea to leap higher than usual and land on the shoulders of the monster. There they coordinate their attacks as such to free the being from the inside out, with Emily and Hydrangea using their ice magics to free the water Anemone has gathered as she throws it inside the monster¡¯s mouth. Ice spreads from its bottom then its head and shoulders. Everyone leaps off the Executioner before the ice can freeze them. The Executioner is defeated. ¡°You nincompoops!¡± the dungeon says. ¡°You¡¯ll pay for this!¡± The ground quakes as the floor gives out beneath them, causes Emily and Anemone to fall into the crevasse. Esteban grabs Emily¡¯s arm, but the rain had made her Cyebrworks arm slippery and she slips from the his grasp. ??? Meanwhile Clover, Stretlizia, Rose, Raine, Julia, and Tim, fight the Gatling Golem. The mythical clad Construct aims its arms to shoot at them, but its lumbering moments cause them to miss. Clover and Tim use Wind magic to dodge, while Streltizia uses her labrys to deflect its bullets. Julia uses shadow magic to obscure the Sentinel¡¯s accuracy as they try to find out its weaknesses. The dungeon laughs at them. ¡°You think you can blind this bad boy?¡± Tim makes a charging step and unleashes a barrage of attacks on the leg. Raine throws her ring at the Constrct¡¯s arm and uses the heat to cut off one of the barrels on the arm. ¡°You¡­how?¡± the dungeon exclaims in shock. ¡°I melted the metal,¡± Raine says with a smirk. ¡°I thought you were aware that it could be melted given your purposes for it.¡± The dungeon fumes and the ground quakes. Rose thrusts at the machine with her sword, zapping wit with her lightning spells, while Tim lands on the back of the machine and stops it with his Qiang. The spear lands on a fold in the back and Tim uses it to pry it open. Revealing gears that are vulnerable to attack. Rose slithers to the exposed gears and thrusts with her rapier. A bolt of lightning emerges from the blade and strikes them. Causing some small cos to bound free from the machine. She then places her sword inside her staff and uses it to lob more lightning at it in quick succession. Strelitzia draws the machine¡¯s ire by slamming her labrys into it. It peels off of a loose plate of Mythril and reveals more gears. She then takes her staff from the handle of the axe and uses it to levitate large rocks and direct them into the gears. The stones jam the gears enough to the point where some of them leap off the machine in their desperate attempt ow whirl. ¡°You little rats!¡± the dungeon exclaims. The ground rumbles one more, and parts of the floor fall into a pit. ¡°I¡¯ll bury you all!¡± The dungeon intervenes in the fight. The floor gives way as the dungeon quakes while the Gatling Golem attempts to fend off the intruders. Raine cuts off three more barrels from its arms, hindering its capacity for firepower. Rose, Clover, and Tim use their weapon and magic to remove more of the gears enabling its movement, and Streltizia and Julia work to ensure the boss is not focused on the others. The Golem is defeated, but it only causes the dungeon¡¯s tantrum to intensify. The floor gives out from beneath Clover. Rose and Streltiiza see this and try to reach for her. Rose is the first to grab Clover¡¯s arm while Streltiizia hands it onto her tail to anchor her. They try to pull her up, but it is futile for the floor fissures beneath the lamia and minotaur. Raine flies to save them but she is unable to reach them in time. Tim and Julia were too far away to reach them and the three girls plummet to the pits below. The dungeon cackles in triumph as Raine, Tim, and Julia are forced to escape. ¡°I¡¯ll bury you in your fears, and then my men will bury you in lead! And there is nothing you can do about it!¡± the mobster dungeon gloats. ??? At the bottom of the pits created by the dungeon¡¯s lashing out, Emily wakes up. The avatara looks around and sees more conveyor belts leading to a furnace. She remembers she fell with Anemone and looks for the violet-haired girl. Her charm falls from her arm. ¡°Anemone,¡± she yells out. ¡°Where are you?¡± A hand emerges from one of the scrap piles, and the young girl climbs over it. ¡°I¡¯m here,¡± Anemone says. ¡°Wherever here is.¡± Emily is certain they are still in the factory. She sees several corpses around her. ¡°More victims of the Vanishers,¡± she thinks. ¡°Yeah,¡± Anemone responds. Her eyes widen as she realizes that Emily¡¯s mouth didn¡¯t move as she heard her ¡°speak.¡± ¡°Where is your charm?¡± ¡°My charm?¡± Emily says. She looks at her arm and realizes that the charm Anemone made to restrain her telepathy is missing. The two search for the missing charm to little avail. The magic item is lost among the litter of scrap and trash in the basement of the factory. They see a treasure chest to their side, their reward for defeating the Giang Surturian. It contains a Mythril crossbow and several bolts. Alongside some mail and enough pairs of earrings for five people. Emily takes these contents and places them in her bag. The two then embark to find a way out of the basement. At the same time, Clover, Strelitzia, and Rose are on another pile of scrap. The Lamia and Peryton wake up confused before they recall that the dungeon had thrust them into its bowels. ¡°That was a long fall,¡± Rose says. Clover notices Streltitzia¡¯s body is still unconscious, a treasure chest to her side. Containing the rewards from the Gatling Golem. She tries to rouse her, to little avail. ¡°Stre, wake up, please.¡± But she doesn''t budge. Rose places her palms on Strelitzia¡¯s chest and tries to channel her magic through her arms. She administers a tiny jolt to the minotaur, but the young girl fails to wake up. ¡°Rats,¡± Rose says dejectedly. Clover glares at the empty area and shouts at the void. ¡°You cruel coward!¡± she screams. ¡°Hehehe, seems I¡¯m not cruel enough,¡± the dungeon¡¯s voice echoes to the winged fawn. ¡°Forget about it, you won¡¯t be able to escape this pit. Why don¡¯t you take a breath? Relax, and get to know your new roommates?¡± He says with a polite tone. Rose and Clover look around and see several copses in the piles of scrap. Their mouths are agape and their eyes widen at the myriad corpses on and around the scrap piles, some so old that their decayed flesh is fused to the scrap metal. The dungeon¡¯s voice grows silent. The mad laughter recedes into the void. Clover took Strelitzia¡¯s body nd hoised her over her back. Rose slithers to eh chest and opens it, finding Mythril rings, necklaces, and some Mythril plates. She and Clover place these items sin their bags. Meanwhile, Emily and Anemone wander the vacuous basement. She talks about how why Emily can project her thoughts here, far away from her true body. A while later, they see two shadows in the distance. Anemone draws her bow, thinking them to be mobsters sent by the dungeon to finish the job. She fires a shot, and one of the figures slithers away from the arrow. The other makes a small leap, seemingly carrying someone on their back. As they draw closer, the flash of lightning strikes the scrap metal near Emily, in the scant flash of light, Anemone notices some familiar features. ¡°Rose? Clover?¡± The lamia and fawn draw closer to the avatara and the lycanthrope. Rose¡¯s face bears a look of confusion upon seeing the two violet-haired girls. ¡°Got you too huh?¡± Rose says. ¡°What happened? ¡°Emily says. ¡°Did the dungeon¡­¡± she thinks. ¡°Cause the floor to collapse beneath us?¡± Clover says. ¡°Yeah.¡± Emily sees that Clover is carrying a torpid Streltiiza on her back. Anemone looks in horror. ¡°Is she¡­¡± She says before remembering that as Sentinels they would return to the Black Box if that was the case. ¡°We need to get her some help,¡± Clover says. ¡°We need to find a way up first,¡± Rose says. ¡°A way up you seek, from the depths of hell?¡± Emily hears a familiar voice. A dark aura coalesces into the form of a man clad in red and black. He holds a pipe in his arm. ¡°You!¡± Emily says. Her brows furrow into a glare. ¡°Seems I¡¯ve come at a bad time. How awful.¡± The demonic piper draws closer. ¡°This place is rather dim, wouldn''t you say.¡± ¡°Is this your doing Pruflas?¡± Emily says ¡°Pruflas?¡± Rose says in confusion. She doesn''t see the entity talking with Emily. Yet they do sense an overwhelming amount of malice in the space in front of them. The demon plays a tune on his pipe, yet Anemone, Rose, and Clover seem immune to this effect. ¡°Interesting. You took on would-be heroes?¡± he says. ¡°And you keep them ignorant of the truth. What a pity, keeping them in darkness.¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Emily shouts. ¡°Has she lost it?¡± Rose thinks. Emily heard that thought. ¡°I¡¯m only here to grant the simple truth. It is best if you are on the same page. That is if you want to free these children¡­¡± The Piper Pruflas plays his pipe. Everyone sees a large amount of smoke rising from the ground, as an illusion of Hamlin in flames conceals the piles of scrap. Burning buildings replace piles of scrap. ¡°What is going on?¡± Anemone says. The scent of smoke and ash causes Streltizia¡¯s unconscious body to move. Emily looks at the demon in a mix of fury and confusion. Pruflas smirks. ¡°The truth shall set you free if you let it. Please give the Truces my sincere regards.¡± Pruflas vanishes. Streltizia wake sup on Clover¡¯s back. ¡°What happened?¡± the minotaur asks. ¡°Streltizia!¡± Clover says. ¡°You¡¯re awake!¡± The factory¡¯s basement is caught in an illusion of a burning village, must to the minotaur¡¯s confusion. ¡°Are you sure?¡± she groggily asks. ¡°She is,¡± Emily says. The five girls soon find themselves accosted by burning rats as Surtrians emerge in the distance. Emily tries to use ice magic on them, but the spell melts in the heat. Emily, Clover, Rose, Anemone, and Streltizia try to fight them off, but for every piece of vermin slain, two more take their place. They realize that the rodents are too myriad to defeat and are forced to run. They rush down the illusory village¡¯s streets, looking for a way out. The Coloraturas pick up stray thoughts from Emily all the while. ??? Emily and her group of five try to avoid the horde of blazing rats. They leap over a burning wall, but the swarm rushes through the holes in it. Clover tries to blow them away with her wind magic, but the swarm overcomes her attempts at repelling them. Strelitzia tries to erect a wall with her earth powers, but the rats simply climb over it. Emily tries to sue Cocytus¡¯ Flurry to freeze the swarm, but the demonic illusionary heat prevents her from executing the technique. After a while, Anemone sees something in the distance. A tree that has not been burnt by the inferno around it. ¡°Over there!¡± she says. Rose slithers in front of the group, using her lightning to remove some toppled and falling buildings. Clover and Strelitzia use their powers to quell the flames. They soon arrive at the tree and find the rats are unable to follow them to the roots. Any fire that tries to breach its aegis is quenched. They are safe, for now. Everyone catches their breath. ¡°Okay,¡± Rose says. ¡°We¡¯re safe here, now can you tell me why a burning village suddenly appeared in a dungeon¡¯s basement?¡± Emily is hesitant to explain what had happened. She notices that the tree has starflowers on its branches. She tries to think about the beauty of these flowers, she tries to find a way to avoid the uncomfortable topic of how the Hamlin children came to be in the Black Box. The rising smoke and ash rise to the ceiling of the basement. Rose pleads with Emily to explain what is going on. Soon she sees an illusion of two familiar figures in the cinders. ¡°Is that,¡± Strelitzia says as she sees what appears to be two Alraunes in the distance. Rose sees the rats take the form of the Construct children from the Black Box. Each serenely played in the distance. ¡°Ashes, ashes, we all fall down!¡± the children chant a nursery tune as they souring the figures representing Clara and Charlotte. The scene causes Emily to inadvertently think about the event. ¡°Clara!¡± Emily calls out, but the blaze engulfs the illusion of the alraune mother and daughter. An ember lands on a green and yellow starflower on the tree. A spark that causes the plant to catch fire. A small fire burns on the canopy of the tree, a mere ember, but one that marks that they do not have any time left. ¡°Emily!¡± Anemone sees the ember and knows what it represents. ¡°I can¡¯t,¡± she says. Clover tries to blow the fires aware as the cinders inch closer and the smoldering embers on the tree spread. The four Coloraturas piece together this is connected to the Alraunes. ¡°Why?¡± Streltizia says. Clover feels the heat rising as the flames spread. Illusion or not, it is clearly real to them. ¡°Do you not trust us?¡± Strelitzia says. Anemone knows that something is connecting their illusion to the non-Arachne children back at the Black Box. The visages of those who taunt them with their playful smiles and frocking around in the burning village. Emily sees the top of the tree set ablaze. She tries to do something to save them. Anemone considers using her gravity magic to make them float in the air, but the idea is soon quashed by the sudden emergence of a pitch-black geyser. A concentration of burning rats swirls into a towering gestalt in the distance, and it crawls towards them, inching closer by the second. They cannot dodge its advance, as what little they have is beneath the burning tree, yet they also know that it is fleeting. Emily looks at the tower of impending illusory doom. She realizes the demon has given her no choice. She has to confess. ¡°I¡¯m sorry!¡± she cries out, tears streaming from her face. The hoard of rats barely misses the group. ¡°It¡¯s my fault.¡± She begins to explain about Pruflas and his actions with Hamlin and how she had unwitting absorbed his pipe and through it entangled the mana of a hundred and thirty innocent children with her own, rooting them into the dungeon. And the events that followed. The illusion dispels and the Coloraturas and Emily find themselves in the scrap piles again. The young girls are stunned by the knowledge, yet they think there is more to the story. Clover approaches Emily. ¡°You made a mistake, it happens.¡± Streltizia humphs. ¡°Of course, a demon was involved. Lousy dastard.¡± Anenome realizes that this is the thing Charlotte was unwilling to talk about. Rose looks at Emily and sees remorse in her eyes. ¡°There there¡± she tries to comfort the older girl. By now the Coloraturas know Emily long enough to know that she isn¡¯t the type to keep people against their will. Clover sees a light in the distance, a hole in the ceiling. She spreads her wings and offers a hand to Emily. ¡°We¡¯ll help you. The coloraturas will do everything in our power to help you right this wrong.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Rose says. ¡°You can count on us!¡± Emily¡¯s tears dry up, she thanks the younger children and stands up. They look at the rays of light. Clover uses her wings to fly to the hole, while Anemone uses her gravity magic to enable everyone else to float in the air. With a great leap, Emily, carrying Rose, and Streltizia jump into the hole and Anemone follows suit. Now on the first floor of the factory, they find themselves in front of a large door. ¡°Emily!¡± the avatara hears Tim¡¯s voice from behind them. They turn to find him, Esteban, Julia, Azalea, Raine, Lily and Hydrangea. The martial artist¡¯s expression is one of relief. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Azalea says. ¡°We¡¯ve spent the last hour trying to dig up where you guys were!¡± ¡°We¡¯re fine!¡± Rose says with a cheerful smile. Esteban approaches the sealed door. The wards on it fade away as all three Sentinels were defeated. Beyond it lies a glowing silver core. It shines with the blinding light of the sun. Julia, Lilly and Anemone cast spells to allow them to not be blinded by the radiant core. ¡°If you want sumthing done right¡­¡± the dungeon echoes to everything. ¡°Fine them, do your worse! I¡¯ll see you all wearing Gardenian Overcoats myself!¡± ??? The group enters the arena, finding it empty. ¡°Go on toots,¡± the dungeon impatiently says. ¡°I¡¯m waiting.¡± Emily knows something will happen if she tries to absorb the core. Yet she also knows she has to do it and prevent the Vanishers from harming more people. She approaches the shining core and places her hand on it. ¡°Alert! Alert!¡± a voice rings out as the room glows red. ¡°Core at risk. Initiating [Last Bastion Protocols]!¡± ¡°Hahaha,¡± the mafioso dungeon laughs. ¡°I¡¯m gonna relish this!¡± ¡°You want some ketchup to go with that relish?¡± Azalea asks. The core glows brighter than ever. The earth rumbles as the silver core moves above them and the surrounding area contorts itself around it. It takes the shape of a Mythril armored vehicle, with the figure of a man on top of it. The factory¡¯s avatara is a faced man clad in a suit and fedora that shines as brightly as the Mythril. The face that glares at the party beams an excitable smile, yet at the back of his head is another face contorted in agony. The machine he is affixed to has treads beneath it as if it were designed for moving on rough terrain. The chassis has two flamethrowers on the side, with a barrel on top of them, attached to magazines. ¡°Gaze upon the majestic fruits of Project Stronghold. As defined by me! The capo of the Joyfuller Vanisher. When you meet the Reaper and the Pathfinder, tell them Treads sent you!¡± Treads revs up and charges at the group. His weapons before spewing fire as the dungeon spins around. Emily draws her two blades and sings. ¡°Freezing chains of ice, snare this man with vice,¡± she sings as she waltzes around the area. Conjured chains of frozen water follow her moments and coil around the vehicle. The ice melts by the fire, dousing the flames and cloaking the tank in a fog of steam. Treads charge away from the enshrouded area. ¡°You think that you can play that steam trick on me?¡± Treads try to Ram Emily. Azalea condenses the vapor from the steam into liquid water and uses her knife to spread it on the ground, causing the floor to be slippery. ¡°You must be really slick huh?¡± the mermaid quips as Treads continues his attack. Emily leaps out of the way and Treads slides into the wall, unable to brake to turn. The Vanisher capo is trapped. Esteban climbs onto the vehicle and jabs him with some left hooks. Tim leaps onto the vehicle and pries one of the arms off the tank, preventing the flamethrower or barrel on it from being used. ¡°You dastards!¡± Treads exclaim. The face on its back yells. ¡°Yes, defeat this vile man!¡±. ¡°Shut up!¡± the other face says. The hostile avatara revs up again and drives towards the other end of the road, Tim hangs on by jamming his Qiang between several plates, while Esteban grabs Treads¡¯ shiny coat. The hostile dungeon core drives around the area, trying to remove the two men from the chassis. His plans backfire when Raine uses her staff to melt and ignite the treads. The treads melt causing Treads to topple over. Clover approaches the fallen boss with her fans, rather than buffeting him with wind spells, the peryton fawn instead whacks him with the metal fan. ¡°How can you be so heartless? Kidnapping people, killing them, forcing them to work against their will!¡± she says while thwacking the fan at him. Her furious combo ends with her unfolding the fan and using it to create a gust of wind strong enough to topple the vehicle again, and separating Treads¡¯ avatara from the vehicle. Anemone shoots an arrow at Threads, pinning him and his shadow to the wall. The Coloraturas, Emily, Tim and the Hernandez couple then unleash several attacks succession, causing the dungeon core to fall. Defeated, the avatara collapses. ¡°You¡­¡± Treads says before falling unconscious. ¡°Even with the Last Bastion Protocols,¡± Julia says. ¡°He seemed to be way too easy.¡± While Treads¡¯ avatara is unconscious the fack on the back of his head is now. ¡°Please,¡± the face says. ¡°Finish this.¡± The second face urges Emily to absorb the core and them with it. Emily sees the pained expression on the face. She realizes it was the source of the message in the first chest. ¡°What happened to you?¡± ¡°Wicked men had uprooted me, merged me to this criminal.¡± The face says. The avatara the face belongs to twitches. ¡°Hurry!¡± The core rematerializes in its original palce as the avatara and the tank fade into gold dust. Emily understands. She has little time before Treads reemerges. She extends her arm out to the core and begins to absorb it. The core¡¯s mana begins to to stream into Emily¡¯s avatara. She stands her ground as the silver core turns into raw a mana and is absorbed by Emily. She hears screams of agony as the core is nearly finished. A faint message of ¡°thank you¡± is also heard among the screams of the local capo. In the absence of the core, the factory ruins return to normal, bereft of any equipment used for making guns and bullets. The captives take the opportunity to knockdown and bind the mobsters as the manticores flees into the Underground. Existing the factory, the group encounters the freed captives. They give their thanks to Emily and her party for stopping the nascent rouge dungeon. Esteban gives them copies of the documents of the files Julia and her group discovered. ¡°Take these to the authorities.¡± He says. ¡°It might be of sue to them.¡± The former captive takes a look at the documents, telling of the disappearances of dungeons in the Cerberus area, and more relevantly mentions of ¡°Project Stronghold.¡± O-of course!¡± he says. Emily¡¯s group refuse to give their names, despite Rose¡¯s desire to theatricality declare the coloraturas as part of the reason the Joyfuller mob is vanquished. The group heads to their rented cards and make a return back to the lot. ??? The next day. Everyone is back home in the Black Box. Emily, Elizabeth, and Heathcliff talk about Treads and his factory. Following the defeat of Treads and the prior acquisition of the Umbraspehre. Emily now has a total of fourteen thousand and fifty skill points and a maximum total of thirty-five hundred. The radio in the core room tells of how a mysterious band of adventurers had ventured into a factory on Joyfuller Island and freed captives from there. ¡°You met Pruflas again?¡± Elizabeth says. She had learned from the Coloraturas about Emily¡¯s subsequent emotional breakdown. ¡°Yeah,¡± Emily¡¯s voice sorrowfully echoes to Elizabeth. ¡°I thought we got rid of that piper!¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Carla is not going to like this.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll need to make sure Demons can intrude upon Emily again,¡± Elizabeth says. She brings up the Dungeon skill tree. ¡°Let¡¯s see,¡± she scrolls through the array of unlockable skills. ¡°Found it! {{Demon Detection}}.¡± The skill in question cost two hundred points. ¡°Would¡¯ve been handy the first time the dastard came,¡± Heathcliff laments. ¡°Sorry,¡± Elizabeth says. Emily allocates the skill points by herself. Leaving her with one thousand, two hundred and fifty. ¡°The other relevant skills are beyond our grasp,¡° Elizabeth says. ¡°I¡¯m gonna go check out the new Mythril room. Richard and Sarah want to see to more peaceful uses for the metal not that we can make it, cher.¡± Heathcliff leaves. Elizabeth turns to the Elementalists¡¯ spheres. The purple Umbrasphere is affixed to the right of the magenta Electropshere. ¡°Esteban is looking into this [Project Stronghold], right?¡± Elizabeth says ¡°Yeah,¡± Emily says. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°You know about the missing dungeons in [Cerberus]?¡± ¡°Uh-huh,¡± Emily says. ¡°It was mentioned in the documents Clover found.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°These disappearances must¡¯ve been happening for a while.¡± The two ponder what to do next, and if the Vanishers and Project Stronghold are connected to this. ??? At the same time. Anemone approaches Charlotte. ¡°Hello,¡± the indigo-haired Alraune child says. ¡°Heya,¡± Anemone says. ¡°Can you lead me to your mother, I want to talk to her about something.¡± ¡°Sure!¡± Charlotte says. The violet-haired and wolf-eared girl follows Charlotte to her and Clara¡¯s new home, where they find Carla tending to one of the Tatzelwurms. ¡°Charlotte,¡± Clara is startled by her daughter¡¯s presence. Anemone introduces herself to Clara. ¡°I¡¯m one of the Coloraturas, we met your daughter when you went to Noir recently.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re one of the ¡®witches¡¯ Emily adopted?¡± Clara says. ¡°We are not Witches,¡± Anemone insists. She then clears her throat. ¡°I don¡¯t know how to explain this sorry.¡± Clara feels a sense of dread around her, as does Charlotte. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Anemone says. ¡°I know this is a sensitive topic, but I think my friends and I might be able to help you with your predicament.¡± ¡°What predicament?¡± Charlotte says, trying to deny something is wrong with her or rather trying to hide that something is wrong with her fellow Hamlin children. ¡°I must first ask a question. Are you familiar with the name ¡®Pruflas¡¯?¡± Clara grimaces. The mention of the piper¡¯s name conjures memories of the incident in Hamlin. ¡°How did you learn that name?¡± Anemone explains that Emily encountered the demon during their trip to the factory, and how for some strange reason it forced her to reveal the truth of what happened. As Clara and Charlotte hear her explanation, their faces shift from shock to grief to anger. Anemone notices a tinge of relief on Charlotte¡¯s face. ¡°So, the piper lives still,¡± Clara says. ¡°But what reason does he have for acting this way?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Anemone says. ¡°But I do know he is the one at fault for what happened to the children from your village, not Emily and not you.¡± ¡°Do your friends also know of this?¡± Clara says ¡°Clover is explaining it to the others.¡± Anemone grimaces. I¡¯m sorry I know that I¡¯m butting into your personal matters, but¡ª¡± ¡°Relax dear,¡± Clara says in a motherly tone. ¡°The piper is to blame for your knowing about this. That said, there is a reason we do not want people outside knowing of this.¡± She asks Anemone to tell her friends to not tell anyone outside the Black Box about the children of Hamlin or of her presence there. Lest they risk inviting retribution from the grieving town. ¡°Of course,¡± Anemone says. ¡°Our lips are sealed.¡± Charlotte sighs. ¡°I¡¯ll go ask the Arion sisters if they want to meet you guys,¡± Charlotte says. Clara also considers letting the Hermandezes know about this as well. ¡°Before I go, ¡°Aneome says. ¡°I do want to ask Charlotte something?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± the young alraune says. ¡°Are you still interested in learning gravity magic from me?¡± Anemone says. ??? Later, Sarah returns from a quick trip to Joyfuller Island. ¡°Can¡¯t believe they didn¡¯t get me any churros,¡± she grumbles. She carries a bag filled with pastries as she enters the atelier. Inside she finds that Raine is already sitting inside. Sarah drops the bag. ¡°Raine? You¡¯re early! Your apprenticeship doesn¡¯t start for another half hour!¡± ¡°It doesn''t?¡± Raine looks at the clock and learns that she is indeed a half hour early. ¡°Whoops sorry, but since I¡¯m already here¡­¡± Sarah places the bag of treats on a table and takes out a churro. ¡°Want one?¡± Raine takes the pastry as they head to the metalworking room. ¡°I heard you¡¯ve been to an old steel factory,¡± Sarah says. ¡°What was it like?¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t heard from Emily?¡± Raven says. ¡°She claimed she wanted your take on the trip,¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoes to Raine. ¡°I also wanted to hear why you guys didn¡¯t get any extra food while you were at the carnival,¡± Sarah says. ¡°Sorry,¡± Emily says, ¡°You didn¡¯t ask and things were rather hectic when we went to the factory.¡± Raine chuckles. ¡°The Vanishers were no problem.¡± ¡°Glad to hear it,¡± Sarah says. ¡°Hope the trip doesn''t make you sick of furnaces and forges.¡± Sarah leads Raine to her forge. The phoenixian girl sees a small furnace, some machines, an anvil, a small pool for cooling the metal, and a cauldron for smelted metal. Sarah dons a smock and gets a sledgehammer. ¡°Since Emily learned the Mythril recipes, we can start from there.¡± Sarah turns her head up ¡°Emily?¡± ¡°Um actually,¡± Emily says. ¡°Richard had asked me about that so I brought the ingots we got from the factory here already.¡± Emily makes a part of the room glow. Sarah looks at the glowing area and sees several white ingots stacked in a small pile. Sarah shrugs. She takes a few of the bars. ¡°For your first session,¡± Sarah says. ¡°We¡¯re gonna work on something simple. Sword blades.¡± Sarah walks Raine through the process of metalworking, including melting the ingots, pouring the molten metal into molds, hammering out imperfections, and cooling the metal with water. Raine and Sarah collaborate on this as students and teachers, respectively. Raine finishes her first blade. Sarah examines it. There are bubbles of air in the metal, leaving hollow cavities that weaken the blade and unevenly distribute the weight. ¡°Not bad for a first attempt¡­but¡± she takes the blade and puts it back in the melting pot. Raine tried again, her second attempt is better, but Sarah noticed some of the edges are chipped. She throws the blade into the pot again. Though the next few hours. Raine and Sarah talk about their lives. Raine learns of Sarah and Richard¡¯s late father, and how he taught his children various crafting disciplines. When Sarah learns from Raine how she had been wandering the streets of Noir¡¯s underground since she was a fledgling, unable to recall what her parents even looked like, and left to fend for herself until encountering Rose. ¡°You don¡¯t know what your parents looked like?¡± Sarah says in shock. ¡°That¡¯s horrible.¡± Raine sighs. ¡°It made looking for them impossible.¡± Unlike Clover, Raine had given up the idea of looking for her parents. Eventually, Raine¡¯s latest attempt is cooled. Sarah examines the Mythril blade and sees it is free of imperfections. No chips, no air bubbles, and no burned ore. Sarah takes the blade and attaches it to one of the shafts she had forged in advance. ¡°Not bad!¡± she says. ¡°You still have a long way to go, but if you can make a few more like then then you¡¯ll be a master of the forge in no time!¡± After a few more attempts, Raine¡¯s session ends. ¡°Thank you, Sarah,¡± Raine says. ¡°It was a lot of fun.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it,¡± Sarah says. ¡°Let me know when you¡¯re ready to continue.¡± ¡°I will,¡± Raine says. She then leaves the dwarfs¡¯ atelier. Richard returns with little Nina in tow. The two see Raine walking away from the atelier. Richard opens to door and greets his sister. ¡°How was Raine¡¯s apprenticeship, sister?¡± ¡°Kid¡¯s shows some promise,¡± Sarah gestures to the sword being hung in a display case. ¡°The blade is her doing.¡± Richard examines the sword and finds the blade to be of above-average quality. ¡°This is¡­remarkable. And she made this on her first day?¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± Sarah says. She then turns to the young spiderling. ¡°Now then Nina what brings you here?¡± ¡°Mommy wanted me to ask Richard if he can help Auntie Lydia!¡± she says. ¡°According to her,¡± Richard says while looking over spools of dyed thread. ¡°The young Arachne needs fresh sets of clothing. They grow up so fast.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± Sarah says. ¡°I¡¯ll go see if we have some cotton on us.¡± Sarah looks over some desk and finds the portrait of her, Richard, and their parents. She looks at the picture and wonders how much of her late father does she really know. Chapter XXVII: Fey Forests A few days pass. The Black Box had successfully thwarted two attempts from adventurers. Yet Emily feels concerned about the vanishing dungeons. ¡°Hey, Lizzie?¡± her voice echoes to Elizabeth. ¡°Yes?¡± the fairy was tending to a flower garden created by Carla and planted with the seeds of the ten plants that Minerva had bought the children during their first trip to Noir. ¡°Should we be concerned? About what is happening at Cerberus?¡± Elizabeth muses on the matter. ¡°It is strange that entire dungeons are disappearing.¡± They talk about whether they should investigate the matter. ¡°The reports also mention strange sightings of Automata in the area, ¡°Elizabeth says. ¡°Those could be the [Cells] of a [dungeon] that is trying to absorb other dungeons. But the issue is how would they make the entire location disappear as well.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Emily asks. ¡°Take the factory you went to the other day. You absorbed the [Core], but only the parts of the factory that were created by the dungeon vanished. The structure of the abandoned factory itself was still in place, right?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°While entire structures can vanish, they are usually because they were [Divine Dungeons] like you, the structure was created to house your consciousness. [Natural Dungeons] are instead the result of a being¡¯s consciousness merging with and mutating with the surrounding environment.¡± Elizabeth reminds Emily. ¡°Should the core be absorbed, the environment should only revert to a point before the Dungeon formed.¡± She grows more worried with each word she utters, to the point that she is convinced that this is a matter worth investigation. ¡°Do you want to ask the others directly or should I ask them in your stead?¡± ¡°We should both ask,¡± Emily says. ¡°It would be faster.¡± ¡°Gotcha,¡± Elizabeth begins by asking Carla and Charlotte as the garden is close to their home. ??? ¡°Alright,¡± Anemone Aria says. ¡°Gravity Magic is rather complicated. You¡¯ll have to consider the approximate weight of the target as well as the position of the gravity well you conjure. ¡°Okay,¡± Charlotte says. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re able to learn this kind of magic, Lotte?¡± Euryale says. ¡°I think so?¡± Charlotte says. ¡°Emily has an Umbraspehre so it should work right?¡± ¡°In theory,¡± the werewolf girl says. ¡°Now, why do you want to learn these spells anyway?¡± Charlotte thinks about the answer. She feels drawn to this family of magic for reasons she could not explain. Anemone notices the indigo-haired alraune¡¯s silence as an indication of something. ¡°Could it be that you have a natural affinity to this family, Charlotte?¡± ¡°Natural Affinity?¡± ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Nina says as she walks in. ¡°There are usually eight elements,¡± Anemone explains. ¡°Everyone is born with a natural affinity to one of the. This is because they are born with an Elementalist¡¯s Sphere.¡± ¡°Those things Emily sometimes collects?¡± Nina says. ¡°Correct,¡± Anenome says. ¡°She already has seven right now, including the Umbraspehre. While people are born with one, they can find the sphere of different elements to learn how to wield them instead.¡± ¡°I heard there are some exceptions,¡± Stheno says. ¡°Like how Bardsong circumvents the need and directly appeals to the elements.¡± ¡°That is true¡­to an extent,¡± Anemone says. ¡°There are books saying that certainly begins like faeries are bound more strictly to the sphere requirements even with Bardsong.¡± ¡°So you think I have an affinity towards Darkness?¡± Charlotte says. ¡°It¡¯s hard to say,¡± Anenome says. ¡°But it would explain why you would have a sudden interest in the gravity spells. Let¡¯s see if you can learn them!¡± Anemone smiles. Charlotte looks at several items on a table, one of them is a toy block that Anemone had enchanted to float, with the letter ¡°T¡± on opposite sides. Another is a pair of metal tableware and another still is a dumbbell meant for weight training. ¡°Do you want to start with magnetism?¡± Anemone asks. ¡°Sure!¡± Charlotte says. ¡°The silverware, right?¡± Anemone nods. ¡°While experts can cause any two objects to be attracted or repelled to each other, certain metallic ones are more suited for beginners. The principles here would also be in play for weight manipulation.¡± Anemone walks to the tableware and places them on another table. ¡°Now then, focus on the two objects.¡± Charlotte takes out a small wand and points it at the tableware. She concentrates on the spoon and fork, focusing on binding them together. After a moment, the two items begin to vibrate, a second after, they are clamped together. ¡°You did it!¡± Euryale says. ¡°I did?¡± Charlotte says. Anenome picked up the joined tableware and tried to separate them. She first uses simple brute force but finds that the spoon and fork refuse to be parted. Her eyes widen at how strong the magnetic bond is between the two items as she takes out her Lunar Drop-tipped wand and dispels it. ¡°That is a really strong bond. I¡¯m impressed.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Charlotte says. ¡°You might have a knack for this!¡± Anemone then places the floating wooden block in the air in front of her. ¡°Now the exercise would be increasing the pull of the ground so that it overwhelms the floating spell I used on it. For reference, the block weighs eight pounds and the floating spell makes it weightless.¡± Charlotte looks at the black and takes a deep breath. ¡°Eight pounds,¡± she thinks. She focuses on the cube. ¡°Eight pounds heavier, eight pounds heavier.¡± She points her training wand at the cube. ¡°Make the cube eight pounds heavier.¡± The ¡°T¡± block descends onto the ground. Charlotte breathes a sigh of relief. Before she knew it, she collapsed onto the ground. ¡°I can¡¯t move!¡± Euryale cries from the floor beside Charlotte. ¡°What is¡­ happening? Stheno says, her body is face down. ¡°Charlotte,¡± Anemone cries. ¡°Too¡­ strong!¡± Charlotte herself is unable to move her arms. Some of the petals on her waist are crushed by the increased weight on her body. She panicked and tried to think of a counterspell to allow her and her friend to move again. ¡°Eight pounds light, eight pounds lighter!¡± she thinks, but her arms and legs refuse to budge. ¡°Sixteen pounds? Thirty-two?¡± she tries counting up. Everyone¡¯s bodies begin to float. Euryale and Stehtno try to stand, but before they know it, they are touching the high ceiling. Charlotte¡¯s face is flustered as she helplessly floats in the air, trying to find a way to return to normal. ¡°I¡¯m sorry!¡± she yells, repeatably as she tries to find a method to bring them down. She hyperventilates as her next spell fails to restore their proper weight. ¡°Charlotte, calm down, deep breaths.¡± Anenome floats towards Charlotte while trying to calm her down. She calculates the force of the repulsion and casts a spell that lets them gently land on the ground, and slowly changes their weight back to normal. Charlotte¡¯s breathing slows from its panicky pace as she looks at Anemone. ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it!¡± Anemone says. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I don¡¯t know how it happened!¡± Charlotte says. Anemone laughs. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you¡¯ll get the hang of it.¡± ¡°I hope she gets the hang of it soon,¡± Euryale says. ¡°Before we have to hang to our seats!¡± ¡°Eury,¡± Stehno says. ¡°You know that¡¯s a rude thing to say!¡± Charlotte sighs. Anenome looks at Charlotte again. ¡°That spell was wide enough to affect us,¡± she thinks. ¡°She definitely has an Affinity for gravity spells.¡± She walks to the barbell. ¡°Okay. Let¡¯s try levitation!¡± The Arion sisters immediately grab the nearest fixed object. ¡°Sorry,¡± Euryale says Charlotte looks at the dumbbell. She sees the number twenty on it. ¡°Twenty pounds lighter,¡± she thinks after a deep breath. The barbell doesn''t move. Charlotte is confused, but instead of trying again, she examines the weight first. She lifts it up and effortlessly moves it above her head. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°There is more to anti-gravity than just making objects lighter,¡± Anemone says. ¡°There are three mothers. One is to make an Apurgy well within the object itself, the other is to lesser the natural pull of gravity, and the testis to create a well above that has a force equal to the natural gravity below us.¡± ¡°Apurgy?¡± ¡°A counter force to gravity, basically,¡± Anemone says. Charlotte decides to try making an Apurgy well. She visualizes the dumbbell floating in the air as she directs her training want at it. After a few moments, the weight begins to lift form the ground and hover a few feet in the air. Charlotte checks her body to ensure they aren¡¯t side effects. ¡°How about you?¡± she says to Anemone, Euryale and Stheno. ¡°We¡¯re fine!¡± Euryale says. ¡°I think.¡± Anemone examines her own body and that of the two Constructs for adverse effects, but find none. ¡°Great job! You¡¯re a real natural.¡± Charlotte flashes a joyous smile. She then turns the floating dumbbell and asks Anemone how to dispels it. Anemone walks her through the steps of reverse the effects of gravity spells and Charlotte restores the weight back to its intended weight of twenty pounds. It was at that point where Elizabeth arrives. ¡°Hello, can I ask Anemone a question.¡± ¡°Sure?¡± Anemone says. ¡°Are you interested in going to Cerberus?¡± Elizabeth asks. ??? At the same time, an Arachne teacher is teaching a mathematics class in the part of the Black Box set aside for communal childrearing. The teacher, Miss Annette, is one of Lydia¡¯s assistants. ¡°Alright class,¡± Miss Annette says, she points at a whiteboard with ¡°x+y=15¡± written on it. Her blond hair is tied in a ponytail and her glasses allow her to see the students in the back more clearly. Her white attire contrasts with her black abdomen. ¡°Today we will be continuing our sessions on algebra.¡± Rose is among the students in the class, and also among the few who are not paying attention. Her mind zones out from boredom. ¡°Rose!¡± Miss Annette¡¯s calling of the lamia¡¯s name uses her to break from her daze. ¡°Y-yes?¡± ¡°Now that I have your attention,¡± she says with a warm smile. ¡°Could you explain what the equation on the whiteboard means?¡± Rose looks at the equation. She struggles to think of a way to interpret the letters. ¡°Um, let¡¯s see. Hmm.¡± The gears in her mind try to whirl thinking of a satisfactory answer. ¡°One plus fourteen?¡± she guesses. ¡°Correct,¡± Miss Annette says. ¡°Simple, but correct.¡± She uses Rose¡¯s answer as a segue to the lessons on how many combinations lead to the same answer, writing ¡°10+5¡± and ¡°12+3¡± as possible combinations alongside Rose¡¯s more simple answer. She then hands out several worksheets. The sheets have on them algebraical problems of various degrees of complexity. Rose tries to solve the equations on these sheets, but she spaces out again and before she knows it, the class is over. ¡°Consider the leftover equations as homework for the night, you¡¯re dismissed.¡± She says with a sweet smile. Rose looks at her sheet and sees that fifteen problems are unsolved, and some of those she did answer were incorrect. ¡°Rats,¡± she thinks as she takes the paper with her and slithers outside the classroom. Miss Annette makes note of Rose¡¯s lack of focus today. ??? After school, Azalea practices her comedy routine in a forest inside the Black Box. Rose is busy working on her homework. Azalea swims to Rose. ¡°Hey Rosie, what are you doing?¡± Rose sighs. ¡°Math.¡± ¡°Really?¡± the mermaid says. ¡°These equations are no problem for me! Let me take a crack at them.¡± The lamia hands the aspiring comedian her homework. Azalea looks at the paper and Rose¡¯s answers. ¡°Well¡­these answers sure seem variable.¡± She looks at one that Rose had gotten wrong, ¡°x-7=14¡± a fourteen was marked beside it. She uses her water powers to create twenty-one spheres of air. ¡°Count them, Rose.¡± Rose sighs. ¡°Are you gonna throw them at my face afterward?¡± ¡°Of course not, promise,¡± Azalea says. Rose counts these spheres. ¡°There are fourteen of them, Lea.¡± ¡°Correct, and half o¡ª¡± ¡°It¡¯s seven, I get it,¡± Rose says. ¡°And seven times three is?¡± ¡°Twenty-one. Azalea this is one of your jokes.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a joke, Rose.¡± The mermaid says. ¡°Well not this time. Anyway, if seven multiplied by three is twenty-one and seven twice is fourteen then?¡± Rose realizes what Azalea is trying to say. ¡°Then twenty-one minus seven is fourteen.¡± ¡°Yep!¡± Azalea shows Rose the reliant equation. Rose crosses out her incorrect answer and writes the twenty-one in its place. The spheres of water then plop into the ground. Azalea then points out several other equations and helps tutor Rose with the algebra homework. Over the next hour, Anemone guides rose to discover the right answers. ¡°These problems are way more bark than bite, much like the trees!¡± Azalea says. ¡°Hehe, yeah,¡± Rose says. ¡°Thanks, Azalea.¡± Rose then notices something. ¡°You know I think Emily might be the biggest Dungeon we¡¯ve ever seen.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Azalea says. ¡°You sure?¡± Rose observes the plants goring inside this part of the Black Box while pointing out how she managed to be long enough to reach Noir from here. ¡°That trip left me pretty stiff,¡± Azalea says referring to the traversal method to the Noirian extension. Lily gallops towards the two. ¡°Hello, guys!¡± ¡°What¡¯s up, Lily?¡± Rose says. ¡°Careful there, you nearly disturbed the tatzelwurms,¡± Azalea says. ¡°Sorry!¡± Lily says. ¡°Elizabeth sent to me to find you. Emily wants to know if you want to go to Cerberus tomorrow?¡± ¡°The Coloraturas never turn down an adventure!¡± Rose says. ¡°Or at least I wouldn''t.¡± ¡°Is it because of the missing Dungeons?¡± Azalea says. ¡°Yeah!¡± the centaur says. ¡°I already asked Raine and Hydrangea about it. They said they will go.¡± ¡°And Anemone?¡± Azalea says. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen her?¡± Lily says. ¡°Where is she?¡± ¡°Prolly teaching Charlotte gravity spells over at her place,¡± Azalea says. ¡°You know she is very much unlike a tree.¡± ¡°How so?¡± Lily innocently asks. ¡°Because her bite is worse than her bark!¡± Rose giggles a bit. She knows that out of them all her skill with magic is the most advanced. ¡°She did teach us how to use our spells in tandem for different effects.¡± ¡°I still remember the time she managed to defeat a Strega with you, Lily,¡± Azalea says. ¡°Never thought they would be vulnerable to illusions.¡± ¡°It was a shock to me too,¡± Lily says. ¡°Oh, We need to ask Strelitzia and Clover as well.¡± ¡°I think Clover is training with Tim,¡± Rose says. ¡°Huh? Why?¡± Azalea says. ¡°He says he knew a fair bit about fans like the one Richard and Sarah made her,¡± Lily says ¡°Come to think of it,¡± Rose says. ¡°He and Heathcliff seemed to be well-traveled guys.¡± The three girls continued to talk on the way to the Truce¡¯s abode. There they took Anemone about the trip to Cerberus. They learned Clara had learn from Heathcliff about it before hand and already told her daughter and Anemone about it. They also learned that Elizabeth had asked Tim, Clover and Strelitiza about it, and that Emily had told Nina, Esteban and Julia. All agreeing to go to Cerberus tomorrow. ??? The next afternoon, after Breakfast and checking in with Pauline about the trip, Emily and her group, consisting of Heathcliff, Tim, Elizabeth, the dwarven siblings, the Truces, Nina, the Coloraturas, and the Hernandezes, arrived in the region of Cerberus. They arrive at a small town named Thornwood. They arrive there in two cars that Emily, Elizabeth, and Sarah created in a short time frame and designed with their demi-human friends in mind. ¡°We¡¯re here, chers!¡± Heathcliff says. The town reminds Emily of Eastshire, but she notices there are some more roads there and more places for greeting travelers as well. A diner, a theater, a supermarket. The Coloraturas are reminded of Noir more than they are of any rustic village. As the group walks on the sidewalk, a large vehicle drives past them. The smoke from the exhaust gets caught in Azalea¡¯s orb of water and causes her to cough. The mermaid removes her heart from her orb before the corrupted water can choke her. ¡°Clover,¡± she says while gasping. ¡°Help.¡± The peryton casts an oxygenation spell, to allow Azalea to breathe normal air while Azalea drops the polluted water to the ground. ¡°Thanks,¡± the clionid mermaid says. She begins to conjure a new orb of water over her head. Emily approaches Azalea. ¡°Are you okay, Azalea?¡± ¡°Hah, don¡¯t worry about it,¡± Azalea says. She swims around the group, hoping to take her mind off the polluting vehicle. ¡°Just needed some clear water. Wow, this place is cleaner than Noir¡¯s underground. I just know people don¡¯t choke to death here¡± Emily is a little disturbed by Azalea¡¯s statement. ¡°Yeah that is a thing that happens,¡± Rose says. ¡°Comes with the territory of being stuck in a sealed space underground,¡± Julia says. As disturbed as Emily is, Richard is even more so. ¡°What?¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t hear?¡± Sarah says. ¡°Noir has a higher than average rate of death by suffocation rate. Even some of the Elegere die there.¡± ¡°You¡¯d think the car makers would¡¯ve known this,¡± Azalea says. ¡°They¡¯re not the only thing driving up the pollution, but still.¡± ¡°We get it,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Things were cleaner back when it was the horse and buggy.¡± Tim ignores the discussion to focus on finding a place to practice his wind shield. Following his realization, he learned to use the ability more consistently by focusing on his feelings towards Emily and channeling them. The group soon finds a diner on a street corner and gets some lunch there. ¡°Before we left,¡± Richard says. ¡°Elizabeth had asked me if she could add a new function to the Cyberworks armors.¡± ¡°A function?¡± Emily says. ¡°I thought it would come in handy for cases where they are separated from civilization for long,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°If the enchantment works, it can eliminate the need for sleeping bags at least.¡± ¡°You sure have a knack for weird ideas, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. Clara looks around the diner with uncertainty. This is the first since since moving into the Black Box that she had even stepped outside and been seen by strangers. Heathcliff notices the alraune¡¯s expression. ¡°Having the jitters, Clara?¡± Charlotte also notices her mother¡¯s expressions. Clara assures them both she is fine. ¡°Heh, maybe we can bring home a new pet for the Dungeon!¡± Heathcliff says. Tim sighs. ¡°You are focused on what to add to Emily, huh?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°We can always use more creatures to help deter ¡®guests¡¯ from getting too close, can¡¯t we.¡± ¡°Are you sure Clara can handle new beasts right now?¡± Emily says. ¡°It seems like the Tatzelwurms, Chimeras, and that deer are a handful as it is.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you worry about me, dear,¡± Clara says. ¡°I¡¯ve¡­acclimated to those monsters now.¡± ¡°How¡¯s the new charm, Emmy?¡± Anemone says. ¡°It¡¯s great,¡± Emily says. ¡°Hopefully it won¡¯t come loose like it did at the factory.¡± The dungeon avatara is grateful in that it allows her to control her telepathic skill better. ¡°New charm?¡± Nina says. ¡°It¡¯s a long story,¡± Anemone says. ¡°So how are we going to approach this?¡± Tim says. ¡°An [Avatara], generally has enough mana for ten excisions into dungeons before it cannot sustain itself and is recalled by the dungeon,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°What happens then?¡± Clover says curiously while Streltizia orders a salad. ¡°Well, um, under normal circumstances the nearby residents would return with her, especially the [Cells]. But there had been cases where that was not the case.¡± ¡°For this,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°There is this trinket!¡± he takes out the D.E.M. ¡°A Denizen Extraction Mechanism, or D.E.M.¡± ¡°The [Denizen Extraction Mechanism] is a mysterious device,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°But it will return stranded residents of a dungeon to the dungeon of origin. Helpful for those that aren¡¯t Sentinels and even the Sentinels see value in it given their more common means of returning to the Dungeon. It is also called a [Deus Ex Machina] as it is believed [The Pathfinder] created the arcane object for this end.¡± ¡°Okay, so we can go back at any time right?¡± Rose says. ¡°Not quite,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°This trinket has a limited amount of charges,¡± Heathcliff says ¡°It¡¯s only meant to be used sparingly. It takes a month for it to have enough mana to function after use.¡± ¡°Such as when Emily leaves without us,¡± Lily guesses. ¡°Among other things,¡± Esteban says. ¡°Now then, the matter at hand?¡± ¡°I guess we should ask the other patrons if they knew of the missing Dungeons,¡± Emily says. ¡°We have to start somewhere.¡± ¡°That is a good plan, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Allons¡± ??? The group asks the diner¡¯s other patrons and employees for information about the peculiar disappearances of dungeons and their cores, as well as the automata. While also getting some lunch while they are there. Paid for on Heathcliff¡¯s dime. Sarah had three courses worth of sandwiches and fried food. Rose orders a cup of coffee, her favorite beverage after being instructed to not let Nina take a drop. Heathcliff also orders a cup of coffee. After a half hour, they compiled their information. ¡°No dice,¡± Raine says, her arms slumped over in exasperation. ¡°We got something from the waiter,¡± Rose says, using her experiences with Jacquelyn to talk to the employees. ¡°There is a dungeon in the nearby meadows.¡± ¡°I received word of a [Natural Dungeon] that encompasses some ruins to the east,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°I heard of some sprites living in a forest to the northeast,¡± Emily says. ¡°There is a ghost town a few miles off,¡± Esteban says. ¡°Great,¡± Heathcliff says. He takes out a map. Emily, Elizabeth, Rose, and Esteban make their approximate locations with some markers. ¡°We can split into four groups and tackle them all at once!¡± ¡°Are you sure that¡¯s a good idea?¡± Emily says. She doesn''t know how dangerous these Dungeons are. ¡°It does seem risky, Heathcliff,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Even if the power of the dungeons is lower compared to near Rosenkreuz, the missing dungeons would mean that the remainder would be able to absorb more mana from the lack of competition.¡± ¡°That does remind me,¡± Clover says as she marks her own location on the map. ¡°I heard that there is a Divine Dungeon in this area.¡± The area she circled is now the northernmost of all the circled areas. ¡°She said it had leaped in power recently.¡± ¡°The Engines?¡± Elizabeth says, confused at the name. ¡°Sounds cool!¡± Nina says. ¡°Does it go ¡®vroom, vroom?¡¯¡± ¡°We don¡¯t know,¡± Richard says. ¡°It¡¯s further than we have ever seen.¡± ¡°It¡¯s also further than any of these other places,¡± Julia says. ¡°Let¡¯s save that for last.¡± The group looks over the map. ¡°We have Ruins, a ghost town, a sprite forest, and a dungeon in the meadows,¡± Emily says. ¡°Which one should we do first?¡± ¡°The Meadows seem the closest,¡± Tim says. ¡°Is there anything known about it?¡± Everyone turns to Rose. ¡°Um, I forgot to ask them that, sorry.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°We¡¯ll find out when we get there.¡± ¡°So,¡± Hydrangea says. ¡°How about the sprite¡¯s ruins?¡± ¡°Ooh, sprites,¡± Nina says. The spiderling eagerly jumps in her seat. ¡°I wanna go too!¡± Lily says. ¡°Okay that is two for the sprites,¡± Emily says. ¡°Anyone else?¡± Hydrangea, Tim, Sarah, Rose, Azalea, and Streltizia raise their hands. ¡°Okay, that is eight for the ruins,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°I¡¯m interested in the ghost town myself,¡± Esteban says. Julia, Clara, Richard, and Heathcliff, also express an interest in the location, and Charlotte wants to go with Clara, Anemone, Raine, and Clover want to go with Charlotte. ¡°Nine for the ghost town,¡± Emily says. She and Elizabeth haven¡¯t decided yet. The avatara is in a conundrum. ¡°I got an idea,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°We can try splitting into two groups.¡± ¡°Lizzie,¡± Emily says. She is still hesitant about splitting up in general. ¡°Can we handle these with two groups?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± the fairy says with a confident smile. ¡°The mana levels are low enough here. We could easily handle two at a time with two groups of at least eight each. Especially given that we have some more people with experience with us now.¡± ¡°Plus we don¡¯t know if these dungeons will goo poof by the time we get to them,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Those being our only leads, we need to make sure we seize the opportunity when it comes.¡± ¡°You do have a point,¡± Emily says. She deliberates on the idea for a few minutes. ¡°Okay, we¡¯ll do two groups. Lizzie and I will lead one to the Sprite forest and you two will lead the other to the ghost town, okay?¡± ¡°Noted,¡± Esteban says. ¡°Take care of yourselves, chers,¡± Heathcliff says. Emily splits the large party into two, herself, Elizabeth, Tim, Sarah, Rose, Hydrangea, Azalea, Lily, Streltizia, and Nina in one, Heathcliff, Esteban, Julia, Richard, Clara, Charlotte, Raine, Anemone, and Clover are in the other. Elizabeth gets a second map for Heathcliff¡¯s group, making it with the same circles and the same locations. Emily consults the original map, she learns that aside from the Meadows, the Forest is the closest dungeon to Thornwood. Half a day¡¯s hike from here. ¡°Do you want to wait until tomorrow?¡± Elizabeth says. Emily checks the cloak on the diner¡¯s wall, learning that it is now 1:12 PM. ¡°I think we can head there now. We¡¯ll meet up back here when we¡¯re done.¡± ¡°That is suitable,¡± Esteban says before he and Julia meanwhile head to one of the cars. ¡°Good luck, cher,¡± Heathcliff says to Emily as the two groups part ways for now. Grabbing enough food for two days before they leave Thornwood. ??? Emily, Elizabeth, Tim, Sarah, Rose, Azalea, Hydrangea, Lily, Streltizia, and Nina arrive at the location where the Sprite dungeon is supposed to be. In the Solo Winged Forest. They searched the area until sunset, but could not find any sign of a dungeon here. ¡°Do you think it vanished?¡± Rose says. Emily is disturbed by the possibility. Both out of fear that it meant they were too late and because it meant they walked all this way for nothing. ¡°Calm down,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°[Sprites] are notorious tricksters, prone to hiding their homes in plain sight.¡± Stella sets and Tranquialtas rises. Pale moonlight now illuminates the dark forest. It is now 7:00 PM. The group sets a campfire and talks about Sprights and Fairies like Elizabeth. ¡°So,¡± Rose says. ¡°What is the difference between sprights and fairies?¡± ¡°I¡¯m curious about that as well,¡± Emily says. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°Well you see,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°[Faeries] like myself are begins designed to aid [Dungeons], A fairy and a [Dungeon core] are siblings born from the fires of [the Frogemaster]. A [Sprite] is more free-spirited by comparison and comes in many other forms. From the dream-weaving [Pixie] to the elemental and airy [Sylph]. They are thus not bound to any dungeon, save any they call home, and are somewhat common through [Titania] and ¡­Hey!¡± Rose had spaced out again. ¡°Huh, what was that again?¡± Rose says. Elizabeth sighs. ¡°The short of it is that [Sprites] are not necessarily bound to [Dungeons]. Fairies are.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Rose says. Elizabeth wonders if there is a way to get Rose to focus on things outside of combat. She notices that Rose is not the only one who is distracted as she sees Nina staring at the fire. As if in a trance. ¡°Nina?¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Yes?¡± the young spiderling says, her eyes still fixed on the campfire. ¡°Why are you staring at the campfire?¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°It¡¯s pretty,¡± Nina says with a giggle. Elizabeth feels something about her skin, a telling that it¡¯s almost time for her enchantment on the armor to take hold. Hydrangea whispers something to Anemone, and her face brightens up at hearing that. ¡°Ooh, good idea Hydra.¡± A few minutes later, the embers of the campfire shrink as the firewood is burned out. Hydrangea approaches Nina and pokes her with a hand that she had chilled to feel clammy. Nina suddenly shivers and she feels what seems like a ghostly tap. ¡°G-g-g-ghost!¡± the spiderling says as she jumps up and runs away from the mischievous bespectacled girl. Rose, Streltizia, and Lily giggle at Nina¡¯s expense as she turns around and realizes the ¡°ghost¡± is just Hydrnagea. Flustered, Nina doesn¡¯t know how to respond to the prank. Azalea giggles a bit. ¡°You scared me!¡± Nina says, puffing her cheeks. ¡°Meanies.¡± ¡°Sorry,¡± Hydrangea says. ¡°But you seem as easily distracted as Rose.¡±I¡¯m not easily distracted!¡± Nina lies. ¡°And I wasn¡¯t scared either!¡± Rose looks at Hydrangea. ¡°Never thought you were the type for pranks, Hydrangea,¡± Rose says. ¡°There¡¯s a first time for everything,¡± Hydrangea smirks. While the children talk about practical jokes, Emily, Sarah, and Elizabeth look out for creatures. Tim practices his baijiquan movements. He assumes a horse stance, followed by a dual palm strike, a knee attack, an elbow attack, and a single palm strike. He repeats these motions in a mirrored form and then returns to his horse stance. All the while he is wondering about the fate of the man who taught him these moves, as well as his former fellow students. He flashes back to the time he received the Qiang, where he was told to take the weapon and run. ¡°It will be your new teacher,¡± he thinks. He wonders what exactly was meant by these words. The time is now 9:55 PM. Elizabeth gathers the group here to make an announcement. ¡°I already told Heathcliff¡¯s group this before they drove from Thornwood, but¡­¡± she eagerly begins to explain the nature of the enchantment. ¡°I¡¯ve enchanted the armors to help protect us while sleeping. If we are far from civilization or the Black Box, they were activated and become portable beds for us!¡± ¡°Portable¡­beds?¡± Sarah says. ¡°You mean sleeping bags?¡± ¡°Not quite,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°This enchantment will also ensure our bodies will not be harmed by fang or claw until the sun rises. I¡¯m so excited to have the chance to field test this so soon!¡± Elizabeth says with the glee of a giddy schoolgirl. ¡°Now everyone spread apart. I don¡¯t know what is going to happen if you get too close.¡± The time is now 9:58 PM. Everyone sits a certain distance apart from each other, everyone except Rose hugs their legs, or forelegs in Lily¡¯s case. Rose instead coils her tail. It is not 9:59 PM. ¡°Okay,¡± Emily says with a sense of dread. ¡°When will this enchantment¡ª¡± The time is now 10:00 PM. Through runes implanted onto them, keyed to work when they¡¯re too far from a Dungeon or a font of civilization such as a town or city, The Cyberworks suits begin a Bardsong tune. The enchanted lullaby immediately places them in a sleeplike trance, but the enchanted suits are far from done. With everyone unconscious, They begin to hum a different spell and the outermost plates on the greaves and gauntlets begin to extrude from their original placement and expand to cover their wielders in a spherical shell each. The two spells keep everyone asleep and protected from predators, but also unable to move in this state. An hour later, several small creatures notices ten strange spheres surrounding a pile of burnt wood. They curiously look at these spheres. ¡°What are they?¡± one of these creatures asks. They resembles humans, but smaller in scale and adorned with insectoid wings. Another of the creatures touches one of the spheres, but gets no response. ¡°Seems harmless.¡± ¡°Think they belong to someone?¡± another one asks. ¡°If they did, it¡¯s their loss,¡± the first sprite says. ¡°Finders¡¯ keepers!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s take them with us!¡± the second sprite says. ¡°Yeah!¡± the others says. Weaving their magic, they cause the metal spheres to float in the in air and take it back with them. ¡°I¡¯m sure Mister Puck will love these!¡± one of the sprites says. They scurry off into the night. With the metal objects in tow. ??? The fairies bring the spheres deeper into the forest, passing a perimeter lined with toadstools. They pass by lakes reflecting daylit clouds and springs where the water flows upward. They fly over checkered roads and gardens that slightly float over the ground. Until they arrive at a majestic palace¡­tipped upside down. They bring the metal spheres into the tallest tower of the palace. ¡°Mister Pick! Mister Puck!¡± one of the sprights cheerfully exclaims. ¡°Look what we found!¡± A tall elegant man descends from the ¡°ceiling¡±. His butterfly-like wings allow him to float above the ¡°floor¡±. He sees his subjects carry several spheres of various sizes and colors. One purple, two orange, two magenta, two white, one cyan, one blue, and one an unusually blonde shade of gold. ¡°Oh my what¡¯s this?¡± the larger sprite asks. The other sprites explain to Puck that they found these spheres on the outskirts of their forests. In the mortal plain. Puck examines these metal spheres, he senses mana emitting from them, but these do not seem to be Elementalists¡¯ Spheres. These instead seemed to be to him that of living beings. ¡°Hmm,¡± the man whimsically says. One of the sprites lands on his lead, using his short auburn locks and tresses to keep herself warm. ¡°Are these people?¡± the regal fairy thinks. ¡°What do we do with these things?¡± one of the sprites says. ¡°I think we might be expecting guests soon,¡± Puck says. ¡°These might make great lures for them.¡± ¡°Yay! Guests!¡± the sprites cheer. At Puck¡¯s request, the sprites roll the metal spheres in various rooms. The purple sphere and the larger of the orange and pink ones are the first to go, being moved outside the palace to a nearby cliff. A different sprite then lines up the two silver spheres with the orange one and rolls them down to a different part of the palace. The blue and gold ones and placed in the banquet hall and finally the cyan and smaller pink spheres are rolled up to the ¡°bottom¡± floor of the upside-down palace. Puck then manifests four wands, and instructs a pixie to place them near the spheres, for their ¡°guests.¡± The whimsical sprites take these wands and do as told. Leaving with a cheerful exuberance and a desire to please their caretaker. As the smaller sprites leave, Puck looks out the window. He sees a mechanical giant in the distance. Sealed in an illusion. The robot is not a flat image made of the colors of the trees. The smoke that comes from its pipes is instead the steam from a geyser that was in the area. Puck looks at the metallic menace. ¡°Could these too, be from the wasteland to the north?¡± Puck muses. He notices there were differences in how these spheres looked compared to the steampunk trappings of what is now a mirage. ¡°Or perhaps, are they from another challenger.¡± Puck looks over at the newspapers, given to him by his sprite subjects. The front pages tell of disappearing dungeons and one suddenly growing exponentially in power. The sprites are too naive and innocent to realize the ramifications of this, but Puck is not, for he is the core of the palace and the surrounding feywood. He flies outside the pace and towards the tip of the power. At the bottom lies a familiar glowing shape. Two cones, connected by a ring. ¡°Perhaps the time for me to fade is nigh,¡± the fair man says as he looks at the dungeon¡¯s core. His core. ¡°I hope they would prevail against the steel tyrant.¡± ??? In the Feywood, dawn rises. On a steep cliff, Emily, Tim, and Elizabeth¡¯s shells unfold and return to their normal state as their Bardsong-induced sleep fades and the three wake up. Emily¡¯s avarata yawns, her expression is drowsy as she covers her eyes from Stella¡¯s rays. ¡°That was a ..nap!¡± Elizabeth flies towards Emily. ¡°So how was the Sleepshell enchantment?¡± ¡°It was¡­tiring,¡± Tim says. He looks around and notices the surroundings are different than he previously recalled. ¡°Now where are we?¡± Emily looks around and sees that Sarah and the children are missing. Worry washes over everyone¡¯s face. ¡°Where are they?¡± Emily says. Elizabeth¡¯s face bears a confused expression. ¡°I was certain we were in a forest,¡± the fairy says. ¡°Lizzie!¡± Emily says. Elizabeth realizes that Sarah and the five girls with them are not with them. ¡°¡­oh.¡± She flies around the area, trying to see any trace of Sarah, Nina, Rose, Lily, Hydrangea, or Azalea, but all she can see are illusions and mirages. A gleam catches Tim¡¯s eyes. He walks towards its source. It is a staff, attached to it is a piece of parchment. He reads it. ¡°Welcome to the Mirage Feywood.¡± He notices the staff in front of him is tipped with butterfly wings. As he picks the staff up the parchment changes. ¡°This is a Mirage Staff, whether you wish to escape or otherwise, this tool will help you navigate the twists and turns of this landscape.¡± Is now inscribed below the greeting. Tim hands the staff and parchment to Emily. Emily reads through it and wonders if it can help them find the others. Elizabeth looks towards the upside-down structure. ¡°Emily look!¡± Emily looks out the cliff and towards the structure, majestic as it is uncanny. Its towers point down, decorated by spiral molds. Several parts of it are covered in vines and leaves. ¡°Do you think they could be there?¡± Emily says ¡°I¡¯m not sure, this place could be a mirage as well,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°May I see that staff?¡± Emily hands the Mirage staff to Elizabeth, she observes the sprightly tool and tests it out by pointing it at the palace. Nothing happens. ¡°It¡¯s real,¡± the fairy says. ¡°The [Mirage Staves] are used in dispelling and manipulating illusions.¡± With that, the trio have a destination. Elizabeth hands Emily back the Mirage Staff. ¡°Should we look for a way down?¡± Emily says. Elizabeth sakes her head. ¡°Nothing is as it seems here, Emily. This place is populated by sprites and cover in illusions and mirages. We¡¯ll need to find a more indirect route if we are to reach this palace.¡± Emily takes the mirage staff and points it away from the palace¡¯s direction. A road of yellow brick emerges from the ground. Laced with signs pointing every which way but the direction of the path. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Tim says. The three walk along the path. ??? Rose and Hydrangea wake up on the ¡°ceiling¡± of a large throne room. Rose rubs her head. ¡°Why do I feel so dizzy?¡± the Lamia says. Hydrangea sees a Mirage Staff and the parchment attached to it. She reads the note and learns they are a dungeon called the Mirage Feywood. ¡°Rose, I think the Sprite dungeon found us.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s good news!¡± Rose says. ¡°Maybe we can ask them where everyone else is!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think it would be that easy,¡± Hydrangea says. She looks around the room and sees a strange image of a cube painted on the wall. Hydrangea points the staff at the painted cube and it suddenly materializes as a three-dimensional object and falls on the ceiling with them. Rose is shocked to see the image just turn into an object like that. ¡°What in the¡ª Hydra how did you do that?¡± ¡°Sprights are master illusionists,¡± Hydrangea says. ¡°I¡¯ve read that much. We need to find the others.¡± Rose slithers after Hydrangea as she approaches the materialized cube. The cyan-haired girl sees a doorway on one of the cube¡¯s sides, just big enough for the two of them. She opens it and the two enter it to find a room filled with bioluminescent mushrooms, trees, and grass. Also giant insects. Rose sees one large grasshopper and tries to zap it, but her lightning magic doesn''t faze the insect. They¡¯re too tiny. The lamia and the bespectacled girl wander the tall grass looking for a way out. ??? Emily, Elizabeth, and Tim walk through a bio-luminescent forest. The trees are covered in glowing patterns that change as they approach it. They soon come across a large room filled with giant chess pieces. Elizabeth flies to the ceiling and sees a doorway on a small floating lily pad. She heads back down to the floor. ¡°I found a door at the top, but it is on something too small for the three of us. ¡°Can you fly us up there?¡± Emily says. Elizabeth tries to fly Emily up, but it turns out they are too large to enter the doorway. The wind up back on the floor. ¡°No good huh?¡± Tim asks. ¡°Nope,¡± Emily says with a distraught expression. A sprite arrives from the high doorway. ¡°Guest! Guests!¡± she calls as she flutters towards them. ¡°Hello?¡± Emily says to the cheerful critter. ¡°Hello, friends. How are you enjoying the Feywood?¡± the sprite says. ¡°It¡¯s, um, eh,¡± Elizabeth tries to answer her smaller counterpart. ¡°We¡¯re looking for some people,¡± Tim says ¡°Have you seen any children or dwarves around here.¡± The sprite tilts her head quizzically. Tim¡¯s brow furrowed upon learning this meant that asking her was futile. ¡°Nope, I haven''t seen anyone here, sorry,¡± the sprite says. ¡°Is there a way you can get us to that door?¡± Emily says. ¡°Of course,¡± the sprite says. ¡°But you have to solve a riddle first.¡± ¡°A riddle?¡± Emily says. ¡°[Sprites] are rather obtuse like that,¡± Elizabeth says. The young sprite innocently flutters around the party. ¡°A horse without legs, yet A can make great leaps, what am I?¡± Emily looks around the room and sees several chess pieces, her eyes gaze at the giant horse-shaped knight piece. ¡°A knight?¡± she guesses. ¡°Correct!¡± the sprite says as she flutters close to Emily¡¯s eyes. ¡°I¡¯m Flowena! Nice to meet you!¡± ¡°Nice you meet you, Flowena,¡± Emily says. ¡°The Mirage Staff you have there has effects you might not be aware of try it on me and see!¡± Flowena says while close to Emily¡¯s face. ¡°Okay?¡± Emily uses the staff on the helpful sprite. Flowena laughs as the magic of the staff veils her. ¡°That tickles!¡± she says. She points towards the entrance to the room. Emily moves towards there, the mirage staff brings Flowena with her. She turns around and perceives Flowena to be the same size. ¡°Is this good?¡± Flowena doubles over in laughter. ¡°Now release the staff.¡± Emily moves the staff away. Tim and Elizabeth are shocked to see the sprite grow five times in size. Yet to Emily it only looks like she had suddenly moved a few feet away. ¡°But..how¡­what?¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°It¡¯s all a matter of perspective, my fairy friend!¡± Flowena says. Tim understands what happened. ¡°I see. The nature of this place means that perspective itself can be distorted.¡± He looks at the giant rook piece, the tallest of them all. ¡°Emily, hand me the staff.¡± Emily gives Tim the Mirage Staff and Tim immediately points it towards the rook piece. He moves back severely feeling like lifting the piece with the staff. After moving a certain distance, he releases the piece next to the lily pad and it shrinks from Emily and Elizabeth¡¯s perspective. Flowena flutters to the top of the rook piece. ¡°You get it!¡± she says. With the mirage Staff, Tim rescales the other chess pieces and places them to use as steps that they can ascend to the door. The group of four enter the door. ??? Rose and Hydrangea get lost in the tall grass, unable to return to the throne room. Their diminutive sixes make them vulnerable to the insects within the grass. Rose points the Mirage Staff in random directions. ¡°Stupid thing, why won¡¯t you work!¡± she says with frustration. ¡°It¡¯s supposed to manipulate illusions,¡± Hydrangea says. ¡°I know that!¡± Rose grumbles. As she slithers around she bumps into something. ¡°Ow,¡± a sprite on the ground says. ¡°Sorry,¡± Rose says before realizing that someone else is here with him. ¡°Wait, what?¡± she turns towards the sprite. His striking features are framed with blue hair and wings. ¡°You here to marvel at the majestic creatures of the grass too?¡± the sprite says. ¡°Majestic?¡± Rose says. ¡°They¡¯re bugs! Never mind, can you help us find our friends?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± the male sprite says. ¡°Follow me!¡± The two follow the sprite around the grasslands until they reach a door. Through it, they find a room with walls painted with strange shapes and colors, as well as stairs and pillars scattered all around. ¡°Well at least there are no insects here,¡± Rose says. ¡°If you want to find your friends, then solve the riddle,¡± the blue-haired sprite says. ¡°I have a bed but do not sleep. Always running, never walking. I have a mouth but do not eat. Always whispering, never talking. What am I? ¡°Riddles, of course,¡± Rose says. ¡°The answer is all around us,¡± the sprite says. ¡°Name¡¯s Ulric, by the way.¡± Rose sighs. ¡°Not much we can do about it now,¡± Hydrangea says. The two try to think up possible guesses. ¡°A car maybe?¡± Rose says. ¡°Nope,¡± Ulric says. ¡°That¡¯s more of a roar than a whisper, ¡°Hydrangea says. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s a cavern?¡± ¡°Since when does a cavern move?¡± Rose says. Ulric giggles. ¡°Try again.¡± The two girls try various guesses, to no avail. After a few minutes, Ulric offers a hint. ¡°Maybe you guys should consider finding a new angle?¡± Hydrangea sees several staircases on the walls, as well as one on the floor and ceiling. She and Rose climb to the top of one stairwell but find nothing there that can help. Them. The climb was the second, but it was to no avail. On the third stairwell. Rose notices something about the view that seems strangely coherent. She slithers around the top of the squares and notices that an image of a river is formed on the walls. Hydrangea comes to Rose¡¯s position and sees the same image of the river. Ulrich walks up to them and sees Rose¡¯s face of realization. You found the answer huh?¡± Rose takes the Mirage Staff and points it at the illusory River, the room transforms into that of a riverside. Hydrangea looks at Ulrich with a confused expression. ¡°What?¡± Hydrangea says nothing. The two go down the river, eventually finding Emily, Elizabeth, and Tim. Along with a pink-haired sprite. ¡°Rose! Hydrangea!¡± Emily says, ¡°Thank goodness you two are okay.¡± The lamia slithers to Emily¡¯s party, she sees that the only ones with her are Elizabeth and Tim, and a mysterious pink-haired sprite. ¡°Hello there,¡± the female sprite says. ¡°I¡¯m Flowena!¡± ¡°I¡¯m Ulric!¡± the blue haired sprite says to Emily and her group. The two sprites exchange mischievous chuckles. Hydrangea looks at Emily and notices she also has a Mirage Staff. ¡°You too huh?¡± she says. Emily sees Rose holding a butterfly-tipped staff. ¡°Looks like.¡± The group discuss what had happened to them and then set off to find the others. ??? Meanwhile, Sarah wakes up in a strange room. Her silver armor changes from its spherical Sleepshell form and the dwarf walks around the room. She picks up the Mirage Staff and reads the inscription. ¡°Darn it, Lizzie,¡± Sarah says, rubbing her confused head. ¡°I get that it was to protect us, but¡ª¡± Sarah sees the room light up and notices images of two metallic ovals. superimposed on the walls and ceiling. A sprite flutters up to the dwarf and says. ¡°Puck had a hunch guest would be coming for these spheres,¡± before fluttering away. Sarah is confused by the sprite¡¯s statement. She sees the images of the ovals on the walls, one is silver and the other is bronze. Both are encased in an image of a third-dimensional grid. She then looks up at the butterfly-tipped staff. ¡°A tool for navigating the illusions huh,¡± Sarah says. She has a hunch that she should sue it on something here. She looks around, but she does not see any other objects to use it on. She points it towards the locked door, but it doesn''t unlock. She accidentally lifts the door out and moves forward, but another door appears in its place. She tires it on the sign and learns the staff could be used to move and resize objects, but it doesn''t seem to be of any use. She notices the ovals are the only images on the walls. ¡°I wonder¡­¡± Sarah moves back and points the Mirage Staff at the image of the circles. She points it at the staff, but nothing happens. ¡°Hmm,¡± she looks at the wall and ceiling. She sees the sign has changed. ¡°Perspective matters,¡± it not reads. She looks back at the ovals and realizes that they are stretched into the ceiling. She walks closer to the walls until she sees the true shapes. She points the staff directly around her and the magic clicks. The ¡°overs¡± materializes into perfectly round spheres¡­that are made up of twenty-six smaller cubes each. The fifty-two cubes land on the floor and scatter. To Sarah¡¯s confusion. On a hunch that this isn¡¯t the end of the puzzle, she picks up and assembles the small cubes into their original configuration and then uses the mirage staff on them. Freeing the spheres from the cubic prisons. Sarah approaches them and hears the spheres hum a faint tune. The Sleepshells, now exposed to bright light, return to their normal forms of Strelitzia and Nina. The minotaur and spiderling wake up with groggy expressions. And the door finally unlocks. ¡°Good mourning!¡± Sarah says. Nina yawns. ¡°Where are we?¡± ¡°Wonderland it looks like,¡± Sarah says. She gives the two girls the parchment that came with the mirage staff. ¡°Of course, the sprites would abduct us!¡± Strelitzia says with a look of annoyance. ¡°You met them before?¡± Nina says. ¡°Once,¡± the horned girl says. As the three go outside Streltizia tells Nina about the Coloratura¡¯s previous sprightly encounter. The three soon find another puzzle room. Eight candles are superimposed on the walls, lighting up the rooms. The nearby sign says, ¡°The more of me you see, the less you will see.¡± Sarah looks at the candles and sees they are somehow relevant to this. ¡°Nina, can you make a web?¡± Sarah says. Nina abolishes Sarah¡¯s request and extrudes a silken thread from her spinneret. Sarah takes the sticky string and weaves it into a small haphazard sheet. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Streltizia says. ¡°Turning off the lights,¡± Sarah says, as she plasters the webbing sheet over one of the superimposed candles. The light dims and the skeet does not burn from the heat. ¡°Can you bet some more¡ª¡± Sarah turns to see Nina lying facedown on the floor. Breathing heavily. ¡°So¡­hungry.¡± Sarah realizes she can¡¯t make more webs in that state. She remembers their group brought enough food for two days each and reached into her bag. She takes out one of the snacks they bought and hands it to Nina. Nina takes the breakfast sandwich from Sarah and scarfs it down. ¡°Thanks!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it,¡± Sarah says. ¡°Plenty more where this came from.¡± She says as she takes out another and gives it to Stretlizia. She then takes out a throat to eat. Nina tries to make more threads but learns that she is still unable to. ¡°Sorry, Sarah,¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Sarah says. She has another idea. She takes the patch she had made off the wall and uses the mirage staff on it. ¡°Stay back.¡± She walks backward while keeping the staff fixed on the patch. She soon lets go and the makeshift web patch grows enough to cover an entire wall. ¡°Strelitzia can you cut this into eight patches?¡± ¡°On it,¡± Streltizia says. She cuts the enbiggened sheet into eight squares. The dwarf, minotaur, and spiderling then plaster them over the images of the candles. The room dims with each sheet until it reaches total darkness. The riddle is solved and an open doorway suddenly appears. The trio enters through it. Strelitzia takes the opportunity to ask the silver-haired girls about Heathcliff. ¡°So, that knight. What do you think about him?¡± ¡°Kinda sounds like a boor,¡± Sarah says. ¡°But he seems like an okay guy.¡± ¡°He helped save us from kidnappers!¡± Nina says. ¡°Though Emily did most of the work, according to Brother,¡± Sarah says. Stretlizia is still unconvinced. ¡°But surely he has something up his sleeve!¡± she says. ¡°He seems way too suspicious!¡± Sarah is confused by Streltizia¡¯s comment. ¡°Come to think of it, how did you lose your parents, Streltizia?¡± ¡°I, um I. T-that is not relevant to the topic!¡± The minotaur says. Sarah notices something with the minotaur¡¯s response seems off. ¡°Alright, far be from em to probe,¡± the dwarf says. ¡°Still, it seems like you have trust issues.¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t!¡± Strelitizia says, despite insulating a few minutes ago her distrust of Heathcliff. ¡°You can trust Mommy!,¡± Nina says, ¡°and you can trust Sarah too!¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Sarah says. ¡°And right now you can trust that Sir Says-cher-a-lot is on the up and up.¡± Streltizia sighs. Nina giggles. ¡°So how did you meet your other friends, Stre?¡± Nina says curiously. ¡°Wanted to escape a place, met them on the way, simple as that.¡± Strelitizia omits certain details. ¡°What kind of place?¡± Nina says ¡°Just¡­forget it. We don¡¯t have time for this.¡± ¡°She¡¯s hiding something,¡± Sarah thinks. ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s related to her parents?¡± The trio continue on their path. ??? Sarah, Streltizia, and Nina wind up in another puzzle room. This time are strange shapes superimposed on the walls. The shapes were also metallic, and colored gold or cobalt blue. The sign at the other edge of the door tells of a riddle. ¡°I cross a gap without moving. I am the foundation upon which safe passage sits. What am I?¡± Sarah notices there is a large impassable gap. Behind it are several light places. Nina and Streltizia think about possible answers. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s a car?¡± Nina says. ¡°That can¡¯t be right, it moves,¡± Strelitiza says. Sarah already had an idea, and to prove it, she lit the sign and placed it on the precipice, lying flat. She then walks outside the room, keeping the sign in view, and then aims the staff at it. ¡°You better get out of here!¡± she shouts. The younger girls exit the room while Sarah walks backward, keeping the staff locked onto the signpost. She walks further away until she finds the staff cannot let her move further. She lets go and runs back to the room and sees the signpost take up the entirety of the entrance. ¡°Too big?¡± Sarah. ¡°Okay Sarah, spill it,¡± Stretlizia says petulantly. ¡°What¡¯s the answer to the riddle?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a bridge of course,¡± Sarah says while leaving the enlarged signpost. ¡°By connecting two points it crosses them and its purpose is to enable safe passage for these gaps. She moves closer to the room and then lets go. The signpost is small enoughs for them to enter the room, but large enoughs for them to cross the gap. ¡°See?¡± Nina and Streltizia are amazed by Sarah¡¯s deduction. The trio cross the signpost and make it tot he other side, there Sarah notices some of the metallic shapes resembled the ¡°ovals¡± from the first room, ovals that turned out to be Strelitzia and Sarah. ¡°Perspective matters,¡± she thinks. Recalling the advice form the sign of the selfsame room. She turns to the younger girls. ¡°I think we can find Azalea and Lily here, can you help me look for two circles?¡± ¡°But I don¡¯t see any circles here,¡± Nina says. ¡°If my hunch is correct you will,¡± Sarah says. Streltizia nods. ¡°Hand me the staff. I think I hand handle it.¡± The dwarf hands Stretlizia the staff as well as two breakfast sandwiches. Strelitzia looks around the room, looking for the right point to connect she shapes. She soon finds the pieces of the blue circle connecting from a high corner. She points the wand at it and Azalea falls. Her Sleepshell enchantment is dispelled in mid-air and she floats towards Stretlizia. ¡°That was a good nap,¡± the mermaid says. ¡°I feel quite well rounded.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t tell me¡­¡± Streltizia says before handing Azalea a sandwich. The mermaid eats it and then swims towards Nina and Lily. While Azalea plays peek-a-boo with the spiderling, Streltizia focuses on finding a point where the golden superimposed images connect. She eventually find it, by walking onto the walls and seeing the golden painted images connect. She points the staff at the combined image and Lily rolls from the materialization point. At larger than usual size. The centaur child wakes up and see Azalea, Sarah and Nina next to her and that they are now the size of her thumb. ¡°Is this a dream?¡± Lily says. ¡°Yes, it is,¡± Azalea curtly, but humorously says. ¡°How do I wake up?¡± ¡°Hang on,¡± Stretlizia says. ¡°I¡¯ll get you back to normal. She points the staff at Lily and lifts her up. ¡°Hey, that tickles!¡± Lily giggles as she is being levitated. She observed form Sarah¡¯s feat with the signpost that she could change the size, but she isn¡¯t sure how that is possible, until shifts Lily a few feet away and learns that her size relative to her vision of her didn¡¯t change an inch. With this quick realization, she brings Lily closer to her, close enough that she is about the same size as usual, as far as Streltizia¡¯s concerned, Releasing the staff¡¯s hold on her, Lily plots to the ground at normal size. ¡°Ow!¡± Lily says. ¡°Sorry,¡± the minotaur says. Offering her a sandwich. The centaur takes the breakfast item. With Azalea and Lily retrieved and fed, they exist the door and find the location had changed into a river bed. In the distance they find Emily¡¯s group and reconvenes with them. ??? Emily¡¯s group reunites on one of the banks of the river. Ulric and Flwoena introduce themselves to Sarah¡¯s group as Elizabeth does a headcount. ¡°Let¡¯s see, Emily, Tim, Rose, Hydrangea, Sarah, Nina, Streltizia, Azalea, Lily. That¡¯s everyone!¡± ¡°Great,¡± Stretlizia says. ¡°Now can we get out of here?¡± She turns to the sprites. ¡°Of course, just follow us,¡± Flowena says with a mischievous smile. Emily sighs, expecting more riddles. Azalea meanwhile strikes up a rapport with the sprites as they exchange jokes and ideas. As they walk alongside the river, Nina asks Streltizia about something. ¡°Hey,¡± Nina says ¡°You seemed very ex-spe-ri-enced.¡± ¡°I am,¡± Streltizia says, Her labrys in full view. She already knows Nina is infatuated with adventures and becoming one yourself. ¡°Can you teach me how to fight?¡± Nina says eagerly. Strelitzia is taken aback by the question. ¡°Are you sure? You seem like¡­¡± ¡°I want to know how to fight to the best of my A-bull-e-ty,¡± the younger spiderling says. ¡°Please?¡± Her eyes quiver as she asks the question. Strelitzia doesn''t know how to answer the question. She averts her eyes from her, just in case. ¡°Wouldn''t your mommy be mad at you?¡± she says. ¡°Wait, why do I care what her mom thinks?¡± She thinks. ¡°I can ask her when we head home!¡± Nina says. She continues to insist that Streltizia trains her. ¡°I¡¯ll think about it,¡± Stretlizia says. Meanwhile, Lily notices something amiss and asks a pertinent question. ¡°Excuse me, um, where are the cells?¡± The group stops, as they realize that aside from the sprites, they haven¡¯t encountered anyone else. Not even a single Sentinel. ¡°Oh right, Dungeons usually have those, right?¡± Flowena says. ¡°They do, yes?¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Guess Mister Puck hadn¡¯t bothered with them,¡± Ulric says. ¡°Mister Puck?¡± Emily says. ¡°Our caretaker!¡± Flowena says exuberantly. ¡°He shelters us from bad guys!¡± Emily deduces this Puck might be the core of the Mirage Feywood, but she is more curious about the mention of bad guys. ¡°Haven¡¯t you heard?¡± Ulric says. ¡°Bag guys prowl the land. Liars, thieves, crooks!¡± ¡°Cruel kidnappers, too,¡± Flowena says. ¡°The vile fiends!¡± Rose smirks. ¡°Fiends like them are no match for the Coloraturas!¡± she says forgetting that half of that band is not with her at the moment. ¡°If you¡¯ll kindly let us out,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°I¡¯m sure we can handle these barbarians.¡± ¡°Technically,¡± Tim says with a mischievous smile. ¡°Barbarians are outsiders, a category that could easily include us depending on the context.¡± ¡°You know what I mean, Tim!¡± Elizabeth says. Azalea giggles. Ulric realizes we forgot something. ¡°Hang on, I¡¯ll go on ahead!¡± the blue sprite leaves the group. ¡°Hey wait up!¡± Emily says. Everyone rushes after Ulric, but they lose him in the fog. Instead, they find a door. ¡°We¡¯re here!¡± Flowena says. ¡°Ulric is likely through here.¡± The group enters the door, trusting Flowena. They find themselves on the floor of the throne room. ¡°Huh?¡± Rose says, noting a sense of familiarity. ¡°Haven''t we been here before?¡± The rest of the group, save Hydrangea, are confused. ¡°Haven¡¯t seen anything like it,¡± Sarah says. ¡°This must be the palace!¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°What¡¯s a palace?¡± Nina says. ¡°It¡¯s a place where kings live!¡± Lily says Ulric returns to the group and directs them to the ceiling. ¡°Distorted images of two chests are painted onto the ceiling where Rose and Hydrangea woke up. Emily understands the point of the images and positions herself so that she can sue the Mirage Staff. After finding a spot where the images line up, she uses the staff and two chests fall onto the ground. She then wonders if this means the two sprites are Sentinels. Elizabeth opens the two chests and finds they both contain herbs and spices. ¡°Consider it a gift from us!¡± Flowena says ¡°For solving out riddles.¡± Emily looks at the spices and herbs. Tim makes a note of them as well. ¡°Starlit Phantom Grass, Woven Mirage Root, Cerulean Dragon Petals,¡± Tim says.¡± Emily it might be wise to accept these gifts. ¡°O-okay, but why?¡± Emily says ¡°My old master was an alchemist of sorts,¡± Tim says. ¡°He valued the use of herbs in medicines for bettering harnessing mana. These herbs would be used to make potions for that end.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°[Potions] could be used to better one¡¯s mana, in proper dosages of course.¡± ¡°And the spices?¡± Emily says. Notices include ginseng, saffron, and nutmeg ¡°Maybe Heathcliff will appreciate them?¡± Sarah says. ¡°They can certainly spice you up a little,¡± Azalea says. ¡°Be a little careful, your mouth might regret it if you absorb them all at once.¡± ¡°There is also the issue of absorbing or ingesting sprite-made food. Many an [Adventurer] has been trapped inside for confusion of the food within these halls.¡± ¡°Us, trap you?¡± Ulric says. ¡°Perish the thought!¡± Flowena says On Azalea¡¯s warning, she avoids the spices and just places them in her bag. She does absorb the three herbs. ¡°This should allow us to create the plants they came from,¡± Elizabeth says. The group then explores the throne room. Rose looks outside and sees the landscape is upside down, or rather the place is. Lily gallops to the throne and notices something odd. ¡°Lookie!¡± she cries out, the others see a door on the back of the throne. They open it and enter. ??? The group is now on one of the walls of one of the spires. It is now a floor to them. Adorned with several paintings. Out of all of them, Nina is the most used to clinging to walls like that. ¡°So this will lead us outside?¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Maybe,¡± Flowena says. They find several doors within the paintings on the walls. Azalea swims through one of the frames, but it is another illusion and the frame instead leads to a dead end. Another frame depicts the door that they can go through, but beyond it is a simple room with a projection of a blue sky. More like a movie theater than a way out. ¡°Now that is a showstopper,¡± Azalea quips. They return to the spire¡¯s walls. Emily notices a painting behind the paintings, unframed and spanning the wall above them. Sarah already sees it and uses the Mirage Staff to move the painting away. The frames of fall paths drop to the ¡°ceiling¡± of the tower to their left as Sarah, Emily, and Rose reveal an image of a crooked door. After finding the right angle, Rose uses the staff to materialize it. They enter through the door and wind up back in the throne room, this time on its walls. They avoid the windows, now wanting to test how gravity works in this state. They soon find another door, leading to a hallway. Entering the door, they find themselves in a seemingly endless corridor. They look up and see a black ceiling over their heads. They wander through it for a few minutes before realizing they are going around in circles. Strelitzia grows frustrated with the endless hallway. ¡°Hey!¡± She shoots a glower at the two fairies. ¡°This isn¡¯t funny!¡± ¡°Do you want a hint?¡± Ulrich says with a chuckle. ¡°In the night, I come with no call. In the day, I leave with no fall. What am I?¡± Tim looks up and notices specks of light in the ceiling. They look like paint but¡­ He uses his wind spell to make a great leap and finds his luscious confirms, the riddle¡¯s answers are stars, and the ¡°ceilings¡± are their sky. From on high, he sees the hallways surrounding resemble a movie lot more than it does a fairy-enchanted forest, he also sees a door in the distance. Through Tim¡¯s leap, the others learn that the ceiling is another illusion. Azalea and Elizabeth swim and fly above the hallways repeatedly, Nina scales the wall and realizes she can thread again. She uses her ability to make a silken rope for the others to climb up on. Emily uses her wind magic to propel herself up in the same manner as Tim. They climb to the top of the hallway loop and descend down its outer shell. Ulric and Flowena are impressed by Tim¡¯s deduction. The group heads towards the door and walks through it. ??? The group finds themselves in an upside-down library, where they find an elegant tall man surrounded by several sprites. The man is reading them a fairy tale as he looks at the guests. ¡°So you made it this far, it¡¯s nice to meet you,¡± the man says. ¡°My name is Puck.¡± ¡°Are you the core of these Feywoods?¡± Emily asks. She mentally chastises herself for asking such a question. Puck chuckles. ¡°And if I say yes to the claim, what would you do?¡± Elizabeth approaches the fairy monarch. ¡°Mister Puck was it? We came here not to slay you, but to ask for your help?¡± ¡°It¡¯s about the vanishing dungeons?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Emily says. ¡°So you know anything about those?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Puck dismissive the smaller sprites and places the storybook on his lap onto a shelf. ¡°Come,¡± he leads the group through another door. They arrive inside Puck¡¯s room, surrounded by large glass windows. They walk on the floor of the upside-down room. Rose looks outside and is not amused by the upside-down ceiling. Puck sits down on another table, several local newspapers from the communities in Cerberus are on it. ¡°The Jasmine Gardens, the Rosenwald Mines, The Twilit Observatory. All gone without a trace. I¡¯m not surprised news these disappearances have made it as far as Noir.¡± ¡°Do you have any idea what is the cause?¡± Tim says. ¡°I have a theory.¡± The Sprite king gestures to their right. Outside of the window, they can see several people superimposed on the landscape. ¡°This is where more belligerent fools lie,¡± Puck says. Beyond even those lies an image of a giant mechanical being. ¡°That is less foolish but more hostile.¡± Elizabeth looks at the image of the robot. ¡°It looks like a [Sentinel], but from where?¡± ¡°My subjects brought whispers of a dungeon further north that had suddenly spiked in power. Around the same time, the dungeons begin vanishing. I¡¯m certain you notice the correlation.¡± Emily takes out her map. She recalls the forest they searched was to the northwest of Thronwood. Of the five locations marked, it is the second most northward location here. ¡°The Engines are the cause?¡± ¡°It seems you are already aware of their presence,¡± Puck says. ¡°I sense great power in you, but it is not enough to contest them in your current state. I must advise you to return from once you came before they find you.¡± ¡°Hang on,¡± Tim says. ¡°There is one other factor here. Some of the reports involve the places physically disappointing as well.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Emily says. ¡°If a dungeon is absorbed the surrounding land should revert to a previous state, not be wiped from the face of Titania.¡± ¡°That much is true,¡± Puck says. ¡°Alas, I know not the cause of that phenomena. Even the mirages here are not enough to create such a ghastly effect.¡± ¡°Do you know of the phrase ¡®Project Stronghold¡¯?¡± Tim asks ¡°That is not a combination of words I heard before,¡± Puck says ¡°We found out about something like that over at Joyfuller Island,¡± Rose says as she begins to explain about the factory. ¡°A Mythril factory had suddenly emerged there under the control of the Vanishers,¡± Hydrangea says. ¡°The palookas don¡¯t know what hit them,¡± Rose says. ¡°I see,¡± Puck says. ¡°The Rosenwald Mines were renowned for being a local source of Mythril, and their disappearances entailed the mountain they resided in also vanishing.¡± He looks towards Emily and notices a similar mana to that of the mines. ¡°I take if you had taken care of that matter?¡± Emily nods. ¡°Perhaps there is a link between the Engines or Project Strongholds, or perhaps there are two roots here. Regardless,¡± Puck says. ¡°As it stands you are not ready, if you wish to solve these mysteries you need more Mana. I can grant you some of my power, but only some if you want more then you must¡ª¡± ¡°I know,¡± Emily says. ¡°Thank you, Mister Puck. She presents him with the Mirage Staff, as does Rose and Sarah. Puck imbues the staff with some of his Mana. ¡°With this, you are at least able to survive an encounter with the Engines,¡± Puck says. ¡°Right now a fight here would only hinder both of us.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not a rouge dungeon, ¡°Rose says. ¡°Are you?¡± ¡°Maybe I am, Maybe I¡¯m not,¡± Puck says. He conjures a door. Through the doorway, they see Thronwood¡¯s diner. ¡°This shall lead to from the town you last visited. Whether or not you want to confront the Engines. I wish you luck, travelers.¡± ¡°Thank you, Mister Puck,¡± Emily says. She and her group walk through the door, leaving Flowena and Ulric alone with Mister Puck. ¡°Go with them,¡± Puck says to the two sprites. ¡°I¡¯m sure they will take good care of you.¡± ¡°Wait, what are you talking about?¡± Flowena says. ¡°The end of the Feywood is nigh, for even if they do not seek to absorb me, the Engines surely will. They are certainly awaiting others back in the town, this grants you enough time to gather those who need to escape and flee the woods. Should the worse come to happen.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± Ulrich says. ¡°It was getting pretty boring here anyway.¡± ¡°Ulric!¡± Flowena says. Puck chuckles. ¡°I understand, throughout my years sheltering you, I¡¯ve come to understand your nature, your desire for change. I¡¯m afraid that I cannot provide shelter anymore, for the Engines will surely come for me.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll miss you, you know,¡± Flowena says. ¡°I know,¡± Puck says. ¡°But you must be as free as the wind if you are to survive the coming storm, and I think Emily and her Dungeon are able to grant you both shelter and freedom.¡± Flowena and Ulric leave to gather several sprite communities together and begin their exodus. While Puck gathers the remainder and prepares for the inevitable confrontation. The pink and blue sprites meet up with Puck once more. Puck creates another door, using his observation of Emily¡¯s mana to link it to the Black Box. The exodus moves there while Flowena and Ulric move through the door to Thornwood to join Emily¡¯s group. Chapter XXVIIS: Steam Siege While Emily¡¯s group is looking for the sprites. Heathcliff, Esteban, Julia, Richard, Clara, Charlotte, Raine, Anemone, and Clover arrive at a village that shows no sign of other people. The buildings are empty and the roads are silent, save for the howls of the ululating wind. Heathcliff¡¯s group looks around the ghost town, but cannot find anyone within the buildings. The taverns, the hotels, and stores were all empty. Heathcliff sighs. ¡°Doesn''t look like this place is a dungeon, chers,¡± he says. Esteban, Richard, and Raine notice the murals on the buildings. Raine approaches one of them and sees the image of a frightened girl running. The image is distorted and superimposed on two walls in one of the stores. She sees the girl being chased by two adults, all with horrified expressions on their faces. Esteban sees the image of a man with a sword, poised for combat, painted across the front of a building, including the apron and Traceries. Instead, Richard sees a painting that is not on the buildings but on the ground. He turns to Heathcliff. ¡°Is there a way to the roofs? I want a better view of something.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a fire escape over there,¡± Heathcliff says while pointing to an alleyway The two climb the metal stairwell and head to the roof. Richard sees that while the view is not perfect, it is enough for him to perceive what this mural depicts, a robotic battalion. Anemone and Clover look at more images. The former feels a chill going down her spine as she looks at the terrified faces of the people in these murals. ¡°Those murals look pretty impressive, right?¡± the green-haired fawn says. ¡°I wonder who painted them.¡± Anemone sees the image of a boy superimposed on the pavement. The boy¡¯s eyes pointed at the other side of the street. She crouches down and touches the mural. She feels the painting is warm as if it was recently created. She then turns to the boy¡¯s expression¡­and learns he is now gazing at her. The sight of the changed eyes freaks Anemone out and she lets out a yelp. Clover sees her friend¡¯s panicked cry and asks her what happened. ¡°H-h-his eyes moved!¡± Anemone says. Clover looks at the image and sees the boy staring at the other side of the street. ¡°Huh?¡± Her head quizzically tilts. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Anenome looks at the image and sees it has returned to its previous state. She rubs her eyes and sees no changes. She touches the image again but sees no change. The murals give her the feeling that something had recently happened to this town. Later, The sun sets. Heathcliff looks around and sees the place grow more eerie with each passing second. ¡°Avaient quitt¨¦. Dungeon or no Dungeon this place is giving me the creeps.¡± Everyone heads into their customized car and drives from the ghost town. Thirty minutes later, they make camp fifty miles away. ¡°Okay, chers, listen up,¡± Heathcliff says as he begins to explain what Elizabeth told him about her Sleepshell enchantment. ¡°So that¡¯s why she asked to enchant the Cyberworks armors!¡± Richard says. ¡°Oui, according to her, she placed runes to knock us out with a Bardsong spell at ten o¡¯clock if we are too far from any beds. Then a second spell will proc afterward to turn the armor into a spherical shell for us to protect us from the things that come bumping.¡± Clover seemed the most enthused by the idea. ¡°That sounds fun!¡± Raine notices Anemone is lost in thought. ¡°Something wrong?¡± the phoenixian girl says. ¡°Huh? Oh, no,¡± Anemone says. ¡°It¡¯s just something is off about these murals.¡± ¡°They seem pretty abstract. I wonder who could have painted them?¡± ¡°Who indeed?¡± Anenome¡¯s mind flashes through several ideas. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s illusion magic?¡± she thinks. Julia hands out some sandwiches for dinner. ¡°Eat up everyone, no sense sleeping on an empty stomach!¡± Everyone eats their food. Carla and Charlotte look up at the moonlit sky. ¡°It¡¯s so beautiful,¡± Charlotte says. Their previous home in Hamlin had the sky blocked by the canopy of the nearby forest. They rarely get to see the stars in full view. ¡°I hear that each of these stars is one of Astra¡¯s children,¡± Clara says. ¡°Astra¡¯s children?¡± Charlotte says. ¡°Yes,¡± the alraune mother says. ¡°The Cosmos¡¯ progeny, brothers and sisters, and fellow Administrators. Each said to be tasked to oversee their own worlds.¡± ¡°Wow!¡± Charlotte looks at the stars in awe, she sees several constellations in the sky. Each painting is a vast picture of a thriving world above Titiania. The indigo-haired alraune child looks at them and feels something within her that is drawn to the stars. She asks her mother various questions about the night sky and the moon. Carla tries to answer to the best of her ability. Anemone eventually joins the conversation and gives her own answers about the stars. The time is now 9:50. Heathcliff instructs everyone to distance themselves from each other. ¡°Best to keep apart while sleeping, chers,¡± he says. ¡°You don¡¯t know that enchantment is gonna work if y¡¯all are too close.¡± Everyone keeps their distance and says their good nights. Nine minutes later, the enchantments activate, everyone is lulled to sleep by the Bardsong spell and the armors transform into a metal sphere that protects them from predators. ??? By the crack of dawn, the Cyberworks armors return to their normal forms and everyone wakes up refreshed and ready to take on the new day. They drive back to the mural-laden town in search of clues. Esteban and Julia take a closer look at the murals. ¡°This place has been abandoned for quite a while. Yet these paintings feel fresh.¡± Esteban touches the murals. He senses that it is dry but still warm. Julia is more focused on the content of the superimposed images. Each shows people in fear as if they are running away from something. ¡°What is these murals for?¡± she says. ¡°A reminder of a terror that had passed?¡± Richard approaches the two rouges and mentions his observations. ¡°Many of these images were painted in warped perspectives,¡± the dwarf says. ¡°That seems normal for some murals, to display the actual image only in certain angles, but the one outside the town seems the more perplexing.¡± Richard leads the rouges to the rooftops and directs their attention to the images of a machine army painted on the meadows. They look like they are marching towards the town, yet these myriad soldiers were too numerous for such a small town to paint by themselves. Esteban hears something beneath them. An unfair cry. They head into the building and see a stranger crying out in pain. Their foot is inside an empty barrel. The person is topless and their face is a panicked expression. They look at the three people in front of them. ¡°Ah sp¡ª Wait you¡¯re not them!¡± His eyes dart around as if looking for something. ¡°Th-they aren¡¯t still here, are they?¡± ¡°Who are this ¡®they¡¯?¡± Julia says Richard leaves to gather the others. A while later, Heathcliff, Clara, Charlotte, Raine, Clover, and Anemone arrive at the person¡¯s building. Esteban rummages around and gets them a shirt before they arrive. ¡°Mind explaining what happened here cher?¡± Heathcliff calmly says to the skittish person. The person calms down. ¡°Call me Sam,¡± they say. After a deep breath, Sam begins his tale. ¡°There was a fight. Large machines marching towards here, intent on looking for the blasted Sprite dungeon. I tried to warn them, but they wouldn''t listen. I hid in this here barrel for safety.¡± ¡°Sprite dungeon?¡± Richard says realizes that Emily¡¯s group was looking for that as well. Anemone looks at Sam. ¡°What about the murals?¡± ¡°Murals?¡± Sam says. ¡°We didn¡¯t paint no murals.¡± Raine is confused, she shows Sam the various images strewn around the town, images he recognizes were his fellow townspeople. ¡°Oh no,¡± Sam says. ¡°The sprites must¡¯ve done that!¡± Anemone mulls on Sam¡¯s claim and asks why would they come here. ¡°Hell if I know!¡± Sam says. ¡°These capricious brats are always stirring up trouble here!¡± Clover looks at these images. ¡°Maybe they¡¯re just trying to protect them from the machines?¡± she says. Sam shoots the fawn a glower. ¡°You haven¡¯t seen the harm they did to Wellvale when they came to town. Kidnapped cattle, children turned into sprites, reality being pulled through the trenches by their foolish pranks. These brats are dangerous I tell you, dangerous!¡± Sam rants about the dangers of the fey for several minutes. ¡°Thank you for your time,¡± Esteban says. ¡°And your answers. We¡¯ll be on our way.¡± The group leaves while Sam continues their rant. ??? Heathcliff¡¯s group boards the car and heads back to Thronwood. ¡°Well that was a bust,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Here¡¯s hoping Emily and the others are more successful.¡± The car drives back to Thornwood and sees Emily¡¯s group is already there, along with a pair of sprites. ¡°Welcome back!¡± Emily says. ¡°How was the ghost town?¡± ¡°Well, cher, we managed to learn a few things.¡± The knight explains the meager information they learning, including that the sprites had apparently turned all but one of the town¡¯s inhabitants into paintings on the walls and ground. The two sprites were aghast at the realization they forgot to check in on Wellvale. Heathcliff notices that these two in particular were larger than average. ¡°We had a bit more success on our end,¡± Elizabeth says. The group looks over the map. An x is marked over the forest and the ghost town. Emily explains that she had learned that the Engines might be responsible for some of the vanishing dungeons. ¡°Some?¡± Esteban says. ¡°We don¡¯t know if that dungeon is responsible for the cases where the locations themselves vanished,¡± Emily says. The Coloraturas talk amongst themselves about their own experiences. Anemone explains that Marcia had seen machines among the paintings and Rose explains that they had seen a giant one in the Feywood. ¡°So we have a lead at least,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Seems like a tough nut to crack.¡± ¡°We could try a reconnaissance mission,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°See how strong these Engines really are?¡± ¡°That sounds doable,¡± Esteban says. ¡°I¡¯ll land my aid to that end.¡± ¡°Ditto,¡± Julia says. ¡°Wait,¡± Anemone says. ¡°Did you by any chance get anything from your trip there?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so?¡± Emily rummages through her items and sees among the foodstuffs the Mirage Staff. Sarah and Rose reveal their staves as well. ¡°We also heard from Flowena and Ulric that they were tasked to join us at the Black Box a swell among other sprites.¡± ¡°Swell,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°I better find those two, there is someone back there that didn¡¯t seem too keen on them.¡± ¡°Maybe we can wait until tomorrow before heading out?¡± Emily says. ¡°Of course, cher. You get some rest.¡± Heathcliff says as he and Esteban take the car and drive off. Throughout the rest of the day. They rent some rooms at the local Motel and then look around the humble town of Thronwood for a bit. Carla took Charlotte, Nina, and the Coloraturas to eh nearby theater to watch ¡°The Girl and the Glass Slipper¡± and ¡°La Libertad¡±. While Tim and Emily practice some of their abilities. Emily uses her shapeshifting skills to turn into various people, monsters, and objects. As well as doing some impressions. Tim instead uses the opportunities to practice his bajiquan techniques. Emily¡¯s impishly decides to assume Tim¡¯s form and mimics his movements. ¡°Knock it off,¡± Tim says. ¡°No!¡± Emily smiles while still in the form of Tim. The two end up bantering and practice together. Emily playfully mocks him for a few minutes before returning to her normal shape. Night falls and everyone heads to their motel rooms, preparing to scope out the Engines tomorrow. ??? The next morning, the two vehicles arrive at a forest near their destination. The trees are a pinkish red, the same color as the sky as Stella ascends the horizon. ¡°This should be far enough for the place to not notice,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°We¡¯re hoofing it from now on, chers.¡± The group consists of Emily, Heathcliff, Elizabeth, Tim, Esteban, Julia, Sarah, Richard, and the eight Coloraturas. Clara decided to take Charlotte, Nina, Flowena, and Ulrich to the Black Box and keep an eye on their new sprite guests. To Nina¡¯s chagrin. They walk through the pink-leafed forest and discover a last landscape of factory buildings, attended to by steam-powered automata. The building spans the entire horizon. ¡°Well, I¡¯m ready to blow off some steam,¡± Azalea quips. ¡°Is everyone ready?¡± Elizabeth says. The others nod, as they approach the Engines. They see various railways carrying coal and ore across the land. Azalea looks at the black rocks with a look of disgust. ¡°Something wrong?¡± Rose says. ¡°Just a little steamed is all,¡± the mermaid cheerfully says. Rose senses that Azalea is hiding her discontent with the smokestacks and the coal as she swims with the others. Esteban cloaks them with his spells, ensuring the automata does not see them. They sneak around the dungeon and witness another adventuring party in the dungeon. The other group includes a Lamia man with a bow, a cleric, and a slimonid clad in armor. The latter seems to be the trio¡¯s tank. Emily¡¯s group sees them locked in combat with an automaton. The steam-powered machine and slimonid clash but the gelatinous tank is soon splattered and captured by the automata. The Lamia archer and cleric follow suit. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°This is a [Divine Dungeon],¡± Elizabeth says, knowing full well of the two-hour time limit. ¡°What reason would they have for taking them?¡± Emily remembered she had the D.E.M. on her and examined the device. She wonders if she would need to use its power soon as they further explored the Engines. Richard sees a documents on the ground and appraises it. The top of the paper read, ¡°RUMOR ANALYSIS: PROJECT STRONGHOLD.¡± He reads the document. ¡°INQUIRY LAUNCHED INTO NOIRIAN SYNDICATE ACTIVITY IN CERBERUS. INTRUDERS ABSCONDED WITH CORES BEFORE [BARON ROBERTS] COULD REACH THEM. ANOMALOUS DISPLACEMENT OF MATERIAL OBSERVED AS SIDE EFFECT. MOB ACTIVITIES DEEM THREAT TO [BARON ROBERTS]. FURTHER OBSERVATION PENDING.¡± ¡°It seems like this dungeon has nothing to do with the Syndicates,¡± Richard says. He hands the document to Emily. Esteban scouts ahead, eyeing the automata¡¯s preprogrammed paths and finding the most optimal route to move beneath their notice. The others follow their lead. Strelitzia takes the Mirage Staff from Rose with an idea in mind. ¡°You think this thing will work?¡± the minotaur whispers. ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± Anemone says to her. ¡°Illusion magic intersects light and dark, and your preference with earth spells might mean this stuff is useless outside the sprite¡¯s domains.¡± ¡°Let me have it!¡± Lily says quietly but exuberantly. ¡°I can give it a shot.¡± Lily takes the staff and Streltizia directs at to a nearby automata. The centaur points her staff at the automata and gently lifts it. ¡°ERROR! ERROR!¡± the machine cries out. ¡°TACTILE CONNECTION TO FLOOR SEVERED! ASSISTANCE REQUESTED!¡± Lily tries to shrink the machine by bringing it closer to her body, but it gets caught on nearby pipes and is unable to be moved closer. Lily is forced to let go and drop the automata to the ground. It lands with a thud. ¡°TELEKINETIC ANOMALY DETECTED, SEARCHING FOR SOURCE OF DARKNESS AND LIGHTNING MANA!¡± Hydrangea and Azalea work to freeze the machine and cover for Lily¡¯s blunder. Azalea condenses the Steam into water and uses it to drench the automata and Hydrangea freezes it in frost. Raine then immediately emits the ice to subject its workings to thermal shock. The three girls are left sitting from both eh stema in the air and the effort they exerted in trying to pull off this feat. Raine chastises Lily and Streltizia for nearly bowling their cover. The centaur timidly apologizes. Sarah soon finds another sheet of paper on top of a nearby file cabinet. It is titled ¡°REPORT: MISSING SCOUTS.¡± She begins to read the document to the others. ¡°ATTEMPTED INCURSIONS INTO [MIRAGE FEYWOOD] AND NEARBY DUNGEONS MET WITH RESISTANCE FROM SPRITES. SCOUTS AND BATTALIONS FAILED TO RETURN FROM THESE INCURSIONS. BATTALION EN ROUTE THROUGH WELLVALE INTERCEPTION AND RENDERED MISSING. RESEARCH INTO ILLUSION MAGIC PROMPTED.¡± ¡°Well that¡¯s certainly gonna be a problem,¡± Sarah says. She hands Emily the document. Emily looks ahead and sees another party, this time inclining a fawn as a tank with a shield, a bard with a panpipe, and an alraune trying to bind the adversary. ¡°Stupid heat!¡± the male alraune says. ¡°These bindings can¡¯t hold for long.¡± The machine cuts through the bindings with its chainsaw-bladed arms. ¡°Hang on,¡± the male fawn says. ¡°I¡¯ll keep this piece of escape on me.¡± Emily notices the fawn knight¡¯s shield. ¡°Is that a Diamondback?¡± Elizabeth whispers, seeing the shield in the fawn¡¯s arm. ¡°A diamond-what?¡± Emily says. ¡°A very rare type of shield, say to repel most physical attacks.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a rather pricey one at that,¡± Tim says. ¡°Whoever has a shield like that must¡¯ve been very lucky, or very loaded,¡± Heathcliff says. With the Diamondback, the fawn knight manages to fare better than the previous party''s slimonid tank, but it is not enough to save them from the automata¡¯s vicious assault. The fawn knight is disarmed and his arms severed. The other two panic. The bard tries to play a song to let the fawn regrow how arm, but it¡¯s too late and the Fawn knight is subdued and the bard and alraune soon follow suit. The automata ties them all up and carries them away, picking up the diamondback from the severed arm as well. Emily is disturbed by this sight. Clover and Rose see a set of document sin a pile on the floor and look through them. Clover is looking for hints about her missing parents as well as what exactly the dungeon is capable of. They soon find a report entitled ¡°SPHERE ACCUSATION PROGRESS 2/7/XXXX¡± rose hands the document for Emily to read. ¡°AS OF THE SEVENTH OF SECUNDER, SPHERE COLLECTION REMAINS STAGNANT. PYRO AND AQUASPEHRES REMAIN ACCOUNTED FOR.¡± Upon realizing that the Engines have the last of the basic Elementalsit¡¯s Spheres she needs, Emily turns to Elizabeth. ¡°Lizzie, is it possible to get it here?¡± ¡°You¡¯d have to absorb the [Dungeon] to get Spheres that are already embedded into it,¡± Elizabeth says. Streltizia sees another file. The header reads ¡°CORE SEVERANCE PROTOCOLS PERFECTED¡±. She silently reads it. ¡°THROUGH RIGOROUS TESTING, THE CORE SEVERANCE PROTOCOLS ARE PERFECTED, FOLLOWING TEXT ON [DRAGON¡¯S PEAK], WE HAVE CONFIRMED IT IS POSSIBLE TO CONVERT AN AVATARA INTO A VECTOR THROUGH WHICH THE CORE CAN BE DIRECTLY EXTRACTED AND ABSORBED. SUBSEQUENT TESTING ON [RAINBOW FALLS] AVATARA PROVES THE MANA IS ABSORBED. SUBSEQUENT REPORTS REVEAL THAT MANA FROM THOSE PHYSICALLY AT ABSORBED LOCATIONS WERE ALSO ABSORBED. FURTHER EXPERIMENTS REVEAL PROTOCOLS INOPERABLE OUTSIDE PERIMETER OF [THE ENGINES].¡± She hands the file to Esteban who eyes widen in shock before regaining composure. Later, Esteban notices a discarded robot arm at his side. He picks it up and sees it is much heavier than it appears. Julia meanwhile uses the cover of her invisibility to see if she can neutralize some of the patrolling automata. Her daggers and spells seem to have little effect on it. She knows the metal exterior is too hard for her blade to pierce, but she has an idea. She sees Lily. ¡°May I borrow that staff, dear?¡± The centaur hands the Mirage staff to Julia. The two look at an approaching automata. ¡°This thing works off perception huh?¡± Julia thinks. She lifts the automata in the air and immensely hurls it into the closest wall. ¡°ALERT! ALERT¡± the mech cries. ¡°TACTILE C¡ª¡° is all it can say before it makes contact with the wall and becomes a stretched and distorted image on it. ¡°How did you do that?¡± Lily says. ¡°I got creative,¡± Julia says. Azalea looks at the newly ¡°painted¡± illusion of the mech. ¡°That robot really hit the wall there.¡± Lily takes the wall back from Julia and uses it and her light magic to remove the machines patrolling to path by superimposing them as flat images on the floor, walls, ceiling, and pipes. Emily looks at Lily¡¯s feats with confusion before Julia explains what she has taught her. Esteban refreshes the cloaking spell. ¡°This is the last one, we should leave while we can.¡± Emily is unsure if they should leave now. There is an hour and thirty minutes left on the timer before they are instantly repelled. She asks if they could press further, pointing out that the robots seem like no issue. ¡°There are other risks,¡± Esteban says, ¡°The dungeon will eventually notice Lily¡¯s little art projects and seek to investigate.¡± ¡°Esteban¡¯s right, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°But there is an out,¡± he refers to the D.E.M. ¡°If something happens we can use that to get out lickity split.¡± ??? Emily¡¯s group soon find a room with an open door. Inside they could find several documents and files strewn about. Lily finds a document on a desk. It is called ¡°UPDATE, CORE SEVERANCE DRAWBACK¡± She reads it. ¡°UPDATE: CORE SEVERANCE TEXT PLACE VITAL DRAWBACK, [BARON ROBERTS] IS NOW A WALKING CORE, AS WE HAD ABSORBED [DRAGON¡¯S PEAK] AND [RAINBOW FALLS] SO TOO COULD A DUNGEON BE ABLE TO ABSORBS [THE ENGINES] THROUGH ABSORBING [BARON ROBERTS]. [BARON ROBERTS] IS ADVISED TO NOT MANIFEST AVATARA BEYOND SECURED PREMIERES.¡± She hands the document to Esteban, who hands them both to Heathcliff. Clover continues looking for information on the parents but fails to find any clues. Esteban and Julia look through the documents and find documents from more recent dates, but they have the same results as the one Rose found. Tim soon finds a peculiar document on a nearby desk. It is titled ¡°MICRODUGNEON EXPERIMENTS PROGRESS 9/10/XXXX¡± He picks the file up and begins reading it. ¡°AS OF THE TENTH OF NOVEMBER, FOLLOWING DEMONIC PACT, WE HAVE BEEN GRANTED THE ABILITY TO EXPLORE MICRODUGNEONS. MANA CAPACITY GREATLY INCREASED FOLLOWING INITIAL EXPERIMENTS. [BARON ROBERTS] IS NOW THE MOST POWERFUL DUNGEON IN CERBERUS REGION AND SURROUNDING AREAS.¡± ¡°Microdugneons?¡± Tim says. He had recalled hearing Atsuko mention them during the party at Gatsby Tower. Anemone then finds one last file of note. Entitled ¡°GEOLOCATION OF PEERS, 4/27/XXXX¡± then she softly reads the document. ¡°AS OF THE TWENTY-SEVENTH OF QUARTUMBER, LOCATIONS OF FELLOW DIVINE DUNGEONS ASCERTAINED. [MIRAGE FEYWOOD], [RAINBOW FALLS], [DRAGON¡¯S PEAK]. FURTHERMORE, REPORTS OF A DIVINE DUNGEON IN THE ADJACENT NEW VIRGINIA REGION ARE CONFIRMED. [BLACK BOX]. GEO-LOCATION OF SAID DUNGEON IN PROGRESS.¡± Anemone stops reading as soon as she sees the words ¡°Black Box¡± written on the paper, instead handing it to Heathcliff. ¡°This is bad news,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°They are looking for Emily?¡± Rose says. Tim feels Esteban¡¯s cloaking magic begin to fade. ¡°We need to go, now!¡± ¡°Tim¡¯s right,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°If the Dungeon knows you¡¯re here, who knows what they would do to you?¡± The group exits the room and heads to a nearby corridor. Julia, Tim, Lily, Anemone, and Heathcliff keep an eye out for patrollers as the cloaking magic fades. Emily thinks about whether they should press on. Heathcliff looks at her. ¡°I understand if you want to go ahead, but know what you are getting into, cher.¡± She looks back at how effortlessly the automata had crushed the other two adventuring parties. As Esteban¡¯s magic fades, she realizes that it is not safe to linger here. ¡°Let¡¯s go. Hurry.¡± ??? The party rushes to the entrance they sued as quickly as possible before Esteban¡¯s cloaking magic spells. They flicker into visibility for a few seconds as they run away from patrolling machines. Lily uses the Mirage Staff to clear the path from patrolling machines. ¡°ALERT! ALERT!¡± a voice is heard all around them. ¡°UNUSUAL GRAFFITI DETECTED. ILLUSION MAGIC DETECTED, SEARCHING FOR LIGHT AND DARKNESS MANA. [SENTINEL: KYBERNETES X-89] DISPATCHED. PERPETRATORS MUST SURRENDER NOW AND ACCEPT FATE.¡± ¡°Like heck we are!¡± Heathcliff says. The group sees a large aerial android flying overhead. Resembling a flying egg. It lands approximately close to looking for the superimposed robots. Lily makes a face of shock, one that tells that she had no idea that the effects of the Mirage Staff would be used to locate them. The Kybernetes examines the ¡°graffiti¡± in the wake of Emily¡¯s groups as they rush to flee. Rose notices a fork in the road and slithers into the panel. She finds a strange panel marked ¡°x-y=9¡± ¡°Ugh, algebra?¡± Rose thinks. She recalls what she learned from the class and sees it is several blocks next to the panel. The numbers one, three, four, five, six, and eight are adorned on these six blocks. Rose places the one and eight blocks on them and opens a door to the right. She flickers into visibility as she replaces it with the three and six blocks. She finds a different door open, leading to a nearby ledge. ¡°What are you doing? ¡°Heathcliff whispers. ¡°Solving a math problem,¡± Rose says. She smirks as she places the four and five blocks and sees a wall slam down in the room, separating the Sentinel from Emily and her group. ¡°Got it!¡± Rose says. The cloaking magic fades as Emily and her group move through one of the doors rose opened. ¡°MANA SPIKE DETECTED!¡± the Kybernetes turns to the wall behind it. ¡°INTRUDERS DETECTED BEYOND WALL, ENGAGING BATTLE MODE¡±. ??? Emily and her group arrive close to the entrance, now fully visible. A voice soon echoes to her. ¡°Aha! So you¡¯re the rats that turned my cells into decorations! I¡¯ll get you yet you sprites!¡± ¡°He thinks we¡¯re sprites?¡± Emily thinks. She uses her shapeshifting skill to take the form of an automaton to distract the patrollers while everyone else begins their escape. The Kybernetes burst through the walls and greet the disguised Emily. ¡°MODEL 006, ASSISTANCE REQUESTED IN LOCATING INTRUDERS.¡± Emily tries to sound convincing to the Sentinel. ¡°ROGER,¡± she says. ¡°LOCATING INTRUDERS.¡± She looks in the opposite direction from her friends. ¡°VOICE RECOLONIZED AS ALTERED,¡± the Kybernetos says. ¡°INQUIRY REQUESTED INTO STATE OF VOICE MODULE.¡± ¡°Shoot,¡± Emily thinks. ¡°UM, AMBIENT WIND MANA FROM THE PREVIOUS EXCURSION HAS ALTERED THE VOICE MODULE.¡± The Kybernetos¡¯ glowing eyes state at her. Meanwhile from on high, a man in a trenchcoat looks on. ¡°Tch,¡± the black-coated man says. ¡°Hey sir, it looks like we got a shapeshifter here.¡± ¡°Damned pixies!¡± the dungeon¡¯s voice echoes to the man. ¡°Carnegie! You know what to do!¡± Carnegie leaps down to the ground. ¡°MODEL 006, ANOMALOUS BEHAVER DETECTED. INQUIRY REQUESTED INTO PROGRAMMING. PERMISSION TO TAKE YOU FOR REPAIRS.¡± The Kybernetes says. ¡°Save it!¡± Carnegie lands on the ground and points his cane at Emily. The disguise is dispelled and the avatara returns to her normal form. The Kybernetes glares at Emily who could only only rube the back of her head. ¡°Ehe.¡± ¡°INTRUDER DETECTED, DUNGEON AVATARA DETECTED, REQUESTING INITIATION LOCKDOWN PROTOCOLS!¡± the Kybernetes says. ¡°Approved,¡± the Engines says to the robot. ¡°Activating Core severance procedures.¡± ¡°Core severance procedures?¡± Emily says. The others look back and see Emily is caught, but before they can intervene, they feel the ground shaking and walls beginning to emerge from below. Esteban and Julia are separated from the others who are in turn trapped alongside Emily with the Kybernetes and Carnegie. The Kybernetes begin to fight Emily, She tries to fight it but is knocked to eh ground by a single punch. The machine attempts another blow, but she does and senses an indication. ¡°Oh fertile soil, enchanted the blade¡¯s toil.¡± Emily¡¯s bardsong enchants her blades and allows Anesidora¡¯s boom to take effect. Her strikes allow her to recover from the attacks. She tries to attack the machine, but the areal mech does by flying to the sky. She leaps toward the machine and throws her combined blades at it, landing two hits on it before returning into her hands. Carnegie leaves to find a more suitable vantage point. Emily¡¯s attacks allow some of her bruises to heal quicker. She lands on eh ground as it becomes enveloped in fog. ¡°FOG DETECTED, FIRING HEAT SEEKERS!¡± The Kybernetes fires a missile from its wings that locks onto Emily¡¯s heat signature and draws near it. Emily tries to evade but they draw closer and closer to her. One of the missiles explodes near her as she uses ice magic to lower her heat signature. Time meanwhile rushes into the fray and diverts the second missile with his heat. She stands firm awaiting the missile as it draws closer and closer. Before it could hit him, he propels himself into the air. The missiles misses as he lands behind Emily. ¡°What were you thinking?¡± Tim says. ¡°Maybe stall him until the timer runs out?¡± Emily says. Tim sighs. ¡°Whatever, that thing, do you know how to activate it?¡± Emily knows what Tim is talking about and takes out the yellow device. She tries to figure out how to activate the magic item. The Kybernetes try to fire another salvo, but Azalea drenches the machine in water from the steam and fog, and Rose and Elizabeth use lightning spells to zap the Sentinel. ¡°ERROR! SYSTEM SHOCK! MISSILE MODULE FRIED!¡± the Kybernetes plummets not eh ground and crashes in front of Tim and Emily. Everyone tries to find some weakness in the machine But their attacks only do minimal damage to its core. ¡°What in Titania is this thing made of!¡± Heathcliff shouts. ¡°This [Sentinel] must be warded by something.¡± She darts around and sees Carnegie charging to the machine. She tries to strike the dungeon master with lightning, but the ebony-coated man simply dodges the strike of lightning. ¡°You¡¯re gonna need to try harder than that!¡± Carnegie boasts. ¡°SELF-REPAIRS COMPLETE, ENGAGING!¡± The Kybernetes stands back up and turns his wings into two swords. ¡°ANALYSIS OF MANA IN PROGRESS, IDENTIFYING. IDENTIFYING.¡± ¡°Identify this!¡± Strelitzia says as she swings her labrys at one of the joints. One of the swords is knocked back a few feet, but the robot remains armed. Clover tries to slice at it with met metal fan while Lily uses her spear to try to pry open the mech¡¯s chassis, to little avail. Emily tries to find a way to operate the D.E.M. as she dances evasively to avoid the Kybernetes¡¯ sword swings. Rose, Hydrangea, and Azalea try to immobilize the robot, but it breaks free of the frost aided by the heat of the ambient humid air. Raine instead tries to melt it, but no matter how the fire is, the chassis remains immaculate. Elizabeth, Flies Richard and Sarah to Carnegie, aided by wind magic. The three try to fight Carnegie or at least break the Dungeon Master¡¯s focus on the ward so that the Kybernetos can be defeated, but the more experienced fighter dodges Elizabeth¡¯s spells, Richard¡¯s stunner shots, and Sarah¡¯s hammer with ease. ??? The fight rages on and Emily and her party are running low on energy. The Colortura¡¯s core barely lifts their weapons. There are only forty-five minutes left on the timer. Carnigie repels Elizabeth and sends her falling onto the floor. The Fairy lands next to Emily, who is blocking the Kybernete¡¯s swords with her own. ¡°Lizzie!¡± Emily says. ¡°The D.E.M.!¡± The fairy takes the yellow device and tries to activate it. ¡°ANALYSIS COMPLETE, AVATARA IDENTIFIED. [BLACK BOX] CONFIRMED SOURCE OF AVATARA.¡± The Kybernetes says The Engines roar in laughter. ¡°Excellent, another rising star.¡± His voice echoes throughout the sprawl of smokestacks and factories. ¡°But a lesser star, all the same, I will absorb your mana, Black Box!¡± Emily is left confused by the Engines¡¯ statement. ¡°How is that possible!¡± Emily manages to push the Kybernetes¡¯ blades back and work with Tim to send the mechanical sentinel tumbling down. Heathcliff tries to wreck the machine but sees it as near invulnerable. Elizabeth manages to activate the yellow device. ¡°Denizen Extraction Mechanism, activate!¡± the fairy calls. The device whirls as Emily and her party glows. ¡°Deux Ex protocols activated,¡± the smaller machine says. ¡°Analyzing method of extraction.¡± ¡°What, a Denizen Extraction Mechanism!¡± The Baron Roberts fumes. ¡°Proper method selected, ¡®Dungeon Timeout!¡¯ process beginning now.¡± The timer that determines how long challengers can stay in a dungeon suddenly zeros out. Emily and her party are immediately teleported away from the Engines, back to the edge of the dungeon. Carnigie smirks at the dungeon¡¯s petulant rage. ¡°Sire, if I may interrupt, the Kybernetos has analyzed the mana of the Black Box¡¯s avatara. We can use this to finally find the location.¡± A being suddenly leaps from the smokestack at the center of the complex and lands in front of the dungeon master. The figure is an elderly man, clad in bulky steam-powered mechanical armor. The armor hisses as the figure raises his head. The upper right part of his face is covered in brass. The right eye was replaced by a red screen. The hulking armored man glares at Carnegie. ¡°Are you certain?¡± ¡°CARNEGIE¡¯S STATEMENT VERIFIED. [BLACK BOX] GEO-LOCATION IN PROGRESS,¡± the Kybernetos says. The Baron Roberts looks at the mechanical Sentinel. ¡°Very well, and the sprites.¡± ¡°SEARCHING, SEARCHING. [MIRAGE FEYWOOD] LOCATED THROUGH EXAMINATION OF CONTEXTUAL FOREST. MISSING SCOUT¡¯S LAST TRANSMISSION AND PRESENCE OF ILLUSION MAGIC.¡± ¡°Finally!¡± The Baron says. ¡°We shall take that accused Feywood by storm and then we will marshal our forces and deal with that upstart!¡± ¡°An excellent plan, sire,¡± Carnegie says. The Baron Roberts lets out a boisterous laugh as they prepare their upcoming siege. ??? Emily and her friends make it to the cars. Esteban and Julia were already there, having known that Emily would use the D.E.M. to escape. ¡°Get in!¡± Esteban says. Everyone boards the two vehicles and then they draw as far away from the Engines at top speed. Everyone breathes heavily as Esteban and Julia drive them around the Cerberus area before driving back to Thornwood. The road trip took several hours. From they, they spent the next hour driving back to near Rosenkruz and returned home to the Black Box. That night, at the Black Box. Emily mulls on what had just happened today. Her avatara is deactivated and her consciousness is returned to the dungeon body. She takes a look at various rooms. He sees Heathcliff meeting with Ulrick and Flowena, talking about ways to use the Mirage Staff¡¯s illusory powers to bolster Emily¡¯s defenses. She then turns her attention to another room. Where Esteban and Julia looked over the documents they had found in the Engines. She then sees Lydia preparing the children for sleep and then Tim meditating on the encounter with the Kybernetes. She then looks at Minerva asking Carla for her opinion on the ¡°Fairy Princess¡± films. She finally looks at her core room, and she sees a gap between the Umbrasphere and the Cryosphere. She also sees Elizabeth getting ready for bed. ¡°Hey Lizzie?¡± her voice echoes to the fairy. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Do you think they will come here?¡± Emily says. ¡°I think so,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Normally, a dungeon has to personally visit another one and find its core to absorb it. The denouement of this so-called ¡®Core Severance¡¯ Protocol makes it so that visiting Dungeons is at huge risk when undertaking this. At the very least, any guilds affiliated with him would revoke his status among them upon learning of this.¡± A sigh breaths through the entrance to the core room ¡°We will need to be prepared,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°We have a few months at least before any of the Engines¡¯ forces arrive. I hope Atsuko returns soon, she¡¯ll at least need to know about this.¡± Elizabeth¡¯s head spins as she wonders what these microdugneons are, and more importantly, how come she didn¡¯t already know about them. ¡°Goodnight, Lizzie,¡± Emily says. Elizabeth tucks herself in. ¡°Night, Emmy.¡± They are unsure of if turmoil will arrive in the coming days. Chapter XXVIII: Quantum Leap Atsuko has finished packing up her instruments at the hotel. She does a final tally of her devices. Several hotel staff are helping her move the instrument. ¡°Let¡¯s see,¡± the teal-haired nekomata says. ¡°Nanocosm Viewer?¡± ¡°Check,¡± Saizo says ¡°Manameter?¡± ¡°Already accounted for!¡± Hoshikage says. ¡°Kaguya Parallel Mirror?¡± ¡°We moved that yesterday!¡± Kasumi says. ¡°Okay, those should be the last of the instruments,¡± Atsuko says. She and her shinobi move to the lobby of the hotel. There, they find, Kei, Aika, and Noboru standing guard over the tanuki sake reading a book on determinism while the aspiring author and the songstress are making sure the instruments are overseeing the item as they are transported onto a moving truck. ¡°That took a while,¡± Saizo says. ¡°If only the last Manameter didn¡¯t break down,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°Lousy hunk of junk that was.¡± ¡°You know we could have gotten one after moving to Rosenkreuz,¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t sure if they would have the right materials,¡± the twin tailed nekomata says. ¡°At Noir, at least I knew where the parts and materials could be found. Kasumi twirls one of her orange pigtails. Hoshikage looks at her protege with some amusement. ¡°You excited to meet that man again?¡± ¡°What!¡± Kasumi says, ¡°Of course not!¡± she tries to deny her infatuation as fog forms around her feet. The instruments are loaded onto the truck. ¡°Where do you want these to go, missy?¡± Atsuko gives the location of the town of Rosenkreuz. ¡°New Virginia, that is pretty far,¡± the trucker says. ¡°I know.¡± Atsuko gives him several pieces of gold. ¡°This should cover the fare, right?¡± Aika looks at the hotel wistfully. ¡°I¡¯ll miss this place,¡± Kei cleans his glasses. ¡°I won¡¯t, this place is too noisy.¡± Aika sighs. ¡°Maybe I can find a new venue at Rosenkreuz.¡± ¡°What happened at Club 4706?¡± Kei asks. ¡°The patrons there seemed a bit too¡­forward,¡± Aika says. ¡°Alright,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°Ready to go?¡± ¡°Of course, Akko,¡± Hoshikage the Starsahdow says. ¡°Ready!¡± Kasumi the Mistwalker says. ¡°We are prepared,¡± Saizo the Disarmer says. ¡°Indubitably,¡± Noboru the Enlightened says. ¡°We¡¯re ready,¡± Aika the Songstress says ¡°Where is Suzume?¡± Iyashi Kei the Soother says. Atsuko points at the truck. Suzume the Swallowtail is already there, having elected to oversee the transport to Rosenkreuz. Kasumi begins to express concern about Suzume but stops before she can out of fear of getting scolded by Hoshikage. Hoshikage beams a cheerful smile. ¡°So where¡¯s our ride Akko?¡± ¡°Saizo rented a vehicle for us,¡± the teal-haired girl says. Her two tails perk up in excitement. Hoshikage and Kasumi check each other¡¯s outfits, making sure they are both loaded with baubles in case their trip encounters complications. Saizo and Atsuko lead the shinobi to a vehicle. It is an old model of car, as evidenced by its black paint job and white tires. It has barely enough room for the seven of them. Kasumi and Aika are appalled at the tight fit. ¡°Saizo,¡± Kasumi says. ¡°You couldn''t get a bigger car?¡± ¡°Dealer was asking for too much,¡± Saizo says. ¡°This was the cheapest I could get.¡± A look of dread warms over Kasumi, as she now fears the long and cramped trip. She looks back to see if the moving van is still there, but she is already driving off. Hoshikage notices her student¡¯s frown. ¡°Cheer up, Kasumi,¡± Hoshikage says, ¡°It¡¯s only about, like seven hours.¡± ¡°Seven hours!¡± Kasumi gripes. ¡°Well we are crossing state borders,¡± Kei says. ¡°Of course, we do have to consider the traffic¡­¡± Everyone soon boards the black car. Kasumi is squeezed between Hoshikage and Kei. Noboru and Aika, enter on Kei¡¯s other side as Saizo and Atsuko take the front seats. Saizo drives the car into the streets, the vehicle soon begins the long drive to Rosenkruz, and to the Black Box. ??? Three hours later, Aika, Kasumi, and Hoshikage are fast asleep. Kei takes note of the scenic natural beauty outside while Noboru continues reading his book on determinism. Saizo continues to drive while Atsuko keeps an eye out for monsters and assailants. The car radio begins a news article. ¡°Our affiliates at the Cerberus region have reported another dungeon core has recently vanished. The Thunderpeak Mountains was recently raided by strange machines last night.¡± Atsuko finds the news disturbing. She knows that there had been dungeons vanishing for a while, sometimes with the surrounding area also disappointing. But the frequency of this happening gives her pause. ¡°Saizo,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°Yes, Atsuko?¡± ¡°Do you think¡­¡± ¡°No. If that dungeon seemed capable, you¡¯d be the first to know.¡± Saizo¡¯s eyes are fixed on the road as they drive on a mountain. A few minutes later, after the radio reports on a new sale at the largest mall in Noir, and an announcement of a gala held at Gatsby Tower. The station reports another news side. ¡°The Ebony Guards have reported a sting operation in Broadway was successful.¡± The anchorman tells of how the Guild had used intelligence brought to them from someone liberated from a certain factory on Joyfuller Island to local and bust a Rouge Dungeon. ¡°¡­Rumors swim about a mysterious ¡®Project Stronghold¡¯. The Guards are holding a press conference later tonight to address these rumors.¡± ¡°Project Stronghold huh?¡± Atsuko says. She wondered what it was about. The car soon enters a lush forest. The mix of orange and green leaves marks autumn¡¯s beginning. ¡°Remind me again, what is today?¡± ¡°September Four,¡± Saizo says. ¡°We missed the equinox, huh?¡± Atsuko says. Atsuko changes the radio to a station playing music suited to travelers. Noboru puts his book away. ¡°How fascinating, I have no idea that people spent so long discussing the existence of free will.¡± ¡°Kinda easy to take it for granted,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°Even though there is no evidence for or against it.¡± Kasumi takes up, she tries to move her arms while yawning. ¡°Are we there yet?¡± ¡°One more hour,¡± Saizo says. ¡°Give it time.¡± ¡°Think Suzume will beat us there?¡± Hoshikage says with a yawn. ¡°The truck had a five-minute head start,¡± Kei says. ¡°And its route is overall shorter, she¡¯s likely waiting for us at the guildhall by now.¡± ¡°I¡¯d hope so,¡± Kasumi grumbles. Hoshikage stretches her arms. Allowing Kasumi enough room to do the same. Aika eventually wakes up. ¡°Are we¡ª¡± ¡°No,¡± Saizo says. Aika goes back to sleep. ¡°Lucky her,¡± Kasumi grumbles. The car¡¯s heat and the lack of comfort makes it difficult for her to return to sleep. The car soon arrives at the town of Rosenkreuz. ??? Atsuko¡¯s vehicle arrives at the Rosenkreuz guildhall. They found that the moving van and Suzume are already there. Suzume holding a burger in her hand. The car parks and everyone leaves the vehicle. ¡°Freedom!¡± Kasumi yells. Saizo sighs, Hoshikage chuckles. Suzume the Swallowtail approaches Atsuko. Her hakama has a small stain on it from her lunch. ¡°There is a burger joint inside if you want lunch. It¡¯s gonna be a while before the boys can move the instruments out¡± ¡°Awesome,¡± Atsuko says. She leads her shinobi into the guild hall. There they see unfamiliar faces looking at them. Saizo and Suzume look out for faces with ill intentions while Atsuko looks for more familiar faces. The nekomata approaches the counter. ¡°Hello there,¡± Pauline says. ¡°Don¡¯t think I saw you lot here before.¡± ¡°Hello,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°We¡¯re here to find a dungeon known as the Black Box.¡± ¡°Y¡¯all here to raid again or¡­¡± Pauline says, recalling the cases of most of Atsuko¡¯s band from their prior visit. ¡°We want to ask its dungeon master about some opportunities.¡± ¡°Ah, right,¡± Pauline says. ¡°They did tell me they were expecting some folk here.¡± She looks over the descriptions he provided. ¡°Cat ears, teal hair, two tails, Yanese¡­ Looks like you¡¯re the one! I¡¯ll give you directions to the Black Box right away. Oh, and we¡¯ll help move your equipment there as well.¡± ¡°Ariga¡ª,¡± Atsuko says before realizing Pauline wouldn¡¯t understand her native tongue. ¡°Thank you, madame¡­¡± ¡°Pauline.¡± ¡°Pauline, right. Thank you.¡± Atsuko smiles. She and her group order lunch. Once the truck is empty and leaves, they finish their meal. They leave. Atsuko leaves a tip of thirty-nine silvers on the tables. Pauline gathers some men and women to help transport the equipment while Pauline and Benoit lead Atsuko and her party to the location of the Black Box. They eventually come across the location of the dungeon. ¡°You weren¡¯t kidding when you said the name was literal!¡± Atsuko says as she beholds a large black cube. The glossy exterior reflects Stella¡¯s light like a mirror. ¡°So why did we have to take the long way around?¡± Kasumi says, remembering that the dungeon has an extension in Noir. ¡°It is imperative that we ensure Lady Atsuko¡¯s safety,¡± Saizo says. ¡°If she went somewhere in Noir that never returned, that could arouse suspicions.¡± ¡°Besides,¡± Noboru says. ¡°The fresh air is appreciated.¡± Kasumi rolls her eyes. Atsuko and her entourage enter the Black Box. ??? The Yanese party are greeted by Elizabeth as they enter the blue and black dungeon. ¡°Welcome!¡± the fairy says. ¡°Hello!¡± Atsuko says. ¡°Nice to meet you again.¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoes to Atsuko. ¡°Welcome¡­or should I say welcome back?¡± Atsuko notices an air of gloom in the air. ¡°Did something happen while we were preparing?¡± ¡°That can wait, right now we have a more formal tour.¡± Pauline look at Atsuko and her party. ¡°Alright, looks like my work here is done. Give Heathcliff my regards, Emily?¡± ¡°Will do, Pauline,¡± Emily says to the guild¡¯s head. Elizabeth gives Atsuko a tour of the nearby areas of the dungeon, including the atelier. The Dwarves and Raine notices the nekomata¡¯s precess. Atsuko says hi to the three. ¡°Glad to see you¡¯re finally here!¡± Sarah says. ¡°Now then I think you have somethign to give her, brother!¡± Richard is reminded of the teal cyberworks armor he had crafted for Atsuko at her request. He rushes out to get the suit of armor. Black with metallic teal pieces. Atsuko takes a look at the armor and asks is there is a dressing room. Sarah directs her to one. Atsuko puts on the adaptable armor and is immediately impressed by the fit. She looks in front of the mirror and sees how it looks. ¡°I see you have good taste!¡± Atsuko says to the dwarves. ¡°Thank you!¡± Richard says. Saizo asks if there is anythign special about the Armor. Sarah brigns up it purpose being to grow and adapt with the wielder, using special enchantment and techniques. Elizabeth also beings up the Sleepshell enchantment, which confuses the ninja. With Atsuko dressed, she and the ninja move tot he core room to discuss her microdungeon experiments and her plans to test Emily. ??? A while alter, Atsuko arrives in one of the sentinel arenas of the Black Box, lead there by Elizabeth. Heathcliff and Tim are already waiting ¡°So,¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoes to her. ¡°About these Microdungeons¡­¡± ¡°Right,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°If you may recall, my thesis is that there within objects entire universes. But reaching them requires specific properties. Properties I think you have.¡± He nekomata smiles. ¡°I¡¯ll need to test you for these properties, but I think you¡¯ll able to handle them, Emily.¡± ¡°So what exactly are your methods?¡± Tim says curiously. ¡°My research delves heavily into the field of quantum mechanics,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°Hyperbolic spaces, conformal field theories, negative curvature spaces, stiff that is hard to properly explain, but the general gist is that I will created technology derived from the avatara to allow travel on a very small plane, while using various techniques to ensure we arrive in the microdugneon with pinpoint accuracy. I spent the batter half of a decade researching this.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll have to take your world for it, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Quantum mechanics, that would explain why you need a dungeon with nanotechnology.¡± Elizabeth thinks on the idea, but finds it more incredulous, but the events of the engines had left her with a little more belief in their existence. At the very least it would explain why a Dungeon was able to grow so powerful so quickly. ¡°Now for the first test, I noticed that some Sprites take taken up residence here?¡± ¡°Long story,¡± Emily says. ¡°Why bring that up?¡± ¡°I think the illusory powers of their mirage Staves would make testing in chaotic environments much easier. Oh and we¡¯re gonna need you to pilot an avatara for some these.¡± Atsuko says. ¡°You¡¯ve mentioned visiting Cerberus before?¡± Tim says. ¡°Uh-huh,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°Some of the dungeons there seemed promising, but none of them were able to succeed these trials.¡± Emily¡¯s avatara manifests in the room. ¡°So what trials do you have in mind.¡± ¡°Glad to seen you¡¯re as keen as I am!¡± Atsuko says with a cheerful smile. ¡°These tests are threefold. One will focus your adaptability under rapidly changing situations. The second will focus on the camaraderie of our little crew and concentration. The last will be about creating a smaller avatara.¡± ¡°Okay? ¡°Emily says. ¡°Is any of these tests dangerous?¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Only the first one, projection of a consciousness should be easy for a dungeon core, and I¡¯d have to assume your crew is already close with how you were able to handle my shinobi and Gatsby Tower. That reminds me, how are those Witches of yours doing?¡± ¡°The Coloraturas?¡± Emily says. ¡°Yeah,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°I think they took to me rather well,¡± Emily says. ¡°Have you guys met?¡± ¡°Only once after the party,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°They seem like a nice bunch of kids. But I want to properly met them and the rest of your residents. After all, if things go well. We¡¯ll be seeing a lot of each other.¡± ¡°You already met the dwarves, right?¡± Emily notices Atsuko is wearing the cyberworks armor designed specifiably her her. ¡°How could you tell?¡± Atsuko cheekily says. ¡°Call it a hunch,¡± Emily says. ¡°I¡¯ll see about gathering everyone here,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°At least everyone that hasn''t been to Noir.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s see,¡± Emily says. ¡°That would be Carla, Lydia, Keith, Euryale, Stheno, Flowena, Ulric¡­¡± ??? After Atsuko is properly introduced to everyone living in the Black Box. She leads everyone to the outside forest and then uses the sprites¡¯ Mirage Staves to create an illusion of one of the Black Box¡¯s rooms. ¡°Hello my name is Atsuko Izumi, and I¡¯d like to assume you¡¯re already familiar with the superliminal nature of the sprite¡¯s dungeons.¡± The teal-haired girl says. ¡°Yeah,¡± Emily says. ¡°Then this should be easy.¡± Atsuko points to a picture of a forest on the wall, held upside down at a diagonal angle. ¡°For safety reasons, I¡¯m only testing the Sentinels and Emily here. Emily will be first. Ready? Go!¡± The picture is superimposed onto the walls behind Emily¡¯s avatara. Emily felt a tingling sensation as the image was suddenly painted onto her. Atsuko uses the mirage staff to conjure the forest into reality, and Emily¡¯s sense of gravity shifts as she falls up to the ground. Saizo enters the illusory forest to fight Emily. ¡°Karakuri Arts Zero Two!¡± His prosthetic conjures a force of wind that pushes Emily deeper into the forest. Atsuko takes another picture, this time of a volcano. ¡°This one¡¯s going to be hot. Atsuko uses the mirage staff to create an illusory volcano in the distance. A lava plume erupts in front of Emiyl and she stops to avoid being singed. Kasumi enters the battle and uses her mist to blind Emily as she engages with her in hand-to-hand combat. Emily tries to strike at the orange-twintaled kunoichi, but she makes a charging leap and rapidly strikes her arms with her own. Deflecting her slashing attempts. The purple-haired avatara anticipates a strike and leaps back, dancing around Kasumi and tripping her. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. ¡°No fair!¡± Kasumi says. Tim leaps in and fights alongside Emily as the mist changes to reveal that Atsuko has conjured a gilasaur and overlaid the illusion of an arctic desert around them. The bitter cold air blows as Tim and Emily face the two shinobi and the illusory dinosaur. ¡°Seems like someone is a little impatient,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°He¡¯s always like this,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Seems he¡¯s not the only one.¡± Elizabeth sees Clara walking towards the dinosaur, attempting to talk it into night attacking. ¡°So much for testing them one by one,¡± Atsuko says. Noboru chuckles. ¡°Perhaps we can kill two birds with a single stone milady?¡± Emily and Tim protect Clara from the ninjas as she attempts to talk the gilasaur down. Tim glares at Saizo. ¡°This is a friendly spar, boy,¡± the ninja says. ¡°No need to be so tense.¡± ¡°Tense, me?¡± Tim says as he closes his eyes and points his Qiang at the shinobi. ¡°Perish the through.¡± Saizo chuckles. Atsuko holds up an image of wooden automata and materializes them with the mirage staff. The wooden machines try to attack Emily, but she dodges and cuts the illusions down. More suddenly appear and Clara gets the gilasaur to eat the wooden mechanical monsters. Atsuko sees the three can hold their fairy well. She takes another image and overlays it to the fight. Emily¡¯s avatara and Carla collapse to eh ground. Tim finds his body suddenly grows heavier. ¡°Mom!¡± Charlotte cries out for her mother as she struggles to stand up under the increased gravity. She tries to counter with a spell she learned from Anemone to allow Emily and Clara to be weightless. Atsuko notices the little alraune and loon on in surprise. ¡°Guess I¡¯m being tested for adaptability as well,¡± Sarah and Nina arrive to help Emily up and fight off some of the wooden Karakuri illusions. Suzume tries to slash t the young dwarf, but Richard fires a shot from his stunner and intercepts Sher. ¡°You¡¯re not laying a hand on my sister that easily!¡± Richard says Suzume humphs. Atsuko overlays images in rapid succession changing the scery to various locales. The Colroaturas enter the fight to help Emily against the chaotic test. They end up fighting in frozen tundras, in underwater reeds, and in a simulacrum of the vacuum of space, again not only the shinobi but also illusions of wooden robots and several yokai. Atsuko is pleased by both the teamwork and the ease at which they dispatched the illusions. The magical girls work in tandem to feel an illusory ogre. Lily uses the mirage staff to turn the illusions against Atsuko. Rose strikes some tengu down with her lightning while Azalea and Hydrangea use gel spells to inter another ogre. Azalea also uses the gel to prank the shinobi, encasing Kasumi in slime. ¡°Hey!¡± Kasumi says. ¡°Sorry,¡± Azalea says ¡°But this is one of my harder to pull-off jokes!¡± A while alter, Atsuko is satisfied. She sues the mirage staff to dispelled the illusions. ¡°How did we do?¡± Emily asks ¡°Well above expectations,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°The Microdungeosn are a place of uncertainty, but if you were able to hold your own here, then I¡¯m certain there is nothing they can throw at us!¡± ¡°That¡¯s good to here.¡± Rose breathes heavily. ¡°I though you said those were illusions!¡± the lamia cries out. ¡°They are,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°Most of them hit like wet noodles, as well.¡± Lily yawns. ¡°I suddenly feel sleepy.¡± ¡°That¡­wasn¡¯t part of the illusions.¡± Stretlizia says. ¡°So when does the second test start?¡± She makes a pose that indicates her readiness to fight. ¡°About¡­the moment Tim decided to intervene basically,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°Suffice to say you nailed that as well. I must apologize if the illusions were harder than expected.¡± Streltizia slumps. ¡°Aw. I was getting fired up!¡± Clover giggles. Ulrich and Flowena help Atsuko clean up the illusions¡¯ effects on the land. ¡°You guys should take some time to rest,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°The last test will begin tomorrow.¡± Everyone returns to the Black Box, has dinner and turns in for the night. ??? Meanwhile, at the Mirage Feywood. Several fires blaze. The bioluminescent forest is populated by sprites choking on ash and steam as mechanical monsters march toward the upside-down palace. Several sprites try to ward off as many machines as they can with their illusions, but for each robot, they seal in the land, and two more march in their place and corner the poor fey. Admits this chaos. The Baron Roberts fights Puck in front of the palace. Puck tries to slash at the Baron with a sword, but the fellow avatara¡¯s steam-powered armor shields him from the blade. ¡°Why do you resist?¡± The Baron says. ¡°You know it is futile!¡± ¡°Why do you fight,¡± Puck says. ¡°You know you will be punished for your transgressions!¡± Roberts scoffs. ¡°I will rise above this pitiful lot and rule from on high! Any punishment here shall be by my hand!¡± He rushes forward and slams Puck. The two fall through the window of the palace and land on the river below. Robots use their jets to avoid colliding with the water as Puck splashes into the water. ¡°Heh!¡± the Baron says. She turns his back and sees the palace. He knows the Core Severance Protocols only work within his domain, and that he has to find the actual core itself to absorb it and its mana. The Baron Robots sees a glint from the tip of the tallest spire and hovers down towards it., It is of a final shape to him, two cones connected by a halo-like ring. The shape of a Divine Dungeon¡¯s core. He smirks and reaches out for the mirage Feywood¡¯s core, only for it to vanish, replaced by a stone wall along with the rest of the palace. ¡°Wretched illusions!¡± Steam erupted from the pipes on his armor as he glared at the false palace. He turns around and sees a small group of sprites aiming their staves at him. One of them is clad in crimson with blond hair. ¡°Leave now, or suffer the consequences of your sins!¡± the red-clad sprite says. ¡°So the Dungeon Master finally arrives,¡± the Baron smirks. ¡°Maeve, don¡¯t do this!¡± Puck¡¯s voice echoes to the blond sprite. ¡°I¡¯m sorry my love,¡± Maeve says. ¡°But I will not abide this trespasser¡¯s presence anymore!¡± She uses the Mirage Staff on the Baron, but the intruder flies above them and fights with Maeve. Puck manifests a new Avatara to try to stop Roberts from reaching Maeve, but the avatara and Master are unable to hold the Baron off for long. Puck is stomped to the ground, while Roberts holds Maeve by the neck. ¡°Now, lead me to the core, of your girlfriend here gets it!¡± ¡°Go ahead you cur!¡± Maeve says. ¡°Do your worst!¡± Puck tries to stand up, as Maeve defiantly tries to escape her captor¡¯s grasp. ¡°Stop this madness,¡± he desperately cries out to the invader. ¡°Give up,¡± the Baron says. ¡°Your fate is inevitable. Accept it!¡± He begins choking Maeve. ¡°No!¡± ¡°Going once,¡± The Barren tightens his grip on Maeve¡¯s windpipe. ¡°Going twice!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do it! Just please! Let her go,¡± Puck pleads. The Baron looks at the core¡¯s avatara and sees the look of despair and defeat in his eyes. He drops Maeve and glares at Puck. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Puck stands up. Maeve pleads with him to not sacrifice himself, but Carnegie knocks her out. Puck rematerializes the palace and the core with it. The Baron flies closer to the core. ¡°It¡¯s a good thing I went straight for the avatara first,¡± the Baron thinks. ¡°His Last Bastion Protocols are useless if he has no will to fight.¡± He places his mechanical hand on the core and begins to absorb it. Puck feels the Last Bastion Protocols activate, but he sees the carnage around him and knows that the energy and power it grants him are not enough to surmount this foe. He can only hope the ones that escaped to the Black Box are able to continue in their new home and that the brass-clad fiend would be felled one day. The Feywood begins to fade, alongside all of the sprites within and alongside Puck and Maeve. Carnege looks on as Puck holds Maeve¡¯s unconscious body in his arms. ¡°Forgive me, dearest Maeve,¡± he says as both begin to vanish. Their mana is becoming absorbed by the Baron. The illusions and wonder are slowly being replaced by a mundane forest. All that is left is the automata and the blaze the baron left in his wake. The Baron looks are Carnegie. ¡°How long until we reach New Virginia?¡± ¡°It will take the army four weeks, sire,¡± the Engines¡¯ Dungeon Master says. ¡°They are liable to know of our advance.¡± ¡°It matters not,¡± the Baron says. ¡°They will fall all the same, and then I will get my vengeance on that wretched nekomata.¡± The two men return to the Engine to begin their month-long march towards The Black Box. ??? Early the next morning, Atsuko takes the time to interview them personally before testing Emily¡¯s ability to create smaller avatara. She begins with Tim. ¡°Hello there,¡± Tim politely says. ¡°Hello!¡± the teal-haired nekomata greets him with a smile. ¡°This seems very unrelated to the tests.¡± ¡°I wanna get to know you guys better.¡± ¡°You seem very confident in Emily¡¯s abilities,¡± Tim says. Atsuko grins. ¡°You noticed haven¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Is there a reason for your confidence?¡± Tim says. ¡°A chief quality is a material that can be used to scale down to microscopic scales. Emily¡¯s items seem to possess that innate capability from what I¡¯ve observed so far. Simple as that. Her upcoming test is simple to see how close she can get to the femtomolecular level.¡± ¡°Un-huh,¡± Tim says. ¡°Is there any reason why you are seeking out Dungeons specifically?¡± ¡°Reasons huh?¡± Atsuko thinks about it a bit. ¡°I will admit that I have a personal desire to research dungeon and their cores in general, this was part of what led me to try to find proof of microdungeons. Beyond that places and entities claimed to be blessed by the administrators themselves. I figured they would be the more likely to have the proper qualities, and reason to help me with this.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Tim says. ¡°Now then how did you and Emily meet?¡± Atsuko says. ¡°Heathcliff, my mentor of sorts, wanted to be a Dungeon master.¡± ¡°Interesting,¡± Atsuko says. She notices something in Tim¡¯s eyes that hints at deeper reasons. ¡°Any other reasons.¡± ¡°Well, she seemed to be very sick at the time. I couldn''t leave her in that state.¡± Tim says. ¡°I see,¡± Atsuko makes a cheeky grin. ¡°Why are you giving me that look?¡± ¡°No reason,¡± Atsuko lies. ¡°Kasumi is gonna be very disappointed,¡± she thinks. ¡°You said you came from Faiborough, right?¡± Tim nods. ¡°I also spend some time in Jiang-Hu.¡± ¡°¡®Some¡¯ feels like an underestimation considering you seem you have a decent grasp on bajiquan.¡± She notices Tim¡¯s Qiang. ¡°My training was¡­cut short,¡± Tim says. ¡°I rather not dwell on it, so if you have any other questions?¡± ¡°Nope! You¡¯re free to go,¡± Atsuko says. Tim leaves the room, as Atsuko writes down some notes. ¡°That Qiang seems like it would be perfect for the trial,¡± the nekomata thinks. Heathcliff enters the room next. ¡°Bonjour, Atsuko.¡± ¡°Bonjour,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°Carolingian huh, with a hint of Creole, sounds tasty.¡± ¡°Cher, I¡¯m not a dish,¡± the red-clad knight quips. ¡°Though I do dabble in making good dishes.¡± ¡°I know, your roux was very delicious. Before we get too hungry¡­¡± The two answer several questions about each other, though Heathcliff avoids questions on why he left Charlemagne. ¡°So, what¡¯s in it for us?¡± Heathcliff says in a businesslike tone. ¡°I believe that if we can access the microdungeons,¡± the teal-ringleted girl says. ¡°Then we can allow the respective items to grow more powerful. You know how at least eighty percent of mana that goes into creating arms and armor seems to dissipate into the aether right.¡± ¡°How does your microdugneosn address that?¡± ¡°My ability to answer that question depends on your ability to comprehend the possibility intimation can be encoded in the boundaries of lower dimensions,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°Quantum woo, got it,¡± Heathcliff says. Atsuko pouts. ¡°Hey if it works, I¡¯m all for it,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Astra knows how many secrets we have yet to unlock.¡± ¡°It is believed the Messengers are sent to help us reach these secrets,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°You¡¯re not one of them by any chance?¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Good question,¡± Atsuko playfully says. ¡°Am I one of them, Emmy?¡± ¡°Um,¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoes to them both. She looks at Atsuko and doesn''t feel anything unique about her. ¡°I don¡¯t think so?¡± ¡°Well, that settles that!¡± Atsuko says. Heathcliff sighs. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll have to take your word for it, cher. Regardless, we¡¯re glad to have you aboard.¡± ¡°Pleasure to have the opportunity,¡± Atsuko smiles. ¡°One last thing,¡± the knight says. ¡°Were there any Dungeons in Cerberus that came close to proving your hypothesis?¡± ¡°The Mirage Feywood was promising, but it turned out the sprites were too unfocused, and their core was uninterested in the microdungeons.¡± Atsuko noticed that some of the sprites in the Black box were eerily familiar to her. ¡°The only other viable candidate was the Engines but¡­¡± ¡°But?¡± Heathcliff raises an eyebrow. Atsuko sighs. ¡°We found out that the dungeon lack any of the proper qualities, the core did not take that well. He attempted to keep me from leaving, but he didn¡¯t anticipate my retainers¡¯ ability to open an escape.¡± ¡°Those ninja are your retainers?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± ¡°Pardon me, but you don¡¯t seem the type to have retainers,¡± Heathcliff is curious about her background. ¡°You say you¡¯re form Yae, right.¡± ¡°Yamatai specifically,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°And that is all I will say on the matter.¡± ¡°Fair enough,¡± Heathclfif is still curious, be he senses that Atsuko is aware that he has his own secrets and would rather not presser with that in mind. ¡°I look forward to working with you Heathcliff Ford. Adieu.¡± ¡°Adieu, cher.¡± Heathcliff leaves Now what is next¡­ Atsuko sees two names. Sarah Ebony Smith and Richard Aurum Smith. As if on cue, the dark-skinned siblings arrive. ??? Atsuko continues her interviews. From the dwarven siblings, she learns that they are talented craftsmen. From the Truces, she learns that they were from a civilian called Hamlin and that Carla and Charlotte are trying to free certain children from entanglement with Emily¡¯s mana. From Minerva and Nina, they learn of the latter¡¯s desire and eagerness to become an adventurer. From the Hermandezes, she simply used the opportunity to chat with them, already knowing about their ties with the Rouges Guild of Noir. Then she talked with Elizabeth about the nature of Dungeon Faeries as well as Obsidian, the Forgemaster. Elizabeth leaves that meeting with some uncertainty. ¡°Let¡¯s see, that just leaves the witches,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°Should I interview them all at once?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, people think we are a little wet behind the ears!¡± Atsuko suddenly feels water dripping from the back of her head and turns around and sees Azalea. ¡°Hi there!¡± ¡°Azalea Adagio, right?¡± Atsuko says, her cheerful facade unfazed by the clione¡¯s prank. ¡°Pleasure to meet you! Didn¡¯t have a chance back the party.¡± Azalea swims to Atsuko with a great big smile on her face. ¡°I heard you aspire to be a comedian one day?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± the blue-haired prankster says. ¡°I love to make people laugh.¡± Atsuko senses several other presences besides herself and Azalea. ¡°Can your ¡®audience¡¯ reveal themselves then?¡± Raine is the first to emerge. ¡°We¡¯re sorry about that. I tried to warn her,¡± the phoenixian girl says. ¡°No problem, I¡¯ve suffered worse water pranks,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°You must be Raine, right? Raine Carnation Cadenza?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± the red-haired girl says. Anemone uncloaks herself and the others. ¡°I¡¯m Anemone Aria,¡± the wolf-eared girl says. Her purple ringlet and pointed hat catches Atsuko¡¯s interest. ¡°Friends call me Clover Capriccio!¡± the green-haired peryton fawns says. ¡°Hydrangea Harmony,¡± the cyan-haired girl with glasses says. ¡°Nice to meet you.¡± ¡°Lily Borea Legato!¡± The blond centaur filly says with exuberance. ¡°Strelizia Sonata,¡± the orange-haired minotaur says bluntly. ¡°I¡¯m Rose Rhapsodia!¡± The pink-haired lamia says. ¡°Smiter of evil, heroine of justice!¡± Atsuko giggles. ¡°I heard a fair bit about you girls while staying at Noir.¡± The nekomata talks with the group of eight orphans. She learns several details about them, including about their now faded familiar Whisper and how they gathered the eight girls together after they were bereaved of their parents. Atsuko wonders if the time is right to ask them about their parents, knowing that it could be a sensitive topic for them. Clover asks her about any information on her missing parents but the Yanese girl admits she has no idea about their current whereabouts. ¡°Parents are a pain anyway,¡± Streltizia says. ¡°Streltizia!¡± Raine says. Atsuko looks at the minotaur and suspects that something terrible has happened to her, she then looks at the red-winged girl with curiosity. She then looks at Lily, prancing around the room. Clover gets Atsuko''s attention and apologizes, before going on a flurry of long-winded tangents that is eventually interrupted by Hydrangea. ¡°Sorry,¡± Hydrangea says. ¡°Clover can get long-winded at times,¡± Azalea says. ¡°Anyway,¡± Rose says to Atsuko. ¡°Is there anything you want to ask us?¡± ¡°I supposed I should ask how you are adjusting to your new lives as Sentinels!¡± ¡°Oh, we love it here!¡± Lily says. ¡°It is better than the Underground at least!¡± Clover says ¡°That said, we haven¡¯t repelled any visitors yet,¡± Rose says. ¡°Hmm,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°It has been more than a week since we last met.¡± ¡°That was my fault, sorry,¡± Emily¡¯s voice reaches Atsuko again. ¡°We had instead gone out to a few dungeons instead.¡± ¡°Ah, that¡¯s understandable,¡± Atsukos says. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t happen to be responsible for the Vanisher¡¯s base on Joyfuller Island going missing,¡± she says with a cheeky grin. ¡°How did you know?¡± Emily says. ¡°You just told me.¡± Atsuko smiles before turning to the Coloraturas. She speaks with them for a couple of hours and learns a few more details about them, including Raine¡¯s interest in metallurgy and apprenticeship with the Smiths, Stretlizia being Clover¡¯s best friend, Rose and Raine¡¯s love of sweets and the excursion to the Cocytus Manor. ¡°It seems like you have gotten rather busy lately,¡± Atsuko says. Azalea swims around Atsuko. ¡°We¡¯re good little girls, honest,¡± ¡°I would hope so,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°Just make sure the target is in on the joke next time okay?¡± she still feels watter dripping from her ringlets. A while alter, the Colroaturas leave the room, and Atsuko prepares for the next test. ¡°Quite a crew you gathered here,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°Yeah,¡± Emily says. ¡°I hope they aren¡¯t too much trouble.¡± ¡°Hah, with how rowdy Kasumi gets, I¡¯m used to it. Now then its time for the third test, can you direct me to a suitable location?¡± Atsuko leaves the room, guided by Emily to a large room within her for her third and final test. ??? ¡°Okay, this is the final test!¡± Atsuko says to Emily. ¡°The goal is to see how small you can make an avatara. I will be using some advanced microscopes to examine them.¡± ¡°An [Avatara]?¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to be using this as a basis for something I call Femtonauts. These will allow our consciousness to explore the microdugneons,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°Okay,¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoes to Atsuko. ¡°I¡¯ll try.¡± Emily manifests an avatara of herself. The remote body stands lifeless. Her vacant eyes seem to pierce to the very soul. Emily creates a second one, half the scale of the first. She then crafts a third, then a fourth, then a fifth, and so on until Atsuko needs a telescope to see the lifeless doll. ¡°How¡¯s that?¡± Emily says to Atsuko. The nekomata uses a pair of players to take the smallest of the piloted avataras and place them on a table. ¡°Well within my expectations.¡± ¡°What exactly are these ¡®Femtonauts,¡¯ supposed to do?¡± Tim curiously asks. ¡°They serve as vessels for our expeditions,¡± Atsuko says with aplomb. ¡°As part of my research, I had examined how Avataras are created and reversed engineered a process to make artificial ones, for the consciousness to inhabit.¡± ¡°I¡¯m intrigued,¡± Sarah says. ¡°Maybe I can help with making those?¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°But the nature of the tech means we¡¯ll need very delicate hands. I fear these are something only a dungeon could create and a specific one like that.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Sarah sighs. ¡°However, I do have an idea for a vessel designed to carry cargo betwixt and between normal reality and the microcosmos. I also require applications or shrinking and growth spells. If you have any insights into either, that would be appropriate.¡± ¡°Any reason why?¡± Richard says. Atsuko places a rune enchanted slip onto the magnifying glass, allowing her to see Emily¡¯s increasingly diminutive avataras. ¡°The first is to see how objects from these microdungeons interact with normal physics, the latter is also needed for that end, but also helps with a more efficient method.¡± Atsuko places another slip onto the glass, now allowing her to see things at a microscopic level. She sees the most recent avatara happily waving at Atsuko. ¡°Is this as far as you can go?¡± Atsuko says. The avatara of Emily nods her head. ¡°Alright,¡± Atsuko puts away the glass. ¡°How did she fare?¡± Elizabeth says. Atsuko sighs. ¡°Emily has failed¡­¡± ¡°I see,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Sorry things did¡ª¡° ¡°To disappoint me!¡± Atsuko cheerfully says. ¡°She had purrfeclty exceeded expectations.¡± ¡°Prolly a good idea Azalea¡¯s is sleeping right now, cher,¡± Heathcliff says with a chuckle. Atsuko laughs. ¡°Sorry, I couldn''t resist. Anyway, Emily make sure you save that scale as a construct. I¡¯ll be working with you and anyone willing to help to prepare the equipment!¡± ¡°Got it!¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoes to Atsuko. Throughout the night, Atusko, Emily, Sarah, Richard, Elizabeth, Saizo, and Noboru work on readying Atusko¡¯s equipment. ??? By the morning, the basic infrastructure is prepared. The Kaguya Parallel Mirror is placed by one of the walls. Its cylindrical shape is right next to the Manameter and some microscopes. A small platform is constructed for suspending the targeted item in midair, behind it are terminals made to calculate and calibrate the position and path of the vessel and Femtonauts. ¡°Alrighty!¡± Atsuko says to everyone. ¡°Sarah and I have worked on a rudimentary vessel, I call it the Takarabune.¡± She directs everyone¡¯s attention to a strange vessel, it holds a sleek, aerodynamic profile, with two small triangles jutting out each side. It resembles accounts of vehicles called ¡°shuttles,¡± that were attested to by archaeological sites. ¡°Isn¡¯t that a ship that sails during Yanese celebrations?¡± Heathcliff asks. ¡°Yanese Cycle¡¯s Turn celebration to be precise!¡± Atsuko says. ¡°I gave it the name as a good luck charm. The point of the ship is to serve as a ¡®Marker¡¯ for the Femtonauts to materialize at.¡± ¡°How exactly are you planning on getting it to those microdugneons? ¡°Clara asks. ¡°It seems a bit too large for that.¡± ¡°Elizabeth and the sprites helped me with that detail. She found a perk for Emily that allowed her to shrink objects. The goal is to shrink it as it moves to the object, using the perspective-warping magic of the Sprites¡¯ Mirage Staves as well as the shrinking perk to get it small enough to enter hyperbolic space. It will then send a signal to the Kaguya Parallel Mirror, that will be used for projecting our concisenesses to the Femtonauts. We still have to do a few more things before everything is ready, including getting a weapon to use as a test subject for the maiden voyage.¡± ¡°A weapon?¡± Emily asks. ¡°Preferably one that has been imbued with the mana of this wielder. Something like¡­that one!¡± the nekomata points at Tim¡¯s Qiang. ¡°Huh?¡± Tim points to his weapon. Atsuko nods. Tim mulls on the idea. He knows he was entrusted with the weapon by his previous mentor. ¡°This qiang shall be your teacher,¡± he thinks. Those were the last words his previous mentor said before they parted ways, and the last words he heard from him while he was alive. He has traveled with the weapon ever since but has hardly learned anything in that time. He wonders what his mentor meant when he said those words. ¡°Perhaps these microdungeons can answer that quandary.¡± Tim turns to Atsuko. ¡°Is there any risk to the item itself?¡± ¡°There is a small chance of mana overload,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Where the item is unable to contain the mana within and explodes.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve accounted for that,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°As long as my calculations are right, then there is little chance of that happening. It¡¯s safe.¡± ¡°As safe as an experimental technology can be, anyway,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Very well, any knowledge learned here is well worth the risk,¡± Tim says. ¡°Great!¡± Atsuko says. ¡°We¡¯ll attempt the first trip tomorrow.¡± ¡°I bear urgent news!¡± a courier from the guild arrives bearing a notice. Everyone turns to the courier. ¡°Urgent news?¡± The guild employee hands Heathcliff an envelope, it has red decorations denoting it as a warning. The knight opens it as the courier leaves. ¡°We have received notice of a strange army of mechanical soldiers from the Cerberus region embarking for New Virginia. They were already sighted to be in the direction of the town of Rosenkreuz. All Dungeons and adventurers in the area please report any sightings to the local guild at once!¡± ¡°Oh dear,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°It seems someone is mad that Emily escaped,¡± Esteban says with a grimace. ¡°Pardon?¡± Atsuko says. Heathcliff sighs. ¡°Tell me, Atsuko, have you heard of a dudgeon called ¡®The Engines¡¯?¡± Chaper XXIX: Spearheads Peak A few hours later, Atsuko looks over the documents that were obtained from The Engines. Her lips tighten as she reads through the document. Her fear is confirmed, the Engines had somehow managed to enter the microdungeons and use them to their advantage. ¡°We¡¯re pulling up the timetable, the test shall begin tonight,¡± the Nekomata says. Atsuko has previously explained that the Engines were among the dungeons she had gone to and that they were the ones that tried to trap her. Saizo arrives. ¡°What is your plan, Lady Atsuko?¡± ¡°My plan? That should be obvious, we¡¯re gonna try to make Emily as strong as possible before our belligerent ¡®friend¡¯ arrives.¡± She turns to Heathcliff. ¡°Besides Tim, Who had Emily made Sentinels?¡± Rose gestures to herself and her fellow Magical Girls. ¡°I also became a Sentinel for certain reasons,¡± Clara says. ¡°Right,¡± Atsuko says. She turns to the Hermandezes. ¡°We¡¯ll be using the Femtonauts for the maiden voyage, so that means the only risk is psychological for now.¡± ¡°You want us to come along?¡± Julia says. ¡°I figured that your expertise in stealth would translate to some tenacity.¡± Atsuko turns to Tim. ¡°I¡¯m going,¡± Tim says. ¡°I have my reasons to explore my Qiang.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going too!¡± Emily knows that Baron Roberts is attacking her, that she is the reason for the other Divine Dugneon¡¯s movement from Cerberus. ¡°Okay so we have two volunteers,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°Anyone else?¡± ¡°You have to ask?¡± Sarah says. ¡°We¡¯re going!¡± Rose says, and the other Coloraturas nod in agreement. ¡°We can¡¯t bring everyone,¡± Saizo says. ¡°We will need someone to man the equipment.¡± ¡°Leave it to me!¡± Hoshikage says. ¡°Akko has taught me a lot about operating the instruments.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll keep an eye on the Kaguya Parallel Mirror,¡± Noboru says. ¡°I¡¯ll rendezvous with the Rosencruz guild, keep an eye out for any mechanical guests,¡± Richard says. ¡°I see about applying traps,¡± Minerva says. ¡°Nina shall assist.¡± ¡°Aww,¡± Nina says. ¡°I want to explore the items.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll try to help in any way I can,¡± Charlotte says. ¡°We have to prepare for the worse, chers,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°This Dungeon will try to bring all to bear it seems.¡± ¡°Hey has anyone seen the Sprites?¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°I¡¯ll go check on them,¡± Emily says. ??? Emily¡¯s gaze turns to the room where the Sprites are living. She sees the playful illusions turn into a dour atmosphere, and she also sees Ulric leading his brethren in mourning. One of them is instructing Kaitlyn to paint a picture of Puck and his beloved Maeve. ¡°Is something the matter?¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoes out to them. ¡°Mister Puck is gone!¡± Flowena sobs inconsolably. She and the others had learned that the Mirage Feywood and its inhabitants were absorbed by the Engines. Ulric calmly explains what had happened to Emily in an uncharacteristically serious manner. ¡°We had attempted to contact our friends in the Feywood after learning of the Engine¡¯s movements. Our attempts had failed.¡± Emily begins to understand what Ulric meant by that. ¡°He was so young!¡± a sprite says. ¡°That heartless¡­¡± another sprite says. Emily is aware that Puck sent the sprites to them because of the possibility that the Engines would strike the Feywood, and so were the sprites themselves, yet she sees that the reality of this eventually hurt them dearly despite this. She soon tries to find Elizabeth. ¡°I found the Sprites,¡± her voice echoes to the fairy. ¡°They¡¯re mourning the loss of the Feywood.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°[The Engines] must¡¯ve figured out we got the Mirage Staves from that dungeon and decided to strike the [Mirage Feywood] first.¡± ¡°What¡¯s going to happen, Lizzie?¡± Emily¡¯s tone is that of a scared child, someone who is afraid of what is to come and unsure of what to do. ¡°We will have to hope Atsuko¡¯s hypothesis is correct,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Lest we¡¯re left with no method to prepare in time. With what we have witnessed thus far of the might of the Engines and its first Sentinel, we will have to assume their power is of a scale higher than what we have been able to amass thus far. It would take us months to try to gather as much mana, and that is assuming we were able to locate and absorb every dungeon in New Virginia.¡± Emily stays silent. ¡°Emily, it¡¯s not your fault,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°We had no idea just how powerful that dungeon would be at the time.¡± ¡°I made the call to press ahead,¡± Emily says. ¡°If we left early we¡­we¡ª¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t be aware of the full extent of his machinations,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Or of his weakness.¡± ¡°Weakness?¡± ¡°You recall that whether she did that enable him to absorb dungeons directly through their avaratas has in turn made his own inseparable form his core. He is by that point a Natural Dungeon, albeit a very powerful one. If we can defeat and absorb his man, then his threat is no more.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a very big ¡®if,¡¯¡± a sighing wind blows through the doors. ¡°Chin up, I know we¡¯ll get through this!¡± Elizabeth says with a great big smile. ¡°Thanks, Lizzie,¡± Emily says after a few moments of silence. She thinks about about her past experiences since she first awakened. ¡°There is a lot about this place you still don¡¯t know,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°I¡¯d make a poor guide if I let you die before then.¡± Emily laughs. ¡°Good point.¡± She looks back tot eh time they first met Tim and Heathcliff, and how they had saved her from certain doom. Her mind then flashes to her saving Sarah and Nina from Tarantulopolis, then her trip through Revotos¡¯ Valley, then her encounter with the Truces, her visit to Noir and its Underground, her taking the Coloraturas on as Sentinels, and finally her time at Gatsby tower, dancing with Tim. Atsuko walks in and sees Elizabeth. ¡°Hey Lizzie, is Emmy here, by any chance?¡± ¡°Not you too,¡± Elizabeth thinks. She has gotten used to Emily using that nicknae for her, but not otehrs. ¡°I¡¯m here, Atsuko, what¡¯s up?¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoes to the nekomata. ¡°We have finished preparing the pods,¡± the teal-haired girl says. ¡°Pods?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°We have decided to use the pods from our trip to Noir to hold your bodies while your consciousnesses are piloting the Femtonauts.¡± ¡°Huh,¡± Emily says recalling Atsuko asking her to create some tubes earlier today. ¡°With that done we are all set to visit Tim¡¯s Qiang,¡± Atsuko says. Emily¡¯s gaze follows Atsuko and Elizabeth as they return to the room where the microdugneon related instruments lie. ??? Meanwhile, Tim is meditating. He faces his Qiang, which is suspended in the air within a chamber. The Takarabune is located nearby. Tim thinks back to the day his previous teacher had entrusted him with the Qiang. He had returned to Fairborough on that day, at his home, before he encountered Heathcliff. ¡°Was there anything I could¡¯ve done?¡± Tim thinks about if he was able to save the school. ¡°Had I been there¡­but then.¡± He knew his deceased mentor had sent him away for a reason, and the Qiang was part of it. Atsuko and Elizabeth arrive. ¡°Is he asleep?¡± the nekomata says. ¡°I¡¯m meditating. Have a lot on my mind.¡± Tim stands up. The Coloraturas, the Hermandezes, Sarah, Heathcliff, and Kasumi arrive, as well as Saizo, Kei, Hoshikage, and Noboru. ¡°Looks like everyone is gathered,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°Just say the word, Emily.¡± ¡°Is everyone ready?¡± Emily says. ¡°As ever!¡± Streltizia says. ¡°Ready!¡± Lily, Clover, and Rose say. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Azalea says. ¡°Longer we dawdle, the more time that walking smog factory has to get us!¡± Anemone and Hydrangea nod. ¡°I¡¯m ready, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Same,¡± Esteban says. ¡°My skills are sharpened now,¡± Julia says. ¡°I¡¯m ready!¡± Sarah says. ¡°Kasumi and I will be coming along as well,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°Just say the word and we¡¯ll launch the Takarabune at once.¡± ¡°I¡¯m ready,¡± Emily says. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Elizabeth directs the volunteers to their pods. ¡°You might be a little sleepy,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°That¡¯s normal.¡± Tim, Heathcliff, Sarah, Esteban, Julia, Rose, Raine, Streltizia, Lily, Clover, Hydrangea, Azalea, Anemone, Kasumi, and Atsuko enter their pods. Elizabeth, Saizo, Hoshikage, Noboru, and Kei follow instructions Atsuko had left them to operate the machinery. The pods glow an indigo light, a sign that the minds were successfully linked to the Femtonauts and that the bodies are unconscious. ¡°Launching Takarabune!¡± Hoshikage says. The shuttle-like vehicle is now painted towards the Qiang. The device moves towards the weapon, shrinking to a nanoscopic scale as it is directed to the spearhead. Before long it is too small to be seen. A few minutes later, Noboru sees the Kaguya Parallel Mirror has changed, the two reflective plates at the top and bottom of the cylinder now reflect a tesselating piece of hyperbolic space. ¡°Circle Limit breached,¡± the tanuki says. A moment later, a light on the Mirror is lit. ¡°Landing confirmed,¡± Kei says. ¡°Marker set!¡± Hoshikage says. Emily focuses on the marker and generates an avatara and fifteen Femtonauts. ¡°Is this right?¡± Through a monitor hooked up to the Mirror, Kei observes the placement of Emily¡¯s avatara form and fifteen humanoid shapes near the Takarabune. ¡°The Femtonatus placement has been confirmed.¡± ¡°So far so good,¡± Hoshikage says. ¡°I¡¯m launching the mindstream programs now.¡± The pods¡¯ indigo light changes to a verdant hue. Emily¡¯s consciousness is moved to her avatara, while the mindstream programs work to project the minds of those in the pod into their respective Femtonaut. ¡°Good luck, Emily,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°See you soon,¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoes to Elizabeth one last time before her consciousness is placed in the avatara. Everyone checks the instruments and finds that the mindstream programs are successful. The monitor and the mirror are changed to depict the scenes from the point of view of Emily¡¯s Avatara. It shows a vibrant mountainous landscape lined with red bridges and bathed in a golden light. ¡°Is this a microdungeon?¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Yep,¡± Hoshikage says. ¡°We did it! We breached into the microdungeon!¡± Elizabeth looks at the display with relief and confusion both. ¡°Does Obsidian know about this?¡± the fairy thinks. ??? Emily, Tim, Heathcliff, Sarah, Atsuko, Kasumi, The Hermandezes, and the Coloratura arrive in the microdugneon of Tim¡¯s Qiang. They see a valley of mist-enveloped mountains, each decorated by verdant forests, scarlet-trimmed roads, and silver rivers. ¡°So this is a microdugneon,¡± Emily asks. ¡°I¡¯d hope so,¡± Atsuko takes out a compound bow as tall as she is. ¡°Would be a pain if our calculations were off by even a micrometer.¡± Time looks up at the sky, and sees it is dyed a twilit yellow, and also sees various tessellating patterns in the sky. He then looks at the tallest of the green mountains. He sees at its peak a large building with red and gold shillings and what seems to be a replica of his weapon. To him this Qiang is gigantic, but to Atsuko, it is smaller than the actual Qiang. ¡°We should head there,¡± Tim says, pointing to the temple. ¡°That¡¯s gonna be a large climb,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Heh, that never stopped you before,¡± Esteban says. ¡°I¡¯m an adventurer, Esteban, not a mountaineer,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°It¡¯s better than just standing around,¡± Rose says. ¡°She¡¯s right, ¡°Atsuko says. ¡°We can learn more if we explore the microdugneon.¡± Kasumi looks around and sees the mist surrounding the other peaks. ¡°Maybe I can manipulate the mists here,¡± the orange-haired kunochi thinks. Azalea looks around the surrounding area. ¡°You¡¯d think our spearheading this expedition would have attracted some locals,¡± the mermaid says with a chuckle. They suddenly hear a large rumbling. ¡°Azalea!¡± Streltizia says. ¡°It wasn¡¯t me,¡± Azalea says. ¡°I didn¡¯t jinx it.¡± Strelitzia and Sarah prepare their weapons, prepared to fight whatever is emerging from the distance. A shadowy figure emerges from the ground, resembling a martial artist. They assume a horse stance, and Tim and Kasumi respond by doing the same. The fighter is soon accompanied by three others. One of the shades makes a charging leap toward Emily, but she parries it with her twin blades and casts an earth spell to enchant her weapons. She tries to slash at the shadow, but her weapons move through them without a scratch. Clover takes her fan and uses it to turn the wind against the shades with a mighty swing. Strelitzia uses the wind to rapidly leap toward one of the shadows and swing at it with her axe. Kasumi takes a bauble from her dress and uses it to create a veil of mist to cloud the shade¡¯s vision as she, Emily, and Tim try to fight it. Tim moves his leg and stomps at the shadow¡¯s knee. His attack lands and causes the shadow to dissipate. Hydrangea tries to freeze the emerging shadows, but they move through her frozen fetters. Anemone uses her magic to immobilize a few of the shadows, but most of their attacks are unable to deal any meaningful damage to them. Including Anenome¡¯s arrows. Lily tries to use her light spells to blind the shadows, but her radiant attacks only make them larger. One emerges and makes a charging step to her, but they are intercepted by Heathcliff¡¯s shield. Heathcliff stands from the strange entity¡¯s attacks. His shield blocks the shadow¡¯s blows while Lily gallops away. Most shadows appear, this time wielding Qiangs, they use the spears to strike at the party. As Tim fends off the assailants, he notices something familiar about them. His mind flashes back to his training at his school, to the very foundational classes. He begins to behave in a particular manner and uses his teaching to disarm the opponents with rapid arm movements and take one of their Qiangs to use against them. With the stolen Qiang, he conjures a wind shield and uses that as the basis of a whirlwind that bathers the nearby shadows and blows them into the strange sky. Emile leaps into the whirlwind with lightning-enchanted blades and dances around the twister, slashing the shadows. The tornado dissipates and gravity causes the remaining shades to plummet into the ground and vanish. ¡°What the heck were they!¡± Strelitzia says with shock. ¡°A reminder,¡± Tim says. The group explores the microdungeon further. ??? As the party explores the microdugneon, Azalea marvels at the sight of the jade-colored forest and silver-colored rivers. ¡°Well I¡¯m certainly not jaded looking at these trees,¡± the clione says with a sigh. Lily notices Azalea is more chipper than usual. ¡°You like this place, right?¡± ¡°How can I not?¡± Azalea says. ¡°The fresh air, the sparkling rivers, the lack of polluting factories. If only places like this are more common.¡± Meanwhile, Streltizia looks at an apple tree. The plant¡¯s presence sparks several questions for her. Feeling out of place for some reason. The minotaur turns to Atsuko. ¡°Hey, are we about to eat in this place?¡± ¡°The Femtonaut bodies were designed to mimic biological and magical function as much as possible,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°But these are prototypes admittedly. This the first my research has ever been.¡± The conversation is interrupted by Rose slithering to the tree and taking the apple. She tries to bite into it, but despite her mouth being open, the front is mushed all over her face. ¡°Guess that answers that,¡± Streltizia laments. ¡°I¡¯ll see about tweaking the designs a bit,¡± Atsuko picked some apples and put in in a bag she took from the Takarabune. The group explores the microdungeon further until they see what seems to be barriers blocking the way. ¡°What are those?¡± Emily asks. Atsuko examines the construct. ¡°Seems like these are walls.¡± Tim looks at the design of them, they are unlike a certain monument in Jiang-Hu, instead, they seem to be thin and wooden, yet his attempts to breach them have proven unsuccessful. No matter how high he leaped, he could not jump over them. His attacks leave no scratches on them and no matter how many rocks he conjured or the first of the wind he summons they do not bend. His mind flashes to his travels with Heathcliff. He had heard of hostages being held in a fortress of a dungeon and had taken on the quest willingly. He and Heathcliff had tried several things to breach the fortress but could not find a direct way in. Heathcliff notices his knave¡¯s contemplation. ¡°Thinking about that fortress huh, cher?¡± Tim nods. ¡°Fortress?¡± Emily asks ¡°Tim wanted to save some hostages in a well-fortified Dungeon,¡± Heathcliff says, ¡°Like ¡®walls as hard as a Diamondback¡¯ hard.¡± ¡°If there is anything I¡¯ve learned from the experience,¡± Tim says. ¡°It¡¯s that we can¡¯t brute force everything, at least not yet.¡± ¡°What happened to the hostages?¡± Emily says. ¡°We managed to find a way in,¡± Tim says. ¡°But by then most of them had perished.¡± He flashes back to the day of that failure. He had found an expert lock-picker and enlisted his assistance in opening the fortress, but when they arrived they found many corpses. The survivors were few. He has attempted to learn lockpicking but his efforts yielded little help in subsequent adventures. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Emily says. Tim sighs. ¡°What is there to apologize for, you weren¡¯t there. It was never your fault.¡± Emily looks back to her own concern. To the things she thinks were. The children of Hamlin and the ongoing encroachment of the Engines. ¡°Maybe we can scale up to scale the wall?¡± Azalea says. ¡°I don¡¯t think that would work,¡± Atsukos says. ¡°If we try to enlarge the Femtonauts, we could become too big to remain in the dungeon. Even a minimal increase would change our superposition and throw off our position in hyperbolic space.¡± ¡°You lost us, Lady Atsuko,¡± Kasumi says. ¡°We change the size of these bodies, we risk getting kicked out of the mcirodugneon,¡± the nekomata clarifies. ¡°I¡¯ll go see if there is anything of import nearby, and see if there are any more shades.¡± Esteban moves away from the party. The group returns to the Takarabune. Atsuko puts the bag of apples into the ship. ¡°Are these apples safe to eat?¡± Emily says. ¡°Can¡¯t eat them here, I try that,¡± Rose says. ¡°An apple orchard feels out of place here for some reason,¡± Tim says. ¡°It¡¯s likely residual mana affecting the microdugneon,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°You mean, mana from external sources?¡± Anemone says. ¡°Yeah,¡± Atsuko says while getting another bag. ¡°The reason I picked the Qiang is because I noticed that it had been used for a long time. And therefore would have taken in a lot of Tim¡¯s mana. And with it his memories and experience. That wouldn''t be the only influence, of course, its inherent mana would still be predominant.¡± ¡°That makes the apples more incongruous,¡± Tim says. ¡°Actually, Tim¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Didn¡¯t we need to get the shaft replaced several times.¡± ¡°A lot of apple trees in Libert¨¦ were evidenced to be used for replacement parts,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°That would explain the apples at least. Despite the talk of apples, no one feels hungry. To Sarah¡¯s surprise. Esteban returns. ¡°I found something you should look at.¡± He leads the group to a small building, with tiered roofs. The roofs are held aloft not by walls, but by four columns. ¡°A pagoda?¡± Kasumi says. ¡°No, a ta,¡± Tim says. ¡°Is there a difference?¡± Kasumi says. ¡°The architecture is more in line with Jiang-Hu than Yae Shoto¡¯s,¡± Atsuko says. She examines the structure more closely and sees that there are eleven eaves on it. Emily notices that the floor of the ta has a swirling vortex on it. She steps closer to the spiral and examines it. It doesn''t seem to exert any pull on her or the others. She places her hand on the floor to see if she can touch the spiral. As she does a pillar of light suddenly envelopes everyone. ??? The light fades and the surroundings are not different, though still surrounded by tall misty peaks, jade-colored forests, and silver rivers, they feel eh various positions of everything have shifted, more notably the Takarabune, which is now right next to them. ¡°What the¡­¡± Clover says in shock. ¡°Did I do that?¡± Emily says. Tim looks at the tallest peak and notices it and its distinctive replica of the Qiang is now closer. Emily looks back at the ta and finds the vortex has vanished. Atsuko looks at it and sees only ten eaves on the structure. The three conclude that this means the number of eaves on the ta represents the current depth of the micro dungeon they¡¯re inside. ¡°I think we have found the means of getting to that temple,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°If we can find another ta, we should be able to get closer to that mountain top.¡± The group sets out to find another ta. They learn that the current of what Atsuko has dubbed ¡°floors¡± is at the foot of one of the mountains and covered in trees. Anemones and Hydrangeas examine the trees and discover their wood and leaves have a crystalline structure. ¡°Hmm,¡± the wolf-ear girl muses on the crystal trees. ¡°Why are the trees here crystallized?¡± Hydrangea says. ¡°It might be because of Tim¡¯s preferences towards wind spells?¡± Anemone guesses. The group finds another ta, guarded by more animalistic shadows. Rose and Emily use lightning magic to scare them off. Emily approaches the ta and stands in the spiral, taking them to another floor of the microdugneon. After arriving on the third floor. Atsuko takes a look at the ta and sees it has eight eaves on its roof now. ¡°Within expectations.¡± She writes down something in a notebook before taking her compound bow and following the party. As they travel, Tim is approached by Strelitzia and Lily. ¡°What do you want?¡± Tim says. ¡°Can you tell us about what you were doing before you met Emily?¡± Lily says. ¡°I was training, traveling with Heathcliff, and raiding dungeons, that¡¯s all,¡± Tim says. ¡°That¡¯s all?¡± Streltizia says. ¡°That can¡¯t be right?¡± ¡°What are you two so interestsed in my past?¡± Tim says. ¡°I want to be a great Sentinel!¡± The exuberant centaur says with aplomb. ¡°Plus since we both use spears, I figured maybe you can tech me how to learn how to use it.¡± Tim looks at the minotaur. ¡°I was just curious, okay?¡± Tim raises an eyebrow. ¡°Fine,¡± Streltizia says. ¡°I want to be a better protector, alright?¡± Lily is confused. ¡°What do you mean Stre? You are one of the best defenders I¡¯ve ever known!¡± ¡°But is that enough?¡± the minotaur says. ¡°I want to be certain your and the others are safe! If anyone get past me¡­¡± ¡°You know your friends can handle themselves,¡± Tim says. ¡°Yeah but¡ª¡° ¡°Besides, I think Heathcliff would be better suited in teaching defense,¡± Tim interrupts. Streltizia pouts. ¡°She doesn''t trust Heathcliff that much,¡± Lily whispers. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ¡°What does that have to do with anything!¡± Streltiiza shouts. Tim sighs. After a while, and some encounters with more shadows, Emily soon finds another ta and activates it, bringing them to the next floor. ??? Eventually, they arrive at the sixth floor, as evidenced by the ta having six eaves on the roof. Kasumi begins complaining about the length of the trip. ¡°I feel like we¡¯ve been here for an entire day now!¡± Kasumi says. The floor they are in is surrounded by apple trees. The presence of the red and green fruits taunt Sarah alongside the apparent lack of hunger. ¡°Hey,¡± Emily appches Atsuko. ¡°You said the only risk is psychological right?¡± ¡°Uh-huh,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°We have arranged things to ensure the real bodies are hale and healthy while our consciousnesses pilot the Femtotnauts! There is no need to worry!¡± The once golden sky is now a bright azure, and the tessellations begin to show patterns reminiscent of the Black Box. Emily looks at the sky with curiosity and confusion. Before she suddenly sees smoke merging from a nearby temple. The group is started by the sight of people fleeing from the temple. The first time they had encountered anything in the microdugneons. Even worse still, they are pleading for help as they flee. They rush in the direction of the fire and discover that shades are attacking the populace. Tim looks at the sight in horror before regaining composure and jumping into the burning temple. He saves a young child from an attacking shadow. ¡°What is going on?¡± Emily says. ¡°Was wondering how long it took before we see friendly faces,¡± Atsuko says while taking her bow. ¡°Come on!¡± Clover is already at the Temple, using his wand and fan to repel the invaders with a vengeance. A concerned Streltizia follows suit and defends the peryton fawn from behind. As they fight the shadows. Their backs to each other, Streltizia chastising Clover for rushing off. ¡°You know I can¡¯t stand there while people are suffering!¡± Clover says. She creates a tempest from the surrounding fires to repel the shadows. ¡°Yeah, but you shouldn¡¯t rush off like that! What if someone catches you on your own.¡± ¡°But I¡¯m now alone,¡± Clover says. ¡°You¡¯re here with me, right?¡± Azalea and Hydrangea work to douse the fires. Kasumi uses mist to conceal her location as she engages the shades. Raine tries to manipulate the fires so that they are concentrated in a single location. Esteban, Julia, and Heathcliff try to save people who were trapped by the fires and smoke. Atsuko and Anemone snipe at the shades from afar. Tim soon finds a large shade in the center. The shape of this shadow gives Shim pause as he recalls an event back in Fairborough. A confrontation with his half-brother ended poorly for him. ¡°Why did it take his form?¡± Tim wonders as he sees the gigantic shade lunge towards him. Him. Emily blocks its attack with her twin blades. ¡°Tim!¡± Emily says. ¡°Are you okay?¡± The martial artist nods. ¡°I¡¯m¡­I¡¯m fine.¡± He assumes a horse stance as the two try to fend off the shade. The shadow leader assumes a familiar horse stance and summons a Qiang in a bolt of lightning. The weapon¡¯s advent causes a nearby building to ignite. The shadow makes a charging leap and tries to lean on Tim, but he counters by backstepping. The shadow charges forward, but Tim uses a one-inch punch and a stomp in tandem to halt its advance. Emily stabs the leader with one of her blades and then signs a Bardsong tune to freeze the sade, but the apparition disappears and reemerges behind Emily. Emily turns around and parries the blows with a spinning parry. Tim moves behind the shade and exchanges blows with them. He sees their fighting styles are evenly matched, another painful reminder of his half-brother. ¡°Hah, weak, and you think you can rule Fairborough like that?¡± ¡°You claim to be able to save people? Don¡¯t make me laugh.¡± ¡°Calling you trash is an insult to the dumpster!¡± Memories of his half-brother and his biting remarks flood Tim¡¯s mind. As did thought about how he was able to learn the same moves he did. Mysteries that he was not able to solve. Tim and Emily continue fighting the shade. Emily¡¯s slashes and Tim¡¯s strikes wear down the shadow bit by bit. The shadow tries to disarm Emily, but she dances past the attempt, and Tim closes the gap with a charging leap and defeats its attempts at elbow strikes with his arms. Tim soon extends his arms in a diagonal slope, one pointing down in front, the other pointing up behind him, its fist facing the opponent. Tim punches with his forward arm before striking with his other, but the shade uses the opportunity to grab that arm and hurl Tim over his shoulder. A while later, Emily enchants her swords to use her Photon Ring attack, she tosses the light-enchanted chakram through the shadow. The shade tries to dodge, but Time knees him in the abdomen and follows with a punch, staggering it enough for the weapon to strike and fell them for good. The shadow vanishes and the fires have burned out. The townsfolk cheer their saviors. ¡°Are they Messengers?¡± a man asks ¡°The shadows are gone, we¡¯re saved!¡± a woman cheers. ¡°Thank the Administrators!¡± another person says. ¡°So they know of the Administrators as well,¡± Tim says. The temple¡¯s head priest approaches the group. ¡°Thank you, kind strangers,¡± he says. ¡°How can we repay your kindness?¡± Time faces the elder. ¡°We¡¯re looking for a way to that mountain,¡± he points toward the tallest peak. ¡°You want to ascend Spearhead¡¯s Peak?¡± the elder says with shock. ¡°No one was able to approach the mountain,¡± ¡°First time for everything,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°I¡¯m afraid we can¡¯t help you reach the mountain,¡± the elder says. ¡°Is there a ta around these parts, then?¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°A ta?¡± the elder thinks about it and realizes there is one within the temple. ¡°Coem with me.¡± The group follows the elders and sees a ta with six eaves within, kept in a garden. Emily sees the vortex on the floor of the ta. ¡°Thank you,¡± Tim says. ¡°This will help us reach the mountain. ¡°I wish you good luck, kind travelers.¡± The elder watches as Emily steps on the ta and the group is enveloped in bright light. ??? Emily¡¯s group arrives on the seventh floor of the microcungeon. The ta they emerged from has four eaves left on it. They survive their surrounding and see that they are at the foot of the mountain. The replica of the Qiang within the Qiang looms over them. Tim finds a rock and sits on it, wondering about the apparition of the previous floor. Emily approaches him. ¡°Tim?¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± Tim says. ¡°Is something the matter?¡± Emily sits down next to him. ¡°You seemed kinda out of it at the last floor.¡± ¡°It¡¯s¡­the form of that shadow, I¡¯ve seen him before, but¡­¡± ¡°But what?¡± Emily says curiously. ¡°I don¡¯t know what his presence means. Is it an effect of my memories on my weapon?¡± ¡°Who was that anyway?¡± Emily asks. ¡°My brother.¡± Tim sighs. ¡°Well, half-brother. We don¡¯t get along much.¡± Emily is surprised to learn he has siblings. ¡°They were both to a different mother. The Duchess of Fairborough,¡± Tim says. ¡°Theodore is the oldest prince.¡± Emily wonders if she should ask Tim more questions. The silver river flowing behind them reflects the tesselating sky. Emily reclines and gazes at the strange sky. ¡°What do you think we¡¯ll find on the next floor?¡± Emily says, wanting to change the subject. Tim shrugs, ¡°Prolly more crystal trees, apples, shadows. More of the same.¡± He turns his gaze toward the mountain near them. He notices among the red and yellow buildings a sense of familiarity. Kasumi sees the pair and approaches them. ¡°Taking a break?¡± the kunoichi says while sitting next to Emily and Tim. ¡°Maybe,¡± Tim lies. Emily looks at the Yanese ninja. ¡°You¡¯re Kasumi, right?¡¯ ¡°Yes,¡± the exuberant girl says. ¡°Kasumi the Mistwalker!¡± ¡°How long have you met Atsuko?¡± Emily says. ¡°Lady Atsuko? Um, my whole life I guess. Hoshikage knew her longer though.¡± Tim recalls the instances of seeing Kasumi fight, both against and more recency alongside him. ¡°That fighting style, where did you learn that?¡± he says. ¡°Hoshikage taught me!¡± Kasumi says. ¡°She says we needed to learn to fight if necessary.¡± ¡°Fascinating,¡± Tim says. He stands up and stretches. Emily yawns. Tim looks at the kunoichi with curiosity. ¡°W-why are you looking at me like that?¡± Kasumi blushes. ¡°Stop it.¡± ¡°Sorry,¡± Tim says. He looks up at Spearhead¡¯s Peak. ¡°I heard that bajiquan was used primarily by bodyguards?¡± Emily says. ¡°Yes,¡± Tim says. He wonders if there are survivors from his school. Kasumi shies away from Tim. Emily looks at the embarrassed Kunoichi. ¡°It thinks she likes you, Timmy,¡± she says ¡°I do not!¡± Kasumi says. ¡°Knock it off!¡± Emily chuckles. After a while, the trio returns to the others and searches for the next ta. Tim eventually finds the other ta guarded by some shadows. ¡°Why are they shadows anyway?¡± Rose asks. ¡°Maybe they prefer the shade? ¡°Azalea jokingly says. ¡°That is an interesting question,¡± Atsuko says. Tim looks back a talks with his deceased mentor. ¡°I think these shades are thoughts of darkness made manifest. Fears, doubts, nightmares,¡± he says. ¡°It would at least explain why one resembled Theodore,¡± he thinks. Emily picks up on that thought. She silently wonders about the princes and princesses of Fairborough and why Tim¡¯s relationship with the eldest prince seemed to sour. ¡°I¡¯ll coax them out,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Esteban, can you get Emily to the ta?¡± Esteban nods and clocks himself and Emile. Heathcliff throws his shield at one of the shades and draws the ire. Sarah and Streltizia help lure out several other shades while Rose, Clover, and Atsuko scare the remainder off with lightning and wind. Esteban and Emily sneak past the few remaining shades and Emily touches the spiral on the ta. Bringing everyone to the next floor. ??? Eventually, Emily, Tim, Heathcliff, Sarah, The Coloraturas, Esteban, Julia, Atsuko, and Kasumi arrive on the tenth floor. The ta they emerge from has but a single eave. ¡°Is there any reason why the eaves are reduced with each floor?¡± Tim wonders. ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°All I have been able to surmise is that they denote our progress through the microdugneon¡¯s depths. The party stands at the gates of the temple on top of Spearhead¡¯s Peak. They can see the replica of Tim¡¯s Qiang towering over them, at the center of a temple complex with orange wooden walls and red and yellow eaves. ¡°This looks like our destination, chers,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Finally,¡± Rose says. ¡°That trip is exhausting. Sarah is concerned about how they haven¡¯t felt the need to eat anything despite what seems to be a trip three days in length. Atsuko examines the architecture and notices it is more ornate than the ta. She then stands in front of the group with her notebook and some glasses. ¡°Let¡¯s see. So far we established the following. The most obvious being that lifeforms exist in the microdungeons, as evidenced by that village¡­¡± Azalea looks at the complex weave of flora and buildings that can be seen beyond these gates. ¡°¡­that there are also hostile entities as would be expected from a dungeon¡­¡± Atsuko continues. Kasumi sees that the mist that surrounds the peak has not enveloped the complex itself. Tim looks behind him and sees the view of not only the past nine floors but also myriad others, several of which seem to include villages and even a city in the distance. Each interspersed with jade forests and silver rivers. ¡°¡­and that residual mana from the wielder has a notable effect on the microdugneon.¡± Atsuko puts her notes away. ¡°Why does this floor feel different?¡± Emily says. She senses a foreboding aura in the air. Tim turns back at the temple and notices it bears a lot of architectural similarities to the school. He then sees a sign written in a script that he understands. He translates the characters and leans that the sign tells of truth lying beyond these halls, and warning of the gatekeeper that guards them. ¡°We should get going,¡± Tim says. Atsuko looks back t the Takurabune that had followed them on this journey. The shrine-like ship is filled with several items procured throughout eh trip, starting with the apples and replicas of the Qiang they are inside. She sees there is still room for a few more chest before things begin to be too cramped for the Femtonauts. ¡°Need any time to prepare?¡± Atsuko says. ¡°Odds are high that whatever is awaiting us will be a tough nut to crack.¡± ¡°I think we¡¯re ready,¡± Emily says. ¡°Not much to do prepare anyway,¡± Sarah says. ¡°That boss is no match for us, Lady Atsuko!¡± Kasumi says. ¡°Guess that settles it,¡± Esteban says. ¡°I¡¯m ready to end this long trip,¡± Julia says. The group enters the temple complex. ??? Emily¡¯s party arrives at the temple courtyard. Azalea swims around excitedly at the intermix of nature and construction. ¡°Wow! I never seen something so harmonious with nature before!¡± the mermaid says. Azalea¡¯s comment takes Emily aback. The clione looks at the Black Box¡¯s avatar and realizes her mistake. ¡°Sorry.¡± Tim examines the courtyard an uncanny replica of the one at his school. He sees designs etched into the ground on a black octagon, depicting eight colored trigrams in different colors each. ¡°Is this from my memories or maybe¡­¡± He notices four incongruous pillars. The group is surprised to find there are no signs of any prescience, no people, no shades. Yet at the same time, a sense of dread looms over the group. Rose slithers around, looking for possible routes to take. Lily looks at the golden sky and sees the tesselations depicting eerie patterns. Streltizia holds her labrys, expecting an ambush of some sort to happen. Julia takes notice of the lack of people around and looks around for any traps and signs of inhabitants. She soon finds a strange entrance. Heathcliff meanwhile notices something on the walls. ¡°Come see,¡± he says to Tim. Tim observes the writing and translates the script. ¡°It seems to be¡­ a riddle?¡± Julia enters the entrance and finds four orbs. Colored black, white, teal and red. She takes the spheres and rolls them to the courtyard. Tim translates the sign. ¡°It seems to be about the Celestial Beasts. ¡®To the south, the Sparrow, to the north, the Tortoise, to the west, the Tiger. To the east, the Wyrm.¡± Julia overhears Tim¡¯s explanation and ponders how these connect to the spheres she found. ¡°Dios mio,¡± she thinks. Hydrangea recalls her trek to the Cocytus Manor and the imagery of the ceiling as she and the other Coloraturas fought the first boss. ¡°Excuse me,¡± Hydrangea asks. ¡°Do we know where north is?¡± ¡°Let me see,¡± Atsuko says. She Examines the area for signs of direction. Tim notices the spheres Julia has found and their colors. He searches his memory for the the position of the school, looking for answers to the riddle. He then remembers the day he first arrived at the school and learn that the entrance was facing south. With this knowledge Tim takes the red sphere and places it on the column closes to the enhance. The sphere begins to glow, he takes the teal sphere and places it to the one the one to the rightmost column, then placed the white one on the opposite side and finally the black sphere is placed on the last column. Everyone soon hears whrilling noises from below and as the octagonal design recedes and reveals a staircase. A stairwell that Tim does not recall having existed at the school. A loud roar is heard from the depths of the mountain below. ¡°It looks like we found the boss,¡± Atsuko says. Emily looks at the stairs and notices it they resembles the spirals on the ta that she touched. She looks at Tim who stoically looks at the depths. ¡°Master Wu,¡± Tim thinks. ¡°What secrets does this Qiang hold?¡± The group prepares themselves mentally before descending down the stars. Expecting to find something dangerous at the bottom of the spiral. ??? Emily and her group descend the large staircase. They arrive at the bottom of the stairs and see a large dimly lit basement. Raine and Lily conjure a fire and an orb of light to illuminate the place. Tim looks at the walls. He sees they are lined with several training weapons. Emily looks at the floor and sees several alchemical and thaumaturgical sigils. Atsuko notices a stature at the furthest edge of the room. Sarah and Rose see several empty beakers and vials on the tables. ¡°What is this place?¡± Azalea says. ¡°It looks like an alchemist¡¯s den,¡± Esteban says. ¡°Best be careful then, chers,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Who knows what experiments lurk in this place.¡± After taking a practice Qiang from the walls Tim turns his gaze towards the stature. It depicts a warrior in a horse stance, wielding a Qiang. Julia senses something is off about the sculpture. She takes out her dagger in anticipation of a fight. ¡°There is no door at the other end of this place,¡± Atsuko says. Emily and Tim approach the statue. Emily steps on one of the designs on the floor. The ground rumbles as the statue begins to move. The stone man turns to the challengers and lets out a roar. Tim tries to hit the stature, but the boss sidesteps him and retaliates with a punch in the abdomen. Tim is sent back several feet. The mobile stature then tries to swat Emily at the hips, but she moves back several steps and draws her sword. Her weapon is parried by the statue¡¯s weapon. Emily tries to move the statue Qiang, whispering Bardsong to enchant it with lightning. Heathcliff, Sarah, and Julia rush to Tim and Emily, but a shadow emerges in the form of the statue, barring their way. Tim makes a charging lep to the statue and strikes it with its knee. He follows it up with a punch. The construct is pushed back just enough for Emily to finish her strike. The stature assumes a horse stance again. Tim observes its movements and sees a glyph next to the opponent¡¯s leg. The statue slides its leg over the glyph and activates it. Pillars of flame and geysers of water emerge from the floor. Heathcliff distracts the shadow doppelganger for Sarah and Julia to move past it and assist Emily and Tim. The Coloruaturas and Atsuko deal with a firey clove of the statue while Esteban uses his cloaking magic to conceal himself and Kasumi. The burning stature tried to strike with a shape and elbow strike downwards, but Streltizia blocked the attacks before they hit the ground. Anemone and Hydrangea see Streltizia has touched a sigil and activates it, earthed spites just out from the ground, scaring the young witches. Tim uses his Qiang to create a shield of air for himself and Emily. The original statue touches the ground with the arm extended behind it before attempting to push Tim with its fingertips. Tim evades using the wind shield to launch himself toward the ceiling. Sarah arrives and swings her hammer against the statue, chipping off parts of its fingers. Julia moves behind the stature and tries to sever its head, Her knife jugulates the boss from behind, but it is not enough to cleave the head off. Heathcliff holds his own against the statue¡¯s shadow and manages to knock it towards its burning counterpart. He notices the sigils around him and sees they represent elemental effects. He rushes towards the two statues, avoiding sigils as he makes his advance. With sword and shield both, he knocks the statues into each other. Cloaked, Esteban observes the sigils on the ground. He notices they are colored according to the elements and lands on a yellow one. The arena is suddenly lit as pillars of light attack random parts of it. One hits the shadow of the statue, causing it to write in pain. Kasumi uses the cover of Estebn¡¯s cloaking spell and the mist generated by the stem from the flame pillars and geysers to cover the Coloraturas. Azalea uses the mist and steam to douse part of the statue. Hidden, Kasumi copies the original stature¡¯s movements, sending the burning one flying with her fingertips. As the burning statue falls. Clover draws her fan and strikes the shadow with it. The metal weapon creates a blust of wind that pushes it backward and dislodges the weapons from the walls. The burning statue lands in the shadow statue and both of them crumble. Everyone moves to aid Tim, Emily, Sarah, and Julia. The original statue remains, but the attacks landed on it and the defeat of its brothers caused it to wear. The boss assumes a horse stance and tries to strike Emily, but she counters with a Photon Ring. Sarah slams her hammer against the statue¡¯s knee, chipping part of it off. Their friends arrive to assist them. Anemone and Lily coordinate to cast a shadow long enough to catch the unhindered leg of the statue and pin it to the ground. Hydrangea uses her grimoire to conjure shards of ice to strike the statue. Strelitzia then slams her axes against the pinned lag and chips a chunk of the statue off. Esteban activates the glyphs to create a tailwind that makes his allies faster and hinders the statue¡¯s movements. Rose slithers around, activating the pink sigils to empower her lightning spells. Tim and Emily see that something in the statue¡¯s torso is exposed. Emily enchants her weapons with ice and throws the combined chakram at the exposed core of the statue. The weapon causes ice to encase the statue. Time seizes the opportunity and charging force. The momentum and the tailwind empower his attack as she strikes the frozen abdomen of the statue with both palms. The ice and stone shatter in response to the force of Tim¡¯s attack. The boss is no more. They hear a chuckle echoing in the room as a spectral door appears and opens. ¡°Is that it now?¡± Rose says. Tim approaches the door. He senses a familiar aura emanating from it. He opens the door and a bright light engulfs the room Emily and her friends suddenly arrive back at the starting point of the tenth floor, at the gates of the temple complex. There they find a man in the distance. His black hair was cut short, and he wore a suit with five buttons and four pockets son it. The black suit is woven with intricate patterns it in dark grey, white, red, and yellow. The buttons were instead colored in metallic shades of yellow, black, white, red, and blue from top to bottom. The man also wore black pants along with the suit. Tim looks at the man in shock. ¡°It can¡¯t be¡­¡± Emily notices her Sentinel¡¯s surprised at seeing the figure. ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you again, Xi Lanqiong,¡± the man says. ??? The others are confused by both the man¡¯s presence and the name he uttered. ¡°Xi Lanqiong?¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Mother gave me that name,¡± Tim says. The mysterious man approaches the party. ¡°You had done well to make it this far.¡± His tone of voice was polite but with an analytical. ¡°My name is Wu Jingyu. Elder of the Golden Spear.¡± ¡°The Golden Spear?¡± Atsuko says. Jingyu turns around. ¡°Come, we have much to discuss.¡± Wu Jingyu leads the party deeper into the temple complex. They arrive in an ornate room that Tim recognizes as a place for gathering. At the other edge is a flat chest. Jingyu observes the party. ¡°A dungeon core, eight witches, a seasoned knight, two rouges. You had gathered quite a few allies Lanquong.¡± ¡°They call me ¡®Tim¡¯,¡± Tim says. ¡°Forgive me,¡± Jingyu says. ¡°While we are on that subject,¡± Anemone says, ¡°I don¡¯t like to be called a witch.¡± ¡°My apologies,¡± Jingyu says. He turns his eyes to Atsuko. ¡°You made the vessel outside of the temple?¡± ¡°The Takurabune?¡± Atsuko says. ¡°Yes, I helped get this crew to enter the microdugneon in the Qiang.¡± ¡°So that is how,¡± Jingyu says. He turns to Tim with a smile. ¡°Master Wu,¡± Tim says. ¡°What is going on? How are you in this place?¡± ¡°When the armies of Wu-kong attacked the school, I have used a special spell to allow my soul to inhabit this weapon after my body perished. I had hoped that you would be able to bring the Qiang to safety so that when the time is right, I would be able to resume teaching you and others.¡± ¡°What of the other students?¡± Tim says. ¡°What had became of them?¡± Jingyu sighs. ¡°While I was unable to save myself. I was unable to save my disciples. You were the sole survivor of my students.¡± ¡°And the other elders?¡± ¡°I can only assume that as I took steps to ensure this Qiang¡¯s safety, they did so with the other three treasures, so then they should be scattered away from Jiang-hu.¡± Emily and Heathcliff see Tim¡¯s expression tense with a sense of profound sadness. ¡°Tim¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Tim lies. ¡°Cher, I know you long enough,¡± the knight says. ¡°You know you can talk to us.¡± ¡°Maybe later,¡± Tim says. Heathcliff turns to Jingyu. Whatever had happened on that night has clearly affected his current protege. Jingyu turns to Heathcliff. ¡°I take it you¡¯re the one that took care of Lanqiong? You have my gratitude.¡± ¡°Pleasure¡¯s all mine,¡± the red-clad knight says. ¡°Friends call me Heathcliff.¡± ¡°So,¡± Emily says. ¡°Why did they attack the school?¡± ¡°They were after the four treasures of the Golden Spear, and the extermination of our humble Alkahestry sect.¡± ¡°Alkahestry?¡± Sarah says. ¡°Aren¡¯t cultivators supposed to be extinct?¡± ¡°Our discipline was not lost to the sands of time,¡± Jingyu says. ¡°We have managed to keep ourselves hidden from those that wish to oppose us, and spread like the petals on the winds.¡± ¡°What is a cultivator anyway?¡± Emily says. ¡°Yeah,¡± Rose says. ¡°I¡¯m curious about that too.¡± ¡°Last I checked,¡± Heathcliff says ¡°They were supposedly a breed of wizards that people claimed the Administrators abhorred.¡± ¡°They were said to be capable of great feats,¡± Anemone says. ¡°Immortality, traversal into other realms, the ability to use their weapons as surfboards.¡± ¡°You guys surf in your weapons?¡± Azalea says. Jingyu chuckles. ¡°It seems we did well if the misconceptions were that deep. While immortality is a common goal and experienced cultivators can travel through many worlds. We do not surf with our armaments.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Azalea says. ¡°That just crashed¡ª¡° ¡°We fly using them.¡± ¡°Wait, what!?¡± Emily says. ¡°Master, why haven¡¯t you told me this?¡± Tim says. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Lan¡ªTim,¡± Jingyu says. ¡°You were not ready yet. You haven¡¯t ascended to the step of Albedo yet. Your Furnace is still unrefined. Even if you were ready, the soldiers of the Wu-kong army would have still overwhelmed the school. As much as I¡¯d hoped otherwise, there was nothing either of us could¡¯ve done.¡± Tim clenches his fist. ¡°But we are here because of a different overwhelming force, are we not?¡± Jingyu says. Emily remembers the Engines. ¡°We are,¡± she says. ¡°We came to this dungeon in the hopes of finding a way to grow stronger in preparation for fighting an incoming dungeons.¡± ¡°The Engines at Cerberus?¡± ¡°Now hold on,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°How did you know that?¡± ¡°The spell I used had connected my essence, my mana to the weapon itself. In essence, I am as Miss Emily is, a core to a dungeon, or microdugneion as Miss Atsuko puts it.¡± ¡°Guess this means we can save the introductions,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°I can try to teach you and your fellows,¡± Jingyu says. ¡°But I fear that it is not enough. The path of an alkahest is too long for your situation to change alone. If you can survive the ordeal¡­¡± ¡°Wait, can we bring you back to¡ª¡± Tim says. ¡°Won¡¯t work,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°He¡¯s currently the core of the Qiang. Removing him would risk the integrity of the weapon, to say nothing of what could befall the microdungeon and those inhabiting it.¡± ¡°She¡¯s right,¡± Jingyu says. ¡°My removal could risk erasing this world and destroying the weapon.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Tim says. ¡°Cher¡­¡± Heathcliff says solemnly. ¡°I shall give you some time to consider your options,¡± Jingyu says. ¡°But as for our Yanese friends here. Do know that your trails here did strengthen the weapon. Some of the mana contained is now unbarred.¡± ¡°Awesome!¡± Atsuko says. ¡°What options are we talking about?¡± Emily says. ¡°Both how to confront this foe of yours and if you are willing to cultivate yourselves as you are the Qiang. I shall go now.¡± Jingyu leaves the room. ??? Through the next hour, the party discusses their options. ¡°Cultivators, de toutes les choses sur lesquelles tomber¡­¡± Heathcliff says. Tim leans against a wall. ¡°To think he was still alive after all this time,¡± he says. Emily wonders about Jingyu¡¯s offer. ¡°Did you know anything about Cultivation, Tim?¡± ¡°My knowledge on the topic is sparse,¡± Tim says. ¡°I was taught about techniques for learning moves and of course baji, but that is about the extent of it.¡± ¡°A real-life Alkahest,¡± Anemone says. Her mind races as she ponders about the arcane secrets they hold. Hydrangea tries to read some of the scrolls from the nearby bookcases, but most of them are blank, and those that are are written in Jiangese script. ¡°Why are some of these scrolls blank?¡± Atsuko looks at one of them. ¡°That is rather unusual. Invisible ink perhaps?¡± Kasumi talks with Clover and Streltizia about the possibility of Cultivation and its possible benefits. Tim glances at Heathcliff. ¡°What about you?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Forgive me,¡± Tim says. ¡°I knew I haven¡¯t been forthright about my past.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± the knight says. ¡°Can¡¯t chide you for keeping secrets.¡± ¡°That aside, I want to ask about Master Wu¡¯s offer.¡± Heathcliff chuckles. ¡°Cher, if this is what I think it is, then we have stumbled into a world of danger and risk. If people know about the secrets of your spear, they are going to be all over us. Even more so if you decide to return to your old mentor.¡± Emily thinks about the imminent arrival of the forces of the Engines. She approaches Atsuko. ¡°Excuse me, but now that we have proven your thesis¡­¡± ¡°Say no more!¡± the nekomata says. ¡°I¡¯ll try to work on a plan to help refine your weapons before our friend comes.¡± Tim looks at Emily. ¡°Will this be enough?¡± he asks. Emily¡¯s face bears a look of uncertainty. ¡°I don¡¯t know but we have to try!¡± She knows the threat to herself, and to those that reside within her. Tim smiles. Rose slithers around the room, looking for something to do. ¡°You¡¯d think Mister Wu would¡¯ve left something for us to do in the meantime.¡± Raine looks at the lamia. ¡°Rose¡¯s it¡¯s only been ten minutes!¡± ¡°Ten minutes is ten too many!¡± Rose says. Lily chuckles. ¡°Typical Rosie,¡± Azalea says. ¡°Hey!¡± I can¡¯t help it. It¡¯s so¡­so¡­¡± Rose slithers to a window, seeing a glint from outside. Raine sighs. Kasumi looks out the same window, looking at whatever caught Rose¡¯s eye. Emily mulls over other ideas to find a way to defeat the incoming Dungeon Core. Heathcliff approaches the avatara. ¡°You okay, cher?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Emily says. ¡°Just a lot on my mind.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll bet,¡± the knight says. ¡°First the Hamlin issue, now this. You haven¡¯t even been here a year yet.¡± ¡°And yet things have grown so complex in such a short time.¡± Tim approaches the two. Emily sighs. ¡°It¡¯s true, there is so much I don¡¯t know about this place.¡± Emily realizes that she knows as much about herself then she does Titania, even after all this time, she has yet to recall anything of who she was before becoming a dungeon, save for her name and the vestigial hazes of a dream. Sarah approaches them. ¡°Whatever happens, know that I got your back! Richard too!¡± Rose slithers to Emily. ¡°We¡¯re gonna help too!¡± ¡°That steam dungeon¡¯s no match for the Coloraturas!¡± Streltizia says. ¡°My shinobi and I will also help,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°Can¡¯t have all my work come undone by a jealous dungeon, can I?¡± ¡°I will also do everything in my power, Emily.¡± Tim says. Heathcliff chuckles. ¡°It should go without saying, but as the Dungeon Master, it is my job to make sure this ship doesn''t sink. Say the word, and I¡¯ll come to help you, cher.¡± ¡°You also have me and my husband¡¯s support as well,¡± Julia says. Emily thinks about the friends she has made so far. Elizabeth, Heathcliff, Tim, Richard, Sarah, Minerva, Nina, The Coloraturas, the Hernandezes and most recently Atsuko. She knows now that they would follow her wherever they go. She looks at those among them that came with her to Spearhead¡¯s Peak. ¡°Thank you.¡± Five more minutes pass and Wu Jingyu returns. ¡°Have you enough time to weight your options?¡± ¡°We have,¡± Tim says. ??? The group talks to Jingyu about the topic of Alkahestry Cultivation as well as possible ideas for finding the weakness of the Engines¡¯ Core. The topic soon shifts to the context of the coffers in the room. ¡°The chest contains all my culminated knowledge,¡± Jingyu says. ¡°To take is to consent to inhering both the sect of the Golden Spear and the goal of its restoration. Should you accept, know that the road ahead will be freight with even more peril.¡± ¡°How so?¡± Emily says. ¡°Though cultivation sects are uncommon in Libert¨¦, and Alkahestists even more, there are some in existence, and they will learn about your efforts. Some will try to forge alliances with you, others will seek to pillage you and bereave you of that you hold dear and others still will actively try to make you into their puppets.¡± Jingyu turns to Tim. ¡°And others still will look down upon you besides.¡± ¡°Okay, and?¡± Esteban says. ¡°Though the Administrators¡¯ alleged disdain of Cultivation is unfounded, there is a high chance they will take notice of our efforts. As you walk the path of the Golden Spear, and gain the power to travel to higher realms, the gods will test your will and your mettle. You must overcome these trials if you wish to stand alongside the Cosmos herself. And even if you don¡¯t, they will look at you with scrutiny.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Emily says. ¡°But what will happen if we do manage it?¡± ¡°Over time, you will gather and mass mana and power. If you can complete your magnum opus you will prove yourself nigh insurmountable, save for other cultivators and other adventurers of that caliber. The challenges that would face you are myriad and relentless. Yet should you succeed, you will find yourself at the apex of power.¡± ¡°And you know this¡­how?¡± Sarah asks. ¡°The Golden Spear has been around for centuries,¡± Jingyu says. ¡°But in that time there are those that had transcended with our teachings. Messengers, Adventures, Heroes. It has proved to be a viable path of enlightenment, refined over the decades and centuries.¡± ¡°Is that why Wu-kong targeted you?¡± Emily says. ¡°Indeed,¡± Jingyu says. ¡°Though they have their sects, they reasoned that their fragile hegemony over Jiang-hu can be best preserved by the utter annihilation of rival powers. Be they northern Nu-wa, eastern, Neh-za, or the neutral forces in Wu-lin.¡± ¡°I have one question,¡± Tim says. ¡°Did you know who led the attack?¡± ¡°I cannot say,¡± Jingyu says. ¡°Their fighters have gone to great lengths to parasitize our teachings. They had likely infiltrated the Golden Spear for months if not years. Seeing it with double agents and demonic cultivators in preparation for the attack.¡± ¡°Did you notice anyone with blond hair and hazel eyes among the students? Another from Fairborough?¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Jinghu says. ¡°Now that you mention it, I¡¯ve heard that there was mention of someone like that in Wu-lin. Whether or not they attended the school I do not know.¡± ¡°I see, thank you, Master Wu.¡± Tim wonders if Theodore was involved in the sacking of his school. ¡°I understand if you wish to decline. This is a task that is best left to the prepared and¡ª¡° ¡°I¡¯ll do it,¡± Tim says. ¡°Me too,¡± Emily says. ¡°I¡¯ll see what I can do you help you revive the Golden Spear.¡± Jingyu is surprised by how quickly they accepted the mission. ¡°Well you heard them,¡± Heathcliff says with a small smirk. Jingyu chuckles. ¡°Maybe the Crimson Hound had rubbed off on them.¡± The Master walks to the chests and takes some slips of jade from them. He returns to Tim and Emily. ¡°This shall allow you to learn the principles of macrocosmic cultivation. Attune with these slips, and you shall lean the process of the magnum opus, and you and your fairy friend will be able to explain them to fellow disciples.¡± Tim and Emily tend their arms to the jade slips. The knowledge of the processes of Alkahestry flows into their minds as the slips glow with a verdant hue. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I cannot accompany you on this journey. In my current state, I am naught but an object. The slips in these chests shall allow teach you in my stead. Once you are ready for their vast knowledge. In the meantime. I hope the Qiang itself will make a better teacher in the near future.¡± ¡°Is there any way to visit you again, Master?¡± Tim says. ¡°I think that is for our feline friend to answer.¡± ¡°I think its possible, in theory anyway,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°But we might have to fight our way through ten floors each time we try.¡± ¡°How so?¡± Heathclfif says. ¡°Think about the ta,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°These pagodas had less eaves the deeper we¡¯ve delved into the microdungeon. I also suspect that the item itself will try to push us away from Spearhead¡¯s Peak regardless of how we pinpoint the entry point. It will likely try to bring us around ten floors away from the temple. This is all conjecture of course we¡¯ll need a larger sample size to confirm it.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Forgot that this is the first time we¡¯ve set foot in one of those things.¡± ¡°It has been a while,¡± Sarah says. She grows even more concern about not feeling hungry, even though she knows the Femtonaut body is incapable of eating food, and that her actual body is sleeping elsewhere. ¡°Thank you for your time, Master Wu,¡± Tim says. ¡°Thank you for visiting,¡± Jingyu says. ¡°It tends to get very lonely around these parts. Good luck on your quests.¡± Everyone takes the chests to the Takarabune and places them inside. Tim bids his farewells to Wu Jingyu. After several minutes of preperations everyone boards the Takarabune and departs the microdungeon. Chapter XXIXS: The Fearful Day As Emily and her party are exploring Tim¡¯s Qiang, everyone else is preparing for the confrontation with the Engines. Richard went to the Rosenkreuz guildhall to explain their situation. ¡°You think the invading dungeon is after Emily?¡± Pauline says. ¡°I don¡¯t think,¡± the dwarf says. ¡°I know. The Engines are marching towards the Black Box as we speak.¡± ¡°If this dungeon is the culprit behind even some of the missing dungeon cases,¡± Chiron says. Flowena and Ulrich are with Richard. The two sprites explained their origins as former denizens of the mirage Feywood, sent to live in the Black box by their leader to ensure their survival, and that they had failed to contact said leader recently. ¡°Hmm,¡± Pauline says. ¡°This is a dire matter indeed, I¡¯ll go see if any of our top adventurers can help repel this threat.¡± ¡°Pardon me,¡± Benoit says. ¡°But isn¡¯t Emily also registered with the guilds in Noir as well?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± Richard says. ¡°Even so,¡± Pauline says. ¡°Their aid might not come so easily. The Rouges barely have the resources to do anything unrelated to helping the folks in eh Underground and the Ebony guards might not see the Black Box as a high priority for them right now.¡± ¡°I can try contacting them on your behalf,¡± Chiron says. ¡°Surely they could see that something like the Engines poses a significant risk to them.¡± ¡°That reminds me,¡± Richard says. ¡°Do you know if the Engines were affiliated with any guilds?¡± ¡°Afraid not,¡± Pauline says. ¡°We guilds do have a record on dungeons registered with us, but we do not share that information between us. They are effectively trade secrets. If they are affiliated with a guild then we can only assume that they either had their status revoked or that the guild in question tactually agrees with the Engines¡¯ methods.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Richard says with dejection. His blond locks bristle with sadness. Chiron turns to the sprites. ¡°Might you be able to deter this Dungeon¡¯s course?¡± ¡°We could try,¡± Flowena says. ¡°But if Mister Puck is gone that means they were somehow able to bypass our illusions.¡± One of the adventures had arrived with a message. ¡°We found the army. They had just crossed the Ruby River.¡± ¡°That means they are already in New Virginia,¡± Chiron says. ¡°Did you get a tally on their forces?¡± Benoit says. ¡°The Cells surrounding the core number in the hundreds.¡± ¡°That can¡¯t be right,¡± Pauline says. ¡°An avatara is only able to bring around one hundred cells at most!¡± ¡°These are certainly unusual circumstances.¡± Chiron looks at a tome. ¡°What about the Sentinels?¡± ¡°I count five entities that seemed to be Sentinels among the invaders,¡± the scout says. ¡°I see,¡± Chiron says. ¡°I will embark to Noir at once.¡± The centaur exits the room. Richard, Flowena, and Ulrich look at Pauline and Benoit. ¡°Is there anyone else that could help?¡± ¡°I could try Fairfax,¡± Benoit says. ¡°Maybe New Spring Lake as well.¡± ¡°Those are too far, Benny!¡± Pauline says. ¡°The guilds are the closest to us that have Gilded Adventurers, We have to try contacting them.¡± Richard turns to Flowena. ¡°Can you and Ulrich make it to Eastshire and Websdale? We¡¯ll need all the help we can get.¡± ¡°Will do!¡± Flowena says. ¡°Got it!¡± Ulrich says. The two sprites leave the guild hall to request aid from the two towns. ¡°Now,¡± Pauline says. ¡°Why do you think these Engines are after Emily, dear?¡± ¡°We were visiting the Cerberus area looking to investigate the missing dungeons,¡± the dwarf says. ¡°We have found evidence that the dungeon had somehow grown in power at an alarming rate and was absorbing some of the nearby dungeons.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Pauline says. ¡°So you think they are trying to keep their ill-gotten power secret?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so,¡± Richard says. ¡°Their advance is too brazen for that. I think they are just trying to absorb Emily, no matter the cost.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Pauline says. ¡°The guild and I will do everything in our power to help protect Emily.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± the dwarven weaver says. Richard leaves Pauline and the guildhall. From the lobby, a strangely-clad is sipping tea. She notices Richard walking to the entrance, seemingly in a rush. ¡°Well tis is getting interesting,¡± the woman says with a curious grin. ??? Meanwhile, Minerva is leading a contingent of Arachne to a jungle. They are working on creating traps for the incoming army. Carla and Charlotte are also with them, asking the local beasts for assistance. ¡°Of all the trouble to get wrapped into,¡± Minerva says while overseeing her fellow arachne. The Atypidae and Lycosidae create various pitfalls deep enough to bury the machines. The Salticidae scout out the jungle, looking for parts of the environment to help turn into snares and barricades. The Argyronetidae swim into the rivers, looking to divert their flow into makeshift dams to flood the path if the machines cross, while the younger ones create threads to serve as tripwires and concealments for the pitfalls. ¡°Mommy,¡± Nina says. ¡°Will this be enough?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, dear,¡± Minerva says. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Carla talks with several of the beasts in the jungle. The Black Bears, the Bobcats, the White-Tailed Deer. All to beseech their aid in fending off the mechanical invaders. Charlotte meanwhile is trying a different approach. ¡°Let¡¯s see,¡± the young alraune is reading from a spellbook Anemone lent her. A grimoire containing knowledge on thaumaturgical gravity spells. She looks over the chapters penetrating to gravity and apurgy mines. She traces the sigils onto the ground with a branch. ¡°Will this work?¡± she thinks. He extends a hand out to the design and attunes to it. The shapes glow with a starry blue-violet hue. Charlotte breathes a breath of relief at the sign of success. Carla approaches her. ¡°What is that, dear?¡± ¡°A gravity mine spell, Mom,¡± Charlotte says. ¡°If it works it should make it hard for them to get past this point.¡± ¡°It seems rather small.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Charlotte sighs. ¡°Can you help me make a larger sigil?¡± ¡°Of course dear,¡± Carla says. ¡°I¡¯ll ask Minerva if her friends can also help.¡± A few moments later, Carla arrives with Nina and some of the younger Arachne in tow. Charlotte shows everyone the designs she wants to make and asks for their assistance in building the glyphs. Meanwhile, Minerva approaches Clara. ¡°Your daughter has an affinity for gravity spells?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Clara says. ¡°It was news to me too.¡± Minerva laughs. ¡°The month has been full of surprises.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Clara sighs. Minerva is well aware of Clara and Charlotte¡¯s former life in Hamlin. ¡°Your husband, what was he like?¡± Calra reminisces about her time with Samuel. She breathes a heavy sigh.¡± He was a wonderful man, a dutiful husband, and a loving father. Unjustly murdered in cold blood.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Minerva says. ¡°Both of you had raised Charlotte well.¡± The two look at the young alraune coordinating the construction of the glyphs for the mines. Clara sighs as she wonders why it had come to this. ¡°Even in these prosperous times,¡± Minerva says. ¡°Titania is still a dangerous world. Even more so for people like us.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Clara says. ¡°It is.¡± She wonders why is it that way. Why do their children feel like they have to defend themselves and their families at such young ages? Why do people accuse them of crimes they did not commit? Why are people so quick to judge them as outside because they do not look like them? ¡°I understand you came from Websdale?¡± Clara says to Minerva. ¡°That is correct,¡± the Arachne says. ¡°Alas, we were forced to move following the Tarantulopolis incident.¡± ¡°I heard that the dungeon became home to a cult of kidnappers and arsonists,¡± Clara says. ¡°That was indeed the case.¡± As the two mothers are talking, Charlotte places the finishing touches on the glyph. ¡°We¡¯re done!¡± an Arachne boy says. Charlotte attunes to the giant glyph. ¡°Please work!¡± she thinks. ¡°There is too much at stake for this to fail.¡± She thinks about the children of Hamlin, bound to the Black Box, with altered minds. Trapped by a demon and confined within Emily, she thinks about how she wants to save them, to restore them, and how the destruction of the dungeon would entail the end of their lives. She thinks about Carla, her mother. A woman shunned by the town and blamed for two heinous crimes she did not commit, and who had faked a death in a bid to grant the village closure. She thanks her aunt Geraldine, still residing in Hamlin. She thinks about her deceased father. The thoughts and memories are channeled into the glyph and cause it to glow a radiant indigo hue. Nina and the other Arachne children look on in awe as the nightly glow shines bright. One of the Arachne kids, a Salticidae girl, is dazzled by the glyph¡¯s glow. ¡°So pretty!¡± she yells exuberantly. She inches closer to it before Charlotte notices. ¡°Wait!¡± Charlotte says. The young girl stops. ¡°That is a dangerous trap. If you set it off, you could be crushed by the force of ten thousand tons!¡± The Salticidae girl realizes the mistake she is about to make and meekly jumps away from the glyph. The others save Nina follow suit. Nian looks at Charlotte with a confident smirk. ¡°Pretty good right?¡± Charlotte nods. ¡°Thank you for helping.¡± ¡°My pleasure!¡± the spiderling says. ¡°That¡¯s what adventures do!¡± Charlotte giggles. ¡°Are you still sad you didn¡¯t get to go with Emily?¡± ¡°A little,¡± Nina says. ¡°Mommy is¡­¡± ¡°You know she cares about you a lot right?¡± Charlotte says. ¡°I know,¡± Nina sighs. She remembers that she was captured by the spiritualists of Tarantulopolis. ¡°But I want to be an hero. I want to rescue people, not be rescued all the time!¡± ¡°That is an admirable goal,¡± Charlotte says. ¡°What about you?¡± Nina says. ¡°Who do you want to be?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Charlotte says. ¡°You know, I don¡¯t think I gave that much though.¡± Nina giggles. ¡°It¡¯ll come to me,¡± Charlotte says. ¡°I hope.¡± Minerva and Clara approach their daughters, as the sun sets. They return to the Black Box. ??? Earlier in the day, Atsuko¡¯s retainers and Elizabeth monitor the instruments while Emily and Atsuko¡¯s party explore the Qiang. Richard had recently left for Rosenkreuz¡¯s guildhall, and Minerva and Clara had left for a nearby jungle. Elizabeth looks over the Kaguya Parallel Mirror, amazed at its intricate details. ¡°Lady Atsuko spared no expense in designing that machine,¡± Noboru says. Kei and Aika look over the monitor, seeing the world within the Qiang. ¡°It¡¯s beautiful,¡± Aika says. ¡°Silver streams, jade forests,¡± Kei says, feeling inspired by the splendor on the monitor. ¡°Why are they moving so fast?¡± Saizo says. ¡°It¡¯s making my eyes hurt?¡± Elizabeth looks at the screen and notices that Emily and her party and moving at an unusual pace, as is the environment around them. Suzume sees a second screen and presses a button. The current frame is saved and displaced on that screen, revealing a pagoda with eleven eaves. Elizabeth looks at the intricate building and its spiral floor. ¡°Looks like a Jiangese ta,¡± Saizo says. Kei already takes out his book. ¡°The silver streams flow down the hills like liquid moonlight. The foliage of trees shines in emerald and jade hues.¡± ¡°Looks like Kei found some inspiration,¡± Hoshikage says. ¡°Must¡¯ve been a pretty sight to get him writing like that,¡± Noboru says. Elizabeth looks at the Tanuki and asks him a question. ¡°So Noboru, was it, how did you and your friends come to be here?¡± Noboru laughs. ¡°It¡¯s a very long story.¡± ¡°For now,¡± Saizo says. ¡°All you need to know is that we have left Yamatai and the archipelago of Yae Shoto for Lady Atsuko¡¯s safety.¡± ¡°[Yamatai], huh,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°What¡¯s it like?¡± ¡°The island,¡± Kei says. ¡°Is lined with glass monoliths that scrape the heavens. The streets glitter as if they are made of polished granite. The ¡ª¡° Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. ¡°That¡¯s enough Kei,¡± Hoshikage says with exasperation. ¡°I¡¯ll take it from here.¡± The dark-skinned kunoichi clears her throat. ¡°Yamatai can be compared to Noir. Large skyscrapers, highly advanced technology, and very productive people.¡± ¡°People that gave their lives to their employers,¡± Suzume says. ¡°Oh um¡­?¡± Elizabeth is confused by what the swordswoman meant by that. ¡°Sacrificed on the altar of the almighty coin!¡± Kai begins to rant. ¡°Compelled to toil away in offices and factories until sanguine rivers flow from their orifices, or until their collapse in a dreamless sleep¡ª Eh, my apologies. I got a little heated there.¡± Kei¡¯s vivid description tells Elizabeth what she needs to know. An hour later Saizo looks at the instruments. ¡°Looks like they made it somewhere interesting,¡± He presses the snapshot button and the second screen displays a frame depicting a decorated temple complex. ¡°That temple,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°I feel something strange about it.¡± ¡°That reminds me,¡± Noboru says. ¡°I noticed that Western philosophy and religion seem to have been entwined.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Theological schools of thought are more common compared to Eos.¡± Another while later, the pods begin to glow red. ¡°Is something wrong?¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Relax,¡± Saizo says. This means that they are ready to return. The Takurabune emerges from the Qiang, growing as it returns. ¡°Hiya,¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoes to Elizabeth. Elizabeth suddenly feels a headache. ¡°What the¡ª¡° Newfound knowledge flows into her mind as she grasps her head and breaths rapidly. She collapses on the ground. ¡°Lizzie?¡± Emily says. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± The migraine soon subsides. Elizabeth stands up. ¡°I¡¯m fine, I¡¯m fine.¡± The crimson hue of the pods turns into a golden one as everyone contained within wakes up and exists. ¡°Main those were an interesting few days,¡± Sarah says. Tim, Heathcliff, Esteban, and Julia wake up afterward. Rose yawns as she slithers out. ¡°I feel so tired.¡± The other Colorturas emerge from their pods with sleepy looks. Some are rubbing their eyes. ¡°A few days?¡± Aika says. ¡°You¡¯ve only been gone an hour!¡± Hoshikage says. ¡°An hour?¡± Atsuko emerges from her pod. ¡°I should have accounted for the time dilation.¡± ¡°Time dilation?¡± Sarah says. ¡°You mean what was days for us was a shorter period for them?¡± ¡°Precisely,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°That explains why I wasn¡¯t hungry in there,¡± the dwarf says. Tim holds the Qiang in his hand. He can feel it being lighter. He also noticed the spearhead had changed. The blade is now similar to the weapons of his friends. ¡°Did Richard change the blade while we were gone?¡± ¡°He said we went to the guild to ask for their assistance,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Not like we¡¯d let him tinker with it with you guys still inside,¡± Hoshikage says. ¡°Who knows what could happen if the weapon was removed.¡± ¡°What did you find in there?¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°A rather interesting monsieur,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°An Alkahestry Cultivator.¡± ¡°Alka¡ª¡± Elizabeth realizes that the source of her migraine was information being uploaded into her mind. Information on mana cultivation and specifically Alkahesttry. ¡°Emily, What did you do?¡± ??? Emily and Tim explain the encounter with Tim¡¯s former master, and the core of his Qiang, and that they had agreed to help him restore the Golden Spear sect. ¡°Do you have any idea the ramifications of this?¡± Elizabeth says furiously. ¡°Um¡­¡± Emily says. The fairy sighs. ¡°Emily, [Cultivation] is a forbidden art! You could be risking divine retribution for even attempting it. Who knows how the [Guild] would react? The [Administrator]?¡± ¡°React to what?¡± Pauline arrives at the Black box. ¡°Pauline?¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Richard told me about who decided to go waltzing into New Virginia, and why.¡± The guildmaster says. She observes Elizabeth¡¯s flustered face. ¡°Did I miss something, dears?¡± ¡°Nope!¡± the fairy franticly says. ¡°Absolutely nothing at all!¡± she flutters to Pauline. ¡°Is there anything you want to talk about?¡± ¡°Benny¡¯s heading to Eastshire and Chiron¡¯s going to Noir. Both to try to get help in fending off the Engines,¡± Pauline says. ¡°Sounds like a good plan, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°What say we talk about it elsewhere.¡± Heathcliff leads Pauline away. The Hermandezes and Sarah follow him. Elizabeth breathes a sigh of relief. ¡°Now then. What were you thinking?¡± ¡°Elizabeth,¡± Tim says. ¡°It¡¯s my fault. I hadn¡¯t known Master Wu had migrated his spirit into the Qiang.¡± ¡°I¡¯m to blame for this, too,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°The encounter happened because we were trying to prove the existence of microdugneons.¡± Elizabeth sighs. Her expression bears a mix of anger and concern. ¡°Lizzie, are you okay?¡± Lily says. ¡°You seem a little tense.¡± ¡°Of course I¡¯m tense,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°This is a disaster!¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Emily says. ¡°I had no idea.¡± ¡°No I bear responsibility for this too,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°I should¡¯ve told you in advance, but I thought that [Mana cultivation] and [Alkahestry] had died off.¡± ¡°Are you concerned that the gods will send someone to smite Emily?¡± Tim says. ¡°Of course,¡± Elizabeth says in a panicked tone. ¡°If Emily amasses too much Mana. If she disrupts and overcentralizes the flow of mana to herself. [The Pathfinder] will send a [Messenger] to destroy her.¡± ¡°A Messenger?¡± Clover says. ¡°You sure you aren¡¯t taking things too far?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Rose says. ¡°Emmy¡¯s acted with good intentions. Are you sure you¡¯re not cat¡­cata¡­um.¡± ¡°Catastrophizing?¡± Hydrangea says. ¡°Yeah, Cata-stro-phising,¡± the Lamia says. ¡°I¡¯m not!¡± Elizabeth says ¡°I know¡ª¡± She suddenly hears a ping on her Lifetree diagram. She takes it out and discovers Emily has a new skill and a new skill tree. She dreads what lies in the tre labeled ¡°{{Cultivation}}¡± as she opens it, but she finds it only has a single node. Called ¡°Fair Fight.¡± Emily notices her newly acquired skills as well. ¡°Fair Fight?¡± Elizabeth reads over the description. ¡°Whenever a¡­it forces us to match the average mana levels of challengers?¡± She also sees a notification next to the tree. The title says. ¡°A Notice.¡± Elizabeth reads it aloud. ¡°Hello! We¡¯ve just heard that the Black box¡¯s core had decided to become a [Cultivator]. We will be authorizing [The Engines] To exterminate te offending dungeon immediately. You have tree weeks to prepare for your meeting with [The Pathfinder].¡± Elizabeth gulps. A sense of dread overwhelms her. She then sees a second notification., titled ¡°Another Notice¡±. She opens the message. ¡°It¡¯s tat easy to rile you up huh? Have you forgotten that we prefer not to use people already sent as our agents of change on silly sidequests?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Who is that?¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoes to Elizabeth. She reads the mysterious messages. Another message appears on the lifetree diagram. ¡°Call me a friend¡± is its title. The message proper reads ¡°Call me a sinner, call me a saint. It matters not. But I hope it is clear that [The Cosmos] herself sent me to oversee our newest [Divine Dungeon]. My oh my have you landed yourselves in quite te mess.¡± Elizabeth senses the mana of an Administrator through these words. But the revelation that they already know about what had happened senses her panic. She begins hyperventilating. ¡°Lizzie, breathe,¡± Emily says. Another message appears in the diagram, untitled. After calming down, Elizabeth reads it. ¡°You are so fun to tease, Elizabeth. I know tese misunderstandings are pervasive. Dishonest men claiming to speak for us to advance teir agendas. But know tat if we were going to demolish out [Dungeons] for [Cultivation], we¡¯d also done it for absorbing [Dungeon Cores] too. Tehe.¡± Another untitled message appears. ¡°If it makes you feel any better, you have my explicit authorization to practice [Alkahestry]. I¡¯ll deal with [Obsidian].¡± ¡°But why?¡± Elizabeth asks aloud. Another message appears on the Lifetree diagram. ¡°Why you may ask? Because I think there is great potential in little Emily. Besides we are more open to new blood than you tink. Te [Demons] are not exactly known for low populations. Besides don¡¯t you want to know te truth?¡± ¡°The truth?¡± Emily says. One last message appears on the diagram. ¡°Te [Cultivators], what had they been forced to hide temselves? Why would we hypocritically espouse the spread of knowledge while trying to destroy people for merely possession and use of it? What other secrets lie in Titania? You¡¯ve been granted a rare opportunity. Use it! And we will test you to see if you are worthy of standing with te heavens. We will test you of course, but don¡¯t mistake our desire to gauge your honesty or will for malice. Tat new skill will ensure mana flow isn¡¯t disrupted if you¡¯re still concerned about tat. Toodles.¡± The message continues. ¡°One last ting, before you ask us to help solve your little engine problem. I¡¯m afraid we can¡¯t. I¡¯m already taking a great risk contacting you in tis way, and besides, we all know [Astra] wants mortals and Dungeons to solve teir own problems.¡± There are no new messages. ??? ¡°Lizzie,¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoes to Elizabeth. ¡°Who was that.¡± ¡°It is an [Administrator], that much is certain.¡± Elizabeth sighs. ¡°There is no turning back now. Whatever happened there ensured I know the basis of [Alkahestry], enough to teach you in lieu of this ¡®Master Wu¡¯ Tim spoke of.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Emily says. ¡°The [Alkahest] school of [Cultivation] is derived from alchemy. As is [Cultivation] in general. Regarding the sect, all Alkahestists begin with a continuous process of four steps called the [Magnum Opus]¡± Elizabeth turns to Tim. ¡°The first step is called [Nigredo] by practitioners, it is the gathering of Mana. Something we were already doing. The second step, [Albedo] is the use of the gathered mana to contract a foundation for a [Furnace].¡± ¡°All right,¡± Tim says. He notices they sound familiar to him, but is perplexed by Jingyu¡¯s comment about him not truly reaching Albedo yet. ¡°The other two steps [Cirtrinas] and [Rubedo] are topics I¡¯ll save for another day,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Right now we got to focus on dealing with [The Engines].¡± ¡°I see a lot of farming in the future,¡± Azalea quips. ¡°Huh?¡± Lily says. Strelitzia turns to Elizabeth. ¡°You say that those messages came from an Administrator?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°They try not to get involved in events unless their hands are forced. It is rare for a dungeon even to be contacted by one. As it is assumed that [The Forgemaster] knows everything there is to know about [Dungeons].¡± ¡°And yet,¡± Elizabeth thinks. ¡°Is that really the case?¡± The turns to Atsuko and Saizo moving the cargo from the Takarabune. She wonders how Atrukso learned about a novel concept, and why she was unaware of it. She wonders if there is more knowledge beyond her ken. Heathcliff returns. ¡°We gots more visitors tomorrow,¡± the knight says. ¡°Pauline is upping the amount in a bid to train the greenhorns, and us. We¡¯ll need to be ready.¡± The Coloraturas are excited as this means their first day operating as Sentinels is nigh. The dusk comes and Minerva returns with the two Alraunes and the Arachne. ¡°How did it go?¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoes to Minerva. ¡°We have managed to reinforce part of the jungle outskirts,¡± Minerva says. Clara turns to Anemone. ¡°Charlotte¡¯s proving to be quite adept at gravity spells.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Anemone says. Charlotte rushes to Anemone and returns her book. ¡°I copied the glyphs, they will come in handy for when they come.¡± ¡°What did we miss?¡± Nina says excitedly. ¡°The gravity of the situation,¡± Azalea says facetiously. Tim approaches the younger girls. ¡°Atsuko¡¯s experiment was a success.¡± ¡°What did you find?¡± the spiderling asks. ¡°We found plenty of cool stuff!¡± Lily says. ¡°Clear silver rivers, jade forests, a temple complex...¡± ¡°We will have to talk over dinner,¡± Elizabeth says. Sarah arrives. ¡°Good thing dinner is so soon. I¡¯m starving!¡± ¡°Sister,¡± Richard says with exasperation. Heathcliff turns to the dwarves. ¡°Thanks for letting the guild know about this, cher.¡± ¡°My pleasure,¡± Richard says. ¡°We should be hearing from Chiron and Benoit in a few days.¡± Over dinner. Elizabeth and Emily explain the results of the trip to Spearhead¡¯s Peak and the encounter with Tim¡¯s former mentor. ¡°A cultivator?¡± Nina says. ¡°Is that like a farmer or something?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not quite like that, Nina,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Will there be any planting involved?¡± Azalea says. ¡°Likely not,¡± Elizabeth says. Atsuko marvels at the spread Heathcliff had cooked. ¡°You did all of this by yourself?¡± Sarah¡¯s mouth waters at seeing the feast. Consisting of among other dishes, an array of various gumbos, including some without meat for Stretlizia, as well as mashed potatoes, gravy, and pies made using the apples from the microdugneon. ¡°I had a fair bit of help, this time,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Bon Appetit.¡± Everyone eats the dishes. Sarah helps herself with some gumbo and a salad. Richard takes smaller portions. The children scarf down the food as quickly as Sarah does, to Richard¡¯s dismay. ¡°Do we have any idea who will be coming tomorrow?¡± Julia says. ¡°Pauline give me the list before she left,¡± The knight says. ¡°What are they like?¡± Lily says. ¡°Hey, it¡¯s no fun if you know what they are capable of beforehand,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°We need to weave in some more excursions,¡± Atsuko says ¡°Tim¡¯s Qiang may have been empowered, but that is unlikely to be sufficient to deal with that foe.¡± Rose expresses dismay. ¡°Do we have to?¡± Raine sighs. ¡°Rose you know we need to empower our arms if we are to stand a chance.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Rose says. ¡°But it feels so tiring.¡± ¡°The time dilation will allow some opportunity to rest,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°But it is evident that we need the wilder attuned to the weapon to join the expedition.¡± ¡°How so?¡± Emily asks. ¡°While Heathcliff was busy cooking, I had tried to send Kasumi inside one of the weapons we found. But her mana proved to be too mismatched for it to be successful. We¡¯ll need to bring someone whose mana is attuned to the weapon to breach hyperbolic space successfully with no adverse effects.¡± ¡°Speaking of which,¡± Esteban says. ¡°Where are the shinobi?¡± ¡°Boo!¡± Stretlizia is scared by Kasumi¡¯s sudden appearance. ¡°Stop that!¡± The young kunoichi chuckles. Clover and Anenome follow suit. Hoshikage, Saizo, Kei, Aika, Noboru, and Suzume arrive. They take their seats at the table. Kasumi sits next to Nina while the older ninjas sit next to Atsuko. ¡°What took you so long?¡± Atsuko says. ¡°Apologies, milady,¡± Saizo says. ¡°The analysis of the objects took longer than expected.¡± Suzume turns towards Kasumi. ¡°Hey,¡± Kasumi says. ¡°It wasn¡¯t my fault that piece of jade timber fell!¡± Suzume rolls her eyes. ¡°We are happy to report that the objects are stable Lady Atsuko,¡± Hoshikage says. Nina and Lily take the time to talk to Nina, who regales them with exploits of her adventures, adventures that Kei is quick to point out happened vastly differently from her tellings. Hoshikage and Sarah wind up in an eating contest with each other. The former ends up with a stomachache trying to compete with the dwarven blacksmith. Tim meanwhile is lost in thought as he eats his gumbo. He wonders about the Administrator¡¯s messages and the trials. His mind also races with thoughts of his half brother¡¯s possible involvement in the attack on the Golden Spear, and of course if his empowered spear will be enough to repel the imminent threat. ??? Meanwhile. The Engines continue their advance. The mechanical Cells surrounding Baron Roberts march in lockstep over the wilderness. The woodland critters flee from the machines as the smell of steam and smoke fills the air. The Baron is annoyed at how slow his army is moving. ¡°Note to self, iterate on faster designs for the cells.¡± Carnegie returns with a report. ¡°Sire, it seems that the nearby guilds are aware of our presence and are fortifying themselves.¡± ¡°And more camouflaged designs,¡± he grumbles. The army is at a mountain range, the peaks tower over the nearby valley and springs. The Baron sees a river nearby. ¡°Another blasted river,¡± The Baron says. ¡°The Ruby River washed away ten of the Cells.¡± ¡°Allow me, sire,¡± Carnegie creates a thaumaturgical glyph to combine water and dice into a gelatinous magic. The slimy bridge is manifested over the river. He then uses another rice spell to freeze the slime into a solid form. ¡°This will not hold for long.¡± The Baron crosses the river with Carnege. The Kybernetos fly over them. Several of the Cells begin to cross, but the gelatinous bridge begins to fade. ¡°ALERT! ALERT!¡± a Cell cries. ¡°BRIDGE IS UNSTABLY WOBBLING. SUBMERGENCE IMMINENT!¡± The makeshift bridge collapsed and ten cells were washed away, to the Baron¡¯s ire. ¡°I¡¯ll prepare designs for waterproofing once we return, sire.¡± Carnegie looks ahead and sees several Electrocs arriving. ¡°Looks like the local wildlife were altered to our presence as well.¡± ¡°Lovely,¡± Roberts says sarcastically. ¡°Clip their wings!¡± A Kybernetos engages the pair of Electrocs. The thunderbirds dodge the Sentinel¡¯s advances. Carnegie conjures boulders with earth magic. He then strikes them with lighting, transforming them into hunks of metal, before catapulting them at the Electrocs. One of the birds was hit by the iron projectile. Its wind is injured by the collision and it crashes into the ground where the Cells mercilessly pummel it. Carnegie launches more metal at the lone Electroc. The electrified avian dodges with deft agility, but the Kybernetos take the opportunity to land on the distracted bird. ¡°ATTACHMENT COMPLETE. PROCEEDING TO RIDE ELECTROC.¡± The mechanical Sentinel uses its arms to spin it vertically, and with the Electroc upside down, the Sentinel tosses it into the river. The bird¡¯s impact causes the river to be electrified as water spits out from the collision. The bird tries to fly away but is shocked by its own lighting. Carnegie blends wind and fire magics to energize himself, allowing him to cast spells at a faster pace. He follows up by using a barrage of ice spells to freeze the injured Electroc. The Baron smirks. ¡°You learned how to use the other elements quickly.¡± ¡°But of course, sire,¡± Carnegie says. ¡°I couldn¡¯t have done it if you hadn¡¯t absorbed these other dungeons.¡± ¡°With all this power at our disposal,¡± The Baron. ¡°Not even the Messengers will stop us!¡± The two continue their path alongside the army at their beck and call. Chapter XXX: Storm Rising Strelitzia finds herself in a maze, fleeing from a stampede of bulls. The bulls encircle the mintauride with a ravenous look in their eyes As she stands on a giant table. She turns around and sees her fellow Coloraturas lying motionless on dish-shaped platforms. Strelitzia looks at her fallen friends with horror. The bulls around the table make squeals like famished animals. Among the noises, Strelitzia can hear cries of ¡°join us.¡± Looming over her are two tall shadows. Both of their silhouettes are horned. She could reconcile them but dared not utter their names or titles. She runs around the giant table avoiding falling utensils. She tries to wake up her friends, but before she can reach them, she sees them moved away by a giant spoon one by one. First, it was Rose, then Azalea, Then Raine, then Lily, then Anemone, then Hydrangea. All that was left on the table was her, and Clover. The orange-haired girl rushes to the green-haired fawn. Hugging her as she tried to get her to wake up. But it was to no avail. The two young girls were lifted high into the air. Strelitzia looks on in horror she sees a person resembling a larger version of herself the one that has them impaled on the fork. She tries to free herself and Clover before the utensil enters the giant¡¯s mouth, but it is no use. All she could do was scream as the farm entered its destination. Streltizia wakes up. Stella¡¯s solar rays are barely peeking over the horizon, her light unable to reach the Black Box yet. Strelitzia notices the other children in the room are still in their trance-induced slumber and remembers her nightmare. ¡°Not again,¡± the minotauride sighs. Lydia enters the room, maneuvering over the heads of the unconscious children until she sees Streltizia awake. ¡°Nightmares again?¡± the Arachne broodmother says. Streltizia sighs. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°They have to be pretty bad to break through these trances,¡± Lydia muses. ¡°Is something the matter, dear?¡± ¡°No, they¡¯re just bad dreams, ¡°the minotaur lies. ¡°I¡¯ll go help you up,¡± Lydia says, ¡°It¡¯s almost morning.¡± The Arachne digs Streltizia out of her bed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for troubling you,¡± Strelitzia says, ¡°It¡¯s no trouble at all,¡± Lydia says. ¡°These things happen.¡± She allows Streltizia to climb on her abdomen as they leave the room. ¡°They happen to you a lot though,¡± she says. Even before she moved into the Black Box, Streltizia was plagued by recurrent nightmares. She had hoped they would cease when she and the other Coluraturas moved into the Black Box and became Emily¡¯s Sentinels, but instead, they grew more frequent. Like something was gnawing at her, turning every dream she had into a tortuous reminder of what she had escaped long ago. ??? Three days later, Stella¡¯s light illuminates the wilderness where the Black Box resides. The first of many parties sent by the guild to train themselves and the dungeon arrives. A centaur ranger arrives at the entrance of the Black Box. A minotaur, a fawn herbalist a dwarf, and an elfin druid accompany him. The druid and herbalist look at the Divine Dungeon in awe and horror. ¡°Why did the guild want us to enter this place again?¡± The dwarf says while she tinkers with some drones. Various gears and cogs of all sizes stick out from the drones¡¯ chassis. ¡°The Rosenkreuz Guild says that they wanted to prepare us for something,¡± the centaur says. The minotaur muses on the encounter. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that another Divine Dungeon is marching from Cerberus. Perhaps it is related to that?¡± ¡°An astute observation, Carlos,¡± the herbalist says sarcastically. ¡°Verily, you are wise for stating something as trite and obvious as that.¡± ¡°Faye,¡± Carlos says. ¡°Must you always respond with biting remarks?¡± The fawn rolls their eyes. They bear an androgynous appearance. Their long hair cascades to their nape, with ¡°I sense great power from this place,¡± the druid says. ¡°Its influence could be felt for miles wide. Whoever is the dungeon, they seem to be very well developed.¡± ¡°There are rumors of a similar dungeon in Noir,¡± the centaur says. ¡°That reminds me, where is Lissa?¡± ¡°Coming!¡± a lamia with purple scales slithers towards the others. She carries a staff. ¡°Sorry,¡± she says. ¡°I got lost on the way.¡± The ranger turns towards the others with a look of ire. ¡°Hey,¡± the dwarf says. ¡°It wasn¡¯t my fault she lost us!¡± Carlos turns to the centaur, putting a pair of cestuses on his arms. ¡°Been a while since I used these, Eponus¡± the minotaur says. ¡°How¡¯s your wrists, Carlos?¡± The centaur ranger says¡ªhis brown hair billows in the wind. ¡°Fine,¡± Carlos says. ¡°They¡¯ve healed from the sprain back at the Diomedes Waterways.¡± ¡°Sprain is putting it likely,¡± Faye says. ¡°I spent all my potions trying to heal you that day.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Faye,¡± the minotaur says. ¡°I was careless that day.¡± ¡°Is that the reason you decided to take up the path of a tactician?¡± the dwarf says. Her hairband rested on her short-cut hair as she walked towards the Dungeon. ¡°Part of it, Bronda,¡± Carlos says as he practices some punches. ¡°I also want to inquire about being a dungeon master one day.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Bronda says. ¡°You haven¡¯t heard?¡± Lissa says. ¡°I was too busy perfecting my arcane buggy blueprints,¡± the dwarfette says. ¡°Typical,¡± the druid says. ¡°Hey, it¡¯s hard finding the right thaumaturgical designs to make the engine work!¡± Bronda says. Faye sighs. ¡°Well, I got some ragweed, some spearmint, some cinnamon, and enough bergamot to make effective healing potions. This should make sure we survive the experience at least. But please be careful. That goes double for you Carlos!¡± ¡°Noted,¡± the minotaur says. ¡°What about you Merriweather?¡± Eponus says. ¡°I¡¯m ready,¡± the druid says. He is uncertain how effective his druid magic is in such a clearly mechanical place. ¡°I have enough rune stones to help just in case.¡± Lissa takes out their staff and stardeck. ¡°Let me do a reading!¡± they say. She draws their Ascendant card. She draws a metal card with a symbol resembling a pair of scales. ¡°Libra. Looks like I¡¯m using the Eosphoros deck today!¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Carlos says. ¡°That means we could potentially have the boons of invincibility, binding chains, or piercing enchantments.¡± ¡°Or Lissa could hinder us with an anti-aggression spell by mistake,¡± Bronda says. ¡°We should also note the element of light that Lissa can now use,¡± Eponus says. ¡°Remind me again,¡± Merriweather says. ¡°What is their Astral card?¡± ¡°Scorpio,¡± Lissa says. The lamia takes their staff. The group consisted of Eponus the Centaur Ranger, Faye the Fawn Herbalist, Bronda, the Dwarven Artificer, Merriweather, the Elven Druid, Lissa, the Lamia Enchantress, and Carlos the Minotaur Tactician. Enters the dungeon. ??? Earlier, a pair of Adventures were busy fighting tatzelwurms. The Skald uses a saxophone to channel his Bardsong. The jazzy tune provides covering fire in the form of conjured rocks that attack the opponent as his partner in crime a mermaid paladin as they fight Calra¡¯s Tatzelwurms. ¡°Chris,¡± the armored paladin says. ¡°You got this?¡± she says as she blocks a lunge from the feline serpents with her shield. The bard nods. He then sees one of the creatures preparing a charge on their left. Marian! Over there?¡± The mermaid knight takes her sword and slashes at the incoming tatzelwurm. The bard assists her by playing three notes and summoning fireballs. Soon they prevailed over the three creatures. The Tatzelwurms dissolve into gold dust. ¡°That was a painful first boss,¡± Chris says. Marian turns to the arriving Alraune. ¡°You¡¯ve trained them very well,¡± she says. ¡°Thank you,¡± Clara says before leaving. She directs the visitors to the chest. Marian swims towards it and sees coins as well as three bismuth knives and an ingot of Orichalcum. She hands the metal to Chris. ¡°Might make a handy new sax one say,¡± she chuckles. Chris takes the ingot from the green-haired mermaid knight. ¡°You want the knives as well?¡± ¡°Not really that good with them,¡± Marian says. The pair venture deeper into the Black Box. ??? Meanwhile, the Coloraturas are preparing for their proper debut as Sentinels. ¡°I¡¯m so excited!¡± Lily says. ¡°Our first dungeon defense!¡± Strelitzia sharpens her axe. ¡°We better be careful, Heathcliff wants us to also train these guys.¡± Any tiredness she had from waking up early is now gone. ¡°It¡¯ll be a cinch!¡± Rose says taking her rapier and its staff-like sheath. Hydrangea uses her staff as an oversized pen to inscribe thaumaturgical glyphs from her grimoire. She had used her memory of the designs found on Spearhead¡¯s glyph to create these designs. Azalea practices her knife-throwing skills. ¡°I think we¡¯d do very well. We have such sharp minds, after all, she quips.¡± Raine looks at the pink-haired lamia. ¡°You seem rather chipper today,¡± the phoenixian girl says. ¡°No use fighting it,¡± Rose says. ¡°Much as I want to kick back today, the whole ¡®Engines¡¯ thing makes it rather difficult.¡± Anemone takes some practice shots. She nocks an arrow at a wall. ¡°Ow,¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoes to Anemone. ¡°Sorry,¡± the wolf-eared girl says. ¡°I should look into making training walls next time,¡± Emily says. ¡°Are you girls ready for your first stint as bosses?¡± ¡°How could we not be?¡± Clover says with her fan drawn. ¡°Tim and Elizabeth taught me a lot about using this fan.¡± ¡°That reminds me,¡± Raine says. ¡°Have you learned about today¡¯s guests?¡± ¡°Two parties have entered me so far,¡± Emily says. ¡°The first was a pair, a knight and a bard. The second had just entered, a group of six.¡± The girls know that with four Sentinels now, they can divide themselves into pairs. The Coloraturas and the spider Construct would be one pair, while Clara¡¯s beasts and Tim would be the other. ¡°What about the microdugneons?¡± Lily asks. ¡°We will explore them after both parties are dealt with,¡± Elizabeth says as she arrives. ¡°Atsuko says she wants to focus on your weapons next.¡± ¡°Which ones?¡± Strelitzia says, reminding her that they now have a staff each as well as a unique weapon. ¡°She wants to start with yours first, since you used the labrys the longest, Streltizia,¡± Elizabeth says. Charlotte, Nina, Euryale, and Stheno arrive. ¡°Greetings!¡± Stehno says. ¡°Hi!¡± Lily says. ¡°What brings you here?¡± ¡°We want to see you guys at work,¡± Charlotte says. ¡°Our mothers agreed to let us see you before we head out to further reinforce the jungles.¡± ¡°And by ¡®we,¡¯ they meant these two,¡± Euryale mutters while pointing to the spiderling and alraune. ¡°I see,¡± Rose says. ¡°We¡¯re sure to dazzle you with our feats!¡± ¡°You can do it!¡± Nina says. ¡°Did you guys see Sarah?¡± Raine says. ¡°I checked in at the atelier and she isn¡¯t there.¡± ¡°Mommy said she and Richard went with Esteban to help ask for help,¡± Nina says. A while later, Elizabeth ushes the spectators to a part of an arena where they cannot be seen by the guests as the Coloraturas prepare for their first fight. ??? Chris and Marian arrive at a room in the Black Box, the room is shaped like an oval, with only two curved walls. ¡°Heard we¡¯re only fighting two bosses today?¡± the bard says. ¡°Something about the invading dungeon thing,¡± the mermaid knight says. The pair had been adventuring together for a year. Chris as a wandering musician concerts along the way while Marian serves as his protector from both rival adventurers and people of ill intent. Exploring the room, they find both webs on the walls and also three beams pointed at each other. Marian observes the walls and sees several rings on the walls. She swims to one of the sources of the beams and turns it. She moves the direction of the beam until it hits a hidden mirror. The reflected stream of photons is now close to one of the rings. Chris notices it and tells her to turn the beam a little to the left. Marian turns the beam emitter as directed and the ray is not hitting the ring. It glows orange as the light of the beam shines on it. The pair try to find the other rings, but the webs prove to be too difficult to see them. Chris decides to ignite them by playing a small tune on his saxophone. The brass instrument lobs a lire magic missile at one of the webs. But as the threaded obstruction burns away a trap door suddenly opens and Arachne crawls out from it to attack the pair. Marian and Chris fend them off over the span of ten minutes. ¡°Okay so we have about fifty minutes left,¡± Marian says. ¡°We got time,¡± Chris says as he sees a ring on the now cleared wall, as well as several mirrors of various sizes and angles. He helps Marian turn the second beam towards the ring. Eventually, it reflects off one of the mirrors and then bounces off a mirror from the opposite wall, hitting the second ring and causing it to glow orange. ¡°Two down, one to go!¡± Marian says. She enchants her sword in ice and uses it to create a beam of chilled air at the webbing on the other wall. The spell freezes the web and causes it to shatter, but it also causes a second trapdoor to open and unleashes more Arachne. ¡°You thought it would work that way?¡± their leader says. ¡°How very foolish.¡± ¡°You better have that swing if you wanna tango with us,¡± Chris says before playing his sax. The pair work together to defeat the Arahcne. With the opponents defeated and retreating. The duo aligns the last beam to hit the last ring. A click is heard as part of the walls morphs into a doorway. The pair enter the doorway and find themselves in a golden room. They see a young man meditating before standing up. He closes his eyes and makes a cocky smirk. ??? Tim sees the two challengers. He takes his recently empowered Qiang in his hand and assumes a horse stance. Marian swims rapidly toward him, but Tim dodges her slash and counters with a thrust from his weapon. He can feel it moving faster than before as he stabs the mermaid knight in the shoulder. Chris plays his sax and creates a gust with his Bardsong tune. The gust propels the knight into the air as she tries to fight Tim. Kasumi is watching the fight from a place overlooking the fight. Tim parries the sword with his elbow and then makes a specific lag movement. With a stomp, he creates an updraft that levitates the mermaid before making a charging step. Christ swings his saxophone as a weapon to deflect Tim¡¯s thrusts. He then tries to knock Tim back, but his attack doesn''t budge the martial artist one bit. Tim counters by swatting the instrument away and then doing a snap kick. Chris is knocked back several feet but before Tim can advance. Marian manages to fight the gale and swim between them, her shield blocking Tim¡¯s attack. The battle rages on for twenty minutes, and Chris and Marian are getting tired. Tim feels the power that is now surging through his Qiang. She he fights he thinks about Master Wu and the fate of the school. He thinks about the Engines. The reason why the guild had decided to send more adventurers than usual to the Black Box, to help them train for the coming fight. He thinks about Emily. The battle continues for the next ten minutes and Tim eventually defeats the pair. They collapse from exhaustion with fifteen minutes on the clock. The unconscious adventurers are escorted by Emily to a nearby ward for medical healing. ¡°Good job, Tim!¡± Emily¡¯s voice says to Tim ¡°Thanks.¡± The young man examines his Qiang. He sees Elizabeth enter the room. ¡°The other party had just defeated the [Construct],¡± the fairy says. ¡°Guess that means the Coloraturas¡¯ first fight is about to begin,¡± Tim says. Kasumi leaps down with her perch. ¡°Kasumi,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± ¡°She wanted to watch Tim¡¯s fight for some reason,¡± Emily says. ¡°And you didn¡¯t tell Atsuko?¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°I thought she already knew,¡± Emily says. ¡°Sorry.¡± ¡°Why were you interested in my battles?¡± Tim says. ¡°I just wanted to see how your skills are compared to mine and Hoshikage¡¯s is all,¡± the kunoichi lies. Tim sighs. ¡°The first party is being tended to as we speak,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Though they will not have enough time to attempt fighting you when they wake up.¡± ¡°Does this always happen? ¡°Kasumi says. ¡°I think so,¡± Emily answers. ¡°It¡¯s rare that people lost to the second or third sentinels and has enough time to try to fight them again.¡± ¡°How¡¯s the Qiang, Tim?¡± Elizabeth asks. ¡°It feels a little lighter,¡± Tim says. ¡°Yet also slightly more powerful.¡± ¡°Hey, Lizzie, is there nay way we cna use the microdugneons to speed things up?¡± Emily says. ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°You two might be able to try getting enough mana for creating a foundation for [Albedo], but I don¡¯t think we would be able to get past the other two steps before they arrive.¡± ¡°If we are to become Cultivators,¡± Tim says. ¡°Then we must assume out path would be long and arduous.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s tak about that later,¡± Kasumi says cheerily. ¡°I want to see the witches work their magic!¡± ¡°I will let Atsuko and Hoshikage know about your location, Kasumi,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°I suspect they will want to talk to you about your vanishing act.¡± The orange haired girl pouts. ??? Eponus, Faye, Bronda, Merriweather, Lissa, and Carlos had just finished defeating the chimeras under Carla¡¯s care. The beasts flee the battle. Lissa puts her deck away. ¡°Phew, those were some tough fights.¡± ¡°This dungeon holds some surprises,¡± Merriweather says. Eponus looks at the loot they recently acquired. Several silver coins, A bow, a talbard with spaulders, and a robe and wizard hat. Faye takes stock of her inventory of potion ingredients. ¡°We¡¯re down to enough ingredients for five more potions.¡± She then turns to Carlos. ¡°It is to be expected,¡± Carlos says. ¡°Sure it is,¡± the fawn says. ¡°You know a dungeon master has a responsibility to stay alive.¡± ¡°I know,¡± the minotaur boxer says. Lissa feels tension between the two. ¡°Um, you guys aren¡¯t¡­¡± Faye realizes what the androgynous lamia is trying to say. ¡°No, we aren¡¯t.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t what?¡± the tactician says. Faye simply storms off, and scopes out the next room. Eponus sighs. Merriweather approaches Lissa. ¡°So why did you become an adventurer anyway?¡± Lissa sports a shocked expression after hearing the elven druid¡¯s question. ¡°Oh um, I just felt like I exploring the world, that¡¯s all.¡± They draw a card from their stardeck. Bronda approaches Merryweather, ¡°I heard they came from something called a ¡®sect¡¯,¡± she says while tinkering with some arcane bombs. ¡°A sect?¡± the druid asks. The artificer shrugs as she tinkers with her gauntlet. ¡°Prolly not best to pry into things,¡± she says. Lissa overhears them and shies away. ¡°It is because I¡¯m¡­¡± They think. ¡°If it was because of that, they wouldn''t have joined this group,¡± the ranger says as she canters towards the lamia. Lissa¡¯s face makes a wide-eyed expression of shock. ¡°You¡¯re really bad at hiding your emotions,¡± Eponus says. ¡°I don¡¯t know about wherever else, but the guilds will accept anyone regardless of who they are. Trust me, you¡¯re in good company.¡± ¡°U-um, thank you,¡± Lissa says. She draws her three cards. They are the Taurus, Chameleon, and Telescopum cards. She saves these cards for later. ¡°The other room¡¯s clear, just a rigged chest,¡± Faye says. The party enters the next room and examines the chest. ¡°What do you think will pop out?¡± Bronda says. ¡°A mimic?¡± Eponus asks. He obverses that there are no other pathways. ¡°That would be pretty nasty to deal with,¡± the druid says. He senses something in the air. The presence of others. ¡°Maybe they decided to hand out the treasure?¡± Lissa asks. ¡°It¡¯s against the guild¡¯s rules,¡± Bronda answers. ¡°The church and scripture claim that the Forgemaster created Dungeons to serve as training grounds. To leave a coffer like this out in the open is against his very wishes,¡± the druid says. ¡°Come to think of it,¡± Lissa says. ¡°How did you guys meet?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve been together for a while,¡± Eponus says. ¡°Merriweather and I were the first, then we found Carlos and Faye after a few dungeon runs.¡± ¡°I hired them to guard me while I was handing off my company to my heirs,¡± Bronda says. ¡°Wait, what?¡± Lissa asks. ¡°Oh yeah I had a business focusing on magitech research,¡± the dwarfette says. ¡°My kids are in charge now. How about you?¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± the lamia says. ¡°I was kicked out of my village.¡± ¡°Is it because¡ª¡± the centaur asks. ¡°It wasn¡¯t because of that,¡± referring to their nature as not quite female or male. ¡°I had attempted some thaumaturgical sigils and¡­¡± ¡°You caused an accident that destroyed part of the town?¡± Eponus says. The lamia meekly nods. ¡°That¡¯s rough,¡± Bronda says. ¡°It was an accident, I swear!¡± they say. ¡°I know,¡± the centaur says. ¡°You never struck me as the type to do things maliciously.¡± ¡°Quite,¡± Carlos says. ¡°We all made our mistakes.¡± ¡°Some more costly than others,¡± Faye taps her shoulder. ¡°So are we ready?¡± the dwarfette asks. ¡°Seems like opening this chest is the only way forward.¡± ¡°We only have a half hour,¡± Eponus says. ¡°We must make haste.¡± The others nod and Eponus attempts to open the chest. ??? The room goes dark. Lissa impulsively thinks of trying to use her light-aspected cards to light the room, before remembering they already drew their sleeve. ¡°On your guard,¡± Merriweather says. His pointed ears pick up the sound of giggles and chuckles. ¡°R-right!¡± the lamia says. Faye draws her bow, her arrows are laced with chemicals that are designed to paralyze their targets. Eponus also draws his bow. He uses the fiery arrows as a torch to light the room. Carlos assumes a fighting stance with his arms, drawing on his boxing training. Bronda takes some drones out and sends them to find a light switch. The machines crawl around the floor but fail to find anything used for illuminating the room. The elvish druid takes his runestones and uses them to arrange a spell that would light the room. The group is shocked to discover eight young girls before them. ¡°You did well to make it this far, travelers,¡± says one of them, a blond centaur with a cheerful smile on her face. ¡°But this is where your little trek ends,¡± another says. Her cyan hair and glasses framed a stoic cold expression. ¡°Witches? Here?¡± Merriweather says. ¡°I¡¯d appreciate it if you do not refer to us as witches,¡± says the purple-haired girl, in an ironic contrast to her attire. The minotaur among this group notices Carlos. Carlos in turn sees a look of apprehension in his counterpart¡¯s eyes. Faye instead sees her own counterpart leaning on a giant metal fan with an absentminded look on her face. A blue-haired clionid mermaid swims around the group. ¡°I see there is a druid around you guys. You know I already expressed an interest in druidic arts,¡± she says. Merriweather glares at the mermaid. The elf notices the knight she brandishes as she swims around the area. The mermaid then notices the minotaur boxer, ¡°I hope you¡¯ll pull your punches,¡± she says. ¡°This is our first fight as Sentinels.¡± She then giggles. ¡°You first,¡± Eponus says. ¡°Already ahead of you,¡± the red-winged girl says, having been made aware of the effects of the dungeon¡¯s ¡°Fair Fight¡± skill. Lissa then stares at her shorter, pinker counterpart. The other lamia boasts a confident expression. ¡°You face the Coloraturas, seekers of justice. Protectors of the weak!¡± Bronda turns to the group of young Sentinels. ¡°So we fight you, we win the run, got it.¡± The dwarf cracks her knuckles. ¡°Now then, let the show begin!¡± the lamia says as the arena is lit once more. With less than a half-hour remaining, Everyone prepares for a fight. ??? Hidden from the visitors are special seats Emily has made for certain spectators. Charlotte, Euryale, Stheno, Nina, Tim, and Kasumi watch the fight begin. Strelitzia is the first to attack, she tries to swing her axe at Faye, but Carlos intercepts it and blocks the weapon with his armored cestus. Strelizia is knocked from the recoil and attacks to use the moment to her advantage. Carlos however lands the left hook before she can land her blow. She is knocked back several feet. The minotauride glares at Carlos. ¡°You think that will be enough to topple me?¡± Faye fires an arrow at Streltizia, but she uses her wand to create a wall of rock to intercept the shot and lift herself into the air. She tries to slash at Carlos with the axe, but Carlos parries it. He notices that there is a ferocity to her attacks and that they seem focused on him specifically. ¡°Where¡¯s the fire?¡± Carlos says. ¡°Shut up!¡± Strelitzia says she makes another heavy swing. Clover rushes to Streltizia¡¯s aid, using gusts of wind to throw off Fawn¡¯s aim as she tries to fire more arrows at the minotauride. Anemone provides support to Clover by firing her own arrows. The fawn herbalist notices and tries to aim at her winged counterpart, but she finds her arm grew heavier for some reason. She sees an arrow has landed on her shadow. Before she could react, Faye collapses to the ground. She tried to get up, but the increased gravity forbade her. Carlos is distracted by Strelitzia to notice Faye is unable to move. The two minotaurs try to attack each other, but each dodges the other¡¯s attack. ¡°You¡¯re a feisty one,¡± Carlos says as he tries to land a left hook on Strelitzia. ¡°I won¡¯t let you eat me!¡± The young girl says to Carlos. ¡°What?¡± Carlos thinks. He has no time to dwell on the baseless accusation as Strelitzia uses her axe to trip Carlos. The boxer and tactician collapses on the ground and sees Strelitzia stand on him. She uses her wand to conjure up earth to bind him to the ground. ¡°There! Gnaw on some dry leather for a change!¡± Streltiiza says. ¡°What in the name of Crete is that supposed to mean!?¡± Carlos asks. ¡°Hmph,¡± Streltizia says. ¡°Disgusting¡­¡± She leaves the two to focus on the other four. Carlos struggles to free himself. Meanwhile, Lyssa had used the Telescopum card she had drawn to enhance her vision. She gazes around the arena. Looking for the clionid. She suddenly grows wet and turns around. ¡°You¡¯re quite the starry-eyed lamia,¡± Azalea says with a giggle as she swims around. ¡°Um, thanks?¡± Lissa says. ¡°You¡¯ll need more than that to defeat us!¡± Azalea enchants her knife with water and makes a swift swing with the blade. A stream of water emerges from the blade as she tries to slash the androgynous lamia. Lyssa dodges, but sees part of the water land on her robes and leave a cut on it. She takes the Taurus card and uses it. ¡°Ta¡ªTaurus!¡± Her mind is overcome with a berserker rage as astral horns form on her head. Overcome with bloodlust, she slithers around and charges at the mermaid. Bronda sees Lyssa going mad and tries to help, but she has to deal with Rose and Lily. Her drones are short-circuited by the pigtailed lamia¡¯s lightning strikes. Lily uses her light magic to focus these bolts into linear rays of light and lightning. The dwarf leaps to avoid the beam. Hydrangea and Raine fight Eponus and Merriweather. The centaur ranger tries to fire his arrows at them, but the two Coloraturas create a veil of steamy fog to obscure his vision. The druid uses his connection with nature to beckon the ground to bind them. Roots starting to piece through the floor of the Black Box. Leaving behind ripples. Raine dodges the roots emerging from the ground, while Hydrangea freezes them. Raine then throws her rings at the druid and ranger. But the two woodsmen evade the attacks of the hot chakram. Faye and Carlos are still pinned to the ground. The fawn tries to move her arm towards her arrows while the minotaur tries to break the rock that binds them. Carlos sees Merriweather fighting with Raine and Hydrangea. ¡°A little help here?¡± The elf sees his two comrades trapped and uses his staff to direct the nature beneath them to free them. The roots break the earthen bindings on Carlos and he in turn kicks the arrow from Faye¡¯s shadows. Faye¡¯s gravity returns to normal and Carlos helps her up. ¡°Thanks,¡± the fawn says. The three are then assailed by blobs of multicolored gel, a result of Azalea and Hydrnagea combining their magic. They try to avoid the spheres of sticky mass. Merriweather is soon hit by one of the blobs of gel and his left is stuck to the ground. He tries to use his staff, but another hits his arm and pins him to the ground. Carlos tries to block the subsequent attacks. Faye uses her supplies to try to craft a potion that can harden and enfeeble the gel bindings while Carlos tries to stop the attacks from the mermaid and the bespectacled girl. Meanwhile, Streltizia is fighting the still-berserk Lissa. Streltizia has flashbacks to her time with her family, and then flashbacks to her parents¡¯ bloodied corpses. ¡°No, I am not like them!¡± she thinks as she locks her weapons with the spectral horns of the lamia. She then has visions of times gone by. She saw her fellow minotaurs eat dinner, and several humanoid bones were left on their plates. Hers being the lone exception. With a furor, she takes her axe and swings it at the purple lamia. His axe knocks Lissa to the wall. The Taurus card¡¯s power faces and her mind returns to normal. She sees an angry Streltizia and panicky uses the Chameleon card to vanish from sight. The minotauride sees her opponent fade away while breathing heavily. With her current opponent gone, she moves to protect her other friends. ??? Emily notices something is off with Stretlizia as she observes the battle within her. ¡°Something isn¡¯t off,¡± Emily thinks. She notices Stretlizia¡¯s more vicious demeanor in this fight. Meanwhile, The Coloraturas have fought Eponus¡¯ party for fifteen minutes. There are fifteen minutes left before Eponus, Merriweather, Carlos, Lissa, Faye, and Bronda are ejected from the Black Box. Clover uses her staff and fan to summon a cyclone to try to push the intruders. Hydrangea uses her ice magic in an attempt to frostbite their opponents. Carlos is encased in Gel, and with Merriweather now freed, Faye attempts to free her minotaur ally from his bindings. Eponus tries to fire flaming arrows, but the wind throws them off course. Eventually one of them lands on Rose¡¯s tail, between the segmented armor that coats it¡ªthe flame-tipped arrow. The younger Lamia feels the burn on her tail as she slithers in pain. ¡°Focus,¡± Rose thinks. She tries to use her lightning spells, but Eponus gallops away from the imminent strikes. Her accuracy is hindered by the singed tail distracting her. Strelitzia rushes to Rose¡¯s aid and uses a combination of her earth magic and her axe to block the arrows. ¡°I won¡¯t let you hurt them any more!¡± The gel that coats Carlos is hardened by Faye¡¯s potions. The fawn and the elven druid work to break the fragile encasing and free Carlos. As they dine so Faye remembers her younger winged counterpart is the cause of the winds buffeting them and tries to observe her attacks for an opening. Lissa slithered to near Clover as the Chamaeleon card¡¯s effects faded. Faye saw them emerge and sight and nocked an arrow near them. Clover sees the arrow coming and dodges it. ¡°Did you know that the headwinds can slow arrows down,¡± Clover says at the beginning of a long-winded tangent. In her distracted rambling, she fails to notice the purple-tailed and androgynous Lamis behind her. Lissa draws a card from the star deck. The card revealed resembles a lowercase ¡°m¡± with a pointed tail. They realize that it is the symbol of their astral Card, Scorpio. Lissa knows what she must do. they hold the card in front of them. ¡°Scorpio!¡± they call out. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡°Huh?¡± Clover hears Lissa¡¯s cray, but before she can turn, she is stung by Lissa¡¯s tail, now changed into an insectoid stinger. They inject Venom into her neck. The peryton fawn collapsed from the envenomated nervous system lying unconscious on the ground. A small drop of saliva drips from her mouth as her eyes lie open in her sudden torpor. The minotauride hears the thud from Clover as the gale ceases. ¡°Clover!¡± she calls out. She and Rose try to come to her aid, but Rose is hit by an arrow from Faye and is rendered paralyzed. Whirl Carlos intercepts Stretlizia. ¡°You¡­you¡¯ll pay for that!¡± the young girl says as she clashes with Carlos. The boxer trades blows with the younger axe-wiling girl. Her axe parries his hooks and uppercuts, while his cestus-clad fists block her swings. His goal is not to calm her down, but instead to distract her. Strelitzia, distracted by Carlos, is struck by an arrow from Faye and is unable to move. Carlos places a finger on her forehead and gently pushes her to the ground. Three of the Colorturas are defeated, but the remaining five are determined to prevail in their first stint as Sentinels. Anemone launches a volley of arrows at the shadows of Eponus and his party, trying to pin them down while Raine and Lily try to fight them. Lily¡¯s lance and Raine¡¯s chakrams strike at the party as Eponus aims at the lycanthropic girl. Twelve minutes are left on the clock. Azalea floods the room with her water magic. ¡°Hide tide is coming!¡± the clionid says. Raine gets the three unconscious girls to safety as she sees that they are turning into golden dust. As Rose, Streltiiza, and Clover vanish, Raine with a fire in her eyes swoops in at Eponus and his party. Her attacks take Carlos out of the fight. Merriweather beckons the ground to his call with runestones. Rootes emerged from the flooded floor, draining some of the water behind Raine. Faye takes one of her arrows and takes aim at Raine, striking the phoenixian girl with a paralyzing arrow and rending her body numb. Lissa, still under the influence of the Scorpio card, takes down Hydrangea with her empowered tail¡¯s venom. The ice-wilding girl is unable to move with the dark venom inside her and falls on eh damp ground. Lissa¡¯s card¡¯s effect fades and her tail is turned back to normal. She tries to draw a card but is frozen by Hydrangea before she collapses into a numb trance. Anemone leaps onto the ground, trying to snipe at the opponents at a closer range, but the herbalist and ranger can parry her arrows with her own and Bronda restrains her with her drones. Lily attempts to gallop to Anemone but Faye has sniped her with her arrows. Eponus meanwhile aims at Azalea, now the last Colortura standing. Less than ten minutes remain. Azalea manages to use the water to defeat Bronda and Merriweather, leaving only Eponus and Faye to try to fight her. Faye throws one of her potions at a frozen Lissa, hoping to corrode the ice that encases them. The centaur ranger fires arrows at Azalea, but the mermaid¡¯s nimble movements evade the arrows. ¡°This is rather pointless,¡± she quips as she throws her knife at him. Eponus uses his bow to deflect the projectile. Azalea swims to reclaim her weapon and leaves behind pillars of spouts in her wake. One such spout emerges beneath Faye and propels into the air, separating her from her bow. Lissa is freed by Faye¡¯s potion as Faye herself is knocked out by the spout. They see Azalea fighting Eponus and immediately draw a card. The card depicts a symbol in the shape of a bird¡¯s torso viewed from the side. The symbol of the Columba card. They have an idea and slither as close to the mermaid as possible. Azalea flashes a kind smile as she is face to face with Eponus. Five minutes remain on the timer. ¡°That¡¯s all folks,¡± she says as she attempts to strike the ranger down. Before she could land the finishing blow. Lissa manages to place the metal card on the mermaid and activate it. Her aggression dimension along with her will to fight. ¡°I suddenly feel tired.¡± The Columba card lulls her to a peaceful sleep. The last of the Coloraturas are defeated with only three minutes to spare and fade into gold dust flying in the air. The chest in the room is now unlocked. With only minutes to spare. Eponus gallops to the coffer and relives it of the contents. He sees an axe, a hammer, several staffs, two talbards, an archer¡¯s breaches and several arrows and spools of dreamcloth, as well as several coins. Eponus sees Faye wake up while claiming the treasures. ¡°What did you use for these arrows?¡± The fawn herbalist grasps her shoulder. ¡°Atropine from the belladonna plants of course. You got the loot?¡± Eponus nods. A minute later, he and his party are wisked away to outside the Black Box. ??? A while later, the Coloraturas emerge from their pods, their bodes reconstructed after their defeat at the hands of Eponus and his party. Nina and Charlotte left with their mothers to further reinforce the jungle. ¡°We lost?¡± Rose cries out. ¡°Can¡¯t win them all,¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoes to the witches. ¡°Still you tried your best.¡± ¡°If that is our best¡­¡± Rose sulks. ¡°Then we have no chance against that other dungeon!¡± ¡°That¡¯s not true,¡± Tim says. ¡°We still have time to prepare.¡± ¡°Besides,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°The purpose of these visits is to help us improve as much as it is to help them improve.¡± Rose sighs. ¡°Cheer up,¡± Lily says with her unflinching smile. ¡°There¡¯s always next time!¡± ¡°I guess,¡± Rose says. Emily¡¯s voice echoes to Stretlizia. ¡°Stretlizia, is something the matter?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Stretlizia says. ¡°You were acting unusually viscous when fighting that other minotaur.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about,¡± the minotauride says. Clover makes a sad expression upon hearing Emily¡¯s inquiry. Azalea notices something off with Streltizia¡¯s tone. Atsuko arrives. ¡°How is everyone feeling today?¡± ¡°Fine!¡± Lily says. ¡°We¡¯re doing my labrys next right?¡± Strelitzia says. ¡°Correct!¡± the nekomata says to the young girls. ¡°The Kaguya Parallel Mirror and Microcosm Viewer are ready, we just need that axe and we¡¯re good to go.¡± Stretlizia hands Atsuko the Axe. ¡°What do you think that microdugneon will be like?¡± Lily asks with curiosity. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Streltizia says. ¡°If the previous visit is any indication,¡± Anemone says. ¡°We should expect Stretlizia¡¯s memories to have some influence.¡± ¡°That is something to consider,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°My¡­memories?¡± Stretlizia says. She begins to realize the implications. ¡°Um, maybe we can take a rain check on¡ª?¡± She notices that Atsuko has already left the room. ¡°Try to eat first,¡± Emily says. ¡°It¡¯s lunchtime.¡± Strelitzia is overcome with a sense of dread. Clover approaches her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m sure, they won¡¯t influence the dungeon that much.¡± ¡°I hope you¡¯re right, Clover,¡± the minotauride says. Later, the girls have lunch, prepared by Carla and Charlotte in advance. After they finish their lunch they meet up with Elizabeth, Atsuko, Tim, and Heathcliff. ¡°Heard your first stint didn¡¯t do so hot,¡± the knight says. ¡°Yeah,¡± Rose sighs. Azalea looks at the labrys attached to the Kaguya Parallel Mirror. ¡°So are we ready? We got an axe to grind!¡± she says with a cheerful look. Heathcliff looks at Stretlizia. He notices the minotauride has a look of dread on her face. ¡°Something wrong, cher?¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Like I¡¯d tell you,¡± Streltizia says. Heathcliff knows something is off. ¡°What happened?¡± Heathcliff thinks. Emily¡¯s telepathy hears that thought and tells him about the orange Coloratura¡¯s reaction to another minotaur¡¯s presence. ¡°Alright, so we have two hours before the next wave comes, yes?¡± Atsuko says ¡°Oui,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Though Since Clara is still working on the jungle, these next waves will be done with the Spider Construct, the Coloraturas, and Tim each.¡± ¡°That should give us time to do one item between runs,¡± Hoshikage walks in with Kasumi in tow. ¡°Kei, Kasumi, and I will handle the mirror, so if you want to see the mircrodugneons firsthand Lizzie¡­¡± ¡°Oh, um, thank you,¡± the fairy says. ¡°I¡¯ll also tag along,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°So that¡¯s me, Emily, Heathcliff, Elizabeth, and Stretlizia,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°Any other volunteers,¡± ¡°Me! Me! I wanna go!¡± Nina dangles down from the ceiling. ¡°Nina?¡± Tim says. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Emily says. ¡°Mommy says I can help you guys with your expedition!¡± Atsuko is taken a little aback by the spiderling¡¯s desire to accompany them. ¡°It is rather dangerous. ¡°So? You let them go with you.¡± Nina gestures to the eight witches. She continues to harp on the matter until Atsuko relents and lets her come. ¡°Yay!¡± she cheers. ¡°Anyone else?¡± Atsuko says. ¡°Nope,¡± Strelizia says. ¡°Can we¡ª¡± ¡°I wanna go!¡± Azalea says. ¡°Here are so many questions I want to ax!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go too!¡± Lily says. ¡°I¡¯m sure it will be fun!¡± ¡°But¡ª¡± Streltizia says. Anemone sees Streltizia act suspiciously. ¡°Is something the matter?¡± Strelitzia tries to find an answer. ¡°What if the axe is more dangerous than that spear? What if there are dangerous monsters inside?¡± ¡°I think we can handle it!¡± Rose says. ¡°It¡¯s not like they would be worse than that party from earlier.¡± Clover tries to help Strelitzia make her case. ¡°But what if they are? There is a chance that they¡ª¡± ¡°¡ªcould be as powerful as the Engines.¡± Hydrangea interrupts. ¡°In that case, if we can beat that, then we can take a swing at old smog breath when he comes,¡± Azalea says. Rose notices that Strelitzia is coming off like she doesn''t want her or their friends to accompany her. ¡°Is something wrong?¡± ¡°No, of course not!¡± Streltizia says. ¡°Are you sure,¡± Raine says. ¡°If you want we could sit this¡ª¡± ¡°That won¡¯t work,¡± Hoshikage says. ¡°We need Streltizia to enter the microdugneon in her labrys.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you remove it and try another weapon then?¡± Raine says. ¡°We could, but,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°It would delay the trips by a day and with the Engines marching towards our doorstep that means we¡¯d be all the weaker for the inevitable confrontation. We need to make every second count.¡± Strelitzia sighed, realizing that it was too late to change things. ¡°Fine,¡± she grumbles. ¡°Alright!¡± Rose says. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± The party is decided and will be led by Atsuko, Emily, and Streltizia, while also having the other Coloraturas, Heathcliff, Elizabeth, Tim, and Nina. Everyone but Emily is prepared to enter their pods as Hoshikai and Kasumi activate the Takarabune and send it towards the labrys with the Femtonauts already inside. ??? Through the Femtonauts and Emily¡¯s avatara. The party¡¯s minds are streamed into the labrys¡¯ microdugneon. They are immensely greeted by the sight of white, black, and brown marble walls, Doric architecture, and gardens that feel like forests. Strelitzia takes a look around the microdugneon of her weapons and sees no reminders of her past. No memories she has to hide from the other Coloraturas. She soon feels her waist-length hair grow wet. ¡°Azalea!¡± the minotaur says. ¡°It wasn¡¯t me,¡± the mermaid says. ¡°Look!¡± The party looks up and sees that the tessellating sky is now shrouded by dark and stormy clouds. Rain falls from the sky as the sound of thunder roars in the distance. ¡°Interesting,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°So microdungeons can exhibit weather and climate patterns as well.¡± The party takes shelter In one of the many corridors of the dungeon. The floor is labyrinthine in structure with black images of bulls overlaid on the bronze and marble walls. As is someone took a Macedonian vase and designed the walls after it. Stretlizia draws her staff, the fragrance of the Apus Astra flower on it fills her nostrils as she moves her wand around. Her arm trembles as she moves it. Anemone notices her minotaur friend¡¯s shaky movements. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Streltizia says. ¡°Just not used to not having my axe on me.¡± Anemone and Clover notice that Stretlizia is more tense than usual. ¡°Are you¡ª¡± ¡°She says she¡¯s fine,¡± Clover says. Anemone looks at Streltizia and shrugs. ¡°Thanks,¡± Stretlizia says. ¡°Don¡¯t mention it!¡± Clover says. Atsuko examines the walls. ¡°Let¡¯s see, the Doric architecture makes sense. Crete is where most of the minotaurs are from. The vase-like walls are a strange detail though.¡± The pitter-patter of the rain and the thunderous notice are drowned out by the sounds of flickering flames, taurine noises, and a haunting melody. The party soon comes across a large crevasse, surrounded by mirrors. ¡°Dead end it looks like,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Maybe Elizabeth, Azalea, and Raine could carry us?¡± Lily says with her unflappable smile. ¡°Lily,¡± Azalea says. ¡°You know I can¡¯t carry you across, the gap between my strength and that needed to carry a growing centauride is as insurmountable as this gap.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Lily says. ¡°Maybe we could leap across?¡± Emily says. ¡°Doubt it,¡± Tim says while touching an invisible barrier. Nina tries climbing the walls, but they are as slippery as they are reflective, and her spider legs are unable to grasp the smooth surfaces/ She tries to make a wed, but her threads are as unable to attach to the walls as her legs. ¡°Drat!¡± she says. She then notices something in the reflection. A red tile, she looks behind her to where the tile would be but sees nothing there. She then looks back and sees the tile in the reflection. ¡°Hey, is this mirror playing tricks on me?¡± Streltizia sees Nina glaring at the mirror and inches closer to it she too sees the red tile. ¡°Okay¡­¡± an idea forms in her mind as she uses her staff to conjure a rock and lift it over where the photon tole is before dropping it. To everyone¡¯s shock, the rock landed on an invisible floor. ¡°What in the?¡± Rose says. ¡°Look at the mirrors,¡± Strelitzia says. Everyone does so and finds there is a path of tiles visible in the reflective walls but not in the gap in front of them. Strelitzia climbs onto the boulder and makes another boulder, using the reflections as a guide. Before long she bridges the gap by making builders from thin air and plopping them over the invisible tiles. The others follow her as she crosses the gap to the other side. Once everyone had crossed, the boulders suddenly fell down into the pit and the red tiles had vanished in the reflections. ¡°Invisible pathways, huh?¡± Heathcliff muses on whether the and Emily could sue the idea. As they traverse the labyrinth. Clover and Hydrangea talk about certain myths involving the mazes, to Streltizia¡¯s mild discomfort. The party eventually arrives at an unusual room. A crimson arch stands before them. ¡°Is that¡­meat I smell?¡± Atsuko says. She takes another whiff. ¡°Ugh, it¡¯s rancid!¡± The stench emanating from the gate reeked of rotting flesh. Strelitzia ignored any conversation surrounding the smelly gate as Emily approached. Pinching the nose of her Avatara, Emily touches the space between the arch, and everyone is engulfed in light. They emerge on the second floor of the microdugneon. They find the white marble has grown a little grayer. They turn back the arch and smell nothing from this one. Instead, they see two keystones instead of the one on the previous floor¡¯s arch. The party continues on their path and Stretlizia sees that the murals on the walls now depict fallen humans and demi-humans beneath the bulls, and that some of the columns were replaced by statues of forks and knives. She hopes no one with her catches on to the implications of these symbols. ??? Streltiiza and her group search the maze for the other arch. The maze¡¯s walls shift as they try to find the arch leading to the third floor. Along the way, Strelizia unusually quivers in jumpiness. Something that surprises the rest of the group, especially the other Coloraturas. ¡°Is she okay?¡± Azalea says. ¡°She¡¯s usually more confident.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Rose says. ¡°It¡¯s like she¡¯s scared of something,¡± ¡°I¡¯m not scared!¡± Strelitzia could overhear their discussion of her. Though she tries to present a facade of bravery, her jittery movements tell a different tale. Clover is the only one among them who knows the true reason why the minotaur is acting unusual. She approaches Strelitzia. ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t want to tell them, Stre?¡± the fawn whispers. ¡°Tell them what?¡± Strelitzia whispers. ¡°You know,¡± Clover whispers. ¡°They¡¯ll hate me,¡± the horned girl says. ¡°They¡¯ll think I¡¯m a monster.¡± While Streltizia and Clover whisper among themselves, Azalea notices the cutlery-themed statues. ¡°Stre, do you think you¡¯re axe is hungry?¡± she asks. Strelitzia ignores Azalea''s question. Meanwhile, Emily, Heathcliff, and Elizabeth look at the murals on the walls. ¡°These seem to depict bulls trampling over people,¡± the fairy says. ¡°Do you know where she got the labrys, Lizzie?¡± Emily says. ¡°If I could hazard a guess,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°Strelitzia might¡¯ve obtained it from her family. I¡¯ve heard that [Minotaurs] often hand their children such weapons when they are of age. It might be a reminder of her parents.¡± ¡°Maybe we could ask her?¡± Emily says. ¡°I don¡¯t think I can help with that, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°The lass doesn¡¯t seem to trust me that much.¡± At that point, he notices a pungent odor. ¡°You smell something?¡± Emily and Elizabeth smell the area, aside from the flowers on the Coloratura¡¯s staves, they do not smell anything. Tim meanwhile talks to Atsuko about something. ¡°I know little about the cultivators,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°Even without the fear of extermination, they were not the kind of people who would want to share their knowledge easily barring cases like Wu Jingyu¡¯s. They could be analogized to Macedon¡¯s Mysteries in that regard.¡± ¡°What about Alkahestry?¡± Tim says. ¡°There are scant references to homunculi, but as an alchemist in general and a period where they wanted to obscure their knowledge for their own reasons, the interception had led to a reliance on symbolism to encrypt their works, this can be used to tell if this is mean to be literal or not. Of what the steps of Nigredo, Albedo, Cirtrinas, and Rubedo entailed. For all we know it could be an obtuse metaphor for something else entirely.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Tim says. He suddenly senses something approaching. ¡°Get back, something¡¯s coming.¡± Emily notices Tim is assuming a horse stance while facing one of the corridors. She draws her twin blades and rushes to his side as they try to anticipate what is coming next. For a few moments, there was no noise except for the ambient sound of crashing thunder. After those moments passed, the walls started to shift and a gigantic bull was suddenly seen charging toward them. The three dodge the beast as its headlong rush trampled the floor beneath them. Tim uses his Qiang to try to stab the beast, but the bull proves too fast for him. The bull rushes towards Clover and Streltizia. Clover is petrified by the sudden emergence of the bull. Strelitzia pushes Clover out of the way and the head of the bull collides with her body. Azalea sees the bull run off with a defiant yet terrified Streltizia and swims after the beast, using her water powers to conjure a sphere that is thrown at Clover¡¯s face. ¡°Come on!¡± Azalea yells. ¡°Don¡¯t be a deer in the headlights.¡± The water snaps Clover out of her stupor and she follows Azalea. The two Coloraturas try to chase the bull through the maze, getting separated from the others, Emily and Elizabeth try to find the bull through the shifting walls, while the others end up separated from them and each other. Strelitzia hands on for dear life to the phantasmal bull as it stampeded all around the maze. Clover uses her fan to create a tailwind to increase her and Azalea¡¯s speed, while Azalea tries to use water magic to hinder the movements. Streltizia manages to gain enough composure to try casting some spells of her own, she begins by conjuring a rock wall. The bull simply charges through it and breaks it. She tries again, hoping to at least slow it down so that she can leap off. The bull crashes through the second one and continues unhindered, the third is also destroyed, and the fourth was removed by a sliding wall before the bull would even make contact. The bull, carrying the young minotaur away is barely hindered by her attempts. Clover and Azalea catch up the the taurine beast and The former proposes them both onto the pull. They Streltizia holding onto the bull in panic. ¡°Stre!¡± Clover says. ¡°I¡¯m here!¡± The minotaur sees her green-haired friend beside her, and the blue-haired mermaid on her opposite side. They both grab her shoulders. ¡°Rodeo¡¯s over, cowgirl,¡± Azalea says. Strelitzia gulps and lets go of the fur of the bull. She and Clover leap while Azalea hover over and the three jump off the bull. The bull is unaware that its target had escaped its clutches as it charges away from them. Streltizia breathes heavily as Azelea looks at her. ¡°What is going on?¡± Azalea says. ¡°You¡¯re not usually this scared.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not scared!¡± Streltizia says. ¡°You were clinging onto the thing that kidnapped you for dear life!¡± the mermaid says. Clover shoots an understanding look at Stretlizia. The minotauride refuses to explain herself. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± she says. Black ooze spills out from her shoulder before receding. ¡°Stre¡­¡± Azalea says. ¡°Is there something you¡¯re not telling us?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be¡ª¡± the orange haired girl says before she sees what is behind them. A pair of statues. One depicting a minotaur looming over statue of a younger looking fawn, the latter is lying on a platter-like disk. Clover and Azalea turn and see the ghastly pair of stonework. Clover and Streltizia understood the significance of the statue, but Azalea does not. Streltizia¡¯s face bears a look of horror upon seeing it. ¡°No, I¡¯m not like that!¡± she blurts out. ¡°Like what?¡± Azalea says. ¡°The statues?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s just go,¡± Strelitzia says. As they leave Azelea notices a black stair on the ground. Meanwhile, Emily and Elizabeth are unable to find the bull and realize they are separated from everyone else. They did however find the second arch. Emily looks at the crimson archway. ¡°Should I touch it?¡± she asks Elizabeth. ¡°I don¡¯t know what would happen.¡± the fairy says. ¡°For all we know we could end up even more separated.¡± Before they could think about what to they they soon see a heard of bulls stampeding into them, the walls receding to make a straight path connecting them to the pair. As the stampede draws closer, emily tocues the vortex in the arch and the two are whisked away to the next floor. ??? Everyone arrives on the third floor, to everyone¡¯s surprise. They look back at the arch and see that it has one keystone but two voussoirs now ¡°How did we get here?¡± Tims says. ¡°We found the arch, ¡°Emily says. ¡°There were a bunch of bulls rushing toward us and¡­¡± ¡°So that means if Emily finds the entrance to the next floor, she can carry us along?¡± Rose says. ¡°That would make sense,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°The Takarabune was also carried with us between floors last time if you recall.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Nina says. ¡°What is that.¡± Atsuko gestures toward the shuttle-like ship near them. ¡°I¡¯m not going get into the specifics, I don¡¯t think you can comprehend them yet, but this is how we can transport the Femtonauts into the microdugneosn and get items back from them.¡± ¡°Wow!¡± Nina says. Strelitzia sees that the gray marble has grown even grayer and the image of human skeletons on disks now adorns the orange and black walls. The oranges and browns on the walls also looked redder than on the previous floors. ¡°Are you¡ª¡± Rose tries to ask ¡°I¡¯m fine, I¡¯m fine,¡± Streltizia says. ¡°Just stop asking that.¡± Rose looks at Clover and Azalea¡¯s faces, their concerned expressions tell a different tale. ¡°So we gots bulls and we got creepy murals,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°What¡¯s next?¡± ¡°We have delved three floors deep so far,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°There are some patterns, but we need to go deeper to confirm them.¡± Streltizia sighs. The group searches the maze for the next arch. The Coloraturas notice Streltizia¡¯s unusual behavior has increased as they do. They eventually find it and use it to head to the next floor of the microdungeon. ??? As the party travels through the microdugneon¡¯s layers. Strelitzia sees reminders of her past. With each floor traversed, the whites on the columns and ceilings darken, and the bronze hues of the walls shift to a more rusted scarlet color with each floor traversed. The murals and statues add more details such as people lying on the ground, minotaur shepherds overseeing cauldrons, and a line of youths being led into the labyrinth corridors. The young girls grow further on edge with each passing floor. They soon arrive on the fifth floor, the Doric columns are now more gray than white, and humanoid skeletons litter the floors. The party passes by several weapons among the pile of skeletons. Nina and Rose sight an axe among the discarded arms. They remove the bladed weapons and move toward Strelitzia afterward. ¡°Hey!¡± Rose calls out to the minotauride. ¡°Look what we found.¡± Strelitzia sees a rusted axe in the lamia¡¯s hand. The rust on the blade matches the hues of the foreboding walls. Strelitzia looks at the axe with apprehension. ¡°We notice you were struggling without your trusty labrys,¡± Rose says. ¡°We found this, so we thought you could use it in the meantime!¡± Strelitzia takes the rusty axe from Rose. ¡°Thanks,¡± she says. She feels an imbalance in the weight of the axe. ¡°No problem!¡± Rose says with a smile as she slithers away. Strelitzia takes a look at the coral-pink lamia. Nina looks at Stretlizia. ¡°How long did you two meet?¡± the spiderling says. ¡°About a few years,¡± the minotauride says. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Was she your first friend?¡± Nina says. ¡°No,¡± Streltizia says. ¡°Clover is.¡± ¡°Can you tell me how you met them?¡± Nina innocently asks. Beads of sweat drip from Streltizia¡¯s forehead. ¡°Um, I¡ªUm.¡± ¡°Hey, Nina!¡± Azalea swims towards the pair. ¡°Want to hear some of my new material?¡± The mermaid lures the spdierling away, to the minotauride¡¯s relief. Soon, Emily finds a red arch, with two keystones and four voussoirs. They use it to enter the sixth floor. A while later they emerge from the arch with a keystone and six voussoirs, the mark of the seventh floor of the labrys¡¯ microdugneon. Strelitzia is approached by Azalea. ¡°Can we talk?¡± the mermaid says. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Stretlizia tries to put up her usual tough personality, but Azalea sees through the facade. ¡°I have something I want to share,¡± the mermaid says. She gestures to a corner away from the others. Streltiiza is uncertain about following Azalea. ¡°Is this another one of your pranks?¡± she says. ¡°Nope,¡± Azalea says cheerily. ¡°Now come on!¡± she grabs the minotaur¡¯s arm and tugs her with her. Colver notices Azalea pulling Strelitzia and follows them. The three arrive at the corner. ¡°Fine, what it is?¡± Strelitzia says abrasively. Behind the trio is a horned shepherd-like figure wielding a pitchfork. ¡°I want to say I¡¯m sorry. I haven¡¯t been quite honest with you guys,¡± Azalea says. ¡°About what?¡± Clover says. The clionid begins to tell her tale. At the same time. Emily is searching for the arch. With her are Heathcliff and Atsuko. ¡°That last floor was rough,¡± the knight says. ¡°I¡¯ll say,¡± Emily says. ¡°I haven¡¯t expected the skeletons to move around.¡± ¡°They seem to be more focused on flight than fight,¡± Atsuko says. Heathcliff pinches his nose. ¡°Ugh, this whole place smells like death warmed over.¡± ¡°It certainly feels less clean than the earlier floors,¡± Atsuko says she sees puddles of dried blood on the floor and walls. Emily doesn''t smell anything, to her surprise. ¡°Huh what¡­¡± ¡°My nose is admittedly rather sensitive, cher,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Not that most dungeons cared, of course. It actually came in handy when trying to find people.¡± ¡°Like a human bloodhound?¡± Emily says. ¡°Not quite,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Those are usually over in Macedon, Gardenia, and Pacifica.¡± ¡°Noboru told me those tend to be a cynical bunch,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°They are rather loyal,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Playful too when you earned their trust.¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± Emily says. Elizabeth flutters in. ¡°Did you find something, Lizzie?¡± Emily says. ¡°Tim found the Arch,¡± the fairy answers. The group follows Elizabeth to where Tim is. Meanwhile, Azalea finishes her story. Clover and Strreltizia are shocked to hear it. ¡°You¡­what?¡± Streltizia says. ¡°Is this one of your stupid jokes?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not!¡± Azalea insists. ¡°And my jokes aren¡¯t stupid!¡± ¡°Why tell us this?¡± Clover says. ¡°I knew you guys had to know eventually,¡± Azalea says. ¡°But I wanted to make sure the time is right. Unfortunately, time decided to move up the schedule.¡± Stretlizia notices black ooze dripping from her pores, mixing with the sweat. ¡°But that should be impossible?¡± Clover says. ¡°Should it?¡± Streltizia says. ¡°After all, Emily and Rose managed to save Kaitlyn from herself, remember?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry for not telling you sooner,¡± Azalea says. ¡°Why now?¡± the minotauroid asks. ¡°Well,¡± Azalea rubs the back of her head. ¡°As I said time isn¡¯t on our side. It¡¯s always run away from us. But also¡­¡± Clover begins to understand the mermaid¡¯s motive. ¡°You have faith in us, our friendship?¡± ¡°Of course I do,¡± Azalea says. ¡°I think we¡¯ve been through too much for something like silly little dark secrets to tear us apart.¡± ¡°Did Whisper knew?¡± Streltizia says. ¡°They asked that I wait until the time is right,¡± Azalea says. ¡°Have you told anyone else?¡± Clover says. ¡°Just Hydra, right now.¡± Streltizia sighs. ¡°Look I know what you¡¯re trying to do, but I can¡¯t tell you. I just can¡¯t.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Azalea says. ¡°Just know that we won¡¯t think less of you.¡± Azalea cheerfully swims away. Streltizia sits down and breathes a heavy sigh Clover sits next to her. ¡°She¡¯s right,¡± Clover says. ¡°At least I think so.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Streltizia says. ¡°But.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve been through a lot back when we first met,¡± Clover says. Strelitzia begins to recall how she met Clover. How her parents had brought her to her a month before a rite of passage. ¡°Things would¡¯ve been different if we hadn¡¯t met. So much simpler,¡± Strelitiza says. ¡°But we wouldn¡¯t have met each other, or Rose, or Raine, or any of the others.¡± ¡°Should we tell them?¡± Streltizia wonders. The revelations of the mermaid have gripped her with fear. ¡°I don¡¯t want to be a monster, I really don¡¯t.¡± She looks around at the grotesque trappings of the maze, the innards of her own labrys, imbued with her mana and memories from years of use. Reminders of a past that haunted her still. ¡°You know Rose tries to be a kind and accepting girl,¡± the fawn says. ¡°Yeah, and Raine tries to put up a front,¡± Stretlitzia says. ¡°And Lily is ever so cheerful,¡± Clover says. ¡°Too cheerful to be honest,¡± the minotaur says. ¡°And we learned so much about Hydrangea back at that manor.¡± ¡°Tell me,¡± Clover says. ¡°Are you thinking of abandoning Azalea after what she told you?¡± ¡°What? Of course not?¡± Clover giggles. ¡°I heard from Anemone that she is stuff suffering from nightmares.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t be surprised. Those spiders know how to knock us out but they can¡¯t prevent dreams from happening, can they?¡± ¡°Not that they wanted to to begin with,¡± Clover says. ¡°The Arachne are always rather helpful.¡± She begins to stand up. ¡°You remember what Charlotte told us.¡± ¡°The demon, the kids and mana entanglement right?¡± ¡°Do you think she is a monster?¡± Clover says. ¡°Of course not, Clover!¡± Streltizia glares. ¡°What makes you think that?¡± ¡°I dunno, what makes you think our friends would leave us if they knew the truth?¡± The question shocks Strelitzia. ¡°The others were always gung ho about getting adopted if they found out how my parents died they¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯m certain they would understand if they knew,¡± Clover says. ¡°If they knew that you had no choice.¡± Strelitzia sighs. ¡°Rose is always prattling on about justice this, heroism that! How can you be so sure she won¡¯t see me as a monster.¡± ¡°How are you so sure she will?¡± Clover asks. ¡°After all she also wants to lend a helping hand to everyone she meets.¡± ¡°I¡¯m¡­I¡ª¡° Strelitzia sighs. ¡°Okay, you win.¡± She stands up. ¡°We¡¯ll tell Azalea at least.¡± Clover smiles at Strelitzia¡¯s response. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°I can only hope you¡¯re right,¡± the minotaur says. A bright light soon engulfs them and everyone is whisked to the next floor. ??? They eventually arrive at the ninth floor, as evidenced by the arch now having a keystone and four pairs of voussoirs. As well as the near-black columns and the near-red walls. The maze, despite the lack of wear on the walls or columns, gives the feeling of being more like a ruin. Elizabeth and Heathcliff make sure everyone is accounted for. The rain intensifies as lighting is finally seen from the open sky above the labyrinth. For the first time, a replica of Streltizia¡¯s labrys is also visible at the center of the maze. ¡°We¡¯re almost there,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°Who knows what secrets this maze yields.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Streltizia says. ¡°Who knows? Hey, would it be alright if I talk to Azalea alone?¡± The mermaid¡¯s ears perk up upon hearing that. Emily says, ¡°Sure!¡± ¡°Is there something you want to say?¡± Azalea says. ¡°Not here,¡± the mintoauride whispers. ¡°Ah, gotcha,¡± Azalea says. The two wait until everyone else leaves to search the labyrinth for the next arch. Clover looks back as she leaves with Rose and Lily. ¡°Look, what I am about to tell you is something I don¡¯t want the others to know yet. Please keep this between us!¡± ¡°My lips are sealed!¡± Azalea says while bringing her fingers across her lips. ¡°Alright,¡± Strelitzia says. ¡°Here goes¡­¡± Meanwhile, Tim, Hydrangea, and Anemone confront a bull that is nearby. Throughout the party¡¯s trek through the floors, they had observed the bull¡¯s attributes and weaknesses. Anemone uses her darkness magic to befuddle the bull and cause it to see double. The bovine tries to gore Tim, but the ailment ensures it is unable to. Hydrangea tries to freeze the beast¡¯s legs to immobilize it but even addle it can break through the ice binds. Tim deft misses its inaccurate charge and counters the bull with a simultaneous elbow and knee strike. The nightmarish bull is pushed back a few feet and slams into a wall. Time makes a charging step and follows up with palm strikes. Anemone steps on the shadow cast by the bull to prevent it from moving and Hydrangea assists her by freezing the Bull¡¯s legs. The bull is unable to break free and the cyan-haired girl seals it in an icy coffin. At the time time, Atsuko fires several arrows from the longbow. The shots hit a nearby bull and enfeeble with. Elizabeth and Emily use Bardsong to strike the bull with Lighting, the arrows being used to cause it to bound all over the bull¡¯s body. The taurine beast is felled. Elizabeth sneezes. ¡°We should¡¯ve brought an umbrella,¡± the fairy laments. ¡°How is the Avatara functioning, Emily?¡± Atsuko says. ¡°It¡¯s doing great.¡± Emily looks at the various walls. She sees the grotesque images on them and wonders how much of them is the result of the labrys and how it is from Stretlizia¡¯s memories. Heathcliff meanwhile fights another bull as the walls shift around them. He manages to block its attempt to gore him. ¡°Woo-ee, a swamp would smell better than you,¡± He says to the beast. The bull charges at Heathcliff, but he rolls out of the way and his horns instead collide with the wall. The walls shift and Emily and her group find Heathcliff fighting the bull. Emily hums three notes to enchant her blades in light as she helps her dungeon master fight off the bull. Through the combined efforts of Heathcliff, Emily, Atsuko, and Elizabeth, the beast eventually falls. ¡°These bulls are a load,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Why are they so tough?¡± ¡°That might be because Sarah and Richard upgraded the labrys,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°The Cyberowkrs were designed to be adaptive remember?¡± ¡°¡­oh,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°We should get moving,¡± Emily says. The part contineus their search frot eh arch. While the others were searching for the arch. ¡°So there you have it,¡± Strelitzia finishes. Azalea makes a surprised expression. ¡°¡­wow. So you did..?¡± The minotauride nods. The room where they were talking stays silent for a few moments. ¡°I don¡¯t know what to say,¡± Azalea says. Streltizia sighs. ¡°Are you¡ª¡° ¡°I do now I¡¯m not leaving you behind!¡± Azalea interrupts. ¡°You did it to save Clover from being eaten right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°And they were blocking you from doing that?¡± ¡°Right.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not the ideal outcome,¡± Azalea says. ¡°But I understand at least.¡± Streltitzia feels like a weight has been lifted from her. She observes her arms and can see no trace of the black ooze. ¡°I¡¯m glad you were able to get that off you chest,¡± the mermaid says. ¡°I don¡¯t think I could stomach being in your shoes that day.¡± Strelitzia chuckles before catching herself. There is a suddenly flash of blinding light as levin touches the ground. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± the blue haired mermaid says. ¡°I won¡¯t tell a peep. You should be the one to tell them.¡± ¡°I know,¡± the minotauride says. ¡°I will, when I¡¯m ready.¡± ¡°So with that out of the way¡­¡± Azalea says. ¡°I think you should be the one to tell them about yourself,¡± the orange-haired girl says. ¡°It just doesn''t feel right for me to tell them.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± Azalea playfully salutes as she says that. ¡°So you say you don¡¯t really much before that?¡± ¡°Nope,¡± Azalea says. ¡°Could barely recall my parents.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Stretlizia says. ¡°If not your fault,¡± Azalea says ¡°No I mean for not trusting you more.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Azalea says. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. All water under the bridge now.¡± A second flash engulfs them, and when it fades they too vanished. ??? The party arrives at the tenth floor of the microdungeon of Stretlizia¡¯s labrys. They immediately notice that this floor is vastly different from the previous one. Instead of a maze, a pitch-black amphitheater looms over them. ¡°Everyone ready?¡± Emily says. Tim, Elizabeth, Heathcliff, Atsuko, Nina, and most of the Coloraturas give their responses. The one exception is Strelitzia. The minotauride is lost in thought over the sight of the amphitheater. She recalls that the labrys she wielded were given to her as a part of her rite of passage, imported by Macedon itself and gifted from her parents. It was her only memento of her parents. She recalls who was the first to bleed by its blades with a lamentation of the irony involved. ¡°I¡¯m ready,¡± Strelitzia says. ¡°Let¡¯s put this labor to rest.¡± The party enters the amphitheater. Prepared to face what lies within. They rush into the center of the structure, surrounded by specters of minotaurs on the seats of the arena. ¡°What is this place?¡± Rose says. ¡°Seems like the people here want a show,¡± Azalea says. Emily looks up at the sky. The tessellations visible through the eye of the storm above reveal the world outside the microdugneon. A ground trebles and quakes as the phantom speculators ritualistically cheer for the emerging beast. The core of the labrys microdungeon. A two-headed bull lands at the center of the amphitheater, it looms over the part with its labrys. Chains are seen around its torso and arms. But they do not connect to bull to anyone. Its body holds patterns resembling Macedonian art on its arms and chest, as well as patches of fur that resemble wounds. Stretlizia takes a look at the eyes of the beast. Cold, dead, lifeless, yet ravenous, wild and manic. She notices that one of the heads has broken horns while the other has sharpened ones. ¡°This looks like a rather, bullheaded individual.¡± Azalea quips. Emily notices that, unlike the more human-shaped heads of minotaurs like Strelitzia, the two-headed monsters are more bestial, closer to the heads of the bulls they encountered here in the microdungeon. The beast makes the first strike, swinging its chained labrys at the earth. Everyone leaps to avoid the shockwave. While in the air, Emily uses lightning magic to try to slay the beast, but the twin-headed behemoth¡¯ shrugs off the shocking spell like it had a body of rubber. One of the heads opens its wide maw, revealing teeth that are both irregularly spaced and serrated. Its forked tongue hangs outside its mouth as it launches fireballs from the mouth. The rain does little to stop the black fire from erupting from the bull¡¯s maw. Amenonie realizes that the dark fire is actually curse magic and rushes everyone to stay away from it. The fireballs land on the ground. Hydrangea creates a shield by freezing the rin and preventing the fire from reaching them. She then takes her grimoire and taps thaumaturgical glyphs from its pages, manifesting a spell that turns the thunderstorm into a snowstorm. The snow does little to prevent the beast¡¯s advances towards her. Streltizzia and Clover see Hydrangea is about to be attacked. ¡°No no no!¡± she cries out as she rushes to her friend¡¯s aid, with Clover changing the wind direction to help the minotaur move faster. She successfully blocks the opponent¡¯s own axe with the rusted one Rose gave her, but the clash causes the smaller and rusty axe to shatter into dozens of metal shards. Nina tried to use her web to root the beast to the ground, but the wet mud beneath meant that the two-headed monster was able to move their legs despite that. Stretlizia and Hydrangea try to fight off the beast while Heathcliff tries to grab its attention. Emily and Tim launch an assault of blade slashes and rapid thrusts against the Axe-wielding bull. The monster rears its axe high up in the sky. Its two heads snort as it prepares to slam it into the increasingly snow-cloaked mud. As it does so. Rose uses her staff and rapidly channels lightning towards the axe before slithering towards it thrusting with the thin sword. Unlike Emily¡¯s attack prior, Rose¡¯s spells were able to stun the beasts. Nina takes the opportunity to disarm the monster by using her web to pull the large axe away. The bull manages to grip the chain. Azalea swims to Streltizia and the two girls combine their powers to manipulate the mod, Rine then swipes in and uses her staff to set it ablaze and dry off the mud covering the feet of the bull. The beast is trapped for a few moments. ¡°Stre, over here!¡± Nina beckons to Streltizia and tries to hand the heavy axe. The minotauride tries to lift the heavy axe, but its weight means that she cannot wield it properly. Worse still the two-headed bull has its grip on the chain attached to it. The trapped bill tugs at the chain, pulling Streltizia closer to closer to it. As she tries to lift the axe, thoughts race into her mind. Memories of her time with her parents, her first encounter with Clover. The times she had talked to her against her parent¡¯s wishes and finally their escape. Filled with determination and adrenaline, she lifts the axe and swings it over her shoulder. The tension on the chain, as both the bull and Streltizia pull the weapon in opposite directions, causes it to break. With the chain broken Strletizlia is free to rush forward and attack the monster. ¡°You. Will. Not. Hurt. My. Friends!¡± she cries with each step she takes. She swings the heavy axe and strikes the side of the monster. With the landing of the attack, she flashes back to a memory of her and Clover looking over the corpses of her parents, tears streaming from her eyes as their faces are frozen in horror. Before returning to the present and moving the large axe in a crescent arc. The phantasmal crowd gasps as they witness their idol now has a gaping wound on its chest. The gladiatorial two-headed bull bellows in agony at the mortal wound and desperately spells toxic miasma from the other head in a desperate bid to take the opponents down with it. Emily, Tim, Elizabeth, and Clover counter with wind magic and technique that blow the miasma away and back towards the bull. The mist accelerates the already certain demise of the two-headed bull. It struggles to get up as flesh begins to melt off its bones. The corrosive mist causes it to crash onto the ground with a heavy thud before before dissipating. The corpse is soon buried in snow as the ghastly spectators vanish. Breathing heavily, Streltizia drops the heavy weapon and collapses to her knees. Clover and Azalea rush to her. ¡°Stre!¡± the peryton fawn cries. ¡°Are¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Streltizia says. ¡°Just need time to breathe.¡± The snow stops and the storm faces. The light shines on the ebon amphitheater A moment later, Strelitzia stands up. Fighting every urge to scream into the heavens in triumph. Atsuko looks at the children. ¡°We have defeated the core, for now at least.¡± ¡°For now?¡± Streltizia asks. ¡°Atsuko nods. ¡°I hypothesize that, unlike other dungeon cores, the microdugneons will repair their cores to protect the integrity of the item. As such if we return here again there is a high probability we will have to fight the monster again.¡± ¡°I ¡­I understand.¡± She stands up. ¡°Of course, it wouldn''t be that easy.¡± She looks at the blade of the giant axe and recognizes it as her own labrys, only larger. The weapon begins to shrink bereft of its wilder and the chains that bind it. Atsuko takes the axe in her hands. ¡°Fascinating,¡± she says. ¡°It matches the original perfectly!¡± the teal-haired nekomata turns to the minotauride. ¡°Do you want this?¡¯ ¡°I¡¯m good,¡± Streltizia says. ¡°I don¡¯t think I could hold two axes at once.¡± ¡°Understandable.¡± ¡°Does this mean¡­?¡± Emily asks ¡°We have enough data from this microdugneon. We can return now.¡± Atsuko takes the weapon to the Takarabune. ¡°Good, I¡¯m tired,¡± Streltizia says. ¡°We still have a few guests comign over later,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°We still have to greet them, cher.¡± Streltizia eyes widens in shock of her forgetting about the guests. ¡°On second through, can we stay here for a day, get some rest?¡± ¡°The time dilation would allow, that,¡± Atsuko says while flashing a sly smile. ¡°Take your time.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Streltizia collapses onto the ground, excused physcially and mentally. Rose and Clover overlook their tired friend. ¡°You did well, Stre!¡± Rose says. A while alter, after everyone is well rested, they Femtonatus board the Takarabune and it prepares to exit the microdugneon. Refereed to as the Labrys Labyrinth by Atsuko pending a better name. ??? After returning from hyperbolic space. The Coloraturas prepare for the dungeon¡¯s next visitors. The first was a barbarian-looking man accompanied by a druid and an archer. They had edged out a victory over those, the second was against a group of fellow witches. They triumphed then as well. The last proved to be insurmountable for the eight friends as they involved eight Arachne pugilists from nearby Websdale. That night, after a very long first day as Sentinels. The Colortruas prepare for bed. As Lydia and her assistants prepare them for sleep, they ask the girls about their day. They talked about their encounters with the visiting adventures and the microdugneon. Strelitzia meanwhile is lost in thought. ¡°Mom, Dad,¡± she thinks. ¡°Why?¡± Her mind is left with many questions about how things turned out the way they did. Azalea turns to the minotauride and winks at her. Strelitzia smiles back, knowing that at least the mermaid could be trusted with the knowledge of what happened on that fateful day. ¡°Someday,¡± she thinks. ¡°I¡¯ll tell them.¡± A while later. Lydia uses her hypnotic gaze to beckon the Coloraturas to slumber. The children¡¯s eyes glaze over as they drift off to sleep. Once her tasks are complete, Lydia cheerfully checks on if the other children near them are ready to nap. Hopeful that Emily can protect them from the advent of their most dangerous visitor yet. As she leaves, she notices Streltizia smiling in her sleep, for the first time ever, Lydia can tell her rest will be peaceful tonight. ??? That night, The Engines continued their rampage through New Virginia. A village burns in their wake as the dungeon core marches with his mechanical army. Carnegie¡¯s stoic expression hides a face of concern for his liege. ¡°Sire, I know the village is in the way, but don¡¯t you think this is a bit too much.¡± The Baron Roberts turns towards his Dungeon Master. ¡°We must make haste,¡± he says. ¡°Every second we waste dawdling is a second that wretched dungeon has to prepare.¡± ¡°I¡¯m well aware,¡± Carnegie says. ¡°Surely there could¡¯ve been another route,¡± he thinks. ¡°I will absorb that dungeon,¡± the Baron says. ¡°Then I will get my vengeance on that damned cat!¡± As the villager flee from the machines. A young boy with a plush bear sights the bronzed steam-powered armor of the Baron. His face is frozen in horror as his sister arrives to drag him away from the chaos. The Kybernetes and the Cells gather as many victims as he can, under the orders of the Dungeon, wanting to see is he is able to absorb them and their mana like he could Dungeon cores. ¡°Its their fault for being in the way,¡± the Baron thinks. ¡°But now, they will be apart of something grander their their miserable little existences.¡± After the villages had either escaped or been capture, the army moves forward. The Piper Pruflas watches the fire in the distance. ¡°And you too, will be made part of something. An existence that¡¯s grander than your own.¡± Chapter XXXI: The Engines Over the next few weeks, the Black Box¡¯s crew has prepared for the encounter with the forces of the Engines. They trained through and with various adventurer parties sent by Rosenkreuz. They had delved into the microdungeons to hone their arms and armor. They had fortified the nearby jungles and settlements, all in preparation for that fateful day. By the end of those weeks, the guild had received notice of the invading army¡¯s advance. Pauline is at the Black Box warning them of the imminent arrival. ¡°So, they finally arrived,¡± the knight says. ¡°Is it enough? ¡°Emily¡¯s voice echoes to everyone. ¡°Are we ready?¡± ¡°We have gone into everyone¡¯s weapons at least thrice by now,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°With an average of thirty floors delved in each microdugneon, your mana levels should match our upcoming ¡®guests¡¯.¡± ¡°What about the jungles and forests? Elizabeth says. ¡°We have managed to place gravity mines and other traps all over them,¡± Minerva says. ¡°They should help deter their forces.¡± ¡°I have to coordinate with the town and other communities to get assistance for that, ¡°Paulina says. ¡°You have no idea how many favors I had to call in just for this.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve managed to get some help from Noir as well,¡± Esteban says. ¡°Chiron had convinced some of the Ebony Guards to protect the perimeter. And I was able to get some of the Rouges to assist.¡± ¡°What if those all fail?¡± Rose says. ¡°We had a final trump card in cases like that, the [Last Bastion Protocols], but¡­¡± the fairy says. ¡°But?¡± Emily asks. ¡°If they are activated¡­no it¡¯s best not to dwell on that for now.¡± ¡°Lizzie?¡± Emily asks the fairy. ¡°With Charlotte¡¯s spells, these guys will feel the gravity of their situation very quickly.¡± ¡°I¡¯m surprised you were able to create so many glyphs,¡± Anemone says. ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to that book you lent me,¡± Charlotte says. ¡°So,¡± Tim says. ¡°How soon should we expect the Engines¡¯ forces?¡± ¡°Less than twenty-four hours, dear,¡± Pauline says. ¡°I see,¡± Tim says. The air is thick with dread as the dungeon and her allies wonder how to prepare themselves further. Carla notices the creatures under her care reacting to the tension with alertness. Heathcliff is figuring out how to arrange the rooms to best defend Emily¡¯s core from the invader. ¡°We know his core is now embedded into his avatara,¡± Julia says. ¡°If Emily is able to absorb him.¡± ¡°We will have to thin out his machine army first,¡± Streltizia says. ¡°Indeed,¡± Tim says. ¡°Our best chances are if we can fight him and him alone.¡± ¡°That said, as the core and the head honcho,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°He¡¯s gonna be a tough nut to crack, cher.¡± ¡°We can take him!¡± Lily says with her usual optimism. Pauline presents a map of New Virginia. Several points of interest are marked, including the Black Box¡¯s location and several choke points. ¡°Radio kept mentioning people seeing large groups of machines over here,¡± Heathcliff points to one of the forests on a corner of the map. ¡°That coincides with a report of a razed town in the area,¡± Atsuko says. Pauline muses over the sighting. ¡°If they were seen there, that means they¡¯re using the old Arsene route. They¡¯re following the railways.¡± ¡°That means they are certain to pass through the jungle,¡± Minerva says. ¡°I¡¯ll alert the adventurers to head to the Verdemaw,¡± Pauline says ¡°That is our best place for stopping the advancing army.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll go help too!¡± Rose says. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Pauline says. Aware of the ages of the witches. ¡°Rose, are you sure you want to do this?¡± Emily says. The Lamia nods. ¡°I want to be able to protect our new home!¡± ¡°If they absorb the core,¡± Anemone says. ¡°Then who knows what will happen? The sprites are nearby, still mourning the loss of Puck and the Mirage Feywood. Ulrich looks at Pauline ¡°We will lend out aid as well. I won¡¯t let our friend¡¯s death be in vain!¡± ¡°These illusionary staves will come in handy,¡± Pauline says. The Smith siblings arrive. ¡°Chiron has returned,¡± Sarah says. The centaur priest canters in after the dwarves. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to report this, but Benoit has reported that they have passed the Skypeaks. They¡¯re approaching the Verdemaw now!¡± ¡°Already?¡± Emily says in shock. ¡°This is a bad development,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°We have to move fast!¡± Pauline says. The Coloraturas and the sprites begin to leave for the Verdemaw. ??? The Engines march towards the Verdemaw. So named for its being the entrance to dense woodland and jungle. Though it lies the quarry of Baron Roberts. Carnegie observes the hold made through the Skypeaks behind them. ¡°Tunneling through the mountains had proved quite effective, sire,¡± Carnegie says. The Baron scowls the area expecting resistance. He smirks upon seeing no one is there. ¡°Excellent,¡± he says. The Baron and his forces march close to the Verdemaw. An hour later, the machine army arrived at the edge of the Verdemaw. They can see the canopy sprawling out for miles. They continue their advance after searching for any opposition. One of the robots steps onto a glyph. It and several of its fellow machines suddenly collapse onto the ground. ¡°ALERT, ALERT. MOVEMENT IMPAIRED.¡± They are unable to lift themselves under their increased weight. ¡°Stupid hunk of junk,¡± the Baron mutters. ¡°Carnegie, keep an eye out for more traps.¡± The Dungeon Master nods. He scouts ahead for more glyphs. Meanwhile, a hastily assembled counterforce enters the Verdemaw from the opposite end. Comprising of adventurers from many guilds. Chris and Marian are among them. Marian takes water from the local spring to refresh her breath. ¡°Are you okay?¡± the bard says. ¡°I¡¯m fine the green-haired mermaid says. The sprites are already at work conjuring illusions to misdirect the machine army. Their woven mirages aim to direct them to three large glyphs Charlotte had made. ¡°The goal is to defeat the army right?¡± Chris says while playing some notes on his saxophone. ¡°Yes,¡± Eponus says as he approaches. ¡°We must wipe out as many of the Cells as we can.¡± ¡°Can we do it?¡± Lyssa says while looking at their cards. ¡°They feel very¡­¡± ¡°If we can divert them to these gravity glyphs,¡± Merriweather says. ¡°Then the worst is over.¡± Marian turns to the other party. ¡°I don¡¯t think we¡¯ve met. Name¡¯s Marian.¡± Faye turns to the mermaid. ¡°Faye.¡± She then takes out some herbs to make into positions. ¡°Eponus,¡± the centaur ranger says. ¡°Chris, ¡°the bard with the sax says. ¡°Merriweather.¡± The elfin druid says. ¡°That reminds me, where¡¯s Carlos?¡± The minotaur boxer arrives. ¡°I¡¯m here.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Lissa!¡± the purple lamia says to the bard and mermaid. ¡°Nice to meet you!¡± The group hears noises in the distance. ¡°They¡¯re here.¡± Faye takes her bow out. Lissa draws their card. ¡°Cetus?¡± they say upon looking at the metal card. they realize this means she drew the Mesonyx deck. ¡°Anything significant about that?¡± Marian says. ¡°Her Astra Card is Scorpio,¡± Carlos says. ¡°If she drew a card from its deck, then that means¡ª¡± ¡°I could get the wild card!¡± Lyssa realizes the ramifications of this. If they¡¯re able to draw it, then they can call on any effect of the eighty-eight cards. ¡°It¡¯s not guaranteed, ¡°Faye says. ¡°Luck is a harsh mistress.¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± Eponus says. ¡°There is a one in twenty-one chance of drawing compared to the usual one in twelve chance of drawing the Astral card in other decks.¡± The noises are getting louder, and the scene of smog gradually fills the air. ¡°They¡¯re getting closer!¡± Chris says. ¡°Let¡¯s head out.¡± The group of seven heads to the source of the noise. They find several machines in a formation. One of the machines sees them. ¡®HOSTILES DETECTED! ALERT. HOSTILES DETECTED! ENGAGING!¡± The monotone voice of the Cell alerts the other machines to their presence. Marian attracts the enmity of the machines by beginning the first to strike. Her swordwork cuts down one of their arms. Chris supports her by using bardsong to cause the earth beneath them to collapse, trapping several underground. Lissa draws a card. Their drawn card bears the mark of Delphinus. She presents the card and sees ethereal fins on her back and tail. Using the card¡¯s power she dives into the ground as if it were water, vanishing into the vortex with a splash of dirt. She reemerges beneath several of the machines and flips her tail before diving back into a dark vortex. Eponus and Faye shoot arrows at the myriad mechs while Carlos knocks down one with his fists. ¡°We have their attention!¡± the minotaur says. ¡°We must hurry!¡± Lissa uses the power of the Delphinus card to surprise the mechs with dark-aspected attacks with her tail before diving back into the ground through dark vortexes. They emerge near the others as they are set to lure the machines to the glyphs. ??? Meanwhile, the Sprites encountered several groups of mechs and sued their Mirage Staffs to trick them into walking toward the glyphs. Every illusion they weaved conceals the booby-trapped trees and ground. Bewitched by the illusions, they inadvertently match one small glyph. One of the machines steps on it and triggers its power. ¡°ERROR! ERROR! MOVEMENT IMAPIRED!¡± The cells behind it trip over the fallen mech as it tries and fails to lift itself. Flowena giggles upon seeing some of the machines unable to move. ¡°This is for Puck!¡± she says as she flies around the rest of the machines. Dodge their ranged attacks. Several sprites join the pink one in her playful and vengeful mockery of the Engine¡¯s Cells. Their tricks break them like a spoiled brat would toys and the stragglers are led closer to one of the large glyphs. Ulrich meanwhile heads straight to the avatara leading the machines. He surprises the Baron robots with his presence. ¡°Hi there!¡± ¡°What the?¡± The Baron tries to swat the blue sprite, but Ulric¡¯s nimble movements void them. ¡°What is a sprite doing here?¡± ¡°Good question,¡± Ulrich says while toying with the malevolent dungeon core. ¡°Maybe it became someone who had absorbed a kid¡¯s soul that had sheltered me and my friends?¡± he flies away. ¡°Lousy gnat! After him!¡± he leads several battalions of mechs after the blue fairy, including two of the Kybernetes. Flowena and her fellow sprites meanwhile lure the mechanical Cells to a large tree, changed to look like a clearing to the machines. ¡°CAPTURE THE GNATS! CAPTURE THE GNATS!¡± One of the machines cries as it jumps and tries to catch Flowena with its arms. Flowena dodges the hands of the machine with grace and a teasing tone. Flowena and her allies lead them to the center of the ¡°clearing¡±. Ulrich also leures the Baron towards the same illusion and regroups with his partner. The two and the other sprites so flutter away with cheerful grins just as the Baron arrives. The machines at the clearing try to capture them. The Baron also trying to swash them. One of the Cells accentually steps on the center of the disguise glyph and triggers it. The Baron Roberts and his nearby forces witness an indigo light beneath them/ Radiating with starlit power. Before he could react, his armor and his Cells collapsed on eh ground. ¡°SYSTEM FAILURE! GRAVITY PRESSURE EXCEEDING NORMAL LEVELS!¡± ¡°ALERT! GRAVITY TOO HIGH TO LIFT CHASSIS. SHUTDOWN IMMINENT!¡± ¡°INTERNAL STRUCTURE CRUSHED. APOLOGY PROTOCOLS ACTIVA¡ª¡± The machine shut down before it could finish. Its body is now flattened like a drink can. The Baron struggles to live in his armored body. He fumes with rages as he attempts to lift himself. ¡°Godsdammed pests!¡± More determined than before he tries to lift himself again. His thrusters activate, scorching a nearby fallen Cell and providing torque. ¡°Obsidian will not be meeting me today!¡± He manages to lift his arms and rear, assuming a kowtow-like position. The increased gravity bears down on him, but he overcomes it and stands up, exerting much of his mana in the process. His expression bears a grimace as he witnesses the effect of the gravity glyph on his soldiers. The robots stand around him, flattened and inoperable. The exceptions are locked into sessility by the sheer increased force of gravity. The Baron channels his mana into making an Apurgy core to offset the increase weight. Using the power of the Umbrasphere he had acquired from absorbing the Feywood. The Baron looks around and sees that even the two Kybernetes with him had summered to the glyffs effects and were crushed to inoperability. As the Cells and two sentinels fade into goad dust and flow into him. He glares at the sky. ¡°Rotten gnats. I¡¯ll vanquish you soon.¡± He says menacingly as he regroups with the rest of his army. ??? Orpheus Arion is among the Ebony Guards tasked with stopping the Advance of the Engines in its tracks. The bard keeps a lookout for any of the machines in the Verdemaw. His raven locks flow in the wind. ¡°I heard the kids from your village ended up murdered,¡± another of the Guards near him says. ¡°Yeah,¡± The bard looks behind him. He sees the Black Box. Exactly as it implies, it is a large cube-shaped dungeon with a gleaming ebon exterior. He strums his lyre. ¡°The murderer was caught, and my parents claimed my sisters are safe but¡­¡± ¡°But?¡± the other Guard asks. ¡°A lot has happened,¡± Orpheus says. ¡°I¡¯m not even sure if their claim was a white lie meant to console me, or why, if they survived, were they among the few that haven¡¯t met the fate of the other children.¡± The other guard takes out a spear and practices some thrusts. ¡°Is that why you joined the Ebony Guards?¡± ¡°No, Eurydice,¡± Orpheus says. ¡°I left the village before the incident,¡± Orpheus says. ¡°Had I been there that night I¡¯d¡­¡± he soon hears rustling. The sounds of whirling gears break his train of thought. ¡°They¡¯re here!¡± The spearwoman and bard see a small battalion of the Engines¡¯ Cells. Eurydice takes her spear and uses it to fire a pillar of light into the air. The Ebony Guards emerge from the surrounding wilderness to surround the mechanical hoard. ¡°ALERT! ALERT! ADVENTURERS DETECTED!¡± one machine says. ¡°ENGAGING!¡± Orpheus uses his lure to strum a Bardsong spell. Water spouts emerge beneath the machines as the other Guards fight off the horde¡ªthe elite adventurers from Noir. One uses lighting magic to zap the drenched machines. The discharge causes the group to fall, and their circuits fried from the combination. More machines arrive. And fire several magic attacks. Eurydice uses the water from Orpheus¡¯ spells and her light magic to create refractive shells over them, causing the hostile magic to miss and hit for less damage. ¡°Hah!¡± the mage says. ¡°These are supposed to be tough?¡± ¡°Zag,¡± Eurydice says. ¡°Keep in mind that these Cells are far away from their Dungeon.¡± Zagreus turns back. ¡°So, maybe the core is a tough one but his robotic henchmen are clearly nothing to write home ab¡ª¡± As if to prove him wrong, a hidden mech had bladed him in the back. The cocky mage collapses unconscious. ¡°Zag!¡± another Guard cried. She heads to his aid while Orpheus and Eurydice use light and water bardsong to reveal and destroy the hidden mech. ¡°We need to lure them to the glyphs!¡± Their leader says. ¡°That¡¯s your order!¡± The leader of this band has been an Ebony Guard for a while. It was him that they sent to the Black Box to protect it from the invading force. The dwarf¡¯s experience is apparent from both his beard and the medallions attached to his armor. ¡°Got it!¡± Orpheus says. They begin to lure the army towards the glyphs. ??? At the same time, Euryale and Stheno are as far away from the Black Box as they can possibly be without their construct bodies breaking down. Nina and Charlotte are with them as they take a look at the Ebony Guards fighting the mechs. ¡°Are you sure you guys should be here?¡± Charlotte says. ¡°This place is dangerous!¡± ¡°They haven¡¯t gotten that close yet!¡± Euryale says. ¡°Besides don¡¯t you want to see the Ebony Guards in action?¡± Charlotte realizes that even in her visit to Noir she hadn¡¯t met or seen one from the elite adventurer¡¯s guild. ¡°Besides,¡± Stheno says. ¡°We¡¯re sure your magic will protect us when it comes to it.¡± ¡°Why do you have such talent anyway?¡± Nina asks. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Charlotte says. ¡°It was only recently that I learned I had an affinity to those spells at all.¡± ¡°I remember,¡± Euryale says. ¡°You nearly flatte¡ª.¡± Her sentences stop. ¡°Sister?¡± the other twin asks. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± The two rat-eared sisters point to a specific person in the battle, a black-haired bard strumming his lyre. ¡°What is he doing here?¡± Euryale says. ¡°Who¡¯s he?¡± Nina asks. ¡°Our brother! Orpheus!¡± Euryale says. ¡°What?¡± Charlotte recalls their encounter on the subway train in Noir. ¡°Fate is a cruel mistress it seems,¡± Stheno says. ¡°You¡¯re brothers here?¡± Nina says, forgetting about the encounter on the subway train in Noir. ¡°I¡¯ll go say hi,¡± ¡°NO!¡± the other three girls shout in unison. The spiderling is confused, ¡°why not?¡± ¡°Well for one,¡± Stehnos ays. ¡°The Verdemaw is being besieged by the Engines remember?¡± ¡°For another,¡± Euryale says. ¡°If he knows what happened to us and the other kids, he could undo everything Carla has done.¡± Nina recalls what happened on their trip to Hamlin and of the effects of the encounters with Pruflas. ¡°Oh.¡± The girls witness the Ebony Guards lure the machines toward one of the large gravity glyphs Charlotte had created. They also see the Baron moving toward them while defeating every adventurer they come across. The Arion sisters begin to realize the trouble their bother is in and try to find Carla. ??? Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. The Ebony Guard group lures the machines to the nearby large glyph, whittling down some of the machines on the way. Orpheus prepares a poem on the fly. ¡°Sing of heart of ice. Trap these cretins in your vice. Encase these metal Cells, inside your frozen hells.¡± The song causes ice to form on the machines, hindering their movement. ¡°I thought we wanted them to reach the glyph. What gives?¡± Zagreus asks. ¡°If it sets off before we can get away, we¡¯ll be crushed, you idiot!¡± Eurydice says. Her dark skin framed an exasperated expression with the not-so-bright magician. The Guards rush through to the other side of the glyph, but they see an avatara land before them. Clad in a steam-powered mech suit. ¡°Gentlemen, it¡¯s an honor to make your acquaintance.¡± The Baron Roberts says. The leader aims his pistol at him. His eyes give an icy glare to the avatara. ¡°You are found guilty of illegal absorption of guild dungeons, trespassing through state boundaries, and the razing of several communities. The Ebony Guards will bring you to justice!¡± ¡°Justice? Hah, don¡¯t make me laugh!¡± The Baron says. ¡°I never expected that pitiful mess of a dungeon got involved with Noir.¡± He engages the group in combat. At the same time, Euryale and Stheno alert Carla of both his brother¡¯s presence and the danger he¡¯s in. The alraune sends some mountain lions to help the Guards escape. The felines lunge at the Baron, but he easily swats them aside as he manifests a longsword from his mechanical arm. The blade exhumes steam as he points it at its opponents. It is heated by the mists and enchanted with fire and water magic. The dwarven leader of the Guards fires his firearms at him. The Baron simply slashes the air and creates a wave of steam hot enough to melt the bullets. A mountain lion tries to assist but the Baron cuts the interloper down. The beast bleeds gold dust as its fallen body vanishes. The Ebony guards stand form, their silver and black armor shining in the sunlight rays as they stand their ground. Zagreus casts ice spells while Eurydice aims to combine her light to create a reflective shield over her group. The Baron clashes with one of the guards. A man that wilds a large broadsword. The two swords clash, and the dark knight stands firm over the baron. The swordsman enchants his blade with lightning, aiming to jolt the Baron with his sword strikes. Orpheus recites a poem. ¡°Oh Halcyon, maiden of the seas. Turn the tide of battle, bring him to his knees!¡± As he says this he strums three notes in succession, repeating the pattern over and over until his poem ends. A geyser begins to form beneath the Baron. He sees the swordsman preparing a plunging attack and leaps back. The knight is the only one that is drenched by the geyser. Orpheus and the leader fire arrows and bullets against the steam-powered dungeon core. But he simply leaps to avoid their attacks. ¡°Is this the best, Noir¡¯s ¡®official¡¯ guild can do? Pathetic! Perhaps the Syndicate had finally rotted you from the inside out!¡± He holds his steam blade high into the air and immediately pushes it down towards the leader. The knight intercepts that attack with his greatsword, but the force of the clash causes it to chip. A small piece of metal flies off from the knight¡¯s weapon as he looks on in shock and horror. The Baron sees that the horrified foe is still wet from Oprheus¡¯s Geyser and proceeds to use his steam blade as a staff to call lightning from the heavens. The knight is struck down by terajoules of energy and screams in agony. ¡°Percival!¡± the leader screams, unable to help the knight. Percival soon collapses onto the ground. Dead. His armor was blackened by the ash, his body unrecognizable. The Baron looks at the dead body with satisfaction and pity. He then turns to the rest of the Ebony Guards. ¡°What senseless waste of life,¡± he says. ¡°To challenge the gods is to court death itself.¡± ¡°He-he¡¯s mad!¡± Zagreus says. The dwarven leader of the Guards looks at the Baron in rage and disgust. He grips his blunderbuss. ¡°Go, now! That¡¯s an order!¡± the dwarf says to the other adventurers without turning to them. His gaze only fixed on the smirking baron. The other Guards realize what he is planning. Orpheus tries to dissuade. ¡°Sir, please¡ª¡± ¡°Just do it!¡± the dwarf says. ¡°There is no need to risk yourselves!¡± The Baron begins to attack the others before they can flee, but his attack is thwarted by the advent of hippogryphs and a peculiar deer. The Baron is blindsided by the sudden emergence of beasts and his preemptive strike is thwarted. The deer fights ferociously as the hippogryphs bock and buffet the Baron with their legs and wings. Remorsefully, they leave their leader to fight the Baron alone. The dwarf makes sure everyone is cleared before engaging with the Baron, aided by beasts. As Orpheus flees, he sees a familiar chartreuse-haired and skinned alraune. The Baron engages his opponent. A steam-powered sword against Blunderbuss. He tries to skewer the dwarf, but he dodges the stabs and swings of the blade and counters with wind-enchanted bullets. The dwarf rushes beside him while the deer charges at the Baron and knocks him several yards back. ¡°A zombie deer,¡± the Baron sneers. ¡°That¡¯s a new one.¡± The beasts and the dwarf fight the baron. The dwarf gets closer to the large tree with each minute, as the Baron tries to squash him like a bug. Eventually, he is inches away from his goal. But before he can make that last step. The baron grabs him and lifts him from the shoulders. He drips his weapon as he is lifted several feet into the air. The leader of the Guards struggles to free himself, his legs ineffectually kicking the air as he stares at the Baron¡¯s eyes. He sees that the upper right of his cranium is coated in a bronze casing and that his right eye is replaced by an ominous half-vizier. ¡°What do you have to say for yourself, blasphemer?¡± The Baron says. The dwarf has an idea. He sarcastically pleads. ¡°Oh merciful dungeon, do not pin me to the tree behind me, please. I¡¯m allergic!¡± The Baron brings the dwarf closer to him. He could smell the avatara¡¯s rancid breath. ¡°You have sealed your fate!¡± he then does the opposite of his opponent¡¯s sarcastic plea and slams him onto the arbor repeatedly. Unaware that it is the activator for the gravity glyph. The dwarf falls to the ground. The Baron loons over him. ¡°Why other last words?¡± The dwarf knew this would happen. He knew that his sacrifice was needed to bring down this monster of a dungeon core. With the last of his remaining strength, the leader of the Ebony Guards sent to fight the Baron chuckles. ¡°Sucker!¡± The tree glows a blue-violet hue. The Baron realizes what has just happened and collapses onto the ground. Yet again he had been tricked and yet again he had fallen victim to the gravity core. His Apurgy countermeasure had worked until this point, but he now struggles to move under the magnified force of gravity affecting him. He looks at his adversary and smiles as his body ceases functioning. He let out a scream as he fought the increased weight. The adrenaline allows him to move his sword and uses it to create a stronger Apurgy spell. He channels mana into the spell, as much as possible. ¡°Let Gravity have hold on me no longer. And see the cursed fools flounder!¡± his bardsong poem is punctuated with a scream as a pillar of darkness engulfs him. After the dark column vanishes, He is able to stand once more, but can still feel his movement hindered. ¡°If only I had an Astrasphere¡­¡± he grumbles. He looks back at his deceased foe. The grotesque sight disgusts him, but the serene expression on the dead dwarf¡¯s face is even more so. His movement cumbered, he moves ever closer to the Black Box, using his mana to move where his muscles failed. ¡°Even in this state, even if Anesidora dares swallow me whole. I will prevail!¡± The Baron screams. ??? The Ebony Guards regroup in another part of the Verdemaw. ¡°I-is anyone chasing us?¡± Zagreus says. ¡°Negative!¡± one of the other guards reports. Eurydice looks towards the direction they came from. ¡°Is¡­is he¡­?¡± ¡°We have to assume so,¡± Orpheus says while strumming a dirge. ¡°He gave his life to stop him.¡± ¡°Will it be enough?¡± the mage says with a frightened look. ¡°He seemed rather¡ª¡± They suddenly hear the whirling of gears in the distance. They turn to the source of the noise and see someone limping towards them. ¡°C-commander?¡± Zagreus asks. ¡°You¡¯re alive?¡± As the figure draws closer, the Guards make out features that do not befit their dwarven commander, instead, they see in the shadow a larger frame and an arm that is longer than the other. They also see steam from the around the figure. A sense of dread surrounds the party. ¡°This can¡¯t be right.¡± A female Guard says. ¡°That gravity well should¡¯ve stopped him!¡± They recognize the silhouette of the Baron Roberts. Orpheus quickly uses his lyre to conjure a wind spell to buffet the man. ¡°We need to regroup,¡± Orpheus says. ¡°He¡¯s too powerful!¡± The Ebony Guard contingent leaves to regroup with the other adventurers stationed at the Verdemaw. ??? At the Black Box, Heathcliff oversees the Verdemaw, keeping an eye on the battle. Emily¡¯s voice echoes to him. ¡°How are they faring?¡± referring to the adventurers that had gathered here to defend her from the Engines. ¡°So far so good, cher,¡± the knight says. ¡°Their forces are down to a third of what they arrived with.¡± ¡°Are there any casualties,¡± she asks. Carla arrives. ¡°Alas there is,¡± the alraune says. ¡°The leader of the Ebony Guards sent here had perished trying to activate one of the glyphs. Others had fallen in the clash.¡± Emily grows silent for a few moments. She doesn''t want people fighting over her, let alone in this manner, yet something about the Engines scared her. ¡°Emily,¡± Tim says. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Emily says. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°Minerva, the Coloraturas, and the Smiths are holding their fronts at least,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Should I¡ª¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s a good idea,¡± Heathcliff. ¡°It¡¯s you he¡¯s after, and if he gets to your avatara, he will try to absorb you. It¡¯s a risk better off not taken, cher, not now at least.¡± Elizabeth soon flutters in with a frightened look on the face. ¡°Everyone, I have an update on the enemy core¡¯s status.¡± She flies closer to Tim. Tim reads the hastily written report. ¡°Seems the Guards and the Sprites had managed to get the Baron to the glyphs.¡± ¡°What?¡± Emily says. Heathcliff¡¯s brow furrows. ¡°That ¡®glyphs¡¯ is pluralized marks it a bad omen.¡± ¡°He seems to be encumbered for now,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°He¡¯s burning through a lot of mana just to move.¡± The tension in the air is gradually replaced with hope. But Heathcliff remains skeptical. ¡°It isn¡¯t over until it¡¯s over.¡± The knight says. ¡°He has absorbed a lot of dungeons, it would stand to reason that his mana levels are through the roof.¡± The group continues to oversee the battle. Emily sends Elizabeth to alert Pauline about the opponent¡¯s current status. ??? At the same time, Eponus¡¯ party encountered Carnegie, who engaged them with the remainder of the Engines¡¯ forces. He has already incapacitated Marian, Merryweather, Bronda, Carlos, and Lissa. Faye, Eponus, and Chris are the last people standing. Chris and Eponus try to deter Carnegie with their attacks while Carlos tries to head everyone else with her potions. Carnegie merely dodges their attacks and grabs Faye by the neck. ¡°Humph, pathetic,¡± Carnegie says before slamming the fawn into the ground. Faye is rendered unconscious by the attack. Carnegie then turns to the bard and ranger. Before he could attack, a dense mist surrounds everyone and blinds them. Carnegie hears rapid footfalls and movements all around him. The fog lightens and reveals that his opponents are spirited away. Replace by seemingly more fig. Carnegie knows better than to assume the battle is over. ¡°Come on out,¡± the dungeon master says. The area stays silent for several moments. He soon hears the sound of someone rushing towards him. ¡°Karakuri Arts Two, Two, Nine! ¡± Saizo uses his prosthetic to summon a snowstorm. The blizzard hinders Carnigie¡¯s vision and he is forced to use a fire spell to melt the ice. He sees Saizo before him. ¡°A Yanese Ninja?¡± Carnegie says, ¡°Wait a minute.¡± He notices the features on the man are familiar and has a sudden realization. He smirks upon recognizing the man. ¡°Nice to meet you again,¡± Saizo says sarcastically. ¡°Indeed,¡± Carnegie responds. ¡°Sire will be pleased.¡± He launches his fireball at Saizo, but he uses the cover of the mist to evade and quickly moves behind him. He tries to punch Carnegie, but the sharp-dressed mage counters with a dodge and an uppercut. Kei meanwhile uses his brush to paint symbols in the air. Summoning a rain of falling boulders over the two combatants. Hoshikage rushes into the fray with hip and elbow strikes. Aika meanwhile tends to the retrieved adventures, helping Faye heal the others. ¡°My thanks,¡± Eponus says. ¡°No problem,¡± Aika says. Kasumi helps Carlos up. ¡°Come on big boy,¡± she says. ¡°Thank you,¡± the boxer says. Suzume keeps an eye on Carnegie from her vantage point and sees Saizo using ice powered with his prosthetic on the Engines¡¯ Dungeon Master. And Hoshikage using bajiquan moves to keep the black and red-clad man away from Saizo. She sees Carnigie push away both fighters and the mist and begins conjuring a spell. ¡°Farewell,¡± Carnegie says. ¡°You have made for a fun distraction, but the time for fun is now over.¡± He continues his preparations. ¡°Karakuri Arts Zero, Five, Three!¡± Carnigie¡¯s spell is interrupted by an interluding Suzume who unsheathes her sword and lands a surprise ice attack on the mage. Carnegie is knocked back and his legs are frozen along with the surrounding ground. The force has sop him mid cast. Hoshikage uses a flurry of elbow strikes, punches and rapid movements to pummel the mage. The rapid flow and momentum increasing the power of her strikes. The mage looks at Atsuko¡¯s retainers as they converge and prepare to fight him. ¡°Are they safe?¡± Saizo says. ¡°Of course,¡± Kasumi says. ¡°That group is far away from here now.¡± Kei turns to Carnegie. ¡°What do you have to say for yourself, vile blackheart?¡± Carnigie smirks. ¡°Bring it on.¡± ??? The Baron Roberts limps along on the Verdemaw, determined to fight, to reach his prize. ¡°Damn,¡± he utters as he moves slowly in the woodland. ¡°How on Titania are these glyphs so powerful?¡± A while later he is in front of a spring. He tries to rest on the rock and gazes at the waterfalls. He is calmed by the beauty of the surrounding streams. He nearly forgot that he lost more than half of his army. He looks at the waterfall. He recalls happier times of starting out as a Divine Dungeon. With a spark of hope in his eyes. When he was but a brash young man who also happened to be a factory complex that made steel for the communities for Cerberus. His memory then shifts towards scenes of carnage within his body. Fights that he reveled in as adventurer after adventurer fell to his might. He clenches his fist as he recalls his meeting with Atsuko and her group. The first people who ever gave him trouble first rejected him for her microdungeon experiments, and then defeated him in the subsequent fight. ¡°Blasted cat!¡± He lifts his steam sword with all the might he can muster and channels a fire spell in front of him. Burning the grass near the stream. ¡°She will pay for rejecting me, and that dungeon will pay for escaping me.¡± His determination forces him to expend more mana to achieve normal mobility. ¡°I¡¯ve plenty to spare,¡± he thinks. ¡°It matters not.¡± He leaves the burning spring. A pillar of smoke rises behind him. Eventually, he senses the presence of more people. ¡°Who is it? Show yourselves, you cretins!¡± A lightning bolt strikes the Baron. He growls at the thunderstrike. ¡°We are the ones that will stop your wickedness!¡± ¡°Our magic will keep you rather steamed.¡± ¡°You will go no further. We shall not fail!¡± The Coloraturas emerge and surround the Baron. ¡°Ah, witches,¡± he scoffs. ¡°Tell me, are you aware of the ramifications of your pacts?¡± Rose nearly gets distracted by the word ¡°ramifications¡± before mentally telling herself to focus. She points her rapier at the Baron. ¡°It matters not what these ¡®ram-ee-fi-cations¡¯ are! What matters is stopping you from absorbing innocent dungeons!¡± ¡°Naive brats,¡± The Baron says. ¡°You will learn that dungeons are never innocent.¡± Azalea swims around the baron. He tries to swing his sword at her, but she nimbly dodges. ¡°You must be pretty exhausted,¡± she quips. ¡°Maybe you should lie down, and take a rest, it¡¯ll all be over soon. Teehee.¡± The Baron growls as he tries to slash the clionid. ¡°You ought to respect your elders better!¡± Strelitzia lunges towards him and blocks his sword with her axe. ¡°And what makes you think you¡¯re so worthy of respect?¡± ¡°Oh you will learn, missy,¡± The Baron says. He charges his sword with light magic and uses it to blind Strelitizia. While the minotaur is blinded, he lifts his leg and kicks her several yards back. She collides with a nearby tree. ¡°Stre!¡± Clover yells before glaring at the Baron. The Baron cackles madly. ¡°Yes try to rage against the nascent god. Throw your lives away! It matters not. You would become piles of sludge eventually!¡± he confronts the girls. Hydrangea uses her staff to conjure a path of ice for her to surf on, she then uses her grimoire to attack him with ready-made thaumaturgical ice spells. Amenome fires an arrow to root his shadow where it stands. Lily trots towards him to blind him with light spells of her own before using g her hind legs to kick him. Strelitzia stands up and rushes him with her labrys. The baron is assaulted by Lilt¡¯s spear and Streltiiza axe, a second steam blade, shorter than the first emerges from his free hand and he uses both to block both the centaur and the minotaur¡¯s weapon. ¡°You think me disadvantaged,¡± he says. ¡°That is your mistake.¡± He repels the two girls with a force of wind channeled by his swords. Raine swoops it and uses her rings to summon a ring of fire around the Baron. The hostile core simply walks outside the ring with only a few signs of the heat affecting him. Steam exhaust forms his boots with each step. Clover tries to push him back with her wind magic, before realizing that he is still under the effect of the glyphs and that he would be too heavy to topple by himself. ¡°Anemone!¡± the deerlet says to the werewolf. The purpel-haired girl looks into the winged fawn¡¯s eyes and intuits her plan. Anemone and Clover combine their magic to envelop the Baron in a veil of miasma. The Baron breathes the corrupted air and feels his strength waning. ¡°You little pests!¡± ¡°We¡¯re not pests,¡± Azalea says while swimming towards Anemone to have her knife enchanted. ¡°We haven¡¯t pasted anything together lately.¡± She slashes the air with her knife. The darkness enchanted blade combines with her water powers to create a poisoned splashed on water that lands on the Baron. The Baron is not amused with Azalea¡¯s attempts at humor, nor is he from suffering from both poison and misama. He attempts to use his swords to cast a poison purging spell, but Raine attacks with her rings and deflects the blades away from proper casting stance. ¡°You won¡¯t get past us!¡± Raine says as she clashes with the Baron. The Baron tries to deflect her rings but fails with each attack. He is soon knock back a few feet from Raine¡¯s slashes and throws. The Baron breathes heavily. ¡°Look at the lengths you had to go to¡­to match my power.¡± He kneels from exhaustion and the ailments. ¡°Verily, I¡¯ve emt my match,¡± he says with a subtle smirk. Raine moves clsoer, assuming the Baron is defeated. ¡°Will cease your thirst for power?¡± she says. ¡°Of course¡­¡± He begins channeling a spell while Raine approaches him. Rose notices soemthing is amiss. The stema swords begin to glow subtly. ¡°¡­once the Administrators themselves bend the knee!¡± The Baron unleashes a massive blast that engulfs Raine. ¡°Raine!¡± Rose cries out. The pillar of orange light subsides and the Baron is now on his feet. Raine now stands petrified. The other Coloraturas are agape with horror as they see the phoenixian stature slowly dissolve into golden dust. ¡°So you are that dungeon¡¯s sentinels?¡± The Baron asks with an incredulous laughter. ¡°If you are the best she has sent, then my victory is assured!¡± The Coloraturas are down one member for the battle. ¡°Raine has fallen!¡± Azalea says, annoyed by the one type she made a pun unwittingly. The other Colroaturas prepare to bring the rouge dungeon down. ??? Carnegie continues his fight with the shinobi. They use the opportunity to lead him and the remaining forces to the final large glyph. Noboru uses a Mirage Staff to weave misdirections around Carnegie. ¡°Trite,¡± Carnegie says before dispelling the mirages with his own. The ninjas evade his spells as they lure him closer to the foot of a large tree. Atsuko is already waiting at the tree, taking her large bow and sniping any robots that stray from the path with her heavy arrows. ¡°Okay girl, steady now, steady.¡± She carefully aims at one of the Kybernetes over the hoard before firing. She lands the arrow on the airborne Sentinel. Carnegie clashes with Hoshikage and Saizo. Aika uses Bardsong to erect a small cliff behind the machines, preventing their escape and funneling them closer to the tree. Atsuko lands several more shots on the Kybernetes, memorizing their weak points from her first encounters with them. The large sentiel crashes behind the shinobi. Aika continues her performace, but the impact of the fallen machine causes her stumble and fall onto Kei¡¯s arms. ¡°You okay?¡± Kei asks. Aika¡¯s cheeks redden as she stand sup and dusts off her outfit. ¡°I¡¯m fine. She continues to sing her heart out. Carnegie notices something is miss and stops following the ninja, instead sending the machines after them. The Ninajs notice the Dugneon Master¡¯s vanishing and Sazio chases after him. The others use every trick they learned to bring the machines onto the tree. With the machines close to the glyph, Atsuko leaps onto the ground and regroups with her retainers. They then fight their way through he crowd of machines, pushing them behind them as they cut through the mechanical hoard. Now a safe distance from the glyph. Kasumi and Hoshikage use their techniques to hurn one intot he tree. The machine make impact with the arbor and triggers the gravity glyph. Crushing every single machine around the tree. ¡°SHUTDOWN IMMINENT! SHUTDOWN IM¡­¡± ¡°FORCE TOO STRONG, RESISTANCE FUTILE¡­¡± ¡°WEIGHT BECOMING UNBEARABLE. INTERNAL PARTS RUPTURED¡­¡± ¡°We did it!¡± Kasumi cheers. The others look at her with exasperation. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? We beat them didn¡¯t we.¡± ¡°Kasumi, we did defeat the Cells and the Sentienels, but now¡­¡± ¡°Now what?¡± ¡°The hard part begins.¡± Astuko says. ??? With Raine taken out of the right, Rose, Streltizia, Lily, Clover, Hydrangea, Azalea, and Anemone try to fight the menacing Baron Roberts. Clover and Streltizia coordinate to use wind and earth spells to create a sandstorm around the Baron. The Baron clashes with Streltizia within the sandstorm. Her labrys clashes with his steam-powered swords. Rose assists Streltizia with lightning-fast slashes from her lightning-enchanted rapier. The Baron is infuriated by the presence of these girls. ¡°Wretched brats!¡± The Baron says. ¡°You think you can deter me?¡± ¡°We¡¯re here to end your reign of terror!¡± Rose says as she dodges the Baron¡¯s sword slashes. ¡°Your vile ways end here!¡± Her rapier is used as a wand to shock the Baron. Rose then swings her ax at the Baron. The two magical girl¡¯s powers combine to form a metal coating over the opponent, immobilizing him. Rose and Streltizia look at the metal statue. ¡°Is it over?¡± Rose says. She slithers closer to the stature. Strelitzia notices something is amiss. She senses the statue vibrate as Rose approaches. Rays of orange and pink light peek through the holes in the metal shell. ¡°Rose! Get back!¡± Strelitzia graves Rose¡¯s tail and swings her away from the statue. Rose¡¯s body collides with a tree. ¡°Ow! Stre what was th¡ª¡± Her eyes widen in shock to see that Streltizia is now a metal statue and the Baron is not. Clover sees her closest friend trapped in metal and is enraged. The Baron cackles like a lunatic. ¡°Only six brats remain to bad my passage. Only six obstacles to be removed!¡± The peryton fawn grabs her fan and rushes to fight the Baron directly. ¡°You. You¡¯ll pay for that!¡± she slams her metal fan onto him, summoning a tempestuous wind to swirl around them with each swing. The Baron, still under the effect of the glyphs, is not blown by these winds, but Clover is blinded by rage to care for how ineffective her attacks are. The Baron is assumed by Clover¡¯s impassioned but futile efforts. He mockingly shoves her aside and runs to defeat another of the Colorauturas. ¡°Think happy thoughts. Think happy thoughts. Think happy thoughts!¡± Lily thinks as she sees the Baron rushing toward her. She uses her lance to bland him as she gallops away. Lily¡¯s spell managed to allow her to escape his grasp momentarily, but in her panicked state, tripped over the metal-coated Strelitzia, now disappearing into gold dust. The Baron looms over her, the tip of his sword touches her while the other steam sword is raised high. Her leg is caught in the vanishing statue of Streltizia. She tries to free herself, while still managing to smile despite her terrified state. The Baron is incensed by her grin and uses the swords to send lightning into her body. The voltage of the magic causes her to fall unconscious. Her tail and fingers already turning to gold dust alongside her orange-haired friend. Rose, Clover, Anemone, Hydrangea, and Azalea remain. The wolf-eared girl fires a volley of arrows at the Baron. The dungeon core realizes with a slash of his swords, cutting them in half, but one of their arrowheads lands in his shadow. Anemone uses both her binding and gravity magic in tandem to rot the Baron in place while the others attack him. The Baron¡¯s swords glow orange and purple, and an aurora of those same colors appears in the sky, shining down on him and allowing him to reduce the damage from the opposing girl¡¯s attacks further. Anemone responds by conjuring her own, but its effectiveness is halved as only her element is in play. Colorful lights dance in the sky as the sun sets. The remaining Coloraturas dance on the ground, evading the Baron¡¯s attacks. Clover and Rose combine their powers to create a storm. The atmospheric disturbances cause bolts from the blue to strike the Baron, accompanied by searing winds coating the lightning bolts. Azalea swims to the Baron¡¯s face and around his slashes. ¡°The forecasts call for a defeat and a sticky situation. She conjures spheres of water around herself and the Baron. Hydrangea then uses her wand and grimoire to turn the water into gelatinous and sticky blobs. The mermaid and cyan-haired girl then launches the blobs onto him, encasing him in the substances. Rose and Clover then use storm magic to strike the Baron, the heat from the lightning bolt and accompanying searing wind hardens the blobs. The five Coloraturas breathe heavily. Rose collapses onto the ground. ¡°Is it finally over?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t know,¡± Hydrangea says. ¡°I don¡¯t think he¡¯s getting the gel out of her anytime soon,¡± Azalea quips. ¡°Let¡¯s get Emily!¡± ¡°Can¡¯t Raine, Stre, and Lily do it?¡± a tired Rose says. ¡°They¡¯re reforming there anyway.¡± ¡°Rose,¡± Anemone says with a sigh. ¡°We can¡¯t¡ªhuh?¡± The hard gelatinous mass and ice begin to crack open. The Baron breaks free from his fetters once more. ¡°You got to be kidding me!¡± Rose says. Hydrangea tries to freeze the Baron, but the increased amount of steam pouring from his armor melts the ice. The dungeon core is still in the fight, and his armor now glows with a silvery light. ¡°Last Bastion Protocols,¡± the Baron mutters. ¡°So they had defeated the Sentinels.¡± He cackles madly. ¡°Fools! You have sealed your fates!¡± Before they can react, the Baron teleports in front of Anemone and lifts her by the neck. The lycanthropic girl defiantly snarls and tries to aim her bot at the Baron¡¯s Face, but the Baron uses ice magic to turn her body into ice before she can fire. He then tightens his grip on her body, shattering her with sheer strength. ¡°Anemone!¡± Azalea cries. Clover, further enraged rushes forwards, but the Baron teleports a short distance and dodges her attacks. ¡°Pathetic!¡± he uses earth and wind powers to trap Clover in a sandstorm. The peryton girl tries to escape but the twister follows her moment, she coughs as sand fills her lungs and clings to her body. Rose, Hydrangea, and Azalea try to stop the Baron but he easily evades their attacks, his swords glow with heat and fire magic, and he uses the enchanted blades to create a wall of fire between him and his opponents, the searing wall prevents the Coloraturas from approaching him as he turns his eyes on the cloaking and sand coated Clover. He takes his blazing blades and uses them to engulf the sand geyser in one made of flames. The sheer heat turns the sand into glass, and Clover with it. The lamia, the bespectacled girl, and the clionid mermaid look with horror as they see the flames give way to a glass column and a green-hared peryton fawn trapped in a pose of suffocation. Clover¡¯s body begins to turn into golden dust. ¡°You bastard!¡± Rose says as she tries to fight the Baron. Hydrangea and Azalea try to assist, but the Baron merely teleports short distances and counters with sword slashes and magic. The tired Coloraturas dodge most of these attacks, but the few that do connect wound them and hinder subsequent attempts. Rose, Hydrangea, and Azalea, high on adrenaline and desperate end up resorting to more forbidden arts. Black ooze emerges from their bodies trying to attack the Baron, but they are hardened into brittle forms by the Baron¡¯s spells, and cut down by his swords. ¡°Enough of this farce!¡± the Baron says as his blades glow with cerulean and azure hues. The three girls are trapped in the black mass erupting from their bodies as well as gelatinous liquids forming from the nearby vapor. The Baron then uses his swords to channel fire. The red-hot blades are used to harden the gelatinous prisons much like it turned the sand into glass. Rose, Azalea, and Hydrangea¡¯s bodies begin to turn into dust. Rain soon falls thunder roars. The defeated and unconscious Coloraturas vanish without any trace of their presence. The only things surrounding the Baron now were the sights of his actions. The Baron smirks as he makes his way to the Black Box. ??? The Coloraturas reform at the Black Box. Their sudden presence a sign of their defeat at the Baron¡¯s hands. As they move outside their pods, their tired midns cause their bodies to collapse onto the round. ¡°Rose!¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoes to the lamia. ¡°What happened.¡± ¡°We got our butts kicked, that¡¯s what!¡± Rose says. ¡°H-he¡¯s heading right for the Black Box!¡± Lily says with a clearly horrified tone behind her faint smile. Streltizia tires to stand. ¡°Stupid cheap shot.¡± She mutters. Elizabeth flutters to the eight girls. ¡°You¡¯re in no shape to fight right now. Get some rest.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t have time!¡± the minotaur says. ¡°He¡¯s heading this way!¡± ¡°Lizzie, what happened there?¡± Emily asked the fairy. ¡°We have defeated all the Sentinels in his army. That means he has activated [Last Bastion Protocols]. I should have knew this would happen.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go bring them to the others,¡± Minerva arrives. ¡°You two need to prepare for the upcoming fight.¡± The Arachne and her friends life the tired Coloraturas up and carry them to the makeshift hospital. At the same time, The Baron reunites with Carnegie. ¡°So, they have foolishly defeated our army,¡± the Dungeon Master says. The Baron flashes a cocky smirk. ¡°They shall rue the day they dared to defy me.¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± the black-coated man says. ¡°First we have taken Cerberus. Now we shall take New Virginia. Then the world will soon be ours!¡± ¡°The gods and demons will no longer rule over us!¡± the Baron says. The two men laugh evilly as they encroach into the Black Box. The Piper Pruflas observes them enter the dungeon. ¡°Adventurers from Rosenkreuz and Noir. Their skills failed to stem the coming tide,¡± Pruflas says after finishing a tune on his pipe. He looks at the ebon exterior of the Black Box. ¡°The first of many trials you shall face. Will you prevail, or die in disgrace? Tis your choice and yours alone, Emily.¡± The Piper draws closer to the dungeon, eager to see what will happen next. Claudia observes him, also eager to see what happens next, but moreso curious about Pruflas¡¯s goals. ¡°What are you plotting, demon?¡± she thinks. Chapter XXXII: The Black Box The Baron Roberts and his Dungeon Master Carnegie enter the Black Box. He gazes around the black and blue walls of the Divine Dungeon with contempt. ¡°The Administrators had blessed their pawns well.¡± The Baron says. Carnegie notices the walls and floors shifting erratically. Trying to prevent the Baron from going further into the dungeon. The Baron sneers at the attempt. Empowered by the Last Bastion Protocols he leaps over an ever-widening fissure. His Steam Swords cleave through several of the incoming Cells Emily sent to intercept him. Carnegie uses dark magic to befuddle the Cells and turn them against each other. The two men fight their way into the first room, where they are confronted by Tatzelwurms. Carla and Charlotte arrive to help coordinate the beasts as they defend their new home and those kept within it from certain doom. ¡°I¡¯ve heard of you,¡± the Baron said to the Alraune mother. ¡°Murderer of children and spouses they say.¡± Carla ignores the accusations. ¡°Heh,¡± The Baron says. ¡°I¡¯ve also heard that the alleged victims of Hamlin still live.¡± Orpheus, having wandered into the Black Box in search of Zagreus, overhears the Baron¡¯s accusations. ¡°The children of Hamlin, trapped within this dungeon,¡± the Baron says. ¡°I guess in a sense they are as good as dead, for they can never be free of them.¡± ¡°What?¡± the bard thinks. Carla ignores the Baron¡¯s attempts to rile her up. She knows she, Charlotte and Emily will free them one day. ¡°Mom?¡± Charlotte whispers to her mother. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± she lies. ¡°There is no need to heed this man¡¯s lies.¡± ¡°¡®Lies¡¯ you say?¡± the Baron asks while fighting Carla¡¯s more powerful beast. The feline serpents encircle him and Carnegie and attack with their fangs and tail swipes. The Baron¡¯s blazes glow with Cyan light as he casts a spell that freezes them in ice. ¡°Rich coming from the woman that oh so elaborately faked her demise to give the village ¡®closure¡¯,¡± Orpheus couldn¡¯t get a good look at the Alraunes, after all, he knew the Baron was here and what he had done to his Commander and Percival. ¡°Whose to say that is your only lie? Perhaps you wanted to ruin Hamlin and had the children abducted.¡± The Baron knows that is not the truth, but he also knows it doesn''t matter. For if he succeed, then the Children of Hamlin would receive a long overdue greeting from Revotos and be ushered into the sea of souls by the Pathfinder. ¡°Rest assured when all of this is over, they will be freed.¡± Orpheus doesn¡¯t know the full extent of what is going on, but knows this, if his sisters are at the Black Box, then they are in danger. He strums his lure and uses it to beckon the earth the tremble. Charlotte hands her son to her mother as the quakes cause part of the world to fall. The Tazelwurms try to Evade but Carnegie lulls them to sleep using combined earth and dark magics. He then attempts to freeze the cranes with ice magic. ¡°Oh noble fire. Blazing and infernal. Melt down the ice, to water eternal!¡± Orpheus reveals himself and conjures a wall of fire, preventing the Baron¡¯s ice spell from taking hold. ¡°What is the¡ª¡° He turns to see a bard clad in the attire of an Ebony Guard. ¡°This is for Percival!¡± He conjures a lightning spell, but Carnegie intercepts it with his cane. ¡°Sire, you must go,¡± Carnegie says. ¡°You know what will happen if you linger in this state.¡± The Baron remembers the drawbacks of the Last Bastion Protocols and nods. ¡°Take care of these wretches Carnegie!¡± The Baron leaves. Orpheus tries to follow him, but Carnegie intercepts him. ¡°An Ebony Guard,¡± Carnegie says. ¡°And yet you failed to stem the tide. ¡°The black-clad man creates a torrent to quell the flames. Clara and Charlotte see Orpheus fighting Carnegie. Carla summons her mountain lions to help the bard. ¡°Winds of change, heel my call. This vile wizard, he must fall!¡± Orpheus strums his lyre to call forth winds to buffet Carnegie. He then sues them as a tailwind to nock arrows from the strings. Charlotte tries to get help, but in her attempts, the alraune child trips and falls onto the ground below. Her mother tries to reach out fro her with vines, but she fell too fast for her vines to catch her. She lands on the ground and attracts the wizard¡¯s attention. ¡°Well well,¡± Carnegie says. He tries to attack the young girl, but Emily notices the fight and opens a whole beneath it, throwing off the wizard¡¯s concentration and bringing him into a deeper floor. Orpheus looks at Charlotte, recognizing her from the subway back at Noir. He then sees Carla rush to aid her daughter. His eyes widen as he recognized her from Hamlin. ??? Carnegie lands in a subterranean level of the Black Box. He sees various trees and animals around him and chuckles. He dusts off his coat and tries to regroup with the Baron. He rushes towards the wilderness until he enters another room. There he finds two dwarven crafters, armed with a sledgehammer and a pair of stunners. The wizard smirks. ¡°And here I thought dwarves preferred the mountains.¡± ¡°We prefer a lack of trespassers,¡± Sarah says while glaring at the man. ¡°You and that Baron of yours certainly qualify.¡± He aims his Stunner at the wizard. ¡°Now leave.¡± Carnegie takes his sunglasses and wipes them. ¡°I would, but you see, my liege has business here, and I will help him see it through to the end.¡± ¡°This is your last warning!¡± Sarah says. ¡°Get lost or¡ª¡° ¡°Or what?¡± Carnegie says. ¡°If you want to waste time in a futile struggle, be my guest.¡± Carnegie is suddenly thrown onto the ground by a surprise attack. Esteban and Julia arrive to assist the Dwarves. Carnegie stands up and adjusts his jaw. ¡°I expected as much. Very well. I have some time to waste.¡± Julia emerges from the shadows and throws a knife at Carnegie. He dodges, but she uses her control over darkness to have the throwing dagger emerge in another direction and slash his arm. The wizard is surprised to see sanguine fluids bleed out from his wound. He looks at Julia, with Minerva by his side. ¡°Heh,¡± Carnegie says, ¡°This dungeon has many surprises it seems.¡± ??? Carla looks over Orpheus and Charlotte. The bard looks at Carla with a mix of confusion and fury. As if he was betrayed by someone close to him. ¡°What is the name of Anesidora that happened?¡± Orpheus asks. ¡°Where are my sisters?¡± Carla finishes tending to Charlotte¡¯s wound without answering him. ¡°Answer me!¡± he says. ¡°There is a time and a place for everything, ¡°Carla says. ¡°And it is not now and not here.¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Orpheus says. ¡°I¡¯m their brother, I deserve to know what happened to Euryale and Stheno!¡± ¡°Know that they are safe,¡± the chartreuse-skinned woman says. ¡°For now.¡± ¡°For now, what are you talking about.¡± ¡°The Baron remains a threat looming over us, if he gets to the core of the dungeon, then ¡­¡± ¡°I know that!¡± Orpheus says. ¡°But I don¡¯t know why they are trapped here, why did you kidnap them?¡± ¡°She didn¡¯t kidnap them!¡± Charlotte says. ¡°Then who did?¡± Orpheus says. ¡°It was a demon,¡± the innocent alraune child says. ¡°A demon?¡± Orpheus says. ¡°Are you serious?¡± ¡°It¡¯s true!¡± Charlotte says. ¡°Hush, sweetie,¡± Carla says. Orpheus¡¯ face bears a look of disbelief. ¡°That cannot be right,¡± Orpheus thinks. ¡°The last Archfiend was vanquished a century ago. There is no way¡­¡± His train of thought is broken by the sight of Carla leaving with Charlotte. ¡°And where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± ¡°The dungeon needs our help,¡± Carla says. ¡°You can stay if you wish, you can leave if you want, but I have a duty to free these children and therefore to protect them until the day comes.¡± The two leaves. Orpheus is left alone in the room. He ruminates on what he has learned that day. ¡°Hey!¡± a voice calls out from him. The bard turns back and sees Zagreus tended to by two children. Their bodies bear a metallic sheen and the ears and tails of a rat. Yet Orpheus notices more familiar features. He sees the two girls shy away from him, but he can¡¯t deny it. Though they are altered, the bard knows his sisters when he sees them. Zagreus approaches Orpheus. ¡°Sorry about that,¡± the mage says. ¡°Got lost on the way back to the medial wards, he.¡± ¡°Eurydice was worried sick about you,¡± Orpheus says. ¡°Come on,¡± he says. The two Guards pass through Euryale and Stheno, and Orpheus strums a familiar tune on his lyre. A tune the sisters recognize as a melody he would play for them. He accompanies the tune with a new suite of words. ¡°Rest assured, I will return. For now, I¡¯ve answers to learn.¡± ??? The Baron Roberts delves deeper into the Black Box, seeking the core of the dungeon. ¡°Come out, little miss, face your destiny!¡± he says. He gets no response, ave for pillars erupting from the group to deter him. ¡°Pitiful,¡± he says as he slices through the emerging pillars with his steam swords. He feels mana seeping from him with each step. He sees several arachne descend upon him with an intent to defend their clutch and their home. ¡°You will not pass, intruder!¡± one of them says while leading the charge. ¡°Lousy pests!¡± The Baron says. He attempts to slash at them but his blades are intercepted by a shield bearing the image of a hound on it. ¡°You looked at a mirror lately?¡± Heathcliff arrives to protect Emily and the arachne from the Baron. Elizabeth arrives to assist him with his magic. ¡°Ah, so the Dungeon Master designs to greet me personally?¡± The Baron says. ¡°I¡¯m honored, but you are not the one I¡¯m looking for. Leave or face the consequences!¡± ¡°Sorry,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°I have a responsibility here.¡± The knight and the Baron clash with their blades. Heathcliff dodges the slashes with precise leaps, as he observes the Baron¡¯s swordsmanship. He then counters with a shield bash. ¡°Your bladework¡¯s rather shoddy!¡± Heathcliff says. The Baron fights with determined fury as he attempts to make it past Heathcliff, Elizabeth, and the Arachne. Among the arachne set to defend Emily from the invading dungeon core is Nina, standing on top of the Giant Spider Construct. She uses her bardsong eyes to pilot the machine as it moves into the fight. ¡°Squash that meanie!¡± she commands. The machine stomps one of its giant legs onto the Baron, Heathcliff runs away before the leg can make contact. The Baron uses herculean strength to hold the leg in place, His swords piercing the machine¡¯s leg as he holds them aloft. Elizabeth uses the distraction to pelt with magic from all seven available elements. Nina focuses on piloting the mechanical spider as its leg bears down on the Baron. The Baron struggles to remove the large pillar from himself when he sees a purple glint in the distance. Before he can react he is suddenly attacked by Tim through a shoulder tackle into a lean. He manages to displace the Baron enough so that the leg can continue to crush him. Tim leaps back to avoid the leg as it crushes him. Emily¡¯s avatara arrives to the battle and sees the Baron tramples under foot. ¡°Is it over?¡± she asks. She soon hears a malevolent cackling emerge from beneath the mech¡¯s foot. She sees it be lifted up. Nina feels the machine¡¯s leg being lifted by the Baron. ¡°Yaargh!¡± he screams as a shockwave emanates from him and pushes everyone back. He then then makes a mighty leap and slashes at the joints, cutting them causing the machine and Nina to fall onto the ground. The Arachne hastily makes a web to catch her fall. Emily looks with horror as the Baron lands light in front of her. ¡°So we meet again,¡± Baron says. Emily reacts tot eh question by immediately leaping back and then running around to try to attack him. Assisted by Elizabeth¡¯s magic. The Baron is nor surrounded by Emily and several of her allies. ??? Sarah, Richard, Esteban, Julia, and Minerva continue to fight Carnegie. Sarah jumps into the air and swings with her hammer. Carnegie tries to dodge, but Julia stops him by tripping him. Carnegie is hit by Sarah¡¯s hammer. ¡°How do you like that?¡± the silver-haired dwarf says after her attack. Carnegie uses a wind spell to repel Sarah, but it leaves him wide open to Richard¡¯s stunners. He takes two bolts to the chest which stuns him. Esteban draws towards the wizard and lets loose several left and right hooks. ¡°You are quite formidable,¡± Carnegie says, still standing. ¡°But even the mightiest cliff erodes!¡± He uses earth and wind magic to create a sandstorm that buffets his opponents. Sarah counters by spinning her hammer to blow the sand towards Carnegie and Julia uses her dagger to cast a spell. ¡°Hallowed Umbral Guardian, come to my aid!¡± A giant emerges from Julia¡¯s shadow and with a mighty clap blows the sand further wards Carnegie. Sarah rushes while still spinning her hammer, and channels the centrifugal force into a mighty swing. Julia¡¯s shadow then slams its fist onto Carnegie. The wizard is battened and bruised, but he is still able and willing to fight. ¡°So it appears you have driven me to the brink!¡± the wizard says. Minerva and Esteban rush towards him, but he dodges their blows as he channels his spells. ¡°Oh, howling wind, shining light.¡± He manurers around his enemy¡¯s attacks as he continues his spell. ¡°Clear water and blazing fire.¡± He rushes to the center of the room. ¡°In the fertile ground, in the shadow¡¯s night, let lightning strike and free them in ice¡¯s ire!¡± Carnegie summons eight pillars of rainbow-colored light. They spin around the room and attack the party with its respective attacks as Carnegie floats above them. The five try to avoid the elemental pillar¡¯s attacks while trying to defeat Carnegie. Minerva has an idea and uses her webbing to lasso Carnegie legs, and then pull him down. ¡°What?¡± he shouts upon seeing the arachne woman effortlessly slam him into the ground. Minerva and Esteban pummel the wizard with several punches. Carnegie is knocked out by the attacks. Minerva checks his heart for a pulse. ¡°He¡¯s alive, but he¡¯ll be out for a long time.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Sarah says. ¡°That¡¯s one less headache to worry about.¡± ¡°We still have to deal with the Baron,¡± Julia says. Leaving Carnegie, they head out to find the Baron and help Emily defeat him. ??? Emily, Tim, Heathcliff and Elizabeth continue to fight off the Baron Roberts. The enemy dungeon core uses his steam swords to coat the room in mist. He tries to rush to Emily, but she waltzes away and retaliates with her own slashes. Her weapons bound off the Baron¡¯s armor with a dink. She tries to strike the Baron, but the Last Bastion Protocols render him impervious to her attacks for as long as he has mana to burn. The Baron strikes her aside. ¡°Weak!¡± ¡°Emily!¡± Tim cries out. He makes a charging step and uses a flurry of rapid and precise strikes, channeling the wind and momentum to pun him back, but his own blows deal no damage to him. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. The Baron breathes heavily, tied by both the long day and the rapidly declining mana. ¡°Pitiful ants!¡± He bellows. He channels darkness magic into his swords. ¡°The weight of the world shall bear down on you.¡± He uses his swords to channel Gravity magic. Elizabeth collapses onto the floor, unable to fly under the increased pressure. Emily tries to counter by making an Apurgy well, but the Baron makes a mighty leap to stop her spell. The attempted drop kick is blocked by Heathcliff, who is barley able to stand. The Baron is repelled but Heathcliff collapses from the increased weight. ¡°Guess this is it for me,¡± the knight says with heavy breaths, before losing consciousness. He and Elizabeth begin dissolving into gold dust. Emily looks on in horror as she sees the Baron is still standing and only her and Tim are left. The Baron menacing approaches her while she braces for a fight. Tim leaps between the Baron and Emily. ¡°If you want her, you have to go through me first!¡± he says while brandishing his Qiang. The Baron scoffs and rushes towards Tim. The young lad is determined to defend Emily no matter the cost. He fights with controlled fury as he uses slashes and thrusts with his Qiang and all his bajiquan techniques to protect Emily and defeat the Baron. Yet it is not enough. After a few minutes Tim is defeated and is easily swatted aside. ¡°Pathetic whelp,¡± the Baron says. ¡°You are light years behind me.¡± Emily rushes to Tim, and is shocked to see him fall so easily. Tim looks to Emily as his body transforms into gold dust. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Emily¡­¡± He fades away. Before Emily could react, the Baron lifts her up by the neck. ¡°It¡¯s time to finish this!¡± He tosses the avatara body aside and then destroys it with his sword. The body melts into a silvery sludge as Emily¡¯s terrified consciousness is forced back into her true dungeon body. The Baron has defeated all obstacles in his path and now makes his way towards the core room. ??? Emily¡¯s avatara is destroyed, she tries to create another one but leans that there isn¡¯t enough available a man for her to do so. ¡°Please,¡± she thinks. ¡°I don¡¯t¡­not like his.!¡± She turns her gaze to her impending doom, represented by the menacing march of the Baron Roberts. He is now in front of the core. Surrounded by black and purple walls. He extends his arm and begins to attune to it, to absorb it. ¡°I¡­I don¡¯t want to go!¡± a stream of liquid begins to emerge from one of the walls. She is overwhelmed by feelings of helplessness, of hopelessness. The core begins to glow with a silvery light. ¡°Please¡­¡± she thinks. ¡°I-I don¡¯t want to die! I want to live!¡± The core suddenly glows with a blazing light. The Baron is pushed back into the wall. ¡°Humph,¡± he says as if anticipating such a response. ¡°So you have some spark left in you huh?¡± Emily¡¯s short time on Titania flashes before her eyes. The friends she made, the adversity she faced. Her hopes, her wishes, her sins. She feels mana flooding into her as she struggles to think of a plan to defeat the Baron. Survival instincts are kicking in and then¡­ ¡°[Last Bastion Protocols] authorized.¡± The Baron sees the core engulfed in a blinding pillar of white light. As the radiant pillar faces, another avatara of Emily emerges, clad in an iridescent silver version of her Cyberworks armor. The Baron laughs. ¡°Your will to live is strong, but will it be enough?¡± Emily wordlessly draws her blades. ¡°So be it.¡± The Baron detaches his steam swords from his gauntlets and combines them into a double-bladed spear. ¡°If you want to fight, then we will fight until the suns in our hearts burn out!¡± Emily teleports straight to the Baron and unleashes a furious chain of rapid sword slashes and dances, punctuated by a large kick to the chest. The Baron is knocked to the wall again, most of his mana has been exhausted. The Baron stands right back up and is determined to prevail. He takes his spear as its blades glow green. "We must struggle to live, as the howling black wind rises!" He slams his spear into the ground and a pillar of green light emerges behind him. It conjures a large tornado that draws in Emily. Emily simply uses the momentum and central forces to slingshot around the pillar and throw her two swords at the Baron. The clash causes part of his steam-powered armor to fall off his arm and for glowing white liquid to drip from his arm. The chakram returns to Emily and she uses it to create a wind tunnel that slams the Baron into eh ceiling. As the Baron falls. He reorients himself and channels ice magic into his spear. "Now is the winter of your life, and the end of my discontent!". Cyan light coats the blades as he lands and another pillar rises. The new pillar chills the air around it and causes parts of the room to freeze over. Emily locks blacks with the Baron, silently fighting with the fury of a wild beast and parrying her opponent¡¯s attacks. Her slashes cause more of the Baron¡¯s armor to chip off and she eventually slashes his right knee. "You are insignificant, like the teardrops in the rain!" The Baron¡¯s spear glows blue and he summons a torrent through a new blue pillar. The water lands on Emily and the effect of the cyan pillar coats her in a thin layer of ice, but she simply teleports, shattering the ice, and reemerges behind the Baron. Her blades are enchanted by fire for the first time and she sues it attack with searing heat. The Baron is undeterred. He tries to flood the room and submerge the empowered avatara in water, but Emily changes her element to ice and freezes the Baron¡¯s legs. She then returns to fire and slashes at the legs. The Baron is forced to kneel from the attack, his eyes widen in shock., but he refuses to yield. Parts of the core room begin to transform into gold dust. But neither party is too focused on the other to care. The Baron takes his spear and forces it to glow pink. "To pile like thunder, to strike like lightning!" he cried out. A magenta pillar of light joins its breather and causes the cloud in the ceiling to roar with thunder. Lightning emanates from the pillar and hits Emily¡¯s, but she remains dauntless and uses her swords to redirect the bolts of levin toward the Baron. The Baron breathes heavily as Emily approaches him. ¡°Do you find your actions just?¡± Her voice booms as she utters these words. ¡°What right do you to terrorize te land in tis manner?¡± The Baron simply laughs at the statements. ¡°Of course, even now you are naught but a mere pawn in this game of chess! Worry not, I will relive you of your burdens!¡± ??? Elizabeth reforms in a pod a few minutes after her demised. She tiredly flutters out as she sees parts of the Dungeon vanishing, disappearing into gold dust. ¡°Oh no!¡± she says. She realizes what is happening. Heathcliff and Tim emerge from their pods afterwards. Minerva and her party arrive, as well as Nina, Atsuko, the Truces and the Coloraturas. ¡°What is going on?¡± Rose asks. ¡°The Black Box is falling apart!¡± Richard says. ¡°Emily activated the [Last Bastion Protocols],¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°She¡¯s channeling all of the mana of the dungeon into herself. If we don¡¯t stop her soon, she¡¯ll burn through all her mana.¡± Clover freaks out upon seeing part of her finger slowly turning to gold dust. ¡°What the¡ª¡± Streltizia says after feeling one of her horns vanishing in this manner. ¡°The [Sentinels] and [Cells] are also part of the dungeon too,¡± Elizabeth says with urgency. ¡°We have to hurry!¡± ¡°Ugh this is turning into a huge mess,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°Where are they right now?¡± Azalea says. ¡°If we don¡¯t want to circle the drain we need to find her and help her stop the Baron!¡± ¡°They¡¯re likely at the core room,¡± Tim says. ¡°We must head there post-haste!¡± They run through the disappointing Black Box. Passing through several of the vanishing cells along the way. Carla and Charlotte soon find some of the children from Hamlin, crying as if they know what is happening to them. Charlotte looks in horror before recomposing herself and continuing to the core room. ??? "Our lives, changed, melted, molded in the flames!" The Baron conjures a red pillar of light with his now red-hot spear. The heat from the fifth pillar allows him to attack Emily with Jests of steam. Emily avoids the heated vapors and clashes once more with the Baron. Her curved blades against his steam spear. She lets loose a flurry of slashes that cut through one of the blades, separating it in two. ¡°Do you even know why we are called Divine Dungeons?¡± The Baron says. ¡°Do you know why we are bereft of our memories?¡± Emily refuses to respond. She simply teleports again and draws in the heat from the fire pillar to melt off another part of the baron¡¯s armor. ¡°I bet you don¡¯t even know that an Archfiend walks among us!¡± The Baron says. ¡°You¡¯re always content to just do as you¡¯re told!¡± ¡°You¡¯re wrong,¡± Emily says in a normal tone. The Baron tries to use the distraction to land a hit on her, but Emily dodges and cuts off another piece of the broken blade. ¡°Am I?¡± The Baron clashes with Emily once more. In their clash, something strange happens. The Baron begins to see flashes of Emily¡¯s experiences, and Emily sees¡¯ flashes of the barons. She sees memories of a young man setting off in the world, of meeting the scion of a steel magnate and taking him on as a Dungeon Master, of them prevailing in countless trials and becoming beloved in Cerberus, of them meeting Atsuko and her crew, and finally of them meeting a certain Piper. The clash ends and both fighters are repelled by a blast. Emily looks at the Baron with shock and horror. ¡°What happened to you?¡± The Baron stands up and points the intact blade of his spear at her. ¡°I have merely awoken to the truth of this world. It speaks to me, and it tells me that you are not long for this world.¡± Emily teleports in front of the Baron and tries to defeat him. They clash again. ¡°Look are yourself,¡± the Baron sneers. ¡°You¡¯re burning through all your mana, and for what? To try to delay the inevitable? If you are content to just do as you are told, to merely react. Then you will end up absorbed! If not by me then by another. That is the fate of those that do not carve their path!¡± ¡°You¡­you¡ª¡± ¡°Have you ever made any effort to fulfill these young girls¡¯ wishes?¡± The Baron says. The two clash again. ¡°Did you perhaps enjoy the company of the children the demon trapped inside of you?¡± They clash again. ¡°You even took on the arduous task of rebuilding a lost sect! Yet you¡¯ll never reach those lofty heights!¡± The Baron recalls Enemy with a herculean throw. ¡°Enough of this farce!¡± He channels orange mana into his broken spear. "Oh stoney grey soil, become the tomb of my enemy!" An orange pillar of light emerges the sixth summons by the Baron. It attacks Emily in sand and stone. The baron then channels yellow light into his weapon. "We rage, rage against the death of the light!" A yellow pillar emerges and blinds Emily. The other six assault her with their attacks and push her into the wall. "But only one of us will go gently into the night!" The Baron summons a pillar not of light, but of purple darkness on top of Emily. Emily is attacked by phantasms as she moves to escape its hold. By now a quarter of the Black Box has disappeared. Emily rages towards the Baron and through a flurry of dances and slashes carves off the Baron¡¯s arm. The white liquid bleeds out as she takes the steam spear and breaks it. The Baron merely cackles and beckons the eight pillars to converge. They trap Emily within their combined form and pelt her with elemental attacks while the Baron laughs like a madman. His severed limb and weapon already turning into gold dust. Emily struggles to break free from the combined pillar of elemental light. ¡°Go on, ¡®noble¡¯ opponent struggle against your fate if you can!¡± The Baron yells to Emily. Emily then looks on and sees the arrival of her friends, some of them also vanishing into the air. She is lifted high into the air by the pillars and realizes that the Black box itself is vanishing. ¡°Emily!¡± Time tries to run, but one of his legs has dissolved into dust and he collapses on the ground. Emily looks back at the Baron. ¡°Our days are numbered! For as long as we linger in this state, we burn through our mana. It is the last blaze of glory and glory is what I shall claim!¡± The Baron says with a triumphant laugh. Sarah tries to rush towards Emily and free her from the pillar, but the Baron anticipates that and motions the earth to block her with his lone wrist. He then approaches Emily and extends his arm out to her. ¡°Your time is up! Let the last of your embers be snuffed out by my steam!¡± Emily winces in Pain and the Baton once again tries to absorb her and her core. She struggles to free herself. ¡°No, no, no!¡± she thinks as she manages to move within the elemental pillar. ¡°Accept your fate,¡± the Baron bellows. ¡°I am unstoppable, even if you repel me I shall return again, stronger than before!¡± Emily manages to free herself. On instinct, she has one last idea. Her survival instinct kicks in as she teleports away from the pillar, shattering it and sending its elemental energies towards the cackling Baron. Before he could notice it. Emily emerges right in front of him and grabs him with bother her arms. With a mighty scream, she begins absorbing the Baron before he can absorb her. ¡°What?¡± The Baron says. ¡°Impossible!¡± He moves to pillar to their location while trying to shake her off, but Emily refuses to move. The pillar of light engulfs them as Emily screams once more. The Baron¡¯s body begins to vanish all his mana pooling into Emily allows with all the amassed power of the Elementalist¡¯s Spheres he has, including the Aquasphere. ¡°I. Won¡¯t. Let. You. Hurt. Anyone. Anymore!¡± Emily yells as she finishes absorbing the baron. The baron Roberts screams as all of his mana is absorbed into Emily. The pillar explodes in a blinding light engulfing the entirety of the Dungeon¡¯s perimeter. Within the light. Emily hears a certain voice. ¡°Well done, Divine Dungeon. You have triumphed. The intruder gone, the threat is silenced.¡± Emily recognizes this as the voice of the Piper Pruflas both the demon that forced the children of Hamlin inside her and the one that gave the Baron Atsuko¡¯s research. When the light fades, the Black Box is restored to normal, and everyone sees Emily¡¯s avatara on her knees, crying. The nacreous silver gives way to the normal black and purple palette. Tim rushes to her. ¡°Emily, are you you okay?¡± Emily remains inconsolable. The Dungeon core rubs her nose as she looks at Tim¡¯s comforting gaze. ¡°I¡¯m¡­I¡¯m not fine¡­¡± she says through tears. She knew Pruflas orchestrated this ordeal. Tim stays by her side, doing his best to comfort her. ??? The next day begins with Emily looking out at the changes made by absorbing the Baron. Her avatara looks at how the Verdemaw, once natural and green, had become part of the Black Box and took on its signature Blue and Black technological aesthetic. Her gaze is affixed at the altered landscape but it seems like she is looking a thousand yards beyond it. Tim approaches her. ¡°Are you¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Emily lies. Tim sighs. ¡°Do you think that was your fault?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, Tim,¡± Emily says. ¡°I don¡¯t know what its worse. That I had to absorb him to stop his rampage, or that someone had forced the conflict to happen.¡± She mulls over what had just happened, and over the Baron¡¯s words. ¡°Do you think this could¡¯ve been avoided?¡± Tim says. ¡°I do,¡± Emily says. ¡°Much as I want to think otherwise, I let myself be a pawn, I lost control again¡­¡± Tim notices her dazed gaze turn into a fiery one of determination. ¡°But no more, I will not let myself be controlled by others, never again.¡± ¡°What are you planning to do?¡± Tim says. ¡°I¡¯ve talked to Heathcliff about asking Atsuko¡¯s retainers if they could lend a hand with helping set up the traps. He seems to like the idea at least, after that. I want to set out for a bit. See about finding other rouge dungeons. I already set up talks with Pauline about it.¡± ¡°You want to represent yourself?¡± Tim says. ¡°That is rather risky.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Emily says. ¡°I also know there is much to learn.¡± Heathcliff approaches them. ¡°I understand, cher.¡± He says with a great big smile. ¡°Should I start with ¡®wrap me in a bolt of lightning¡¯?¡± ¡°Rest assured I still need your services as the Dungeon Master, sir knight,¡± Emily says. ¡°Your experience, skills, and connections would still come in handy.¡± ¡°Hah!¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°They¡¯d better be. So what¡¯s on the agenda today?¡± ¡°We need to check on our allies. Yesterday was pretty brutal on them.¡± ¡°On it,¡± Heathcliff says. Elizabeth flutters in. ¡°There you are!¡± ¡°Hey, Lizzie!¡± Emily says in a cheerful tone. ¡°What¡¯s up.¡± ¡°The Ebony Guard contingent wants to talk to us,¡± Elizabeth says. ¡°They¡¯re at the core room right now.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Emily says. ¡°Seems like the trial by fire isn¡¯t over yet,¡± Heathcliff says. The group leaves the Verdemaw, now called the Bleumaw. On the way, they meet up with the dwarven Smiths as they look over what the new material made by absorbing the Baron Roberts. ¡°Hmm, so we only got plain old steel?¡± Sarah says. ¡°Sister, you know this was more about protecting Emily than getting resources,¡± Richard says. ¡°I know,¡± Sarah says. ¡°I just thought we would¡¯ve gotten something more rarer for all our troubles.¡± Raine arrives for her apprenticeship and waves to Emily as she seeds her. Emily sees Azalea practicing her comedy act with Rose and Nina. She then sees Pauline taking care of the adventurers at her newly expanded hospital. Then she sees Lily and Anemone talking about their favorite movies while Lydia and Minerva are keeping an eye on Rose, Clover, and Streltizia. She then sees Atsuko and her shinobi calibrating their instrument for a later expedition into the Microdungeons. She then sees Flowena and Ulrick play with the other sprites and Kaitlyn They reach the core room, where they see Orpheus, Eurydice, and Zagreus, alongside Carla, Charlotte, Euryale, Stheno, Esteban, and Julia. ¡°Hello,¡± Emily says with decorum. ¡°Is something the matter?¡± ¡°I simply want to offer you my thanks, for protecting the children of the village of Hamlin thus far,¡± Orpheus says. ¡°But I also have my concerns.¡± ¡°Such as,¡± Emily says. ¡°I came to learn that strange things had happened in Hamlin,¡± Orpheus says. ¡°That one of your Sentinels had allegedly kidnapped my sisters and the other children and murdered them. Yet as I can see that is not the case.¡± He then sighs. ¡°Yet at the same time, I understand why that is. Demon or no if the village were to see them in the state they are now in, their reaction would be swift and merciless, and rendered on the children as well.¡± ¡°That is what Carla thinks, yes,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°And not without good cause, Carla interjects. ¡°Quite,¡± Orpheus says. ¡°What I take umbrage with the assumption that I would be among them,¡± he glares at his sisters. ¡°We-we didn¡¯t know!¡± Euryale says. ¡°Please forgive us!¡± Stehno says. Orpheus sighs. ¡°For now I have to return to Noir, the headquarters will want to know about the results of your defense and I have to tell them about the deaths of Percival and Commander K. But as soon as I am able, I want to ask them if I could be stationed here in y¡ªI mean in the Black Box.¡± ¡°You want to move here?¡± ¡°Someone has to keep an eye on these two,¡± Orpheus says. ¡°Besides,¡± Eurydice says. ¡°The Guards are investigating the disappearance of one Stanley Piers.¡± Emily feels like the name is familiar. ¡°My people claim he had left for Hamlin several months ago and had never returned,¡± Esteban says. ¡°I see,¡± Emily says. ¡°Tell me, is there anything you know about ¡®Archfiends¡¯?¡± ¡°[Archfiends]?¡± Elizabeth asks with puzzlement. ¡°I think there is nothing the Guards know that your fairy also does not, sorry,¡± Orpheus says. ¡°I see,¡± Emily says. ¡°I hope we can meet again,¡± Orpheus says. ¡°Under better circumstances.¡± Orpheus and his party begin to leave the Black Box. The bard then turns back. ¡°And one more, thing, do keep my sisters and the others out of trouble, please. They can be quite the handful at times.¡± ¡°Am not!¡± Euryale says. ¡°Will do,¡± Emily says with a chuckle. ¡°I¡¯ll see you soon,¡± he leaves while strumming his lyre. The crew of the Black Box bids farewell. Heathcliff leaves to check with Pauline. Elizabeth then heads to Atsuko. The others also bid Farewell to Emily as her avatara recedes into the floor and her consciousness returns again to her body. Everyone in the room then notices the collection of Elementalist¡¯s Spheres, with the blue Aquaspehre mounted between the purple Umbrasphere and the cyan Cryosphere. A monument to Emily acquiring all eight spheres of the common elements. ??? Meanwhile, at the auction house on Joyfuller Island, the auctioneers begin selling their wares. A man in a baby blue suit is among the buyers. ¡°Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a treat for you today. Recently traded for an Umbrasphere is a rare item. A statuette that looks cute but holds immense potential.¡± He displays the statuette that Tim had sold to the man. ¡°He¡¯s putting the item up for sale now,¡± the man says to a walkie-talkie. ¡°Are you sure it would advance our research?¡± ¡°At the very least, acquiring it would help us explore why it was worth as much as an Elementlaist¡¯s sphere,¡± the person on the other end says. ¡°If you can get it for us, that would be appreciated, Maurice.¡± ¡°Roger,¡± Maurice says ¡°Bidding starts at¡ª¡± the carnie says. ¡°I¡¯m willing to pay one thousand golds,¡± Maurice says. The crowd is shocked. ¡°Ten thousand? I can¡¯t afford that!¡± a centaur man says. ¡°Well so much for that prize,¡± a dark-skinned woman says. ¡°Better luck next time,¡± a man with a straw hat says. ¡°Alright then,¡± the auctioneer says, ¡°Bidding starts at ten thousand gold. Going one. Going twice. Sold to the man in the blue zoot.¡± Maurice heads to the stand and exchanges the bag of coins for the statue. The auctioneer has a nearby financier confirm the amount. He soon gives them thumbs up. ¡°Thank you for your patronage,¡± the carnie says. ¡°My pleasure.¡± Maurice takes the statue and leaves with the rabbit statue. Chapter XXXIII: The Wards of Medica Memoria A week passed after the fight with the Baron Roberts. Life around the Black Box Dungeon continued as normal. Yet Emily is still shaken by the Baron¡¯s words towards her. She looked towards the Bleumaw. What was until recently, known as the Verdemaw, a natural scene of greenery is now changed to a cybernetic blue hue. She walked toward the recent expansion of her domain and saw a quiet place within the azure forest. There she had meditated for a few hours. She first focused on what happened earlier that day. The morning of, Emily, Elizabeth, Atsuko, and Tim had delved into the microdungeon of Tim¡¯s Qiang, Spearhead¡¯s Peak, and talked with Wu Jingyu. ¡°You must be the fairy tied to Emily,¡± Jingyu said. ¡°Greetings and my humblest apologies.¡± ¡°Hello,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°I understand you wanted Emily to revive the Golden Spear sect?¡± Jingyu nodded. ¡°I again, offer my sincerest apologies for the inconvenience, I am aware that most faiths are against the art of cultivation and likewise as begins so connected to the Administrators as you are that¡ª¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that,¡± the pink-haired fairy said. ¡°I had revived clearance for us to pursue the art. But¡­¡± ¡°But,¡± Jingyu said. ¡°Recent events had us wondering about¡­ things,¡± Emily said. ¡°I see,¡± Jingyu said. ¡°The very fact we can meet again proves you have overcome your urgent struggle,¡± Jingyu said. ¡°Yeah,¡± Emily said. ¡°I was wondering about why [Alkahestry], no [Cultivation] is so despised by the gods,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°Hmm, you notice the contradiction in your statement here?¡± ¡°Yes, I do,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°I supposed it is more accurate to ask why they are claimed to have despised [Cultivation].¡± Jingyu walked around his room and looked out to the kaleidoscopic sky outside. ¡°If my hunch is correct, it began with a misunderstanding. The path of cultivation in general is tread to the very end, which would see the cultivator walk amongst the gods themselves. Therefore it would stand to reason the Administrators would test their worthiness of the role.¡± ¡°It would make sense,¡± Tim said. ¡°They are at least claimed to want what is best for mortalkind. It would stand to reason that if they would want to ensure anything seeking to join them would be attuned to that goal as possible.¡± ¡°Though the existence of the Fallen, Lucifer, implies that they don¡¯t always stay that way,¡± Atsuko said while looking at several of the items gathered on this trip. ¡°Though the seed of misunderstanding is just that a seed,¡± Jingyu said. ¡°There needed to be a gardener to have to bloom. What began as a mere understanding became a cause for people to think it taboo. Likely by those that saw it as a threat to their power.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t think they¡ª¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°Why not?¡± Jingyu said. ¡°There are many interpretations of the scriptures, after all.¡± ¡°Like the Universalists,¡± Atsuko said. ¡°They have a global reach and the influence to match, many of the faithful¡¯s worship is derived from their practices.¡± ¡°As a counterpoint,¡± Tim said. ¡°There are also protestant groups like the Agneists. Those who have a different opinion on how worship is best concocted.¡± ¡°That¡¯s an understatement,¡± Atsuko said. ¡°I pretty much skipped Gardenia because the city and surrounding area had no dungeons.¡± ¡°That is true¡­¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°They somehow thought that [Dungeons] are a force to be exterminated.¡± Emily has a question of her own. ¡°So how did the cultivators survive these attacks.¡± ¡°It¡¯s simple, we hid,¡± Jingyu said. ¡°We retreated to the shadows and practiced in secret.¡± ¡°It also helped that an exodus caused Jiangese to leave the nation and spread their secrets throughout Titania. Who knows how many cultivations sects exist beneath the noses of the governments and the churches?¡± ¡°I see,¡± Emily said. ¡°If I may, Mr. Wu?¡± ¡°Please, Emily,¡± Jingyu said. ¡°The time for formalities is long gone.¡± ¡°Right, sorry. Jingyu. I want to ask about the Qiang.¡± ¡°The one we¡¯re inside right now?¡± Jingyu said. ¡°From the information that was¡­for lack of a better term, downloaded onto me,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°The Qiang Tim wielded was of great importance to your sect.¡± ¡°That Qiang was one of four weapons, and the most important of them all,¡± Jingyu said. ¡°It was left behind by the founder after he ascended, along with all of his knowledge. In fact, he made certain to have the Qiang contain his wisdom. It was passed down through generations of Elders, who used it to teach their disciples our Alkahestry. That is why I had ensured it wouldn¡¯t fall into the wrong hands.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Tim said. ¡°I might have also told you that the other three weapons were likely scattered throughout the world, but the Qiang¡¯s importance meant that those who would come across them would try to get the Qiang. It is more than a weapon, it is a symbol of our school and therefore is vital for its restoration. With the fall of the Golden Spear, four seeds would be planted. Only one of them would become the successor to the fallen, the one with the highest claim to the power and legacy of the Golden Spear.¡± With that, Emily¡¯s recollection of the earlier meeting ended. She performs several breathing exercises before she focuses on her memories of the Baron. She then focused specifically on the Last Bastion Protocols, and how they helped her barely eke out a victory over the Baron. How they helped her survive. A while later, amidst the tranquility of the converted forest. Emily heard leaves rustle nearby. She turned her head and saw Tim approach her. ¡°Never thought I¡¯d see you here,¡± Tim said. ¡°It was getting a little noisy back there,¡± Emily said. ¡°Ah,¡± Tim said. ¡°You came here to meditate too?¡± Tim sat down. ¡°Well yes, but also because Heathcliff wanted to ask a favor.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± ¡°We found out that the Fallow Institute over at Pacifica found out about you. They are currently talking with the Guild about having one of their researchers explore the Black Box. Given recent events, Pauline and Heathcliff wanted to ask you if you¡¯re okay with that.¡± ¡°I¡¯m okay with having many people inside me if that¡¯s what you¡¯re asking,¡± Emily said mischievously. Tim is taken aback by the innuendo. Emily chuckled. ¡°I¡¯ll head to the guild alter and let Pauline know I¡¯m fine with them. After all, can¡¯t keep everyone away from me over one hectic day.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± Tim said. ¡°As a dungeon, your job is to help the flow of mana by culminating it inside the gear you create and having them spread far from here.¡± ¡°Gathering mana. ¡°The way you put it, that almost sounded like Cultivation,¡± Emily said. ¡°Perhaps,¡± Tim said. ¡°That might be another reason why the art is considered profane. I had asked Master Wu about it, but he had given only cryptic answers.¡± Emily stood up and stretched her arms. ¡°I¡¯m done for now. Feel free to meditate here, Timmy.¡± She began walking away from him. ¡°Um, Emily?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± Emily¡¯s avatara responded. ¡°You do know that this place is a part of you now right?¡± Tim asked. Emily realized that she had forgotten that the Bleumaw was part of her now. Infused with enough of ehr essence, and ehr nanomachinery, that she could simply recede her avatara into ehr surroundings here and return her consciousness to the core from here. ¡°Right.¡± Her avatara melted into a silver mass and merged with the foliage. With no distractions. Tim began meditating. ??? Meanwhile, Atsuko and Saizo are in the middle of keeping tabs on the mana of everyone¡¯s weapons. ¡°Alright,¡± Atsuko said. ¡°With the recent trip, Tim¡¯s Qiang gained five percent more efficiently with the mana flow. That puts it a little over Emily¡¯s swords and Streltizia¡¯s labrys and staff.¡± ¡°What about the items?¡± Saizo asked. ¡°Hoshikage fount that they possessed microdungeons of their own.¡± Atsuko looks at one of the monitors. ¡°That reminds me, where is she anyway.¡± ¡°She took Kasumi and the Colorturas to see a movie,¡± Saizo said. ¡°Is not one of those Pearly Templeton flicks, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°What can I say,¡± the shinobi said. ¡°She loves her musicals.¡± ¡°Come to think of it, maybe Emily could install a theater in her,¡± Atsuko said. ¡°Atsuko,¡± Saizo sighed. ¡°You know a theater is out of our league right now.¡± Atsuko finished her research for today. ¡°Right.¡± She turned to her retainer. ¡°Any news from Yamatai?¡± ¡°None so far, Lady Atsuko,¡± Atsuko sighed. ¡°Okay, I know there is a war going on, but would it kill Mom to write me every once in a while?¡± ¡°Depending on the circumstances, yes,¡± Saizo said. ¡°Not, helping.¡± The teal-haired nekomata looked at her large bow. ¡°Gonna take some target practice. If Sarah asks, let her know. She wants me to help her ascertain if the expeditions affected the material composition of the weapons.¡± ¡°Noted,¡± Saizo said. ¡°Best of luck, Lady Atsuko.¡± ??? Later that day, Emily¡¯s avatara arrived at the Rosenkreuz guildhall and met with Pauline at the counter ¡°Hi Pauline!¡± ¡°Welcome, sweetie,¡± the blue-haired elf said. ¡°How may I help you?¡± ¡°I heard I have a pending ¡®guest¡¯?¡± ¡°Fallow,¡± Pauline said. ¡°They want to ask for the chance to get some material out of you for research purposes. Apparently they found something in Noir¡¯s Joyfuller Island that came form you. Surely you know something about that?¡± Emily remember Tim trading one of her rabbit statues for the Umbraspehre. ¡°Nope, can¡¯t said I have.¡± She lied. ¡°Uh-huh,¡± Pauline said. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, dear.¡± ¡°How are the repair efforts?¡± Emily said. ¡°We have managed to repair much of the damage Mister Robers made on the way to the neighborhood. Though the absence of the Engines meant the area¡¯s economy was heavily impacted.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Emily asked. ¡°The Engines turned out to be the where that region got its processed steel from.¡± Pauline said. ¡°That meant they now have to import from other parts of Libert¨¦ now.¡± ¡°Huh,¡± Emily said. She began realizing that the Baron¡¯s attack and the result of that had affected Cerberus drastically. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Pauline laughs. ¡°What had you got to apologize for? He had to be stopped and the regional guilds and factory knew it. Though some were a mite slower on the uptake then others. The various towns had reported that the impact isn¡¯t quite significant, and some folk from Noir are seizing the opportunity to build refineries to fill the void.¡± ¡°Still¡­¡± ¡°Listen, honey,¡± Pauline said. ¡°I¡¯ve seen many a Divine Dungeon come and go over my years at this humble guild. Its nothing to get hung up about, Emily.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Emily said. ¡°Anyway, what is Fallow?¡± ¡°The Fallow Institute is one of the leading research firms in Libert¨¦, they make it their goal is to advance science and technology. Many a seasoned engineer came form their ranks. And many dungeons that encounter them tend to become a bit more infamous.¡± ¡°How so?¡± ¡°Well for starters, one of the consistent projects involves looking for unique Dungeon Materials and seeing their applications in various fields of the sciences. Those that end up connected to them tend to be seen as more valuable. They also try to look into how the materials dangerous qualities and how to best mitigate them.¡± ¡°That makes sense,¡± Emily said. ¡°How soon will they arrives. I want them to have the opportunity.¡± ¡°I¡¯d say a week or two, give or take,¡± Pauline said. ¡°Is that all?¡± Emily thought about if there are nay other errands. ¡°Actually, did Esteban and Julia return from Noir?¡± ¡°I¡¯d think you¡¯d be the first to know if they had, dear,¡± Pauline said. ¡°Right,¡± Emily said nervously. ¡°Guess that¡¯s it then.¡± ¡°Tell Heathcliff I said hi!¡± Pauline said. ¡°Will do!¡± Emily said as she left. ??? The next day, Elizabeth went to a library in Rosenkreuz. She approached a Porcine librarian. ¡°What can I do for you miss?¡± the librarian asked. His furry ears and legs had designated him as of the Caledonian strain. He wore a sweater vest over a white shirt and dark blue slack pants. ¡°Hello,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°I want to ask about tomes on magic and martial arts.¡± ¡°That¡¯s in the one thousand, three hundred and fifties,¡± the Liberian said. ¡°Thank you, sir,¡± the pink-haired fairy asked. The Liberian noticed Elizabeth¡¯s wings. ¡°Are you by any chance a sprite?¡± ¡°No,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°[Dungeon Fairy].¡± ¡°The librarian is aghast with surprise. ¡°A dungeon fairy? Why are you interested in those topics? You should already know about them!¡± ¡°I know,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°I thought so too, but recent events had me thinking otherwise.¡± The Porcine Librarian stroked his chin, before recalling what he learned the other day about the Engine¡¯s rampage. Before he could ask her, Elizabeth had already fluttered away. Elizabeth flew to shelves 1350-1400. She looked at the various books on display. ¡°Let¡¯s see,¡± she said. ¡°The Art of War, The Ars Encyclopedia, The Bard¡¯s Guide to Bardsong and other Bardic Arts¡­¡± As she looked through the titles of various books, her hand soon ran into another. Elizabeth turned her head and saw Anemone Aria and Hydrangea Harmony here. ¡°Anemone?¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°What are you two doing here?¡± ¡°I always come here,¡± the lilac-haired girl said. Her lupine hears erect in surprise. ¡°Well ever since Emily adopted us that is.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just here to return my copy of Fantomas III Volume 4,¡± the cyan-haired girl said. ¡°Oh.¡± Elizabeth had hard forgotten that those two loved reading and would naturally gravity towards the local library. ¡°What about you?¡± Anemone said. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen you enter a library since we met in Noir.¡± ¡°Oh, um well,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°I wanted to expand my horizons a bit.¡± ¡°I understand, it¡¯s fun learning about new topics,¡± Anemone said. ¡°But why the Arcane and Martial Arts section? I¡¯d thought you¡¯d¡ª¡± ¡°Know all there is to know about [Dungeons] and [Adventurers],¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°I won¡¯t blame you for thinking that. I thought I did as well.¡± The three head to a nearby table. Hydrangea had a question. ¡°What had you thinking that?¡± the bespectacled girl said. ¡°Atsuko¡¯s hypothesis proving correct for starters,¡± Elizabeth sighed. ¡°That a strange reason. It is a novel field of study, after all,¡± Hydrangea said. ¡°It¡¯s more than that, Hydra,¡± Anemone said. Her pointed hat nearly flew off her hair from the wind of a nearby fan. ¡°It¡¯s the first breakthrough in Dungeon research in over five hundred years!¡± ¡°More than that, I¡¯ve been wondering if it really was true that the [Administrators] had programmed me and fairies like me with all the knowledge needed to guide [Divine Dungeons]. If [Obsidian] had withheld knowledge for me.¡± ¡°Why would he do that?¡± Anemone said while moving one of her ringlets to her back. ¡°The Administrators prefer knowledge to be spread, usually.¡± ¡°That is true,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°That is the reason they send [Messengers] and [Divine Dungeons] to [Titania]. To aid in the spread of knowledge. Yet despite that¡­¡± ¡°Now that you think about it,¡± Hydrangea said. ¡°It does seem strange that the church would claim mana Cultivation is a taboo art and try to suppress it.¡± ¡°Necromancy too,¡± Anemone said. ¡°Thought that hasn¡¯t really stopped them, or dungeons for that matter from dabbling in that.¡± ¡°The stated reason is that these areas were forbidden because they are dangerous, but at the same time,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°There were other fields that could be said to have just as much of an impact. [Alchemy] had a large influence on [Alkahestry], and also paved the way for chemistry when it diverged from it. While [Bardsong]¡¯s potential to manipulate and control hearts and minds, and its unique power to bypass the need for [Elementalist¡¯s Spheres] for most, were known for millennia, yet those weren¡¯t forbidden arts.¡± ¡°That reminds me,¡± Hydrangea said. ¡°With the Aquasphere in Emily¡¯s hands. Does that mean she has access to all of them?¡± ¡°Not quite,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°You know how some people claim there are actually ten elements?¡± Anemone said ¡°Oh?¡± Hydrangea said. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Anemone said. ¡°I¡¯ve recently read that there is a serious debate in academia about the existence of two special elements. Commonly attributed to be the Stars and Mana itself by proponents of the theory.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°I have noticed that the Spherebed had ten slots, despite there being eight commonly known elements.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been like that for most other dungeons as well,¡± Anemone said. ¡°This had to be used as evidence for the existence of these two elements.¡± ¡°But at the same time, ¡°Elizabeth said. ¡°Mana and the Stars? Those are magic itself and the domain of [Astra]!¡± ¡°Is there any published material on this, Anemone?¡± Elizabeth asked. ¡°Let me see,¡± Anemone stood up from the table and moved to shelf 1356. She looked for a specific title until her eyes widened. ¡°Found it! An Argument for Ten Elements, by Johannes Brown of the Astromancer¡¯s Institution of Divination.¡± ¡°Astromancy?¡± Elizabeth said. She took the book from anemone and perused its contents. She found a passage from it and read it. ¡°Though [Bardsong] is axiomatically considered ontological to magic in its ability to draw on the elements without magic. The [Stardeck]¡¯s existence provided a counterargument against the notion. Believed to be blessed by the [Planete Administrators], each subdeck is attuned to one of the eight elements. With our current framework, it should be that not all of the subdecks would be accessible to those without the respective spheres. Yet that is not the case. People who had never touched the [Geosphere] were known to have drawn the deck of [Phaenon]. It likely held no effect on the probability of getting specific decks. Thus for it to be true that [Bardsong] is the only method of calling upon the elements without the spheres, there has to be another source of elemental mana to draw on.¡± ¡°It therefore stands to reason that the Stardecks draw upon a ninth element. Given its nature and what I had gathered from my time at the Astromancer¡¯s Institution and my experience there has led me to believe that this source is Star mana.¡± Elizabeth remembered the Stardeck wielder from before their trip to Noir. ¡°It is true, [Stardecks] were anomalous in their ability to allow one to wield all known elements.¡± ¡°Star elements, that would explain a lot,¡± Hydrangea said. Elizabeth read further into the book. There she learned about the discoveries of indigo and white-colored spheres of unknown origin. The former was discovered by the author examining unusually colored Aquaspheres and Umbraspheres. The latter were discovered in places that were wreaked by Cataclysms. She also learned about the common counterarguments for them, that being that the former was ¡°tainted¡± by influence from both water and dark mana and that the latter were normal spheres that were stripped of their aspects by the cataclysms. The book addressed the former theory by pointing out how the blue-violet spheres are the instances of color outside the usual eight existing but had no word about the theory about the white spheres being the result of drained spheres. Elizabeth¡¯s closed the book. ¡°Thank you, girls,¡± she said. ¡°I think this would be useful in filling these gaps.¡± Elizabeth, Anemone, and Hydrangea gathered more books and tomes and then headed to the Porcine librarian for checkout. ¡°Did you find what you are looking for?¡± the librarian asked. Elizabeth nodded. ¡°Thank you, kind sir.¡± ¡°Please,¡± the Procine man said. ¡°Call me Beaufort.¡± He checked out everyone¡¯s books and then the trip set off to return to the Black Box. ??? Later that night, Elizabeth had a dream. Standing in front of her was a gigantic man. His body is covered in dark blue armor, and what few parts that weren¡¯t covered had bright yellow veins. The large man is seen clanking on an equally large sheer of molten metal. ¡°Obsidian?¡± Elizabeth said. She fluttered close to the man¡¯s face. Obsidian looked at the small creature fluttering to him. Recognizing it as one of his creations, he let her land on his finger like a butterfly. ¡°You had made quite te mess of tings,¡± he chuckled. Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! Elizabeth tries to get out the words to ask her iniquities. ¡°I-I-I¡¯ve have some questions!¡± ¡°Clearly,¡± Obsidian said. ¡°Few are te ones that can speak with me and not have doubts about temselves. Speak.¡± Elizabeth prepared herself. ¡°I want to ask why. I though you granted us all we need to know to guide the dungeon core.¡± ¡°You assume omniscience?¡± Obsidian said. ¡°A common mistake.¡± The gigantic man looks to his current creation and takes a pair of players. He uses it to drop the metal into a tub of water. Steam erupted from the tub as the metal cools inside. ¡°While te knowledge I granted to you and oters is vast, it is [the Teacher]¡¯s domain to teach, not mine. I¡¯m sorry but I do not grant you all my wisdom.¡± ¡°But why?¡± elizabeth said. ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious?¡± Obsidian said with a smirk. Elizabeth saw fog rolling in. ¡°It seems our time here is cut short.¡± Elizabeth fluttered in panic, futily trying to stave off the fog as it encroaches. Obsidian recalled soemthing. ¡°Before you rouse,¡± Obsidian said. ¡°Tere is one last thing to note.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°You guide the [Black Box] yes?¡± ¡°Emily?¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°Of course!¡± ¡°I want to make clear tat while it is true she is permitted to cultivate, te trials she will face on tat pat, both from us and from oters, will be harder than it would be with mortals. For as a [Divine Dungeon], she must be forged and refined. If she is to master te Alkahest¡¯s path, if she can master herself, she will need your guidance now ever more so.¡± ¡°Understood, father.¡± Elizabeth said as the fog enveloped her. ¡°Go, my child,¡± Obsidian said. ¡°Guide your sister, and help her forge her own path.¡± He let loose a slight smile as Elizabeth fades from his view, and the fog enveloped Elizabeth. ??? The next day, Emily, Elizabeth, and Atsuko meet in front of the Kaguya Parallel Mirror. ¡°We¡¯re doing my swords next?¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoed to Atsuko. ¡°Yep!¡± the teal-haired nekomata said. ¡°The Femtonauts and the Takarabune are ready, so we just need to fill out the team for a bit.¡± ¡°I¡¯m here, cher,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°Sorry for the hold-up, had to take Pauline to her appointment.¡± ¡°Appointment? ¡°Emily said. ¡°For what?¡± ¡°Hormones,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°She had to get a prescription for estrogen therapy.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± Emily said. Tim soon entered the room. ¡°I¡¯m here,¡± he said. ¡°Been dying to test out your new skills, Timmy,¡± Emily said impishly. ¡°Perhaps,¡± Tim said with a smirk. Rose slithered into the room. ¡°Pick me! Pick me!¡± she said. ¡°Rose seems very excited today,¡± Atsuko said. Hoshikage and Kasumi entered the room next. ¡°Kei and us will take care of the Mirror while you¡¯re in the sword.¡± ¡°Now,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°Remind me again, are we doing the left or the right sword?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think it matters,¡± Atsuko said. ¡°So far it seems like these two are so attuned to each other that they share the same microdugneon. A similar phenomenon is seen with the Coloraturas¡¯s weapons.¡± ¡°Oh yeah,¡± Rose said. ¡°I did notice my staff handled better after we went to the one inside my rapier.¡± ¡°That said,¡± Atsuko said. ¡°Emily¡¯s weapons are so attuned to each other that the process will fail if she tries to bring one of them with her, as another reminder. You¡¯ll have to rely on your magic for this one.¡± ¡°I¡¯m aware, Atsuko,¡± Emily said. Rose saw Anemone and Hydrangea enter the room. ¡°Hey guys, you want to go too?¡± The two girls nodded. ¡°What about the others?¡± Emily asked. ¡°Raine¡¯s too busy working with Richard and Sarah,¡± Rose said. ¡°Lily, Streltizia, and Clover are looking for dungeons to raid,¡± Hydrangea said. ¡°While Minerva took Nina and Charlotte out to set up gravity glyphs for more unwanted intruders.¡± ¡°As for Azelia,¡± Anemone said. ¡°She says she¡¯s helping Euryale and Stheno with their attempts to rouse the dormant memories of the Hamlin children this time.¡± ¡°As for the Hernandezes,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°They¡¯re currently checking in with the rouges at Noir right now.¡± At that point, Kei had entered the room. ¡°Apologizes, I was looking at the Bleumaw for inspiration,¡± the writer said. ¡°Guess that¡¯s settles that. Atsuko said. ¡°Everyone head to the pods.¡± She led Heathcliff, Elizabeth, Tim, Rose, Anemone, and Hydrangea to the pods while Hoshikage and Kasumi launched the Takarabune to Emily¡¯s swords. With the vessels miniaturized and in her Microdugneon. Emily creates an avatara there and the others¡¯ pods activate to stream their consciousnesses into the Femtonauts. ??? Emily and the hero party arrive within the microdungeon of Emily¡¯s swords. As the Femtonauts leave the Takarabune they notice something unusual has happened. ¡°Hmm,¡± Atsuko said. ¡°This place,¡± Emily said ¡°looks different.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll say,¡± Atsuko said. ¡°The microdugneon used to resemble the Black Box more in aesthetic.¡± The Takarabune is in the middle of a gigantic room that resembles a hospital lobby. The wall behind them is lined with transparent windows, but no doorway. The other three walls of the vacuous room had only unmanned desks and screens depreciating symbols of an unknown language. Tim noticed that there was a symbol on one of the windows. A white diagonal line is etched into the glass. Anemone and Heathcliff¡¯s noses pick up a faint metallic scent. ¡°Is that¡­quicksilver?¡± Anemone asked. Emily looked at the ceiling and saw a large window on the roof, framed by an array of fluorescent lights. The bright white lights and the tessellating sky cast dancing shadows on the people and objects in the large lobby. ¡°It¡¯s so¡­ strange,¡± Emily said. ¡°Why does this resemble a hospital?¡± Atsuko made an excitable face as she observed the various changes around her. ¡°This is huge!¡± the teal-haired nekomata said. ¡°I¡¯ve gotten to take samples!¡± ¡°Care to explain, cher?¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°The fact that the microdugneon changed so drastically, meant that enough of Emily¡¯s mana had poured into it to alter it completely!¡± Atsuko said with a giddy expression. ¡°Her mana flows so easily into the weapons that it had transformed the microdugneon entirely!¡± ¡°Wait,¡± Rose said. ¡°Does this mean that¡ª¡± ¡°That the weapons are taking in her memories,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°But I don¡¯t recall ever setting for into a place like this!¡± Emily said. She then remembered that she had no memory of what happened before the dream, from before she awoken as a Dungeon core. ¡°That is a quandary, I¡¯ll admit,¡± Atsuko said. ¡°Perhaps it is your subconscious?¡± Emily considered her options. She looked around and saw that while the windowed wall had no doors, the other three did. She looked at one in particular, a teal door with a window peeking into the corridor beyond. ¡°Do you wish to know?¡± a childlike voice echoed to Emily and only Emily. As if in a trance. Emily slowly walked to the door and gazed through the window. The corridor was as clean as the lobby, but the hallway stretched for what seemed to be miles. Emily snapped out of her trance and looked back to her friends. ¡°I think we should go this way.¡± Heathcliff gathered the others. ¡°Alright, cher. Allons!¡± The group explored the microdugneon, finding the place very deserted. They see only empty doors filled with operating tables. Yet they also hear sounds that break the silence. Footsteps, the whirling of machines, the buzzing of screens. Eventually, they ended up back in the lobby. ¡°Well that was a bust,¡± Emily muttered. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault, cher,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°Many of these dungeons have paths that loop back around. Helps keep them away from the prize.¡± They noticed that the lightning had gone a little greener than when they arrived and that another door appeared at the opposite end of the room. Emily approached the door and saw that the lights had greened even more through there. She her her group through the door and they explored the green-lit hallway. They soon found another doorway. Heathcliff opened it and found a new room. The room was dimly lit, yet still as free of dust and grime as the hallway. Emily tried to draw her swords before she realized they weren¡¯t on her. ¡°Be on your guard,¡± Tim said as he assumed a horse stance. ¡°Something¡¯s here.¡± ¡°Emily,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°Let¡¯s summon some lights.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Emily began a Bardsong spell to summon a medium-sized mote of light to illuminate the room. As the mote appeared, she was startled by the sight of something, and her concentration was broken. The mote vanished as soon as it appeared. ¡°Something wrong?¡± Atsuko said as she pointed her bow in front of Emily. ¡°I..¡± Emily began another Bardsong spell, her nerves were steeled for what she is about to see. As the room lit up she witnessed a person hooked to the wall, attached to several tubes of blush-green fluids. Emily approached the figure. ¡°Hello?¡± the entity stayed silent. While everyone made out a humanoid frame, much of it was clad in metal, and even the flesh that was bared was attached to tubes of the fluid. Everyone noticed the signs of rot and decay on the corpse. ¡°We¡¯re sorry, that patient had recently passed away.¡± The group turns to the source of the voice. A person clad in a nurse¡¯s gown and a cap with a medical symbol on it. The figure had a feminine frame, but their face was covered in a featureless reflective mask. Despite their eerie aura, everyone could tell she wasn¡¯t hostile. ¡°Welcome to the Medica Memoria, are you here to schedule an appointment?¡± the nurse said. ¡°Not quite,¡± Emily said. ¡°What is this place?¡± Rose said as she slithered close to Emily. The nurse chuckled. ¡°The Medica Memoria is a special place, where people come and go to become better.¡± ¡°Better, huh? how?¡± Tim said. ¡°We provide various services designed to treat every malady and illness,¡± the nurse said. Emily looked at the figure and felt fear. She couldn¡¯t explain why she felt this way. An image flashed in her mind, but she was unable to discern its details before it vanished. ¡°Fear not, I mean no harm,¡± the nurse said to Emily. ¡°After all Emily, I wouldn¡¯t want you to be hurt.¡± That the nurse knew what her name was only disconcerted Emily further. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± The purple-haired avatara said. ¡°There is a mistake, we are not interested in any treatments right now.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± the nurse said. ¡°You are here to improve the swords right, not yourselves. That much is noted.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Emily said. Heathcliff had a question. ¡°So, nurse, I take it you are the core of the place?¡± ¡°Golly,¡± the nurse said. ¡°I am but a humble employee, if you want to visit the founder, you¡¯ll want to head to the tenth floor. The elevator is this way. She pointed to the left. ¡°Elevator, huh,¡± Atsuko said. ¡°Thank you, nurse,¡± Emily said. ¡°My pleasure,¡± the nurse said with eerie serenity. ¡°Good luck, you¡¯ll need it. The patients here are getting rather unruly.¡± The group leaves the dimly lit room and the nurse. They soon find an elevator and enter it. Emily noticed it only had one button and pressed it. The doors close and the elevator ascents to eh next floor, opening to reveal the lobby again, but with two diagonal steps and the windows revealing a higher view outside. An endless sea of buildings and trees beneath the tessellating blue sky. ??? Venturing further into the dungeon, Emily and her friends discovered more eerie sights. People contained in tubes, medical monitors, and beds that are covered by sheets and lumps. By now they had arrived on the fifth floor. The floor¡¯s mark now resembled a V. Elizabeth is concerned by the imagery she has witnessed thus far. She saw a pod in the lobby and approached it. ¡°These pods, they look familiar somehow.¡± Atsuko examined the pod and noticed similarities in designs to the pods used for traveling to the Black Box¡¯s expansion in Noir and back, and the selfsame ones used to house the bodies while the conciseness is streamed to the Femtonauts. ¡°So more recent memories are seeping in huh?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s get moving,¡± Emily said. ¡°The place is creepy.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Emmy,¡± Rose said. ¡°Us heroines of justice will ensure nothing bad happens to you.¡± She gestured to herself, Hydrangea, and Anemone. Tim sensed a presence zipping past them and took Shis Qing out. He closed his eyes and listened for the incoming enemy. ¡°Is something wrong?¡± Anemone said. ¡°Quiet,¡± Tim said calmly. ¡°Something is approaching.¡± He listened for the invader¡¯s footsteps. He listened for the movement of the hidden foe. Moments later he turned and made a charging step towards something, with lightning speed, he thrust his Qiang into the interluder. A seemingly mechanical figure clad in teal cloth and with surgical tools in place of hands. ¡°Tumors detected, surgery required, ¡°the figure said. ¡°Shut it!¡± Tim aid. He thrust with his spear and then moved it to the right, followed by slashes. His attacks caused fluid of the same color as the clothing to flow from the gashes. He then used the Qiang and his wind spells to leap behind the mechanical foe. Rose uses his rapier to make trusts and slashes of her own, using them to channel lightning into the machine. Heathcliff then charged forward and slammed into it with his shield. Emily used Bardsong to conjure water around the entity and then freeze it. Then Tim, with well-placed palm strikes and punches broke the icy prison and the entity trapped inside into pieces. ¡°Well, that was something,¡± Heathcliff said. The ice was soon melted and green-blue ooze flowed into the drains. Anemone looked at a nearby door and noticed more discernible words on it. ¡°Surgical Ward.¡± She approached the door and then beckoned to the other purple-haired girl in the group. Emily opened the door and the group was greeted by spots of crimson light in the hallways. The group follows the hallway until they find a room with ¡°Pediatrics¡± on the door. There they see several smaller pods, each one containing a child inside. ¡°Pediatrics?¡± Emily asked. ¡°It means that children are being cared for here,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°Usually.¡± Rose slithered to a pod that captured her attention and saw what appeared to be herself sealed in one of them, with all of her flesh replaced by sleek white machines. She recoiled in fright at the sight of her counterpart in such a state. Heathcliff and Emily search for clue sin the nurses. They are careful to not disturb the pods, or the biomechanical children inside. ¡°Well things had gotten weird fast,¡± Heathcliff said as he tossed aside a book with indecipherable writing. Emily looked at the strange surroundings, of the children floating in the pods, and of the view outside. ¡°We have to hurry! There isn¡¯t time to waste.¡± A masculine voice flashed in her mind. The room suddenly flashed scarlet light and so did the pods. The one with the Rose doppelganger open first and the robotic lamia slithered out. Rose readied her staff for a confrontation. ¡°Mommy,¡± the robotic lamia said, ¡°Where are you?¡± the doppelganger slither to rose. ¡°Are you my mommy?¡± her voice has a mechanical tone to it. ¡°No?¡± Rose said. The pink-pigtailed girl is disturbed by her other¡¯s counterpart. ¡°Who are you?¡± the child innocently said. ¡°I¡¯m rose, Rose Rhapsodia!¡± the more outwardly organic Lamia said. ¡°Seeker of Justice, bane of Evil¡ª¡± she caught herself before finishing. ¡°That¡¯s funny,¡± the other Rose said. ¡°That¡¯s my name too.¡± Hydrangea and anemone notice the other pods opening and the children emerging from them, including counterparts of themselves and their friends. All acting in zombie lack fashion. ¡°Mommy!¡± ¡°Daddy!¡± ¡°Where are you?¡± The biomechnaical figure crawled, swam, trotted and otherwise moved on the ground in confusion in agony. They then began crying. The others noticed the gorund tremble as the windows reveal a changing landscape the outside gave way to an emerging corridor with three surgical robots in it. Emily has another flashback. ¡°Her condition is becoming unstable. We need to put her in stasis!¡± ¡°Sir, the ¡®Destrudo¡¯ protocols are activating!¡± The flashback ended and Emily saw Tim, Heathcliff and Elizabeth fighting the surgical mechs. While Atsuko launched a volley of heavy arrows from the entrance and the three Coloraturas protecting the crying and panicking children. Emily used a lightning spell to help fight off the mechs. The biomechanical entities used their scalpels and tools as instruments against the party. Soon they managed to ward them off and the hallway is cleared. Rose and her double managed to pacify the rest of the children and they retreat into their pods. The coral-pink haired girl still disturbed at her doppelganger. ¡°Do you still have a mommy?¡± the robotic lamia said. Rose refused to answer. ¡°It¡¯s okay, its not your fault. Good night.¡± The robotic lamia slithered to her pod and entered suspended animation with the other biomechanical children. Rose shivered. ¡°Okay, lets get out of here!¡± Elizabeth noticed that some of the children in that room resembled the Coloraturas. ¡°That is strange,¡± Elizabeth though. The party continued on the path made from the shifted room and found another elevator. Set to take them to the sixth floor. ??? Later, the party arrived on the ninth floor. The mark on the windows now had two parallel lines with a vertical line intersecting the one on the right. By now they had witnessed many bizarre figures and fought off many madded cybernetic patents and doctors. As they rest near the Takarabune. Emily approached Elizabeth. ¡°Hey Lizzie,¡± she said. ¡°Yes?¡± the fairy replied. The two looked outside and see the sky is obscured by dark green clouds. They see rain fall on the windows and hear thunder roaring in the distance. ¡°Do you¡­¡± Emily struggled to articulate her query, but Elizabeth knew what she is trying to say. ¡°I know as much about this place as you do, which is to say next to nothing.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Emily said. ¡°But I do have a theory. If this is being influenced by your subconscious, then its possible that it might be your past. Before you became a [Dungeon Core].¡± ¡°That¡­does make sense,¡± Emily said. ¡°[The Pathfinder] gathers souls from other worlds,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°That much is obvious, almost axiomatic. You understand what that means?¡± Emily swelled on it for a bit. ¡°That they speak to dead people a lot?¡± ¡°Correct,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°To be a [Messenger], to be a [Divine Dungeon], is to reincarnate. Though the methods vary. For Messengers, [The Pathfinder] seals most of their meiosis as they send the souls to infant bodies. Only to be awakened at a certain age when they have enough skills to survive in the world. For others namely [Divine Dungeons] they memories usually stay locked in the subconscious. But they can awaken under certain scenarios.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Emily said. ¡°I think this is one of these scenarios, Emily,¡± the fairy said. ¡°But if this is true, than that means you will eventuality learn how you had died, and of the life you left behind. Are you prepared for such knowledge?¡± Emily mulled over her words. ¡°How I died?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°[The Pathfinder] prefers not to disrupt the lives of the living even from other worlds. Those few exception were because of other [Administrators] or [Demons]. For example, [Stella, the Sunlight] is said to had used her dreams as a method to walk among us.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Emily said before. ¡°Never mind. That can wait for later.¡± ¡°I understand if your hesitant on answer the question,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°It is not a light topic to broach.¡± ¡°Do I have to answer it now?¡± Emily said. ¡°That will depend,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°If you want to hone your blades with Atsuko¡¯s method than the probability of learning on your past life ended approaches one hundred percent with each step.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Emily said. She thought about it for a few moments. ¡°I want to continue, at least for now.¡± ¡°Continue what?¡± Atsuko said. ¡°Exploring the microdugneon of course,¡± Emily said. ¡°Oh, well that¡¯s good to here!¡± Atsuko said. ¡°We only have this floor and the next to explore.¡± ¡°Actually, Atsuko,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°May I have a word with you?¡± ¡°Of course.¡±The teal-haired girl said. ¡°Shoot.¡± ¡°Among your travels in Libert¨¦, you encountered many dungeons, yes?¡± ¡°Uh-huh,¡± Atsuko said. ¡°And you had seen many [Elementalist¡¯s Spheres] as well?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Have you encountered some unusually colored ones by any chance?¡± The fairy asked. Emily is confused. ¡°Ah,¡± Atsuko said. ¡°You know of the ten element theory then?¡± ¡°Does that means its true?¡± ¡°What theory?¡± Emily said. ¡°There is a hypothesis claiming that there are two extra elements here,¡± Atsuko said. ¡°Usually claimed to be stars and mana.¡± ¡°Wait, two?¡± ¡°Yes, two.¡± Atsuko takes out her note pad. ¡°There is evidence for it, but nothing quite concrete. The hypothetical Astrasphere and Manasphere are very rare, with the latter only being seen in cataclysm sites. Whoever is able to find and confirm their experience would become quite big in the magic and scientific communities.¡± Emily is surprised by the theory. ¡°Another thing,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°I would like to talk to you about other [Dungeons] you had visited.¡± The flash of lighting coated the outside view in a blinding white before vanishing a second later. As if to reflect Atsuko shock at Elizabeth¡¯s request. ¡°Well, I-I think I can let you go though my notes for something like that.¡± ¡°Thank you, Atusko,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°Please, call me Akko,¡± Atsuko said. ¡°Alright, then. Thank you, Akko,¡± Elizabeth said. The group has gathered enough rest to continue their exploration of Medcia Memoria. They soon found the elevator and began their ascent to the tenth floor. ??? They arrived at the tenth floor of the hospital. They find that the lobby is drastically different. The lights had shafted from emerald to ruby hues. The windows are now blocked by large sheets of metal, with the only detail visible being an X-like shape, and a single solitary nurse is in front of a red door. ¡°Thank you for your patience,¡± the nurse said. Their mask reflected an eerie calm as much as it did their surroundings. ¡°Doctor Kevin will meet you now.¡± ¡°Guess this is it, cher,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°Ready?¡± ¡°I¡¯m ready,¡± Emily said. The group entered the door and gazed upon a large room with an operating table at the other end. They see a mechanical figure loom over the table. ¡°Yes,¡± the entity said. ¡°The Network is working quickly and smoothly.¡± He then turned back and saw his patience. He wore a gas mask and his fingers were replaced with various tools. some are used for surgical applications, but others resemble screwdrivers and jacks. ¡°And who are you supposed to be?¡± the figure said. The group refused to answer. The doctor looked at Emily and noticed familiar features. As Emily took a step, the green lights turned red. ¡°What is this?¡± the doctor said. ¡°The patient is dying! The Network is rebelling.¡± The doctor shrieked as the patient mutated into a mass of cords, circuitry, and sludge. They absorb the doctor and stand from the bed. Letting out a mighty roar. Emily attacked the creature first, using darkness to befuddle it. Tim and Heathcliff then attack it with their weapons while Atsuko fires heavy arrows at the monster. Anemone used her own bow and arrows to pin the tendrils of the mass in place while Hydrangea used Theurgy glyphs to freeze the fluids. Rose used her staff to zap the mass with lightning and Elizabeth used lightning enchantments to enchant everyone¡¯s weapons. Those attacks had damaged the beast but did little to stop its advance. Emily evaded its attempts to absorb her. Time used earth spells and fluid arm motions to pin it down and Emily followed up with an earth spell that petrified part of the monster. The entity roared as it melted into the floor. Tim is struck by cords emerging from the walls and pinned to the opposite wall. ¡°Damn¡­it!¡± Tim said before losing consciousness. ¡°Tim!¡± Emily is shocked to see the beast so easily knock him out. ¡°NEURAL NETWORK INCOMPLETE. NEED MORE MINDS!¡± an electronic voice emerges from the beast. Heathcliff rushed to cut the cords binding Tim. He cuts through a bundle, but two more emerge to take its place. ¡°This thing is behaving like a hydra!¡± Heathcliff said. Emily grips her head in pain, as a memory returns to her. ¡°The Network is going rampant. Patient Zero is dead. I repeat. Patient Zero is dead!¡± ¡°Evacuate the premises! Abandon the subjects, they cannot be saved!¡± Emily shrieked in pain. Elizabeth and Rose tried to aid her, but the boss intercepted them and pinned them to the floor. Anemone and Hydrangea ended up trapped within the mass as well, leaving only Heathcliff, Atsuko, and Emily herself. ¡°The minds are¡­unifying?¡± the three hear voices echo through the halls. ¡°It¡¯s no use, we¡¯re trapped!¡± ¡°Mommy? Where are you!¡± ¡°I want my Daddy!¡± Emily¡¯s avatara collapsed onto the ground, unable to bear the surge of memories. ¡°Emily!¡± Heathcliff said. In his moment of distraction, the boss managed to pin him to the ground. Emily lay motionless on the floor as she saw the boss drag Heathcliff¡¯s body towards it. Atsuko dodges a slam from the beast and retaliates by firing a volley of enchanted arrows. The beast and Emily cry in pain simultaneously. ¡°Atsuko rushed to the avatara and helped her up. ¡°Emmy! What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°It hurts, the memories!¡± Emily said. The ass of chords and circuits begins to rampage around the two. As Emily sees image after image, she hears someone call out to her. She hears a plea to stand. A voice from someone she recognizes, and yet doesn¡¯t recognize. A voice familiar and unfamiliar. The beast writes until it takes a form that resembles the Baron Roberts. ¡°H¡­thetic!¡± it cried out. Emily¡¯s flood of hazy memories ended and she glares at the monstrosity. The monster tries to absorb Emily but she jumped and landed on the tentacle. She ran toward the beast and used Bardsong to sun it with lightning. She landed off the tendril and saw something in the beast open. ¡°Akko!¡± Emily cried out. Atsuko saw the opening and prepared her bow. She fired a single heavy arrow. Emily jumped out of the way of the projectile and the arrow flew into the opened maw of the creature. The enchanted heavy arrow pinned it to the wall and forced it to explode. Emily saw Tim among the sludge and rushed to his aid. She helped him up as the beast reformed. The beast tried to absorb Tim again, but Tim dodged and countered with knee strikes into a pair of snap kicks. Emily used magic to freeze the opponent¡¯s solid and Tim used his Qiang to break the frozen form. Rose was freed from the attack. ¡°Ugh, my head is still spinning,¡± the lamia said as she got herself up. She saw the monster reform and open its maw again and reflexivity sent bolts of lightning into it. Hydrangea and Anemone were freed from the resulting splattering of its matter everywhere. Emily and Atsuko helped the young girls up. The beast reformed once more but before it could attack, it suddenly stopped and began having a seizure. Heathcliff emerged from the monster, covered in slime. ¡°I ain¡¯t nobody¡¯s lunch!¡± the knight said with a defiant smirk. The escape left the monster severely weakened and Atsuko and Emily fire an arrow together. The arrow flew into the maw of the beast and caused it to explode for good. Freeing Elizabeth from its remains. The boss room soon melts into ooze and Emily led the party back into the lobby. The lobby had now been changed again, becoming more like the first floor. Except with one key difference. A young girl lay on the left wall, her body hooked up to a bed and the tubes of teal-colored fluid. She looked at Emily with an intense gaze. ¡°Hello, me,¡± the child said with a cough. Her brown hair was the image of mundanity, yet the tubes and the pallor were anything but. Her height was only slightly shorter than Emily¡¯s avatara¡¯s. Emily approached her other. ¡°Hello, who are you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m you of course, well one of you at least,¡± the child said. ¡°One of many who became the Network.¡± ¡°The Network?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll remember one day,¡± the child said. ¡°I hope we¡¯ll meet¡­again¡­one day.¡± Her body lay prone. Her eyes glazed over as she fell into torpor.¡± Emily looked at the image of her past self staring blankly at her. ¡°So many questions, so few answers,¡± she thought.¡± They board the Takarabune and set off into normal space. Emily looked back at the unconscious girl before she boards the vessel. ??? Later, Emily meets up with Tim at the Bleumaw. ¡°Here to Meditate?¡± ¡°Actually, I want to ask you a favor?¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Tim asked. ¡°Can you teach me bajiquan?¡± Emily asked. ¡°I¡¯ve realized that I need another way to fight beyond magic and my swords.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± Tim asked. ¡°I mean Elizabeth should be privy to Master Wu¡¯s techniques¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure,¡± Emily said. ¡°I want you to train me Tim.¡± Tim sighed. ¡°Okay, if you insist.¡± He led Emily yo a more open area. ¡°The first think to learn about baji is that it uses your entire body¡­¡± The rest of the day is spent teach Emily the basics of bajiquan. Later, after her avatara has dissolved and her consciousness returned to the Black Box¡¯s core. She had noticed Elizabeth staying up late, reading the books she had checked out from the library recently. As she saw the fairy study, she began wondering just what this ¡°Network¡± was and how did it factor into her past life. Chapter XXXIV: Brokkrs Maze At the atelier in the Black Box, Sarah is busy at her forge. The platinum-haired dwarfed poured molten metal into a mold for a cuirass. As the white-hot liquid poured into the mold, she noticed her brother open the door and brought several sheets of fabric. ¡°How is the armor fairing, Sarah,¡± Richard said. ¡°Fine,¡± Sarah said. ¡°I have several of them made for you to check.¡± Richard turned his head to the side and saw several chest plates in various styles. Sarah turned to her brother. ¡°Did the client ask for any other details?¡± The Smiths were recently tasked by the Rosenkreuz Guild to create a set of dress armor for an actress from Pacifica. Pauline had sent a commission to Emily and her party, especially to the dwarven weaver and blacksmith siblings. ¡°None so far,¡± the blond dwarf said. His eyes held a giddy excitement at the commission as he laid out several sheets of fabric on a table. ¡°What do you think of these colors? I¡¯m leaning towards a wisteria hue myself.¡± Sarah shrugged as she turned her gaze to the mold. ¡°Maybe periwinkle would fit better? Come to think of it, the client never mentioned what film this thing will be for.¡± ¡°Hello!¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoed to the siblings. ¡°Hey, Emily,¡± Sarah said while looking at another empty. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Not much,¡± the dungeon said. ¡°How is the commission coming along?¡± ¡°So far so good,¡± Richard said. ¡°Say, could you give your opinions on these colors?-¡± Emily¡¯s turned her gaze to the swatches of fabrics in the workshop. The colors range from pastels to vibrant hues, to earthen tones. ¡°Hmm,¡± Emily said. ¡°I think the peach one looks neat.¡± Sarah looks over the chest plates she had made. She checked the Mythril armor for any flaws or imperfections. ¡°Hmm,¡± she said. ¡°Something wrong?¡± Richard said. Sarah noticed that one of the cuirasses was designed differently. The chest plate has a shape that includes a cleavage and two cups. A dissatisfied and confused Sarah takes the piece to the nearby furnace to melt it. ¡°I have no idea how that mold was used,¡± Sarah thought. A while later, Richard and Sarah assembled various dress armor. Richard stitched the fabrics into the bottom edges of the cuirasses in the form of a skirt. One had a peach-colored skirt, another periwinkle, another wisteria, another a pale lime green and the last had a pastel pink hue. Later that day, Emily, via her avatara, helped the dwarves bring the armor to the guild to meet with the client. The filmmaker looked at the various armors. He was a porcine man, with a portly figure, but clad in a refined suit with a black coat and tie. He wore a bowler hat. He observed the various armor. ¡°The craftsmanship is exquisite,¡± the Porcine man said, ¡°But these armors aren¡¯t quite what I¡¯m looking for, my apologies.¡± Sarah sighed. ¡°Are there any specific problems with the armor?¡± Emily asked. The filmmaker looks at the armor. ¡°I¡¯m looking for something befitting a valkyrie, if that makes sense?¡± ¡°You¡¯re gonna need to elaborate,¡± Richard said. The filmmaker tells of his encounter with a Messenger, and how he had regaled him with certain myths from the old world, including those telling of shield-maidens sent to retrieve the slain. Unfortunately, the information he knew about them was not enough for the siblings to hone in on the right details, beyond the presence of a shield, and that one of them involved swan feathers. Emily headed to the front deck to ask Benoit a question. ¡°Are there any Dugneons around here where swans live? We might need to get their feathers.¡± ¡°Swan feathers huh?¡± Benoit said. ¡°I heard there was a maze around the Eitri meadows where swans are known to gather.¡± Benoit checked his files for the dungeon in question. ¡°Let¡¯s see, hmm, over there? Ah, there it is!¡± he take out a document with the label ¡°Brokkr¡¯s Maze¡±. ¡°Its over to the northeast of Eastshire,¡± he said. ¡°Thank you,¡± Emily said. The three left the guildhall. ??? The next day, Emily, Heathcliff, Elizabeth, Tim, Carla, Richard and Sarah. Explore the Eitri meadows. The plains were littered with ruins of an old civilization with stones scattered about the lush flatlands. ¡°We¡¯re here to get some feathers, cher?¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°Yeah,¡± Emily said. ¡°It¡¯s for the dress armors,¡± Richard said. ¡°Ah,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°That guy was rather vague on that. Did he even describe who was to wear it?¡± ¡°Fortunately,¡± Sarah said as she took her hammer out. ¡°He said the actress was a fawn woman and mentioned a range of sizes.¡± ¡°Swans huh,¡± Carla said. ¡°Do you have any idea how to use their plumage?¡± ¡°I have several ideas, yes,¡± Richard said. The group soon saw a large entrance with masonry that vastly differed from the other stones. There were no signs of erosion on the gate. The marble columns were untouched, as blue as the sky itself. ¡°Is this Brokkr¡¯s Maze?¡± Emily said. ¡°It should be,¡± Elizabeth said. Her wingers fluttered to the entrance as she saw runes engraved on the stonework. As well as metal plating hidden beneath the rock. The Smith siblings felt drawn to the entrance, Sarah in particular felt like something was calling to her from within. A curiosity about this Dungeon. ¡°Let¡¯s go in,¡± Sarah said. ¡°These feathers aren¡¯t gonna get themselves.¡± The party enter the dungeon, looking to gather enoguth feathers for their plans, and maybe bring soem swans back with them just in case. ??? Emily and her party venture into the maze. They found several flocks of swans on the lakes scattered through the maze. The walls and ceiling are a blend of dark purple and blue marble that reflects light in a way reminiscent of the night sky. With holes where Stella¡¯s rays pierce through the ceiling. Copper piping is seen lining the walls. ¡°We¡¯d need to be careful,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°These swans are likely the maze¡¯s [Cells] and would become aggressive when approached.¡± ¡°It would be safer to find molted feathers anyway,¡± Richard said. Sarah looks at the details of the maze and notices their familiarity. As the party makes their through the artificial ponds and rivers and searched for places where molten feathers are gathered. They witnessed various automata tending to the cygnets. The brass machines reminded them of the Engines¡¯ Cells. The group found a locked door. Adorned with a fresco. Whereas the walls were in dark purple and azure hues, the door in contrast is a contrast of orange and black. It depicts a blacksmith toiling over an anvil with a hammer in hand. Elizabeth approached the fresco. ¡°Is that¡­¡± she thought. She wondered if it was meant to represent Obsidian before she noticed several details were off. The figure was shorter and the volcanic iconography usually associated with him is absent. Sarah noticed a collection of white orbs beside the fresco. Placed in concentric circles. She recalled the model of the star system she had created a few years back and noticed the orbs were arranged in a similar manner to the planets. While the others pondered how to open the door and Elizabeth wondered who the figure is, Sarah moved the orbs around, almost like she was in a trance. By the time she was done, the orbs were arranged in a celestial formation and the door trembled. ¡°Huh?¡± Sarah said. Snapping back to reality and unaware of what she had done. The door receeded into the floor and revealed a large room filled with molted feathers. ¡°Well that was easy,¡± Heathcliff says. ¡°A bit too easy¡­¡± the knight keeps his guard up as they party entered the room. Emily and Elizabeth keep an eye for any emerging foes while he others collect enough plumes and down for their purposes. As the dwarven siblings collect the feathers, they noticed they were being watched. They soon looked up and saw another dwarf, perched atop a balcony. His gaze is fixed on the siblings as if he had anticipated them. ¡°How I dreamt of this day,..¡± He said before walking off. With enough feathers for a hundred dresses, the group is satisfied. They took the bagged feathers and prepare to leave the maze. Arriving back at the entrance without any incident. Heathcliff and Emily were left confused by how¡­peaceful the trip went. Elizabeth wondered why the Dungeon haven''t sent any forces to bar their path. The dwarven Smiths, and Sarah in particular are left with with something gnawing at them. The group made their way back to the Black Box. Richard and Sarah then spent the rest of the day working on the feather lined dress armor. ??? Later that night, Sarah lies on her bed, her thoughts lingering on the strange Dungeon and memories of her and Richard¡¯s father. She recalled when he helped her craft her first sword, and also when she showed him a mechanical staff she had made from brass gears. She drifted off to sleep and dreamed of a place similar to the labyrinth, lined with its unusual marble and brass pipes. She wandered around the place as if it was f to her. The next week, Emily took the armor Richard and Sarah had made with the addition of the swan feathers to the guildhall. There the Porcine filmmaker observed the various armors and accompanying shields. ¡°These are better than the last batch, excellent work,¡± the filmmaker said with a smile. ¡°But why aren¡¯t the craftsmen here?¡± ¡°They¡¯re busy with an errand in Eastshire,¡± Emily said. Pauline oversaw the two as they talked the armors. The blue-haired elf noticed something familiar about the porcine man but was unable to explain why. The pig-eared man took a look at an armor with a teal skirt, along with metallic teal parts on the cuirass. A Theress¡¯s trim was made of the nacreous dreamthread, while the rest of the skirt had swan feathers lining its outer layer. The accompanying shield was itself designed with an image of a swan. ¡°This will do nicely. Thank you miss.¡± He turns to Pauline. ¡°You have fine talent in your ranks.¡± Before leaving with the armor. Pauline looked at the other armors, similar to the teal ones, but with various flourishes and styles. All they shared beyond the basic framework was the detail of swan feathers. ¡°The Smiths had made quite a lot of these,¡± Pauline said. ¡°Yeah,¡± Emily said. Her thoughts turned to the strange lack of conflict over at Brokkr¡¯s Maze. ¡°Excuse me, Pauline?¡± ¡°Yes, sweetie?¡± the elf said. ¡°Is it normal for a Dungeon to be so¡­peaceful?¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Pauline said. ¡°That depends on the Dungeon itself. While it is true that they should test adventurers in some form, there are some that do not. Those tend to not last long though for reasons that I¡¯m sure are apparent.¡± Emily recalled how the loss of all of a Dungeon¡¯s mana would cause the Dungeon to die. And how that nearly happened to her. ¡°Why do you ask that, dear?¡± Pauline said. ¡°Did something happen at the Maze?¡± ¡°Nothing happened,¡± Emily said, indicating that the lack of conflict was why she asked. ¡°Ah,¡± Pauline said. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, dear. Something you¡¯ll find unusual places like that.¡± Pauline left Emily to attend to a phone call. Emily gathered the armors and returned home. ??? Meanwhile, the Smith siblings went to Eastshire. At Minerva¡¯s and Carla¡¯s insistence, they brought the Coloraturas as well as Charlotte and Nina, with them. ¡°So this is where you used to live?¡± Rose said as she slithered along the rustic roads of the village. ¡°Were you expecting underground tunnels?¡± Sarah quipped. Rose stood silent. The young lamia child could not think of a response. ¡°M-maybe?¡± Sarah laughed. ¡°Don¡¯t sweat it.¡± Strelitzia and Clover looked at the cobblestone roads and the lack of automobiles in the areas. ¡°This seems very different from Noir,¡± the minotauride said. Raine meanwhile looked at an empty building. ¡°Was this where you used to live?¡± the phoenixian girl said. Richard looked at the building and confirmed it was the building was their original atelier. Lily cantered toward the building with a gleeful smile. Richard stopped her. ¡°Wait, we have taken everything out of the house when we moved. This is no longer a workshop anymore.¡± ¡°Aww.¡± The centaur said. ¡°If there is nothing there,¡± Charlotte said. ¡°Then why did you decide to come here?¡± ¡°That is a good question?¡± Azalea said. ¡°It seemed a little too early for homesickness to be setting in.¡± ¡°I wanted to catch up with some folks is all,¡± Sarah said. Richard noticed something in Sarah¡¯s expression. As the group of twelve toured the Smith¡¯s former home. Richard explained to them the financial struggle they had and that why they decided to move to the Black Box, as well as the events leading up to that. ¡°¡­So that is why there are a lot of Arachne with Emily?¡± Rose said. ¡°Yeah!¡± Nina said. ¡°Mommy had to move because our house was burned down.¡± ¡°Rosie,¡± Anemone said. ¡°We knew of this after we moved in, remember?¡± Rose rubbed the back of her head in embarrassment. ¡°I forgot.¡± Anemone and Raine sighed. During their tour, Sarah caught up with old acquaintances and clients, asking them about Brokkr¡¯s Maze. She learned about how it supposedly began as a network of tunnels before someone took up residence there. And how it is ambiguous as to if the Dungeon was a Natural or Divine Dungeon, with its sudden changes causing people to think it is the latter. She also leaned about how several craftsmen had attempted to explore the place, believing that it is connected to a legendary figure. During these talks Sarah also asked about her deceased father, but could not find any new information. Only stuff that she already knew, such as his tendency to leave the workshop to gather material. The visit to Eastshire went to an end and the group prepare to leave. The siblings take one last nostalgic look before someone approached them. Richard noticed the woman and recognized her as a niece of the person that commission that dress. The one that lead to Sarah¡¯s ill-fated venture to Tarantuloplous, the last commission they made before moving in with Emily. ¡°Hello,¡± Sarah said. ¡°What brings you here.¡± ¡°Hello,¡± the woman said. ¡°I wanted to give my thanks again for the dress you made for my aunt. I heard you guys moved shortly after finishing that?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Sarah said. ¡°Couldn''t keep up with the property fees.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a shame,¡± the woman said. ¡°But I understand. I heard you went to the Eitri Meadows recently?¡± ¡°We were looking for some swan feathers,¡± Richard interjected. ¡°You¡¯ve been to Brokkr¡¯s Maze then?¡± the woman said. ¡°My aunt said your father went there often.¡± ¡°What?¡± Sarah said. ¡°Sarah?¡± Richard said. Sarah thought more about the maze again. She wondered if that is why things were quiet there. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I couldn''t tell you more,¡± the woman said. ¡°He was a rather secretive sort. Thanks again.¡± The woman left the dwarves alone. The dwarves and the kids made their way back to Rosenkreuz, Sarah lingered on the questions the parting encounter posed. ??? Later that day, at Sarah¡¯s insistence, Emily hand her group had returned to Brokkr¡¯s Maze. Accompanying Emily, Heathcliff and the Smiths were Raine, Azalea and Carla. ¡°What an a-maze-ting twist,¡± the young clionid mermaid said. ¡°Are you sure what that woman said was right Sarah?¡± Emily asked. ¡°I¡¯m certain!¡± Sarah said, firmly grasping her hammer. ¡°Why would father travel this far from Eastshire?¡± Richard said with curiosity. ¡°One way to find out,¡± Sarah said. With that declaration the group ventured into the maze again. This time the labyrinth carried a more ominous aura. Gone were the graceful swans, in this marled place with brass pipes were only Emily and her party, and vast emptiness. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°Seems like this Dungeon means business this time, chers,¡± Heathcliff said as he drew his sword. Compared to the last visit, there is less sunlight entering through the holes and windows on the roof. The only other lights were from spheres embedded onto the dark purple and blue marble walls. Their faint glimmer evokes the imagery of stars in the night sky. Raine used fire magic to create a glowing torch. Carla heard the fluttering of wings in the distance. She alerts the group to the increasingly loud noise as a flock of swans arrive to accost them. The avians swooped from on high and their talons clashed with Heathcliff¡¯s shield. Richard used his stunners to paralyze one of them, but another makes a riposte, pecking at the dwarf with beak and claw and obscuring his vision of the others with its wings. Azelia avoided the swans¡¯ attacks by swimming in the air. ¡°Who ruffled their feathers?¡± she said as she deftly avoided the attacks. Heathcliff defended Clara while she prepares to use her aroma to calm the waterfowl down. Sarah used her hammer to knock some of the swans back while Emily used lightning magic to fry them. Eventually Carla used a special scent to clam the aggression of the waterfowl, but a few darker colored swans remained belligerent. Raine used her chakrams to singe the remaining swans as those calmed by the alraune¡¯s aroma flew off. The phoenixian girl¡¯s attacks managed to scare the remainder of the flock enoughs for the fowl to fly off. ¡°You had done well,¡± a voice echoes out to the group. ¡°But there are more trails to come.¡± ¡°Who are you?¡± Sarah shouted. ¡°Why did¡ª¡± ¡°If you wish to know, if you seek that knowledge, that treasure, then you must delve deeper into the labyrinth,¡± the voice interrupted. Sarah tried to get the dungeon to respond, but he remained silent. ¡°Don¡¯t think this one is a Divine one,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°We¡¯ll find out in roughly two hours,¡± Richard said. ¡°What did he mean by ¡®treasure¡¯?¡± Emily asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± the silver-haired dwarfette said. Her eyes gleamed with a fiery determination. ¡°But I¡¯m going to find out.¡± She slowly marched forward, leading the others deeper into the labyrinth. ??? Later, after more encounters with swan flocks, Emily¡¯s group arrives at a large arena. The room was shaped like a cylinder and concentric gold circles are seen on the glossy black floor. Sarah recognized the design as resembling the lock on the door from the last visit. ¡°Orbital patterns?¡± she asked. Before she could examine them further. The circles begin to glow. Steam hissed from the brass pipes as the party heard the sound of mechanical stomping. The first Sentinel of the maze arrived. A mechanical golem with cygnine features. Including a spear that resembled a swan. ¡°So the first Sentinel has arrived!¡± Sarah said as she drew her hammer. Raine and Richard noticed a shift in Sarah¡¯s demeanor as she drew her sledgehammer. Sarah rushed forward to confront the mech. ¡°Sarah!¡± Richard said as he saw his sister leap into battle. The dark-skinned dwarf swung her weapon against the boss, but the blunt blow bounded off the metal body of the machine. The steam-powered golem lifted itself off the floor and hovered in the air, gazing analytically at the assembled opponents. Carla tries to ensnare the boss with vines, but with a slash of its spear, the mech sliced through eh foliage. Sarah charged toward the center of the room and jumped to attack the areal machine. The mech dodged the attack and drifted closer to the wall. Sarah fell onto the floor, being caught by Richard. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Sarah¡¯s brother said. ¡°Trying to fight this thing, of course¡±! Sarah said with a huff. Richard sighed, well aware of how hardheaded his sister could be. The machine had analyzed enough of its enemies and plunged toward Clara with its spear. Clara tried to move out of the way, but the machine is too fast for her to evade. Heathcliff intercepted the spear and deflected it with his sword and shield. The two and Emily fight off the sentinel with Emily using lightning spells and bardsong and Carla using her vines and earth magic to root the machine to the ground. Raine and Azalea supported with their own magics and Raine¡¯s chakrams. The phoenixian¡¯s girl¡¯s rings severed one of the the golem¡¯s arms from its body. Sarah looked at the bound boss and rushed towards it once more. She whacked at it with her hammer, forming dents in the brass exterior of the machine. The mech warmed up its body using its combustion engines, burning through Carla¡¯s bonds on it and heating its spear. The swanlike elements turned from gleaming alabaster to searing scarlet as it rushed across the arena. Everyone dodged its attacks. ¡°Seems like that guy is steamed,¡± Azalea said as she swam to her right to avoid the mech¡¯s attacks. Sarah noticed that the boss¡¯s head remained the only part of it not blowing with incandescent heat. ¡°Emily, try to freeze it!¡± she said. Emily looked at the machine and casts ice spells to halt its advance. The mech is stopped in its tracks by the formation of a glacier around it. Azalea helped by turning the moisture in the air into water and flinging it to the glacier to add its its ice. ¡°Time to chill out!¡± the mermaid said as she summoned more water. Sarah used the opportunity of the stalled mech and swing at its head with her hammer. The sudden movement of the head of the much proved her hunch that it was the weak spot. She swing it again, landing a flurry of heavy blows. Breathing heavily, Sarah made one last swing ans dislodge the head from the rest of the golem. The machine cooled off from the lack of power and the ice. Mist hissed from the pipes once more and coated the area, melting the ice. ¡°Well done,¡± a voice echoed to the party. The mist vanished and with it the ice and the golem. In its place was a treasure chest. Emily approached and opened it. She found quarts crystals and a slab that had something etched in it. Sarah took a look at the slab and noticed it said something in a dwarven language. Emily handed her the slab, having sensed her interest in it. Sarah read the slab and translated it. ¡°Long ago, when the first Archfiend ruled the land. There was a smithy, skilled were they in the art of metallurgy. Legendary weapons forged by their hand. Their craft were forge in the flames of a star¡­¡± the except ended there. ¡°Quite,¡± the dungeon echoed to her. ¡°They called them the Star Forger. And claimed he was Obsidian incarnate. And one of the Heroes that saved Titania form the first Archfiend.¡± ¡°What does this have to do with¡ª¡± ¡°For that you¡¯ll need to delve deeper into me and find out.¡± Sarah¡¯s brow furrowed. Richard remembered hearing their father tell them about the first Archfiend and his demise, but he is unable to recall the exact details. Emily is curious about the legend. Heathcliff examines the rest of the chest¡¯ contents and saw a spear similar to the one the machine used. He took the weapon and the crystals. The party, led by a determined Sarah delved deeper into the dungeon. ??? The party fought through more swans, as well as caretaker automata that were directed to fight them. Along the way, Raine had an opportunity to speak with Sarah in a room with fountains spewing water onto the artificial lakes. ¡°Yes,¡± Sarah said with an unusual tinge of irritation. ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking,¡± the Phoenixian coloratura said. ¡°You have been acting more impatient after learning that your dad visited this place.¡± ¡°Impatient?¡± the dwarfette said. ¡°Me? I¡¯m the pinnacle of patience.¡± Raine raised an eyebrow. Sarah sighed. ¡°Okay, fine. But you first.¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Raine said. Azelia approached them ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious?¡± the clionid said. ¡°You are rather testy at times, especially around Rosie.¡± ¡°Am not!¡± Raine said. ¡°It¡¯s true,¡± Sarah said. ¡°You have a good chance of being moody at times.¡± ¡°Rather heated, to be frank,¡± Azalea said. ¡°We don¡¯t mean to ruffle your feathers Raine but¡­¡± ¡°I get it,¡± Raine said calmly. ¡°I guess I get frustrated at times.¡± ¡°Frustrated?¡± Sarah said. ¡°By what?¡± ¡°Parents.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Azalea said. ¡°Did Stre rub off on you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that,¡± the phoenixian girl said before a sigh and a deep breath. ¡°I¡¯m frustrated and tired and envious about how you and the others were able to recall your parents while I cannot. My earliest memories were of wandering the Underground at Noir. I have no idea why my parents left me behind, where they are now, or even if they are still alive. I don¡¯t even know what they look like. It¡¯s just¡ª I can¡¯t really be enthused hearing Rose or Lily or Anemone or Clover talking about their parents.¡± The mermaid and dwarf are stunned for several moments. Sarah eventually broke the silence. ¡°I get it,¡± She said. ¡°It¡¯s not like I knew my folks that well either.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Raine said. ¡°My mother died when were young, Father had to take care of me and Richard practically alone. Working hard with his craft to feed the two of us, when were older he also took to great lengths to teach us his trades. Yet I came to realize that he seemed distant from us. While it was clear he loved us dearly, he always kept to himself, never telling us much about his work or how he spent the time he didn¡¯t use to raise us. He felt like a stranger to me at times. And then he died before he could even think about telling us.¡± ¡°Is that why you seem to be gung-ho about finding answers here?¡± Azalea said. ¡°That much is obvious,¡± Sarah said. ¡°Brother doesn¡¯t seem to be bothered by my father¡¯s secrets or his demise, but I am. I want to know what happened to him, and who he was. I want to know who the man that raised me and Richard was. Is that wrong?¡± ¡°No, I get it,¡± Azalea said. She used her magic to levitate some heated water around. ¡°It seems like we¡¯re in the same boat,¡± Raine said with a smile. ¡°I am thankful Brother and I were of age when that happened at least,¡± Sarah said. ¡°I¡¯m sorry that the same couldn¡¯t be said for you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s no big deal,¡± Raine said. Emily approached the three. ¡°Guys we¡¯ve found something!¡± she said. ¡°Coming!¡± Sarah said. ¡°You two go on ahead,¡± Azalea said. ¡°Raine and I have something to discuss. We¡¯ll catch up in a bit¡± ¡°We do?¡± Raine said. Sarah shrugged and left the two alone. Unaware that Richard had listened in from the corridor. His expression was forlorn. ¡°Oh, Sarah.¡± He thought. Raine meanwhile quizzically looked at her friend. Azalea had a contented look on her face. ¡°Azalea, what is going on?¡± Raine asked. ¡°I just want to let you in a little secret¡­¡± the mermaid cheerfully said. She swam close to Raine and whispered something into her ear. Raine¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°What, but how?¡± Raine said. A realization dawned on her, but before she could express it, the mermaid shushed her. ¡°I haven¡¯t told Rose yet,¡± Azalea said. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I kept this from you for so long. You¡¯re not mad are you?¡± ¡°More¡­confused?¡± Raine said. ¡°We can talk about this later,¡± Azalea said. ¡°C¡¯mon, we can¡¯t keep them waiting!¡± she cheerfully swam away. Raine is left with a new understanding of both Azalea and Sarah. And more questions about the former. She realized that not wasn¡¯t the time to muse on that yet and followed her fellow Coloratura to the rest of the party. ??? Emily¡¯s group arrived in front of a door, lined with nine concentric circles. Sarah observed them and noticed that there was an empty bowl in the center of the door. ¡°That figures,¡± she said. She knew it was a larger version of the lock she found from the previous visit. ¡°Is that¡­¡± Emily asked. Sarah nodded. ¡°These rings represent the stellar system.¡± She pointed her finger to the third ring from the center. ¡°That should be Titania, that means Eosphoros and Stilbon should be closer to the center.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Emily said. ¡°And Pyrois is at the other side. Followed by Phaeton and Phaenon.¡± ¡°And then, Glaucus, Maimairo, and Mesonyx in that order,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°Why bring up the space lesson now, cher?¡± Sarah looked at the door depicting the concentric circles. ¡°The orbits of this system is a recurring motif in this place.¡± Richard approached the group. ¡°The aesthetics of the Dungeon in general had a cosmic feel to it, aside from the pipes. Much of the scriptures have space as a recurring element. Chief among them obviously being Astra, the Cosmos.¡± He presented a key he procured a few minutes ago. ¡°I took the time to search for this, sister.¡± The key took the form of a large sphere. Sarah took the Orb and Richard and affixed it to the bowl on the door. The orb snugly secured itself and glowed as the rings around it illuminated. The party heard mechanisms whirl within the door and soon, it opened to reveal a room with three figures standing in the center. Everyone prepared their weapons, expecting the figure to be the second of three sentinels. ¡°Feeling rather hasty today, are we?¡± the dungeon echoed to the group. Sarah stayed silent, anticipating the three figures to arise and attack. ¡°I understand,¡± the dungeon said. ¡°If you can best this trial, then more shall be revealed.¡± The marionettes activate, and feathered robes form over them as steam hissed from their joints. One brandished an axe, another a sword, and the third a bow. ¡°It¡¯s show time!¡± Azalea said as she prepared a water spell to drench the automata. Emily used lightning magic to enchant her and Sarah¡¯s weapons as Sarah rushed toward the sword-wielding automaton. The electrified hammer made contact with the opponent and sent a high voltage across it. Richard aimed his stunner crossbows at the bow-wielding opponent and fired his own to a similar effect. Emily and Heathcliff meanwhile clashed with the axe wielder. Raine used her flames to create supporting attacks while Carla used her powers of earth to throw the machines off balance. Sarah landed another blow with her hammer, knocking the sword wielded to the wall and separating it from the other two. The dwarfette then followed up with another swing and crushed the mechanical sword arm. Sparks emerged from the limb as the machine tried to move it. The bow wielder tried to snip at Richard from a distance, but the dwarf deftly avoided the projectiles and fired back with his own. Azalea levitated the nearby water and used it to throw off the machine¡¯s aim. ¡°Can¡¯t really sea what we¡¯re capable of,¡± the mermaid said as she swam to the floor and close to the machine. She headbutted the automata¡¯s elbow and forced it to let go of the bow. The machine tried to reach for it, but Azalea used the opportunity to slice the arm clean off with her knife while Richard landed a bolt on its back. The stunner¡¯s lightning coursed deep into the automaton and shorted it out. The ax-wielding machine locked blades with Emily and Heathcliff. ¡°Got any plans, Heath?¡± Emily said as she made a vertical slash at the third machine. Heathcliff followed up with a charge and rammed the opponent with his shield before curing the arm of the mech off. ¡°Heh, the plan¡¯s simple. Send them to the scrap heap.¡± Heathcliff lodged his sword into the machine¡¯s other arm and pushed it onto the pipes. The machine¡¯s other arm was stuck behind and betwixt the brass pipes and he was pinned to them. Emily combined her sword into a chakram and enchanted it with lightning magic before throwing the weapon. The ring landed on the machine and sent large amounts of voltage through it, and the pipes. The chain reaction shorted out the machine. The sword-wielding automaton was unable to use its arm, but it was not willing to concede the battle. It used its other arm to try to defeat Sarah, who dodges its blows and counter with swings from her hammer. Sarah eventually prevailed after multiple attacks paralyzed the mechanical being¡¯s other arm and legs. The three automatons were defeated, their robes and weapons dissipated into a storm of feathers that coalesced at the center of the room. A chest emerged from the feathery squall. Richard opened the chest this time. Se saw another slab as well as several bottles of various liquid reagents. He took the slab and faced his sister. He handed her the slab. Sarah looked over the dwarven handwriting and translated. ¡°The Star Forger armed his allies for the fight with the Archfiend. It was through his help they they prevailed against him and liberated the land from his tyranny. The person was shrouded in mystery. Some said he was Obsidian incarnate, others said he was merely a student of his, but one thing was clear. The quality of his craftsmanship had rivaled the Forgemaster¡¯s himself. And his students had possessed similar potential. As did their students. The best of them in turn took on his mantle. Those artisans who can use the stars in their crafts would henceforth become known as Star Forgers.¡± ¡°One such student,¡± the dungeon¡¯s voice echoed to Sarah again. ¡°Is a young dwarf. Pious to Astra, he sought out those that had inherited the art. Who then took them under their wing. From this ancestor a family was born, as he passed on the techniques of the Star Forger to his children, and they in turn passed it onto theirs¡­¡± The Dungeon grew silent. Sarah began to piece together parts of the story, but there were still some details missing. After collecting the reagents formthe chest, the party moved deeper into the maze. ??? After more battles with swans and automata, the group arrived at a rest area. As they prepared the remainder of their supplies, Sarah gazed upon the cosmic diagrams decorating the walls. Richard noticed his sister was lost in her thoughts and approached her. Sarah was started by her brother¡¯s calling. ¡°Richard, what¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Sarah,¡± Richard said. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± ¡°Tell you what?¡± Sarah said while feigning a cheerful mood. ¡°Sarah, I heard you talking about father,¡± Richard admitted. ¡°How long had you kept that pain to yourself?¡± Sarah sighed. ¡°How long did you think?¡± ¡°Sarah¡­¡± Richard said. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Sarah said. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to burden you further. You already had a lot on your plate with trying to keep the workshop afloat, trying to get eyes on it, trying to prove to the world that¡ª¡± ¡°But I didn¡¯t want you to suffer in the process,¡± Richard said. ¡°Sarah, I¡¯m your brother. I¡¯m his son too, of corpse there were times when I wanted to learn more about him as well. Of course, there were times when I wished he was still here.¡± ¡°Richard, I¡­¡± Sarah said. ¡°I don¡¯t like dwelling on the past,¡± the dwarf said. ¡°It blinds me to the future and the present. I want to honor our father¡¯s legacy by moving forward. Please do not let the past blind you.¡± Sarah is stunned by Richard¡¯s response. A while later, the group finds another door, this time showing diagrams of Astra and Stella alongside representations of other Administrators. Including the Planetae that the planets besides Titania were named after. ¡°The Wanderers,¡± the dungeon said to the group. ¡°An enigmatic group, where as the Trinity of Obsidian, Halcyon, and Anesidora are collectedly Titania, no one knows if they are the only ones that are their dominions in the heavens above. Yet their cosmic power is the source of many abilities on this star. The original Star Forger channeled these powers in their craftsmanship and passed these abilities onto their students.¡± The door opens as the Dungeon says this. Beyond lay a third dwarf, clad in armor and wielding a greatsword. The armored dwarf spoke with the same voice as the dungeon. ¡°The powers of the stars course through your veins. Of this I am sure, prove to me the strength of your arms. Heritors of the Star Forger!¡± Sarah and Richard enter the final realm, but as there did the dungeon shifts its walls and forbade Emily and the others from entering. ??? Emily tried to break through the ward barring their entry, while Sarah and Richard confronted the core of the maze by themselves. The armored dwarf calmly moved their greatsword and glared at their two opponents before charging at Sarah. The silver-haired dwarf leaped out of the way and countered with a swing of her hammer. The two weapons clashed and Richard fired bolts from his stunners at the armored adversary. The two bolts bounded off the armor and the armored Sentinel repulsed Sarah with a swing of their sword. Sarah slid to the ground as the attack knocked her back. The armored dwarf turned towards them. ¡°It will take more than that to best me!¡± The dwarfette faced her opponent and charged forward while brandishing her hammer. She slammed her weapon onto her opponent¡¯s side with a large swing, but he was only pushed back a few inches. Richard aimed his crossbows looking for a weak point to exploit. The three dwarves fight. The Smiths now know that their father was part of a hidden legacy, but they still do not know why they kept it from them. The armored dwarf knows their mission is to test their worth and test it they will. They take their sword and attempt to charge at Richard. But Sarah intercepted the weapon and repelled with with her hammer. ¡°I already lost my father!¡± Sarah said. ¡°I¡¯m not losing anyone else!¡± She slammed her hammer onto the floor and caused the room to tremble The hammer¡¯s blow and Sarah¡¯s strength caused the pipes in the floor to rupture, and the heated water therein to emerge as geysers. One such geyser caught the armored dwarf and lifted them towards the ceiling. The metal armor they wore became drenched. Richard saw the adversary in midair and fired a bolt at it, causing the boss to take jouls worth of thunderous lightning while Sarah leaped off the wall to slam the opponent onto the ground. The armored dwarf fell onto the floor and stood up. He drew his blade. ¡°Clever,¡± they said. ¡°But will it be enough?¡± Runes on the sword began to glow as illusions of the night sky encompassed the battle. Stars, nebula, galaxies, planets, comets, and asteroids surround the three as the armored one begins to channel a potent attack. The dwarf took eleven cards. ¡°Long did the Wanderers lend their strength to the diviners,¡± the Core said. He took the cards, glowing with yellow light, and placed them all onto the large sword. The blade shone with yellow starlight as Eosphoros¡¯ power was channeled onto the sword. With it, the armored dwarf made several slashes with the blade, beams of light erupted from the blade as he moved it. Richard and Sarah moved to avoid these slashes. As Richard tried to avoid these spells, he saw that one of them drew too close for him to dodge in time and braced for the impact. Sarah saw the spell and charged to push him out of the way, and took the radiant attack. The spellblade¡¯s attacks had dealt damage to Sarah¡¯s left arm. Though her Cyberworks armor itself shows no hints of wear, the flesh beneath took a heavy blow and the blacksmith knew it. Sarah clutched her shoulder in agony, but the look on her face told the armored opponent that she would not give up the fight so easily. The armored dwarf¡¯s helm concealed his surprise at the sight, almost contentment. It also concealed his smirk. Richard looked on in shock at the effect of the spell on his sister. ¡°If this continues, she¡¯ll¡­¡± he thought in horror. Emily and others also watched on, unable to intervene in the fight. Richard sought to find a means to end the battle quickly. He noticed that in the illusory cosmic starscape, geysers were still forming, and the ejected water had flooded the arena. The armored opponent summoned meteor showers to assault the two siblings, but Sarah¡¯s damaged arm impeded her attempt at movement. While Richard was able to dodge these comets. Sarah had no choice but to try to deflect them. Like a slugger at a baseball game, she tried to knock the rocks away from her with her hammer. Sarah breathed heavily as she swung her hammer, barely able to repel the meteors. The armored opponent observed her gear as she repulsed meteor after dismal meteor. Her firey rage amused them. However, they were too distracted by Sarah to notice Richard sniping them with his Stunners. He fired as many bolts as he could fire, each landing on the armor of his target and and the nearby ground. Sarah saw what was about to happen and used her hammer to vault herself into the air, getting hit by a meteor in the process as the flooded arena began to glow with electric power. The armored dwarf was unable to react as Richard¡¯s projectiles zapped them with the force of a thousand thunderstorms. The silvery armor blacked from the repeated instances of lightning magic that emerged from the bolts puncturing his armor and the bolts that emerged from the water. The lightning faded and the armored dwarf was too stunned to Act. Sarah¡¯s arm had healed from the bruises thanks to her armor and she was able to push all of her strength to bear. She made several leaps towards the dazed enemy and slammed her hammer onto him with as much strength as she could muster. The force of the swing caused the weakened dwarf to be hurled several feet back, their gauntlets and greaves destroyed by the impact as they landed on the wet floor. The boss could only chuckle as they grew aware of their defeat. The ward and the illusions before fade and Emily, Heathcliff, Carla, Raine and Azalia were able to enter the arena. They rushed to aid their dwarven companions. Sarah and Richard, in turn, approached their fallen foe and found the avatara fading away. In their place was the true form of the core as well as the final chest. ¡°Well done,¡± the core of the Dungeon echoed to everyone in the arena. ¡°I knew you had the potential your father had shown.¡± The chest immediately opened, but inside was only a single table. Sarah took the object and began translating it. ¡°Among the Star Forgers of recent memory, was a dwarven man from Eastshire. A descendant from the dwarf that sought their teachers. The latest in a long lineage. He had visited this place for counsel as he began to teach his two children his art. He kept his knowledge a secret, for the Star forgers have become feared as creators of relics of dread power as much as they were valued for crafting alms of miraculous boons. Few knew his progeny were of that lineage, not even the children themselves, for he kept the nature of their talents secret from even them to protect them from harm. His last will for this sanctuary was to grant them the knowledge to finish that he was unable to.¡± ¡°My name is Brokkr,¡± the core said. ¡°I am that sanctuary. I had kept many generations of Star Forgers with these walls. But my own time is drawing to an end.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Sarah asked. ¡°The legend of the Star Forgers was kept a legend by history so they can work in peace, free from the fear of people seeking to exploit their knowledge. Yet there are still those that know of their existence and try to find them. There will come a day with people will invade this labyrinth to see my knowledge. Use it to find the Star Forgers and take them away. I had but two wishes before that came to pass. The first is that I was able to honor the last will of Travis Steele Smith.¡± ¡°And the second?¡± Richard asked. ¡°That they were able to find someone capable of taking the knowledge with them. I asked the avatara with you to absorb me. To ensure this knowledge cannot be used for evil.¡± Emily is shocked to hear that. ¡°You what?¡± ¡°I knew of your desire to free those trapped within you,¡± Brokkr said. ¡°And that you need a large amount of mana to do so. I¡¯m afraid I cannot offer enough to that end, but I know our interests have aligned. I want to offer all of my power to you, both as a way to protect the Star Forgers and as thanks for taking care of Travis¡¯s children in his stead.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± Emily said with hesitancy. ¡°I am certain,¡± Brokkr said. ¡°Take my power and guard it well.¡± Another chest appeared already opened, within it was another tablet. Richard took a look and noticed it contained a poem with opaque imagery. ¡°This poem shall be your map. It will guide you to the other Star Forgers when the time is right,¡± Brokkr said. After a few moments. Emily approached the core and began absorbing its mana. As she does so, the group is surrounded by all of the swans in the dungeon. The waterfowl circled around them as Emily held out her arm and absorbed the core. The celestial maze began to fade from existence. After a few moments, the deed was done. ¡°May you be blessed in the starlight,¡± Brokkr said as his final words. The Dungeon reverted it a more natural forest and most of the swans had flown away. Those that remained took a liking to Clara to her bemusement. The group saw that twilight was upon them. They decided to head to an inn in Eastshire before returning to Rosenkreuz. As they prepare for the return home. Sarah mused on the legend of the Star Forgers and the revelations made in that maze. The next morning, Emily led the others back to the Black Box, where she, Sarah, and Richard told Elizabeth all about their recent adventure while Carla took her new pets to a more suitable home within the Bleumaw. Chapter XXXV: Astrasphere One night, before Esteban and Julia were tasked to join the Black Box and watch over Emily. The two went to an abandoned chapel on the surface of Noir. There they found it led to an underground Natural Dungeon. ¡°I thought the Agneists disliked Dungeons,¡± Julia said. ¡°The rouges told us that this place had been abandoned for years,¡± Esteban said. The catacombs resembled the chapel itself. White marbled columns rested between the black floor and the white ceiling. Flower-shaped torches lit up the otherwise featured walls and revealed various sarcophagi. The indigo outfit of Julia and the blue coat of Esteban remained the only splash of color in this monochrome place. A cold wind blew over them as they explored the tomb. While they explored the dungeon, Julia had her dagger out, expecting assailants. ¡°The Intel is one the mark it seems.¡± She said. ¡°Do you think the Ebony guards are interested in something like this?¡± ¡°I¡¯m more concerned about the syndicate¡¯s potential uses for a place like this,¡± Esteban said. ¡°It would make for a handy place for ¡®waste disposal¡¯.¡± Julia scoffed. ¡°Them and their euphemisms. Well, all we gotta do is slay the core and deny the mob this place right?¡± Her partner nodded. The pair soon entered a room populated by moving statues. The stone gargoyles resembled centaurs with the wings of a bad instead of the normal pegasian wings. ¡°Calcabrina gargoyles?¡± Esteban said. He used his magic to cloak himself and Julia as they moved past the patrolling statues. ¡°Seems like whoever the core is, they are a rather devout sort,¡± Julia said. ¡°You said that the Wintersun chapel was where you decided to turn over a new leaf?¡± Esteban said. ¡°You remembered,¡± Julia said playfully. She recalled the day when she decided to give up her life as a criminal and the day she decided to oppose the mob. Through this adventure, Julia reminisced about her visit to the Wintersun chapel above the catacombs. As the two fought against the undead and avoided gargoyle pursuers, Julia recalled her encounters with the clergy in charge of the place. How she had been shown kindness unseen since the night her parents died. As she and Esteban defeated a suit of possessed mail, she recalled how the priests and priestesses had taught her how to use the Umbral Dagger. As they faced off against a reverent and his horde of frozen undead, she recalled how she learned that many of the fathers were victims of the Syndicate that she served¡ªa mother¡¯s son was murdered by the Voorhees gang in a chemical plant fire. A wife kidnapped by the Vanishers and taken to parts unknown, a daughter that was used by the Frankensteins as a means to get ¡°spare parts¡± for their sick experiments. They eventually reached the third Sentinel and defeated it. The angelic stature crumbled as the core was left defenseless. As Julia approached it, she began to hear a familiar voice. A voice that filled her with dread as she recognized who it belonged to, and who it came from. ??? In the present. At Rosenkreuz¡¯s guildhall. Julia found herself in another place of worship. A church with more ornate decorations with stained glass windows depicting the Administrators. There she talked with Chiron. ¡°The cleric had become a Natural Dungeon?¡± the centaur said. Julia had told Chiron the tale of her trip to the Wintersun Catacombs. ¡°It was a large shock to me as well.¡± Chiron mused on the implications of that. ¡°It is not unheard of for a mortal to become a Dungeon Core, but to have it happen to one of the cloth¡­Did you destroy him?¡± ¡°We did, yes,¡± Julia said with a forlorn smile. ¡°The clergy worshiped the administrators, Messenger, and Divine Dungeons, but they felt that becoming a Natural Dungeon was a sign that they had shamed Astra.¡± ¡°Aye,¡± Chiron said. ¡°We who worshiped the Administrators see Natural Dungeons as punishment. A penance for a great sin that could only be absolved by someone conquering the Dungeon and taking its core. The Agneists have even more dire views, seeing them as something to be eliminated on sight, rather than as a place for adventurers to grow or a penance.¡± ¡°The thing is that there was no indication that the clergy did anything wrong,¡± Julia said. ¡°The folk at Wintersun were some of the most noble souls I¡¯ve ever met.¡± ¡°Still, Noir has been noted to have a unique relationship with Dungeons. Your husband did note the potential uses the crime lords have for places like that. Especially given the rumors of them seeking out cores for purposes beyond hideouts.¡± Julia was reminded of Project Stronghold. The radio stations had mentioned investigations into it but they haven¡¯t turned up anything useful for the guilds or other authorities. It remains unknown what Project Stronghold is, save that it is somehow connected to the missing dungeons and the artificial one. ¡°Maybe¡­¡± Her train of thought was interrupted by a nun barding in the door. ¡°Father Chiron!¡± she cried out. ¡°Something happened to Abigail!¡± ¡°What?¡± the centaur priest said. He and Julia left the room where and headed to the congregation hall. There they found a young woman lying down on the floor. A green ooze flowed from her mouth and nose. Chiron checked the woman¡¯s pulse and his face grimaced. The rest of the clergy worked to calm down the panicking churchgoers. While the church tried to calm down the masses, Julia noticed a shadow move from the crowd to the entrance. ¡°Hey!¡± she cried out. She moved after it, but by the time she reached the entrance they were gone. She could not find any sign of the egress, just the cold wind blowing in her face. ??? That night, in Noir. A man walked to a nightclub. The sign read ¡°4706¡±. A nekomata bouncer noticed the guy. ¡°Password?¡± the man said. ¡°When the wind blows, the cradle will fall,¡± the visitor said. The bouncer let the man in. He walked into what seemed to be an unassuming pawn shop until he reached an ¡°employees only¡± door and opened it. He was greeted by the familiar sights of crimson lights and scantily clad ladies. This was Club 4706. The visitor, clad in a dark red outfit usually works for church looked for his contact. There he saw a lamia man sitting at a table. He wore a black suit with robes. He approached the serpentine man. ¡°Did you succeed?¡± the robed man said. The red-clad man nodded. ¡°She is dead, I poisoned her with the somniotoxin this morning.¡± ¡°Were you followed?¡± ¡°Of course not,¡± the assassin said. ¡°It takes a week to head from New Virginia to Noir. To come here in a day would require rare resources.¡± The lamia chuckled. ¡°Of course, It¡¯s good to think the boss hooked us up with them. Now onto your next mission.¡± He handed him a folder. The assassin reads it and his eyes widen in shock. ¡°Don Giovanni, this is¡­¡± ¡°Straight from the top,¡± the lamia said. ¡°Lady Erezbert is still pushing that angle.¡± ¡°This is insane,¡± the assassin said. ¡°The idea that Harmonia¡¯s shattered remains became special Elementalist¡¯s Spheres is but a fringe theory!¡± ¡°And yet it is stranger to claim that a god could die,¡± Giovanni said. ¡°Fortunately your task is far more simple.¡± The assassin read deeper into the folder and learned that he was to murder someone who recently came across an unusually colored Aquasphere. ¡°I see, she thinks these so-called Astraspheres are related.¡± ¡°Lady Erezbert don¡¯t do things by halves,¡± Giovanni said. ¡°It¡¯s why she is Draconus¡¯s right hand.¡± ¡°I know,¡± the red-clothed man said. ¡°She was the one behind the Bloody Mary Massacre.¡± ¡°You know your stones on the history huh?¡± The don said. ¡°You know what to do Lucius.¡± The red-clad man left the lamia Don to his devices. ??? The next day. Emily, Esteban, and Julia are at the Rosenkreuz guildhall. There they meet up with Benoit. ¡°Pleasure to meet you again,¡± Benoit said. ¡°How is Heathcliff doing?¡± ¡°Fine,¡± Esteban said. ¡°Is there any update on Abigail?¡± Emily asked. ¡°Afraid not,¡± Benoit said. ¡°She had collapsed onto the ground so suddenly and the autopsy didn¡¯t reveal any signs of poison.¡± Esteban grimaced. ¡°Esteban, do you think¡­¡± Julia said. ¡°May we go see her?¡± Esteban said. Benoit is stunned by the request. ¡°O-of course!¡±. He leads her to a nearby clinical ward. Later, Esteban spoke with the coroner. He showed him the corpse. A pungent odor emanated from Abigail¡¯s body, but there were no visible signs of rot. ¡°A somnitoxin?¡± the coroner said. ¡°That would explain the sudden demise, but that begets more questions.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Emily asked. ¡°What are Somnitoxins?¡± ¡°Well, miss,¡± the coroner said. ¡°Somnitoxins are rather rare neurotoxins. Rather than attacking the physical brain, they strike at the soul beneath. They can cause the soul¡¯s tether to the body to be severed.¡± ¡°They are usually fatal,¡± Esteban said. ¡°Unless one can reconnect body and soul within two hours from the first dose, the victim is guaranteed to survive.¡± ¡°And these are rare?¡± Emily said. ¡°Partly by nature,¡± Julia said. ¡°They are sourced from dangerous beasts. But Libert¨¦ also has regulations in place forbidding their usage. Largely as a consequence of the Great Coma.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard about that,¡± Emily said. ¡°Elizabeth mentioned it once. But then how did Abigail get infected by it.¡± ¡°How indeed,¡± Esteban said with a knowing expression. Emily wonder if he thought the Vorhees gang had anything to do with this. The three returned to the Black Box. ??? At the Black Box. Esteban and Julia prepare for a trip to Noir. ¡°Are you sure you two want to head there?¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°We¡¯re sure,¡± Julia said. ¡°If this is what I think it is, then There is something I have to do there?¡± Rose slithered into the core room. ¡°Can we come too? The streets of Noir can never have enough justice!¡± ¡°Rose,¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoed to the Lamia. ¡°Are you sure you want to go?¡± ¡°The Vorhees Gang are the syndicate¡¯s most dangerous forces,¡± Esteban said. ¡°They are feared for the rumored abilities to trap people in torpor and their prowess in extortion and assassination.¡± ¡°To face them is to summon Revotos himself, they claim,¡± Julia said. ¡°All the more reason we have to go!¡± Rose said. ¡°My fellow magical girls and I can help you bring them to justice! Please?¡± ¡°That is not a decision for us,¡± Esteban said. ¡°Emily?¡± ¡°What?¡± Emily said, shocked at Esteban passing the buck to her like that. ¡°They are your Sentinels after all,¡± the rouge said. ¡°Do you think they can handle the Vorhees Gang?¡± ¡°The Coloraturas had been making frequent trips to Noir lately,¡± Emily said. ¡°Besides,¡± Rose said, ¡°You know we¡¯ve tussled with Syndicate goons before.¡± ¡°Alight,¡± Emily said. ¡°You can come, but on one condition. You must listen to Esteban and Julia, okay?¡± ¡°Got it!¡± Rose said. Julia smirked. ¡°Guess we¡¯ve been put on babysitting duty mi marido.¡± Esteban had half-expected this. ¡°Alright then.¡± Rose slithered away in glee as she left to gather her fellow Magical Girls. Emily summoned Elizabeth and alerted her to the Coloraturas and the Hermandezes upcoming trip to Noir. After a few hours, Rose, Raine, Streltizia, Lily, Clover, Hydrangea, Azalea, and Anemone are already near the pods, prepared to accompany Esteban and Julia back to the city. ¡°You sure you don¡¯t want to go, Emmy?¡± Anemone said. ¡°I can¡¯t,¡± Emily said. ¡°Guild told me there is a visitor coming today. Also, I have helped Lydia with Kaitlyn today. She had scared some of the other kids with her recent artworks.¡± Azalea giggled. ¡°Their faces were the very picture of terror.¡± ¡°Vamenos,¡± Esteban said to the kids. The party of ten boarded the pods and began their journey back to Noir. ??? By the next day, Esteban, Julia, and the Coloraturas arrived at the city Noir. ¡°So what are we doing here again?¡± Clover said. ¡°We¡¯re here to look into the recent murder,¡± Julia said. ¡°Somnitoxins right?¡± Anemone said. Esteban turned toward the younger girls. ¡°We are going to check on a few threads here. I know you kids are a capable bunch, but I want you to stay out of trouble while we¡¯re here.¡± ¡°But why?¡± Rose said. Strelitzia shrugged her eyes. ¡°The Syndicate is likely to know about what happened back at Joyfuller,¡± Julia said. ¡°To say nothing about your reputation around those parts. If the culprit knows we¡¯re here, then they will likely try to escape or worse.¡± ¡°¡­oh,¡± Rose said. ¡°We probably should¡¯ve conjured up some disguises,¡± Clover said. ¡°Actually,¡± Anemone said. ¡°Didn¡¯t Whisper mention Witches can change our appearance?¡± ¡°They did?¡± Rose said. ¡°I remember hearing something like that,¡± Streltiiza said. ¡°Me too!¡± Lily said. ¡°The guild also mentioned something like that as well!¡± The group of ten arrived at the underground. On the way to the first destination, the eight Coloraturas tried to conjure up convincing disguises. But their attempts were met with their transformations reverting to their normal appearance and the presence of black puddles around them. Rose sighed. ¡°If only Whisper had taught us how to do that before they left.¡± Esteban and Julia found their contact. A man leaning against a fence lining one of the tunnels leading outside. The man looked at Esteban and nonchalantly ashed for his business. ¡°We found someone dead in Rosenkreuz,¡± Esteban said. ¡°A nice young lady collapsed in the town¡¯s church.¡± ¡°What does that matter?¡± the hobo said. ¡°Rosenkreuz¡¯s is far from here.¡± ¡°The cause of death was a somnitoxin infection,¡± Julia said. The man¡¯s eyes shifted in response to the statement. Esteban noticed the tell. ¡°Tell me, do you know anything about extant hits?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about?¡± the hobo said. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Azalea said as she swam towards the man. ¡°I¡¯m not obligated to respond to nosy little mermaids, now scram.¡± The hobo said. His body language shows the tells of a suspicious man. ¡°You¡¯re hiding something, aren¡¯t you?¡± Stretlizia said. Julia approached the hobo. ¡°Tell me, are the Vorhees involved in this?¡± Sweat dripped from the hobo¡¯s forehead. He looked at Julia and noticed she reminded him of someone. ¡°Heh, I see how it is. Follow me, we can¡¯t talk here.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± Rose said. ¡°The underground has eyes,¡± the informant said as he walked away from the tunnel. ¡°There are things better left unsaid here.¡± Esteban is still suspicious of the man. ¡°On your guard,¡± he whispered to everyone. The man left the tunnel and led to them to an abandoned complex. ??? The hobo leads the party towards a small alleyway. He stayed silent in the face of Rose¡¯s attempts to chat with him, Azalea¡¯s jokes Clover¡¯s long-winded tangents. The Hermandez couple notices shadows moving in the distance. As they walked through the other end of the alleyway, Esteban noticed something was off. Suspicions are confirmed when several Syndicate goons emerge from the shadows. ¡°Get ¡®em!¡± the ¡°hobo¡± ordered. The mobsters tried to attack the group unaware that they consisted of eight witches and two talented rouges. Strelitzia charged towards three of the assailants and summoned her labrys to swing at the mobsters. Julia used her dagger to summon her shadow while Amenone used her magic to pin the several mobsters to the ground. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. Rose and Raine coordinated their attacks to scare off several of the assailants with a display of flame and lightning. One of the larger mobsters simply charged at Raine in defiance but was met by Rose¡¯s swordplay shortly afterward. Hydrangea took her grimoire and used it to freeze some of the mobsters in place. A pipe-brandishing woman approached Lily, aiming to strike the centauride girl, but Clover used wind spells to not only repel the woman but several of the mobsters as well. The peryton fawn conjured a twister that sucked several of them up and propelled them onto the nearby roofs away from them. The informant looked at the green-haired girl in shock and horror. ¡°The hell?¡± he thought. ¡°She was just blathering on about the streetlights five minutes ago!¡± Clover sent a dire glower at the man. ¡°Will you help us seek justice for the wrongs that had happened here?¡± she said in a sweet but stern voice with a calm yet furious expression. Her folded metal fan was pointed toward the man as if it were a sword. The ¡°hobo¡± simply turned around and ran. Clover calmed down and looked at her friends. ¡°Too much?¡± Strelitzia placed her head on her palm. ¡°A little,¡± Rose said. Esteban looked at Clover with a mild surprise. He sensed a familiar expression in Clover. One that reminded him of his first encounter with the Vorhees Gang. ¡°I¡¯ll alert the Rouges what happened,¡± Julia said. ??? Later, they arrived in one of the Rouge¡¯s impromptu guildhouses. There Julia and Esteban brought up both the Somnitoxin attack and the encounter at the alley. ¡°Ken had sold out, huh?¡± one of the people there said with a sigh. ¡°Those vampires must¡¯ve paid him a pretty penny.¡± Another lamented. ¡°We¡¯ll keep an eye out on the turncoat.¡± A fawn woman approached the group. ¡°Hello there Mr. Hermandez.¡± Her suit was as yellow as her hair. ¡°Deborah,¡± Esteban said to the blond woman. ¡°Are there any reports of Syndicate activity lately?¡± ¡°Not since your little trip to the carnivals,¡± Deborah said, referring to the Joyfuller incident. ¡°They¡¯ve been on their toes since news of that factory broke out.¡± ¡°Of course they are,¡± Julia said. Clover approached Deborah. ¡°Hello there.¡± ¡°You must be one of those Colorturas we¡¯ve heard so much about,¡± Deborah said. ¡°Heard you girls found a place outside this cursed city.¡± ¡°Yup,¡± Clover said to both questions. ¡°I wanted to ask if you saw anyone like these¡­¡± she began whispering descriptions of her parents into her ear. Strelitzia sighed. ¡°She¡¯s at it again.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Azalea said. ¡°She misses her parents deerly.¡± ¡°I know,¡± the minotaruide said. Julia heard the conversation. ¡°Parents?¡± ¡°We met her and Stretlizia one day,¡± Hydrangea said while reading one of the guildhall¡¯s spellbooks and copying some sigils to her grimoire. ¡°She mentioned that she was searching for her parents after they were separated.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Julia said. ¡°You girls were living at that diner for three years right?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Rose said. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Have you ever¡­¡± ¡°No,¡± Raine said. ¡°She seemed certain that they are still alive.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Julia said. The rest of the group turned to Clover and Deborah. The latter told her something that caused the younger girl¡¯s face to become sullen. ¡°No luck?¡± Azalea said. ¡°She said she had never seen them before,¡± Clover said with a sigh. ¡°There is something of interest you should know,¡± Deborah said to Esteban. ¡°You know about rumors of the ¡®extra elements?¡¯¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Esteban said, ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Over on the surface, my informants had mentioned that a research facility had come across an irregularly-colored Aquasphere and are currently bringing it to the Metropolitan Museum of the Arcane for research. I¡¯ve heard that the Syndicate had been digging into those rumors for some unfathomable reason. Odds are likely they will try to rob the Met as they are receiving it. Maybe you¡¯ll find Vorhees guys among them?¡± ¡°Thanks for the tip Deborah,¡± Esteban said. ¡°Pleasure¡¯s all mine,¡± Deborah said. ¡°I also have one for the kids as well.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Rose said. ¡°Word on the street is that a movie crew is eying Rosenkreuz for scenery for an upcoming movie and among them is actress Pearly Templeton,¡± Deborah said. ¡°Maybe you can verify it yourself when you return there.¡± ¡°Pearly Templeton?¡± Anemone said. Lily screamed in excitement. ¡°This is huge, she is one of Hollyland¡¯s biggest stars!¡± ¡°And one of their youngest,¡± Julia said. ¡°Only Astra knows how she managed to survive an environment like that.¡± ¡°It¡¯s still a rumor,¡± Deborah said. ¡°Try not to get too excited.¡± Lily didn¡¯t listen, she was too busy daydreaming about encountering the porcine actress. It didn¡¯t help that she knew about a recent commission made to the Smith dwarves. The rest of the group thanked Deborah for the information and left. Raine tried to bring Lily closer to reality as they left the guildhall and embarked to visit the museum Deborah mentioned. ??? Meanwhile, with the Black Box and the Bleumaw. Emily manifested her avatara to speak with Kaitlyn. ¡°Emily!¡± the young construct called out to the core. ¡°Hello Kaitlyn,¡± Emily said. Throughout the next few hours the artistic child had talked with Emily about various topics while she painted several images. Emily observed the paintings retained their eerie quality. One image depicted a neighborhood of homes contorted in conal shapes on a crimson desert. Another showed a figure overlooking a city where the buildings are missing half of their walls. The third depicted a woman picking eyeballs from a tree as if they were fruit. ¡°What do you think, Emmy?¡± Kaitlyn asked. ¡°These paintings are unique,¡± Emily said. ¡°What was on your mind when you made these?¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± the child tried to recall what she was thinking about when she made these images. She shrugged a moment later. An arachne child and their parents noticed the three painting, as well as the painter. The spiderling gave a distressed look upon seeing the strange artwork while the parent gave a look of distress towards the painting. Emily¡¯s telepathy inadvertently activated and let her hear their thoughts of disapproval towards Kaitlyn¡¯s choice of aesthetics. Kaitlyn herself was unaware of the two Arachne¡¯s feelings as she began painting her forth piece. The mother approached Emily. ¡°Are you sure she should stay here, dear?¡± she whispered to Emily¡¯s avatara. ¡°I¡¯m certain,¡± Emily sternly said to the mother. The Arachne family simply left. The mother shot a look of contempt to Kaitlyn, but she was too focused on the canvas to notice. Emily is well aware that Kaitlin¡¯s status as an ex-Strega was known among the residents of the Black Box. ¡°Where¡¯s Rosie?¡± Kaitlyn asked as she painted what seemed to be a medical complex. ¡°She and the other Coloraturas were at Noir,¡± Emily said. ¡°Esteban and Julia are taking care of them.¡± Kaitlyn continued painting. ¡°Noir huh?¡± she wistfully said. Her memories of the city lingered on in her mind, as did that of her deceased father. As her brush glided across the canvas images appeared in her head. Words she barley comprehended, sights she transposed onto the painting as they appeared in her mind. Eventually the canvas was finished. ¡°Lookie!¡± the young girl said as she lifted her latest opus form the easel and moved it to Emily. Emily looked at the canvas and made a shocked expression. She saw the visage of Memoria Medica on the canvas. ¡°Kaitlyn¡­how did¡­¡± Emily wondered about Kaitlyn¡¯s powers. A thread of inquiry that was thwarted by the artist forgetting how she became a Witch. ¡°Is something wrong?¡± Kaitlyn innocently asked. ¡°Nothing¡¯s wrong,¡± Emily said. ¡°I just recognized something there, that¡¯s all.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Kaitlyn was confused by Emily¡¯s response. ¡°You¡¯ve seen something like this before?¡± ¡°You could say that,¡± Emily said. She wondered about what that ¡°Network¡± was. A few moments later, Emily decided to bring Kaitlyn to another part of her dungeon body, away from her new territory. She hoped to not dwell on the unhemlich depiction of ehr swords¡¯ microdugneon. ??? Later, in the city Noir, a group of people in white coats drove a specialized vehicle down one of the many streets. The driver looked at the rearview mirror, ¡°How¡¯s the cargo?¡± they said. ¡°So far so good,¡± one of the people said from the back. ¡°The aquasphere is as stable as it was when we got it from Farrow,¡± another said. The car made a right turn, the driver keeping an eye out for any parties seeking to ambush it. ¡°The Met is ten miles from here,¡± they said. The sun began to recede into the horizon as twilight washed over Noir. The street lights turned on to illuminate the roads. From a rooftop overlooking the museum. Esteban and Julia keep an eye on the convoy, not for the precious and rare sphere, but for those that seek to rob them of it. At the same time, the Coloraturas are at the entrance of the Metropolitan Museum of the Arcane. They looked at the titanic seventy-story building. Filled to the brim with various exhibits and artifacts of the bygone era. Anemone and Hydrangea expressed a desire to tour the place, but Raine reminded them that they couldn''t right now. Lily wondered about the rumors about Pearly Templeton¡¯s visit to Rosenkreuz and asked her friends what they would do if they met her. The magical girls¡¯ conversation ere eventually interrupted when Clover heard something outside the Met¡¯s gates. Anemone and Lily use a spell to clock the girls as they see the white vehicle moved into the gates of the building. The magical girls followed it as the red skies turned a dark blue. The girls watch for people aiming to steal the cargo from the scientists as they move the indigo-colored sphere from the back of the vehicle. Esteban and Julia catch up with them as they witness a gray-coated figure approach the white-coated men. ¡°Are you from Farrow?¡± the man asked. ¡°Yes, we are. Are you the curator?¡± the driver said. The grey-coated man nodded his head. ¡°This is a very rare find, few are those that would brave an area recently hit by a cataclysm.¡± He handed them some refreshments for their efforts. ¡°We have much to discuss,¡± the driver said as they looked over the mugs of water. A slightly pungent odor wafted from the mugs. ¡°Everything seems normal,¡± Hydrangea whispered. Julia observed the grey-coated man. She noticed something was off about the person, something¡­familiar. A loud thud was heard and she turned her eyes to the source. She noticed some dust was lifted into the air. The scientists also noticed the discrepancy. One of them looked at the disturbed dust, but they couldn¡¯t find anything of notice. ¡°Must¡¯ve been the wind,¡± the man in the gray suit lied. The scientists took their mugs them partook of the water, but the driver refused. ¡°I¡¯m not thirsty right now,¡± they said. They are certain that something is amiss and try to subtly warn their fellows to not drink the water. The other scientists refused their hint and emptied their mugs. ¡°Come on, Professor,¡± one of the scientists said to the driver. ¡°We got the thing here, there is nothing to fear from the Met¡¯s staff.¡± ¡°Quite,¡± the grey coat said. ¡°The Institution of the Arcane is one of the most well-guarded areas in Noir. Its security is like that of a Divine Dungeon itself. Why did some even dare to compare it to Gatsby Tower. We can assure you that the aquasphere is in good hands.¡± The grey coat led the scientists into the building, the Professor having the Aquasphere in their hands. The two rouges and the eight magical girls followed them. Esteban suspected that the Syndicate¡¯s agents had infiltrated the museum. ??? Esteban, Julia, and the Coloraturas follow the scientist and the grey-coated man. The hidden adventurers kept an eye out for suspicious behavior around them as they eavesdropped on the scientists. The man in the grey coat urged the Professor to drink. ¡°Surely you must be parched by now?¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯m good,¡± the professor answered. They still did not trust the man that greeted them. ¡°Are there any other personnel here? I¡¯d like to speak with them.¡± ¡°All of the staff is currently busy tending to the other exhibits,¡± the grey coat said. Esteban observed the body language of the grey coat, his stride was calm and slow. His arms were similarly serene, and his microexpressions showed signs of discontent, particularly as he looked at the mugs that were unconsumed. A while later, one of the scientists grasps their forehead. ¡°My head, what is¡­¡± they collapsed onto the ground, unconscious. ¡°Sean!¡± one of the others cried out. They approached him to check his pulse. Their face recoiled in horror as they saw his heart had stopped. Another scientist suddenly slumped over the walls. The Professor tended to her as she checked her vital signs. ¡°Professor Will,¡± another of them said. ¡°I don¡¯t¡­feel so¡­good.¡± He suddenly fell unconscious onto the ground. Will looked at his fallen colleagues, suddenly dead all around him, and the grey coat. He turned to the other man and glared at him. ¡°What did you do? What was in that water?¡± The man in the grey coat chuckled and took an arm into one of his pockets. ¡°It appears the somnitoxin activated earlier than I thought.¡± He took out a gun and pointed it at him. ¡°Somni¡ª¡° Will realized that his fellow scientists were murdered. Their dreams were turned into unceasing nightmares, and the man before him was responsible. ¡°Now, hand over the aquasphere. Lady Erezbert is eager to research that sphere of yours.¡± ¡°Damn it,¡± Will thought. On impulse, he began to cast a spell, but the grey coat fired his gun. The bullet grazed Will¡¯s shoulder and interrupted his cast. Esteban and his group had enough. Julia was the first to intervene. ¡°Guardians of the Umbra! Cloak this man in sacred darkness!¡± Will is suddenly enveloped in a dark veil, hiding him from the assassin. ¡°What the?¡± the grey coat said. ¡°Vanishers, we have intruders!¡± Invisible mobsters began to search the areas for the interlopers. Esteban noticed the footprints of one of them and rushed them, he hurled their body towards a wall and they hit two cloaked mobsters and decloaked them. Will run from his colleague, trying to escape the dark veil enveloping him. The grey coat tries to fire his gun, but his bullets miss the shrouded man. Even more strangly one of them ricocheted off of thin air. The grey coat saw a peryton fawn between him and his target. She brandished an iron fan as a furious tempest blustered in her eyes. Professor Will tried to remove the shroud from himself as he ran, he bumped into Julia. He tries to cast a spell, but Julia dodges the magic missile and calmly approaches him. ¡°We¡¯re here to help,¡± she said. ¡°You¡¯re¡­¡± Will recognized the woman, and also that the shadow was her doing. His face calmed down from the revelation as Julia moved past him. The grey coat looked at the young witch before him. ¡°Merda,¡± he uttered. He fired at the girl, but she used her fan to summon a gust of wind that threw the bullet off course. ¡°Vanishers!¡± the man said. ¡°Seize her!¡± But nobody answered his command. He looked around and saw that several of them were both uncloaked and unconscious. ¡°From the shadows beyond we came,¡± a perky voice said. The mafioso pointed his pistol in the direction of the voice and fired, but the bullet was lodged into a wall. ¡°To defend the defenseless,¡± a stern voice said. A crimson ring hit the grey coat¡¯s arm and removed the pistol from it. ¡°To stop those who wish to harm,¡± the pistol was crushed by the invisible trampling of four hooves. ¡°To wash out evil wherever it arises.¡± A voice said in a playful, almost joking manner. The grey coat saw several witches become visible. ¡°We are, the Colorturas!¡± The lamia among them said. The cyan-haired girl said to him. ¡°Now tell us, did you visit Rosenkreuz lately.¡± The mobster saw the Coloraturas before him. Beads of sweat dripped from his temple as he glared at the young girls. ¡°S-so you meddlers are at it again? Don¡¯t you know you¡¯re trespassing?¡± ¡°Says the pot to the kettle,¡± Azalea said. The mobster tries to take out another weapon from his coat, but Clover blows him away with her wind spells and blows the coat off him. Revealing his dark striped suit and several weapons strewn from the coat. Unarmed the mobster decided to use his fists to engage his eightfold opponents but before he could make the first punch, he was suddenly hit by a haymaker from an unknown direction. Esteban decloaked in front of the mobster and turned to the girls. ¡°Was the intro really necessary?¡± ¡°Figlio di puttana,¡± the mobster uttered. He knew about the Azure Rouge, as did all members of the Vorhees. Clover rushed past Esteban and lifted the mobster by the neck. ¡°Now then, did you kill anyone in Rosenkreuz?¡± the fawn said. The mobster began to lie. ¡°You think I would go that far away for a hitjob?¡± ¡°Perhaps,¡± Clover said in a menacing tone as she dropped him. Julia emerged from the shadows. ¡°We knew someone had used somnitoxin to murder someone there.¡± The assassin looked at the indigo-clad woman in shock before regaining composure. ¡°So the traitor has come here too? Heh, had I known you stronzi were here I would¡¯ve brought more somnitoxin.¡± ¡°So you admit to the murder?¡± Julia said. ¡°I don¡¯t admit to anything,¡± the mobster said. ¡°My alibi¡¯s crystal clear.¡± ¡°Not that murdering a bunch of people in a museum is any better,¡± Raine said. ¡°Heh, we of the Vorhees always planned for that.¡± The mobster took a long look at Julia. ¡°Shame what had happened at Wintersun.¡± Julia glared at the man. ¡°There is a special place in hell for the likes of you.¡± ¡°Perhaps,¡± the mobster said. ¡°But the Reaper won¡¯t be visiting me yet!¡± the mobster rushed at the group and a fight ensued. However as the mobster was only one man going up against two trained rouges and eight witches, it was a short-lived fight. Made all the quicker by Lily blinding the man. The mafioso was left incapacitated, and Julia approached them. ¡°What did you do at the chapel?¡± she said. ¡°Sorry, mignotta,¡± the mobster said. ¡°il tradimento non ¨¨ cosa nostra.¡± The man swallowed a somnitoxin pill he had in his mouth the entire time and cackled madly. within minutes he lied there motionless, dead. ??? The next morning the Ebony Guard were at the Met. They saw the unconscious bodies of the Vanishers and the dead bodies of their mobster leader and the scientists. Yet they had not noticed any trace oft he people that stopped them and saved Professor Will. The radio blared with news about the discovery. And revelation that someone had subverted the tight security of the Metropolitan Institute of the Arcane in a bid to ambush Professor Will and steal the aquasphere. Meanwhile, Professor Will met up with Julia in the ruins of the Witnersun chapel. ¡°Thank you,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯m sorry we weren¡¯t able to save your friends,¡± Julia said. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault,¡± the man said. ¡°I tried to warn them, but the fools thought they were safe. They were not able to notice the treachery of our ¡®host¡¯.¡± He let out a sigh. Julia looked nostalgically at the ruins. ¡°Any idea why they would want this?¡± she said in reference to the unusably hued aquasphere. ¡°I had some theories,¡± Will said. ¡°But I cannot speak of them here. If they could infiltrate the Met then who knows where they got their eyes and ears on?¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Julia said. ¡°I have some ideas myself.¡± The two looked back at the chapel. ¡°The reverend was such a kind soul, to think he had became a Dungeon Core¡­¡± ¡°It is rather inexplicable isn¡¯t it?¡± Julia said. ¡°Tell me, have you heard about Project Stronghold?¡± ¡°There is not a single soul in Noir is isn¡¯t aware of the rumors.¡± Will turned his gaze to his old friend and former fellow churchgoer. ¡°Why do you ask?¡± ¡°That mobster mentioned the chapel,¡± Julia said. Will¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°Astra forfend¡­¡± the implication washed over the scientist. ¡°If those rumors are true¡ª¡± They do not know what exactly is Project Stronghold, but they are aware that it is connected to both missing Dungeon Cores and what befell Wintersun and tis reverend. ¡°I¡¯ll have to report back to Fallow,¡± Wills aid. ¡°Someone has to warn them the Met was compromised.¡± He took the aquasphere with him and left Julia. ¡°Farewell, Julia.¡± The two friends parted ways. Julia reconvened with her husband and the Coloraturas and then they returned to the Black Box, to Rosenkreuz. ??? Later, in Rosenkreuz. Julia and Esteban helped Chiron and several other people set up a funeral for Abigail. After they had finished their preparations. Julia left the chapel for some fresh air. She rested behind a tree as she thought about the recency departed and about the Wintersun chapel. Esteban found his wife sulking near the tree. ¡°Been a rough few days.¡± He said. ¡°I¡¯ll say,¡± Julia sighed. ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s worse, that there will be more after her, or that there was once a time that I contributed to deaths like this.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll stop them,¡± Esteban said. ¡°The Vorhees and the Syndicate might be powerful but they aren¡¯t invincible.¡± Julia remembered something. ¡°You lost your family to them right?¡± Esteban nodded. The couple looked upon a field of beautiful flowers. Esteban took a daisy from the field. ¡°My brother wanted to be a florist. He said he wanted to do good for the world in a way that didn¡¯t involve risking his family¡¯s life. To bring some beauty to the Underground. My mother and father were hard workers. There was no one they wouldn¡¯t lend a hand to. There wasn¡¯t no one they wouldn¡¯t bring succor to. If only I¡¯ve been there I¡¯d¡­¡± Though he maintained a calm and stoic demeanor, Julia still saw tears stream from his eyes. Julia knew her husband well enough. She knew his pain and suffering, and also his desire for justice. She knew it was why he became the Azure Rouge, why he had traveled with Heathcliff and Chiron all those years ago, and why he had helped form the Rouge¡¯s Guild in Noir. And Esteban knew she knew as much. Esteban wiped his tears. Julia stood up and comforted him. Esteban also knew Julia had her scars. ¡°Do you still rue those you have failed to save?¡± ¡°I rue those that I killed,¡± Julia said. ¡°There is not a single day where I wished I had stepped back from that life earlier. When I asked why it took the efforts of a kindly cleric and a near-death experience to turn me from a stone-cold murderer to the woman before you.¡± ¡°Perhaps that was what bound us,¡± Julia thought. ¡°Even if the syndicate fell,¡± Esteban said. ¡°There is still work to be done in Noir, and here.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t I know it?¡± Julia said. ¡°Quashing people trying to fill the power vacuum and also trying to make sure the people of the Underground get their fair share.¡± She looked at a particular flower and picked it from the ground. ¡°Anniversary¡¯s coming up, dear. Did we make any plans?¡± Esteban chuckled. ¡°Maybe a trip to Nightshoal? I heard the beaches are pretty nice that time of year.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s book a room first,¡± Julia said. ¡°I don¡¯t think those Sleepshells make for a comfortable experience.¡± The pair gazed into each other¡¯s eyes as they reminisced about their marriage and the events before. Eventually they returned to the chapel and attended the funeral. After the solemn event, they returned to the Black Box. Esteban still seeking to pursuer information on Vladimir Draconis, but he also wondered about this ¡°Lady Erezbert¡± as well. ??? At the same time, in a castle-like building within Noir on a rainy day. An elegant woman had recently arrived at the foyer. Her bowler hated and suited servants tended to her whim. Her crimson locks obscured one of her eyes as she looked over the Gothic decor of her large manor. After settling back into her home, she saw a servant enter her living quarters. ¡°Lady Erezbert,¡± the servant said. ¡°The assassin had failed to get the sphere.¡± The woman scowled. ¡°What happened,¡± she said in a sultry yet stern voice. ¡°We don¡¯t know,¡± the servant said. ¡°The Varnishers that were with him were captured by the Guardsmen, and he was found dead. Taking his own life. One of the Fallow scientists also survived and had escaped him.¡± Erezbert is left unamused. She wondered what caused him to fail so miserably. ¡°Bring Don Giovanni to me. That stronzate has a lot to answer for.¡± ¡°Understood, milady,¡± the servant left. ¡°Tch,¡± Erezbert said. Her mood and her day were left ruined by the unfortuitous tidings. ¡°They don¡¯t train these soldiers like they used to.¡± She took a cigarette from her ashtray and lit one of the ends. Lightning struck the castle as Erezbert approached a tub, filled with crimson liquid. She smirked as she looked at the freshly filled tub. ¡°At least this will get my mind off that little failure.¡± The door closed before she began to take her bath. Outside the luxurious room lay an unconscious maiden, her skin bore a pallor that is paler than the marbled columns of the hallways. A servant had just finished removing several tubes from her body. They took the young girl to another part of the castle. ??? A few hours later, a vehicle had stopped in Rosenkreuz. ¡°We¡¯re here, please wake Miss Templeton up,¡± the driver said. ¡°Pearl,¡± a man¡¯s voice said. ¡°It¡¯s time to wake up.¡± A Porcine girl no taller than fifty inches woke up and rubbed her eyes. Her lilac dress matched the bow on her curly hair. Her pig-like ears heard the sound of birds chirping, and her nose, no different from those of the driver and the man who roused her, smelled the fresh scents of baked goods. ¡°This is¡­Rosenkreuz?¡± The young girl said. ¡°Yes, Pearl,¡± the driver said. ¡°We¡¯re here, and we¡¯re earlier than expected.¡± The three exited the vehicle. Pearl wondered if the people there would accept her as she stayed in Rosenkreuz for the filming of her next movie. She also wondered if her mentor would still be able to meet her here. Chapter XXXVI: The Bright-Eyed The next day, the Coloraturas, as well as Nina and Charlotte, had left a theater in Rosenkreuz. The modest building has several posters promoting various films, but the ones they went to see all shared a common actress. ¡°Well that was a boring movie,¡± Nina said. ¡°She spent the entire film asleep in a shipping container!¡± Lily looked at the spiderling in confusion. ¡°What are you talking about? That was one of Pearly¡¯s best films!¡± Her smile shone like Stella¡¯s rays as she delivered that statement. ¡°I dunno,¡± Rose said. ¡°I like the one where her character helped her father defend a lighthouse from sea monsters.¡± ¡°What about the one where she gathered a group of witches together to repel the forces of darkness?¡± Anemone said. ¡°Would¡¯ve loved to see more of that,¡± Clover said. ¡°But I heard its premiere didn¡¯t go so well.¡± Azalea sighed. ¡°People weren¡¯t ready to see a film focused on witches it seems.¡± ¡°Where did they get the idea to make a film like that anyway?¡± Nina asked. ¡°Who knows?¡± Strelitzia said while she rubbed her eyes. She turned to the giddy centauride beside her. ¡°You really think she¡¯s coming here huh, Lily?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Lily said with glee. ¡°That¡¯s Lily for you,¡± the pink-haired lamia said. ¡°Ever the optimist.¡± Hydrangea noticed something among the posters. ¡°Her optimism might be warranted.¡± She directed their attention to an incongruous poster. The image depicted a child. A Porcine girl with pig-like ears and a tail to match. Her curly hair is tied up in two pigtails. She is clad in a simple blue dress and a matching hair bow. The text on the poster told about how this girl, Pearl Elouise Templeton, will be coming here in a few days for a press conference, to promote a film that is still being worked on. Lily squealed in delight upon confirmation of the rumors. ¡°See guys!¡± Minerva and Carla approached the girls, having heard Lily¡¯s excited cry. ¡°How were the movies?¡± ¡°The last one was Boring,¡± Nina said. ¡°Half of it was just the lead actress snoozing in a shipping container.¡± Anemone sighed. ¡°The Stowaway is admittedly not one of their best work. Critics had panned it for Pearly¡¯s character not doing much in the film itself and for its abrupt ending.¡± ¡°That explains why the tickets were cheap,¡± Minerva said. Lily directed the two adults to the poster. ¡°Look!¡± Carla read the poster and learned of the upcoming event. ¡°Oh my,¡± the alraune said. ¡°Can we go?¡± Lily said. ¡°Pretty please?¡± Minerva sighed. ¡°Emily will need to bring it up with the guild first.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Lily asked. ¡°Take a look at the date,¡± Rose said. Lily looked at the date and learned that it matched one where the Black Box was expecting several guests. In a rare moment, her eternal smile faded into a look of shock and surprise. On the way back to the dungeon, a slightly less perky Lily cantered behind the others. ¡°She really liked those films?¡± Carla said. ¡°She said she used to watch them a lot with her parents,¡± Anemone said. ¡°Before she lost them.¡± ¡°I¡¯m almost surprised she was able to maintain her career for so long,¡± Raine said. ¡°Most child stars faded into obscurity after a few years.¡± ¡°Come to think of it,¡± Charlotte said. ¡°Wasn¡¯t this ¡®Betty Gale,¡¯ one of those starlets?¡± ¡°Correct,¡± Anemone said. The werewolf explained that Betty Gale¡¯s career involved a string of films, including her star-making role. A film produced by Gemini was about a Messenger wandering a surreal land with an automata, a walking scarecrow, and a lion. ¡°Metropolica Esmeralda right?¡± Clover said. ¡°People said the film was adapted from a story a Messenger told the director.¡± Lily galloped closer to the others, curious about their conversation. ¡°Wasn¡¯t that the one where the villain was defeated by a bucket of water?¡± ¡°That was a horrible way to defeat a bad guy!¡± Streltizia said. ¡°There was no foreshadowing for that. It was a total copout!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard that Betty had recently retired from acting,¡± Charlotte said. ¡°I wonder why she is working with Pealry.¡± ¡°Maybe she is helping her with her film?¡± Rose said. She is reminded of something. ¡°Wait a minute, Raine, didn¡¯t you and Azalea help Emily get some feathers?¡± ¡°We did,¡± Raine said. ¡°It was a total breeze,¡± Azalea said. ¡°Come to think of it,¡± Carla said. ¡°The reason was because the dwarves were commissioned to make armor for a movie.¡± ¡°Was that where the swans came from, Mom?¡± Charlotte said. ¡°Yes it was,¡± Carla said. ¡°That reminds me, We need to check up on them.¡± Later, the group arrived a the Black Box. ¡°Good afternoon,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°How was your day?¡± ¡°The girls had fun at the theater,¡± Minerva said. ¡°We watched so many Pearly movies,¡± Azalea said. ¡°It gave me some ideas for some new jokes.¡± Hydrangea yawned. ¡°That was a long day.¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoed to the group. ¡°How were the films.¡± ¡°A mixed bag,¡± Nina said. ¡°They were amazing!¡± Lily said as chipper as ever. ¡°By the way¡­¡± she told Emily about the child actress¡¯ upcoming visit to the theater. ¡°Huh? But that¡¯s¡­¡± ¡°I know,¡± Lily said. ¡°Can we go? Please?¡± the centaur girl pleaded with Emily. ¡°It might be possible to make time for it,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°If our upcoming guests don¡¯t take too long, that is.¡± ¡°Where is Heathcliff, by the way?¡± Carla said. ¡°I want to ask him a few things?¡± ¡°He and Esteban were looking into other somnitoxin-related incidents,¡± Emily said. ¡°Ah,¡± Carla said. ¡°I heard about what happened at the chapel,¡± Minerva said. ¡°Julia seemed distraught over it.¡± Carla left the others to care for the swans and the other creatures in their care. Minerva took Nina to another part of Emily to meet with Lydia. Charlotte and Anemone went to tell Euryale and Stheno about the films they saw. Azalea swam away to prepare new material. Hydrangea went to read a storybook compilation. Raine went to the atelier to help Sarah again. Clover took Streltizia and followed Raine to talk with Richard. And Lily¡­Lily realized that one of Atsuko¡¯s retainers was also a fan of Pearly movies and decided to pay them a visit. ??? ¡°Wait, Pearl, is coming to the Rosenkreuz theater?¡± Hoshikage asked. ¡°Uh-huh!¡± Lily said. The centaur gleefully pranced around the room where the Kaguya Parallel Mirror underwent maintenance. Kasumi rolled her eyes as she heard the young centauride tell the news. ¡°I don¡¯t know why that girl is so popular,¡± the orange-haired kunoichi said. ¡°She is way too saccharine.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t want to go, Kasumi?¡± Hoshikage said. ¡°No,¡± Kasumi said to her mentor. Kei entered the room. ¡°Ladies,¡± the aspiring author said. ¡°Atsuko has returned from the guildhall.¡± ¡°Did she bring back treats?¡± Hoshikage said. ¡°Not this time, Hoshikage,¡± Kei said. ¡°Aw,¡± the dark-skinned ninja said. Atsuko arrived at the room. ¡°Guildhall¡¯s been buzzing about someone visiting the theater lately,¡± the nekomata said. ¡°We can tell,¡± Kasumi said. ¡°Did you get the thing from Pauline?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Atsuko presented a selection of kunai to the young Shinobi. ¡°What are those?¡± Lily asked. ¡°Oh, Lily, didn¡¯t see you there,¡± Atsuko said. ¡°What brings you here?¡± ¡°I wanted to tell Hoshikage about Pearly visiting,¡± Lily said. ¡°Oh,¡± the teal-haired woman said. ¡°As for these, these are special throwing daggers I requested. I got in touch with someone from Club 4607 back in Noir about them. I want to explore their microdugeons later.¡± ¡°What is so special about them?¡± Lily asked. ¡°These kunai are said to have been part of an arsenal of a Yanese samurai from a century ago.¡± Lily took a look at the golden knives, the daggers exuded a slight aura of malevolence. ¡°I¡¯d advise against touching these,¡± Kei said. ¡°These are not only sharp objects, but assuming these aren¡¯t forgeries then it¡¯s very likely they were cursed.¡± ¡°Cursed?¡± Lily said. ¡°The original owner, Kotaro,¡± Atsuko said. ¡°Was the defender of a small shinobi clan. The legend said he had died protecting his home from the local yokai and this his assailants had severed his spirit and imbued the weapons with his vengeance.¡± ¡°¡­Oh,¡± Lily said. ¡°Hoshikage,¡± Atsuko said. ¡°Can you help me with analyzing the kunai?¡± ¡°Of course, milady,¡± Hoshikage said. Lily left Atsuko and her retainers alone. She soon bumped into Elizabeth. ¡°Hi Lizzie!¡± she said. ¡°Hello Lily,¡± Elizabeth said. The fairy fluttered around her. ¡°Did Emmy say yes?¡± Lily said. ¡°You know you could directly ask her, right?¡± Elizabeth quizzically said. ¡°Besides it¡¯s too early to gauge if you can go to the theater that night. Please be patient.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Lily said in her usual cheerful tone. Elizabeth noticed something a little off about the centauride. ??? Meanwhile, a Porcine woman had arrived at the Rosenkreuz guild. Her crimson dress and sunglasses exhibited an aura of sophistication. Her dark red hair, done in a bun at the back of her head furthered this aura. As she walked towards the front desk, her pig-like ears heard whispers of gossip about Pealry¡¯s upcoming appearance. The lady walked to the guild¡¯s hall¡¯s front desk. ¡°Excuse me?¡± she said. Pauline noticed the adventurer. ¡°Ah Miss Scarlett,¡± Pauline said. ¡°Are you here for an update on the reservation?¡± Miss Aurora Scarlett came to the guild a month back to ask about potential Dungeons to train her daughter. ¡°Indeed,¡± the woman said. ¡°My daughter has recently arrived. She should be here shortly.¡± ¡°Is there any reason why you¡¯re so¡­exclusionary?¡± the blue-haired elf asked. ¡°You haven¡¯t even given us her name.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve reasons to ensure her privacy,¡± Scarlett said. ¡°I don¡¯t trust people to be civil around her if you catch my drift.¡± ¡°Gotcha,¡± Pauline said. The whispers stopped as the doors opened, revealing two people clad in black suits and with sunglasses. ¡°Oh dear,¡± Scarlett thought. ¡°There goes the secrecy.¡± The suited bodyguards lead a young girl towards Pauline and Scarlet. The girl donned a bandanna that hid her hair and also wore sunglasses. ¡°Hello,¡± the child politely said. ¡°Is this the Rosenkreuz guildhall?¡± ¡°Indeed it is,¡± Pauline said. ¡°Unfortunately we are¡ª¡± ¡°She is the daughter I told you about,¡± Scarlett whispered to Pauline¡¯s ear. ¡°Never mind,¡± Pauline said. ¡°You said you would accompany her?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Scarlett said. ¡°I heard the dungeons here are secluded enough that no additional help would be needed,¡± she said as she glared at the bodyguards. The suited men stoically ignored her remark as they kept watch over the curious patrons and visitors. ¡°I see,¡± Pauline said. She looked at the reservation papers. ¡°Two people, Black Box, two days from now. Yep, everything checks out is there anything else I should know about?¡± ¡°Um, actually,¡± the little girl said. ¡°Would it be okay if we were able to finish by 5:00 PM?¡± ¡°That will depend sweetie,¡± Pauline said. ¡°Someone else has decided to visit the Black Box a few hours before your visitation period.¡± ¡°I see,¡± the young girl said. ¡°I¡¯m certain this nascent dungeon will be easily cleared with enough time to spare,¡± Scarlett said. ¡°I reckon you gals want to see Pearly¡¯s upcoming appearance promoting her new film?¡± Pauline said. ¡°You could say that,¡± the child timidly said. ¡°I¡¯ll be sure to let the Dungeon Core know,¡± Pauline said. ¡°In the meantime, you two have plenty of time to take in the sights of Rosenkreuz.¡± ¡°Thank you, Madam Pauline,¡± Scarlett said. The mother and daughter left alongside the two bodyguards. Later at a nearby cafe, Scarlett glared at the suited man. ¡°Was that really necessary?¡± she asked them. ¡°Miss Scarlett,¡± one of the bodyguards said. ¡°Vulpecula has judged that Pearl would¡¯ve inevitably encountered too many hazards unaided.¡± Scarlett looked around the various people curiously looking at them. ¡°And that outweighed the risk of having folk breathing down our necks?¡± ¡°My apologies ma¡¯am,¡± the bodyguard said. ¡°As Vulpecula¡¯s top actress, her safety is paramount.¡± Scarlett sighed. ¡°For what it¡¯s worth,¡± the other bodyguard said. ¡°We were only authorized to guard her until she was delivered safely to you.¡± ¡°I know, thank you,¡± Scarlett said. ¡°If I may ask,¡± the first bodyguard said. ¡°Is there any reason why you bowed out of acting early Miss Scarlet?¡± ¡°My reasons are obvious,¡± Scarlett said. ¡°I wanted to ensure my daughter had the best life possible.¡± ¡°After what happened to poor Betty¡­¡± she thought. After they finished their meal, the two bodyguards left. The onlookers saw it as an opportunity to approach the mysterious pair, but they were deterred by Scarlett removing her sunglasses and shooting a cold glare at them. A warning to leave them be, lest they suffer unwanted consequences. ¡°Come on dear,¡± Scarlett said. She took Pearl and left the cafe. ??? Pearl and Scarlett went to one of the various verdant woodlands surrounding Rosenkreuz. ¡°There doesn¡¯t seem to be many people in need of help in this town,¡± Scarlett said. The two looked around the trees and found no one else there. ¡°This is a suitably private place,¡± Scarlet said. Assured by Scarlett¡¯s words, Pearl walked toward the largest tree near them and behind it. ¡°Okay,¡± the porcine girl said. ¡°Time to magicalize!¡± she took a deep breath and was swallowed by a glowing mass of sparkly black sludge. Scarlett saw only a bit of the starry black cocoon that encompassed her daughter as it swelled to a slightly larger mass. The elder woman kept an eye out for any approaching people. The cocoon began to harden into a brittle eggshell-like state and Pearl emerged from it, slightly taller. Her curly hair grew to two long pigtails and her changed attire resembled a feathered suit of armor. ¡°I¡¯m ready,¡± Pearly said. Scarlett noticed that her form had changed. ¡°You still haven¡¯t settled on a body, huh Pearly?¡± ¡°Pearl looked around her new mail. ¡°I¡¯m not sure why they always do that.¡± The child noticed the resemblance to a suit of armor that one of their armors had recently acquired. The polished silver metal contrasted with black-colored feathers. ¡°What happened to your familiar?¡± Scarlett said. ¡°I¡¯m here!¡± a timid voice said. A familiar emerged from Pearl¡¯s bag. Their form looked like it was made of class, with a sparkling liquid visible through their translucent ¡°skin¡±. Their cascading hair was similarly glassy, as were their fae-like wings ¡°Sorry about that Lucia,¡± Pearl said. ¡°The bodyguards were nosier than I thought.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± the familiar said. ¡°How was the trip?¡± ¡°Long,¡± Pearl said. Scarlett knew that Pearl was a Witch. She had helped her adjust to both that and her career as an actress and helped keep her secret from Vulpecula and the other actors. She approached her daughter and the familiar. ¡°Do you know why Pearl looks like this?¡± ¡°You mean besides the slowed aging of her normal form?¡± Lucia said. They took a look at the young Porcine girl. ¡°You two said you were working on a film about a knight?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Pearl said. ¡°The studio wanted us to do a form about ¡®Valkyries¡¯,¡± ¡°It does resemble the armor that was commissioned for me,¡± Scarlett said. ¡°The feathers are different.¡± ¡°What is it about?¡± Lucia said. ¡°Something about a pair of adventurers? ¡°Pearl said. ¡°The premise is that a cursed princess set off with a knight to lift the curse from her,¡± Scarlett said. ¡°It was the first role you had in a while, right Scarlett?¡± Pearl said. Pearl¡¯s mother nodded. ¡°Why did you leave acting anyway?¡± Lucia said. ¡°From what I¡¯ve heard you were one of Vulpecula¡¯s top stars back in the day.¡± ¡°That is¡­¡± Scarlett said. ¡°A complicated affair.¡± Her thoughts turned and lingered on the fate of the missing Betty Gale. With Pearl prepared, she and Scarlett set off to search for any Strega in the vicinity of Rosenkreuz. ??? A little later, the Coloraturas are asking around the guildhall for strange rumors. To investigate. ¡°Well there are claims about people with mushrooms on their hears being zoned out at Pomonapolis,¡± one adventurer said. ¡°That¡¯s all the way in Pacifica!¡± Streltizia said. ¡°You asked for weird rumors,¡± the adventurer said. ¡°I think the apple trees at the Star Orachard is turning soul more ofthen,¡± a woman said. ¡°You always think that,¡± her girlfriend said. ¡°Well its true,¡± the first woman said. ¡°I¡¯ll¡­look into that,¡± Hydrangea said. Lily meanwhile went to Pauline with her ever present smile. Along the way she noticed a man crying over a table by himself. ¡°Is something wrong mister?¡± ¡°My wife!¡± the man said. ¡°She was mauled by a catoblepas.¡± The mans¡¯s words were barely audible over his blubbering. ¡°Aw,¡± Lily said. The young centaurride tried to comfort the man. ¡°Chin up. I¡¯m certain things will work out,¡± she said. The man ignored her unhelpful advice as she cantered towards the front desk. Pauline greeted Lily. ¡°Hello, Lily, what bring¡¯s you here?¡± ¡°I want to ask about our upcoming guests.¡± She said. ¡°For the dungeon raids?¡± the elf said. ¡°Didn¡¯t Emily already told you?¡± ¡°She did,¡± Lily said. ¡°But I want to know if we can¡­speeds things along a little.¡± Pauline remembered something. ¡°I¡¯m sorry dear, you know a run for a Divine Dungeon lasts for up to two hours. The only way for someone to end early is for them to even beat the dungeon or quit.¡± Lily sighed, and then perked up again. ¡°Is this because you want to see that actress, dear?¡± Pauline said. ¡°That obvious huh?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t blame you,¡± Pauline said. ¡°But sometimes you have to realize things do not always work out the way you want.¡± ¡°Excuse me,¡± a burly man said behind the centaur. ¡°Sorry,¡± Lily cantered to the side. ¡°Maybe you can talk it over with your friends?¡± Pauline said to Lily before turning to address the man¡¯s request. Lily moved away from the front desk. A minute later, she saw Anemone talking with a Fawn knight about possible strangeness. ¡°I see, sorry for troubling you, sir,¡± the werewolf said before she turned to her equine-legged friend. ¡°Lily, did you learn anything?¡± ¡°Nope,¡± Lily said with a smile. ¡°Rosenkreuz is surprisingly peaceful.¡± ¡°There had been few Strega there since we moved,¡± Anemone said. Rose slithered to Lily and Anemone ¡°Found one!¡± she cried. ¡°What is it Rosie?¡± Lily said. ¡°The burger-flipper told me that there was a bridge nearby, connected to mysterious disappearances,¡± the pink-pigtailed lamia said. ¡°People vanishing at a bridge?¡± Azalea swam towards the group. ¡°Seems like that crossed into mundnaity realy quick.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Raine said as she approached. ¡°People aren¡¯t exactly obligated to return after crossing bridges¡± ¡°That¡¯s the thing,¡± Rose said. ¡°The flipper said that the bridge shouldn''t exist. It hovered over mile-long stretch in la Prairie Inconnue.¡± ¡°Wait,¡± Raine said. ¡°Isn¡¯t that a barren wasteland?¡± Clover and Streltizia arrived. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Clover said. ¡°I found a possible Strega rumor,¡± Rose said. ¡°In the nearby desert.¡± ¡°A random bridge where people supposedly vanished,¡± Raine said. ¡°Prairie Inconnue,¡± Azalea said. ¡°A sandsea that has no canyons or other gaps to speak of.¡± ¡°That said,¡± Hydrangea said. ¡°There are other reasons why something like that could be there. The desert was originally a lush forest before a cataclysm dried out the soil and vegetation.¡± ¡°What would a Strega be doing there anyway?¡± Clover asked. ¡°The only things of note were the Arcane Tower and the Underground Sandsea. Even with the recent archeology site near the tower, few witches have reason to be there and the latter is more accessible from the Ironhide Forests.¡± Clover said. ¡°Say, Flowena and the other Sprites told me about the metal from that forest. They said that it could be used to channel mirages and¡ª¡± ¡°Clover?¡± Raine said, pre-empting the tangent. ¡°Sorry,¡± Clover rubbed the back of her verdant hair. ¡°Well,¡± Streltiiza said. ¡°It¡¯s our only lead right now.¡± The minotaur looked around. ¡°Problem is actually finding the place.¡± Rose and the other soon left the guildhall and returned to the Black Box. There they headed to their beds among the Arachne children and were lulled into another night of dreams by Lydia. ??? The next day, Esteban and Heathcliff escort the Coloraturas to le Prairie Inconnue. They ride in one of the two vehicles Richard and Sarah recently made. ¡°Are you sure that one of them Strega is here, cheers?¡± Heathcliff asked. ¡°We are sure that something strange is going on in the desert,¡± Raine said. Heathcliff sighed. Earlier, before the group of ten set off. Elizabeth approached Heathcliff. ¡°[Strega] are rather notorious for their slipperiness.¡± The fairy reminded Heathcliff. ¡°It is not common for them to be the subject of rumors and hearsay.¡± ¡°Yeah, I know, Liz,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°As a result of that, Witches have only rumors to go off from most of the time.¡± ¡°Correct,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°So Tim told me that Atsuko got her mitts on some daggers?¡± ¡°He and Emily are already helping them explore the microdungeon,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°But I doubt these weapons are related to the Golden Spear. Noboru explained to me that the history of those artifacts was not congruent with any connection to Alkahestry sects.¡± ¡°Noted,¡± Heathcliff said. In the present, Esteban kept his eye on the road and the dunes. ¡°The rumor claimed the present of a bridge right?¡± ¡°Uh-huh,¡± Rose said while she reached into her pocket. She put a chocolate bar in her mouth. Heathcliff sighed. ¡°It has been a while since I¡¯ve been to that place.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been here before?¡± Azeleia asked. ¡°How sandy was it?¡± ¡°Very,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°It was Emily¡¯s first quest from the guild. They wanted to clear out the Arcane Tower of monsters for an excavation.¡± ¡°The Arcane Tower. That is technically a Rouge Dungeon isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Only because the core hadn''t bothered to visit the guildh¡ª¡± Heathcliff stopped upon sighting a strange sight. ¡°Esteban!¡± Esteban stopped the vehicle and the group exited. Before them was a gleaming glass bridge, high above the dunes. The gleaming structure shone in the harsh daylight of Stella and expanded for miles in both directions. ¡°That certainly wasn¡¯t there last time,¡± Heathcliff said. Hydrangea looked at the bridge but the refracted light forced her to cover her eyes. ¡°It¡¯s so bright.¡± Anemone uses her magic to create a veil of magic over the vehicle, dimming the light to the point where it is safe to look at it. Hydrangea then took out her grimoire and conjured a spell to chill the arid and warm desert air around them. ¡°Things might get chilly,¡± Azalea said as she tried to gather as much condensation as possible to help Hydrangea¡¯s spell. The two men and eight girls approached the bridge. ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t want to wait for Emily first?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t have time to wait!¡± Strelitzia said with a scoff. ¡°If there are people there they¡ª¡± ¡°Are liable to croak from dehydration if they even set foot here. This bridge feels as hot as the furnace of the forgemaster!¡± Heathcliff interrupted. ¡°You can wait at the car if you want,¡± Streltizia said. ¡°You know that ain¡¯t an option, Streltizia,¡± Heathcliff said sternly. Emily had tasked him to watch the girls in events where she could not. Clover eventually got Streltizia to back off and the group went to explore the dungeon. ??? Heathcliff, Esteban, and the Coloraturas wandered the glass bridge for an hour¡ªthe glassy construct extended beyond the horizon of the desert, seemingly going on for miles on end. ¡°This bridge is certainly unusual,¡± Heathcliff said. Azalea and Hydrangea continued to use their magic to regulate the temperature around them, but as they moved on the bridge they grew more tired. ¡°How long have you been walking on this bridge?¡± Clover said. ¡°It¡¯s been an hour,¡± Esteban said. ¡°Maybe we should head back?¡± Azalea said. ¡°I dunno how long Hydra and I can keep this up.¡± Heathcliff decided to turn back and head to the car. As the group turned around they saw the landscape behind them had changed. What should have been a sea of pale yellow instead of a pitch-black landscape with plumes of lava erupting in the distance? The temperature felt hotter and Azalea collapsed from the increased heat. The orb of water around her head evaporated as she lost consciousness. Hydrangea caught the clionid in her arms and Clover immediately cast her oxygenation spell. Raine noticed something emerged from the horizon, a young lad running across the glass bridge, his feet scarred from the heat of the bridge. The phoenixian girl also noticed something following him. An elongated entity leaped from the black sand and arc over the bridge as it dived back into the ground. The serpentine entity was coated in patches of ebon ooze. Raine and Roze realized what that was. ¡°Well, we found a Strega,¡± Rose said. The boy saw the group in the distance and cried out for help. Clover had finished her spell and allowed Azalea to breathe the air. ¡°Thanks,¡± Azalea said deliriously. ¡°That heat got me like fish out of water.¡± Heathcliff drew his sword. ¡°You gals got a plan?¡± he said. ¡°We fight the Strega of course!¡± Lily said as her hooves moved from the heat. ¡°I¡¯m sure it will turn out great!¡± Rose slithered to the child as the Strega emerged from the ground again. She cast a lightning spell at the worm. The bolt struck the being and caused it to fall short of the glass bridge. It opened its maw, determined to get its meal. The boy is left crying as he hung on to Rose¡¯s tail. Esteban took the boy from Rose and used his cloaking spell to obscure them as he moved the child and Azalea to safety. Strelitzia rushed toward the Strega. Rose slithered along the hot glass bridge and lifted Strelitzia into the air with her arms. ¡°Eat this!¡± the minotauride said as she slammed her axe into the worm. The impact caused it to splatter into a puddle of ooze, as Strelitzia landed on the ashened sand. Hydrangea tried to freeze the puddle with her ice magic, but the sweltering and hellish heat vaporized her icy fetters, and her man was drained from trying to keep everyone cool. Anemone tried to use her shadow magic but realized that the transparent glass was somehow interfering with her shadow magic. She took her bow and tried to provide covering fire for everyone, but the worm created gaps in its oozing body to allow the arrows to pass through it. The Strega reformed and lunged toward Strelitzia. She swung her axe and deflected the worm¡¯s attempts, but the persistent monster coiled around its current opponent and trapped her. It tried to strangle her, but the minotaride struggled to escape its clutches. ¡°I am nobody''s lunch!¡± she said as she summoned enough strength to break free from the worm¡¯s bindings. She tried to move but found that her legs were still trapped in the mix of ooze and sand and that she was sinking into it. ¡°Stre!¡± Clover cried out. She used her fan to create a gust to dry the ooze before the quicksand consumed her friend. But her winds only made the sand quicker. The Strega reemerged from the other end of the bridge. Heathcliff, Rose, and Raine fended it off from that end while Lily galloped toward Strelitzia. Clover climbed onto the centaur and rode her to aid their friend. Clover and Lily tried to pull Streltizia from the quicksand. Hydrangea attempted to use her magic to freeze the ooze, but her ice spells remained futile in the face of blistering heat. Sweat dripped from their pores as Clover and Lily grabbed one of Streltizia¡¯s arms and tried to pull her out. ¡°Of all the way to go¡­¡± Strletiiza muttered as she tried to move from her predicament. She couldn¡¯t hear spells without sinking further into the depths. ¡°Hand on Stre!¡± Clover said. ¡°We got you!¡± She tried to use her wings to propel them up, but the sand gripped her hooves and she began sinking instead. ¡°It¡¯ll be fine, think happy thoughts!¡± Lily said as her own hooves began to recede in the quicksand. Meanwhile, Rose, Raine, and Heathcliff contended with the worm. Heathcliff kept its attention on his as Rose and Raine tried to use fire and lightning to defeat the beast. The Worm dodged the onslaught of lightning and fireballs and Rose¡¯s rapier and Raines¡¯ chakrams did little to defeat the beast. Meanwhile, Esteban, Azalea, and the boy saw two other figures in the distance. The figures rushed past the blue-clad rouge. Esteban noticed that the shorter of the two made rhythmic footsteps almost in the sound of tap dances. The smaller girl saw both the worm, the people it was fighting and the three children slowly sinking into the sand on the opposite side. She looked at her scarlet-clad partner and the two split to assist with the fight. The porcine girl, clad in feathered armor leaped onto the Strega and began to dance on top of it. Her taps translated to vicious shock waves that revered across the Strega. Rose took the opportunity to stab the oozing worm with her sword and used her weapon and the shockwaves to channel lightning. The porcine witch leaped from the Strega and onto the bridge as the Strega¡¯s core became exposed from the lightning. Raine flew into it and used her fire-coated chakrams to strike the core. The ooze tried to coalesce around it but the rapid movement of the phoenixian girl allowed her to get enough hits in before the beat reformed. The scarlet-clad woman meanwhile took out her rifle and slammed it into the quicksand. ¡°Grab it!¡± she said. Lily and Clover, moved their and Streltizia¡¯s arms to grab the gun¡¯s barrel. The scarlet woman then chanted a spell while firing the bullet. The magic projectile formed a barrier around them and expelled the quicksand from its radius. With their legs freed, Clover used her wings and fan to propel everyone to the bridge. Anemone noticed this and tried to use gravity magic to help Clover. The three girls and the red-clad woman eventually landed on the bridge. The interluders¡¯ efforts ensured that Strega¡¯s core was exposed again. Rose and Raine grabbed the former¡¯s Rapier ¡°Firestorm Slash!¡± they both cried out as the rapier¡®s blade was cloaked in a pillar of charged flames. They pointed the sored directly at the core and thrust at it. The conjured plume of flame collided with the Strega and incinerated its core. The defeat of the monster caused the hellish landscape and the glass bridge to vanish. ??? With the Strega defeated, the glass bridge was also gone. Everyone reconvened. ¡°Guess we have you two to thank for the assist,¡± Heathcliff said to the two strangers. ¡°It was our pleasure,¡± the porcine girl said. Lily took a look at the new witch and noticed something familiar about her appearance. From the curled pigtails to the pig-like ears. She couldn''t place her finger on it, but still eagerly approached her. ¡°Hi, I¡¯m Lily! Nice to meet you.¡± The exclamations startled the fellow witch. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°I¡¯m¡­¡± Pearl tried to think of a suitable alias. ¡°Elisa,¡± she blurted out after a moment. ¡°I¡¯m Elisa.¡± ¡°So what were you doing here?¡± the red-clad woman said. ¡°We heard people were disappearing here,¡± Rose said. ¡°These girls had dragged me out here to help investigate that,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°My name¡¯s Heathcliff, cher.¡± ¡°Friends call me Scarlett,¡± the woman in red said. ¡°Alas, we haven¡¯t found anyone on the way here.¡± Pearl shied away from the others. ¡°Please forgive my daughter,¡± Scarlett said. ¡°She isn¡¯t quite used to other girls her age.¡± The group then saw a familiar vehicle moving over the desert sands. Esteban and Azalea were inside it, along with the boy they rescued. ¡°Take it that thing is vanquished?¡± Esteban said. The group got into the vehicle and made form room for their three guests as Esteban drove it away from le Prairie Inconnue and back to Rosenkreuz. Along the way, Lily chatted with ¡°Elisa¡± and asked her about her life, the porcine girl refused most of these questions, but timidly asked Lily about hers. By the time they arrived back in town, Elisa had learned about the Coloraturas, how they became Sentinels and also about Lily being a fan of Pearly and her films. ??? The Coloraturas, Heathcliff, Esteban, Scarlett, Elisa and the boy they rescued from the Strega had arrived at the guildhall. There they find Pauline talking to distraught parents. The parents heard the door open and turn their eyes away from the elven guildmaster and toward it. They saw the buy, skin reddened from sunburned, but otherwise hale. The child wept tears of released as his parents rushed to hug him. Pauline looked at Heathcliff and his entourage. ¡°Rather funny coincidence,¡± she playfully said. ¡°His folks just came here to report a disappearance.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a long story,¡± Heathclfif said while glancing at Rose. Pauline noticed Heathcliff¡¯s expression and asked Rose if she can talk to her. The lamia child obliged and slithered towards a room in the back. ¡°Yes Pauline,¡± the pink-haired girl said. Pauline flashed a faint smile. ¡°I¡¯ve heard you and your friends were looking into strange rumors?¡± ¡°Uh-huh,¡± Rose said. ¡°Could you tell me why?¡± Pauline said. ¡°Um..well¡ª¡± Rose is hesitant to explain that she and her friends were Witches to Pauline. ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong dear,¡± Pauline said. ¡°It¡¯s great that you were able to find that boy and all, but don¡¯t you think you might be biting off more than you can chew?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Rose said. ¡°I understand that as adventurers, you take on dangerous tasks and jobs,¡± Pauline said. ¡°And that as Emily¡¯s Sentinels you are able to for lack of a better turn, live beyond things that would be fatal to others. But as the guildmaster, I want to be sure you guys are safe. Please be more careful.¡± ¡°Okay, we will,¡± Rose said. ¡°That¡¯s the spirit,¡± Pauline said. ¡°Now tell me why were you looking into these rumors to begin with?¡± ¡°We just wanted to help people is all,¡± Rose said. She didn¡¯t want to tell her about the Strega out of fear of inciting panic. ¡°There are always people disappearing in thin air, even the Dungeons had begun to vanish.¡± ¡°Dungeons disappearing is nothing new,¡± Pauline said. ¡°It always happens when one core defeats and absorbs another. Emily¡¯s recent fight with that Baron, among others, can attest to that.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Rose said. ¡°But we also know there are disappearances that couldn''t be explained that way as well. And that also didn¡¯t explain why other people are varnishing either. I want to help people, that is why I became a¡ª¡± She caught herself before finishing her sentence. ¡°That is why I became an adventurer.¡± Pauline noticed a look of sorrow in the lamia child¡¯s eyes. She also saw in them the look of secrecy, something that the girl doesn''t want to explain to the guildmaster. ¡°I understand,¡± Pauline said. ¡°But if you or your friends ever need anything, do not hesitate to talk to Emily, Heathcliff or me.¡± ¡°I will,¡± Rose said. ¡°Thank you.¡± She left the room. Pauline was aware about the Coloraturas¡¯ all being orphaned and living in Noir¡¯s underground before Emily adopted them. But she can¡¯t help but wonder why that was the case. ??? Meanwhile, Lily began talking to Elisa once more. ¡°Are you going to be here a while?¡± Lily said to the Porcine girl. ¡°Of course,¡± Elsie said. A half truth. ¡°That¡¯s amazing, where did you come from?¡± ¡°I¡¯m¡­¡± ¡°Elisa¡± is now well aware of how much Lily admired Pearl, and is hesitant to reveal anything information that might cause her to learn her identity as the actress. ¡°I came from the west coast.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Lily said. ¡°I moved here from Noir!¡± ¡°Noir huh?¡± Elisa said. ¡°What¡¯s it like?¡± ¡°It¡¯s rather terrible!¡± Stretlizia said. ¡°You know about the Exsecratii right?¡± ¡°The infamous lower class of the city?¡± Elsie said. ¡°I¡¯ve heard about them. The people that were unable to afford to live on the city¡¯s surface.¡± ¡°It isn¡¯t the only city like that,¡± Hydrangea said. ¡°Gardenia also has its class divides.¡± ¡°Why are we talking about thing like that?¡±Lily said. Though her tone was upbeat, there was something a little off. ¡°That¡¯s all behind us now. Can we talk about something else.¡± Azalea picked up on the strange tone in Lily¡¯s words, she swam up to Lily and activated a spritz flower on her dress. A small stream of water was squirted out the dress and onto Lily¡¯s face. ¡°Hey!¡± Lily said. ¡°I figured you need to cool off a bit,¡± Azalea said. ¡°We did spend a long time in that stupid desert,¡± Clover said. ¡°That reminds me,¡± Raine said. She noticed that Elisa was the only one among the witches that remained transformed. The Coloraturas were already aware that Elisa was a Witch. ¡°Are you sure you want to stay like that, Elisa? The amount of mana needed to remain magiclaized exponentially increases the longer you stay in that form.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure,¡± Elsie said. She looked around and noticed no one else was watching, even Heathcliff and Esteban were busy talking to Scarlett. ¡°You want to meet my familiar?¡± Lily enthusiastically agreed. Elisa looked to her bag. ¡°Come on out Lucia.¡± A sprightly creature made of glass emerged from Elisa¡¯s bag. By that point Rose had caught up with the other Coloraturas and noticed the glass familiar. ¡°Hi,¡± Lucia said as her translucent figured fluttered around the other magical girls. ¡°Name¡¯s Lucia. May I meet your other familiars?¡± ¡°Oh, um¡ª¡± Lily said. ¡°Whisper¡­they faded away,¡± Rose said. ¡°What?¡± Elsie said. ¡°But don¡¯t you need a patron?¡± ¡°We were adopted,¡± Clover said. ¡°A Dungeon came to Noir and took us on,¡± Anemone said. ¡°You should meet her!¡± Lily said, ¡°We¡¯ll try to introduce you later!¡± By that time, the three adults approached the nine witches. ¡°Time to go, girls,¡± Heathcliff said. Lucia retreated to Elisa¡¯s bag. ¡°We¡¯ll meet again, right?¡± Lily said. ¡°Of course,¡± Elisa said. ¡°See you guys later.¡± Elisa and Scarlett left the guildhall first. Heathcliff and Esteban took the Coloraturas and returned to the Black Box. ??? At the same time, at the Black Box, Emily summoned Elizabeth to the core room to discuss a peculiar detail. ¡°Blake?¡± Elizabeth said to the core. ¡°You don¡¯t like it?¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoed to the fairy. ¡°It¡¯s not that,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°It¡¯s just, why are you thinking about surnames now?¡± Emily had pondered on the question for a while. ¡°We have met a lot of people lately. Between visitors, other dungeons and even the people that came to call me home. I just felt it would be nice to have an identity beyond just ¡°Emily¡±. And besides. Atsuko and us were the only ones without a surname so far.¡± ¡°I have a surname, Emmy,¡± Atsuko said. ¡°Izumi, just to be clear.¡± ¡°Oh, Akko,¡± Emily said. ¡°How did the knives go?¡± ¡°We failed to locate a proper point for the Takarabune to land on the kunai,¡± Atsuko said with a sigh. ¡°There is something in hyperbolic space that always threw it off.¡± The Teal-haired nekomata sat sown on a nearby chair. ¡°For what its work. Emily Blake doe shave a nice ring to it.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± Emily said. ¡°¡®Blake¡¯¡­¡±Elizabeth mused on the name. ¡°That word has a semantic link to the color black. It was believed to had originated in Albion. Is that why you chose it, Emily?¡± ¡°Yep, Lizzie,¡± Emily said. ¡°Emily Blake, the Black Box,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°That does some appropriate.¡± ¡°What about you Elizabeth?¡± Atsuko said. ¡°I¡¯m Emily¡¯s [Dungeon Fairy],¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°Our relationship is like partners. But because we share a common origins many would think of us as siblings to the respective [Dungeon Core]. Thought that lens, I suppose ¡®Elizabeth Blake¡¯ would be a proper form of address for me.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the spirit Lizzie!¡± Emily said. Emily soon sense the presence of ten people enter the Dungeon. She turned her gaze towards Heathcliff and her group. ¡°Welcome back guys. How was the desert?¡± ¡°We found a new friend!¡± Lily said. Rose stretched her arms. ¡°I¡¯m tired. I¡¯m gonna get some rest.¡± ¡°We have two groups of ¡®guests,¡¯ tomorrow Rose,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°Gotta be ready for them, cher.¡± Lily grimaced at the reminder as the other Coloraturas left the entrance, Heathcliff went to the kitchen and Esteban went to look through his notes on the syndicate. ¡°You said you met a new friend?¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoed to the centaur again. ¡°Yeah!¡± Lily perked up again. ¡°Her name¡¯s Elisa! She helped us slay the Strega at the desert.¡± She talked a lot about Elisa and their encounter. ¡°She sounds wonderful,¡± Emily said. ¡°I¡¯m glad to you made a new friend today, Lily.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± Lily said. She cantered to another part of the dungeon. Later, as Lilt walked down Emily¡¯s halls, a memory flashed in her mind for a split second. A sight of two fugues lying motionless on the ground. She shook off the intrusive image. ¡°Think happy thoughts,¡± she said to herself. ¡°Everything will work out. I¡¯m sure of it!¡± Azalea saw Lily walk past her with a faint look of stress on her face. ¡°Oh dear,¡± the mermaid thought. ??? The next morning, the day of Pearly¡¯s press conference. The crew of the Black Box are preparing for their two sets of visitors. Right after breakfast, Lily approached Heathcliff with a simple request¡­ ¡°Qu''est-ce qui? You want to be the first boss?¡± Heathcliff said. Lily nodded. The redheaded knight sighed. ¡°Lily, you know you and your friends are too strong to be the first Sentinels the guest meets right?¡± ¡°We can hold back,¡± Lily pleaded. Heathcliff had an idea for why Lily would make such a strange request. ¡°I don¡¯t think that is goin¡¯ to work out the way you¡¯d hope. We are a little short on mana at the moment, if you or your friends fall in battle it¡¯s gonna take longer than usual to recreate your bodies, and if you succeeded in repelling them once, they might try to go for round two. Our ¡®visitors¡¯ can get rather persistent.¡± Lily recalled a notable run last week, where a party of five had barley defeated the tarantula construct and ended up fighting her and the Coloraturas not one but thrice before the time limit ran out and Emily expelled them from her. ¡°I¡¯ll make no promises, but I see if there is anything I can do to help you make that little shindig at the theater, cher.¡± Heathcliff left the room. Lily cantered away a little dejected. ¡°Maybe one of them canceled?¡± she hoped. ??? Meanwhile, Anemone, Charlotte, Euryale, and Stheno are at the Bleumaw. The four looked at the various swans swimming in the artificial lakes created for them. Charlotte gathered some towards her to feed them a mix of breadcrumbs and her petals. ¡°So how is this place now part of Emily?¡± Euryale said. ¡°I¡¯ve read that Dungeons typically expand their influence as they accumulate more mana,¡± Anemone said. ¡°Scholars speculate that is it because they cannot keep large pools of mane at the same point safety.¡± ¡°Maybe she can absorb Hamlin?¡± Euryale said. ¡°Sister!¡± Stheno is aghast at the suggestion. ¡°Do you know what that would entail?¡± ¡°She¡¯d have to absorb the mana of a lot of Dungeons, ¡°Charlotte said. ¡°Including Revotos¡¯ Valley.¡± She took some food and threw it towards the flock of swans. One of them eyes the indigo flowers growling on her scalp as Charlotte turned to her friends. ¡°Also,¡± Anemone said, ¡°The Dungeons cannot control exactly where these extensions would form. They cannot occupy space already claimed by another dungeon for starters,¡± the lycanthrope took her bow and strung it. She let loose an arrow that hit a ring target placed on a nearby tree. The arrow pierced the middle ring of the target. ¡°By the way,¡± the alraune child said. ¡°I heard a movie star is coming to Rosenkreuz tonight?¡± ¡°Pearl E. Templeton,¡± Anemone said as she nocked another arrow. ¡°Didn¡¯t we already tell you about that?¡± ¡°Oh, right,¡± Charlotte rubbed the back of her head. A loose petal fell onto the ground and attracted the curious swan¡¯s attention. The waterfowl pounced on Charlotte, trying to pluck the flowers from her head. ¡°H-hey!¡± Charlotte said. ¡°Let me go!¡± ¡°Lotte!¡± Euryale said. She and her sister tried to help Charlotte as she flailed about trying to escape the grasp of the swan¡¯s beak. Anemone aimed her bow at the waterfowl and steadied her aim. She fired the arrow to the right of Charlotte and onto the swan¡¯s shadow. Charlotte took the opportunity to escape while the swan was pinned by the shadow magic of the arrow. ¡°Are you okay?¡± anemone said. Charlotte straightened out her attire and checked the flower the swan attacked. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°Shall we be worried about that?¡± Sthenos aid. ¡°Your petals were rather loose, Lotte.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Charlotte said. ¡°Mommy told me that the petals may shed in some cases.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Anemone said. She took the grimoire she lent Charlotte. ¡°Want to practice your gravity spells?¡± Charlotte nodded. The four headed back to their house. Along the way, they saw Lily lying on a stump. ¡°What¡¯s up, Lily,¡± Anemone said. ¡°Just admiring the scenery,¡± the centaur said, her effervescent smile as persistent as usual. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to practice my gravity magic,¡± Charlotte said. ¡°Want to come.¡± ¡°Sure!¡± Lily excitedly said. They headed to the Truce¡¯s abode. ??? Meanwhile, Tim had just been apprised about Emily¡¯s new name. ¡°Emily Blake, huh?¡± Tim asked. ¡°Yep,¡± the dungeon¡¯s voice excitingly echoed to Tim. ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Tim said. He was in the middle of meditation when Emily told him about the name. ¡°Are you going to¡ª¡± ¡°Only for Elizabeth so far,¡± Emily said. ¡°I haven¡¯t asked Kaitlyn of the Coloraturas if they want the name yet.¡± ¡°Come to think of it,¡± Tim said. ¡°Do you think those are their actual names?¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± Tim sighed. ¡°A flower and a musical term, across eight different girls each. Even for orphans that seemed too much of a coincidence. They are even alternative.¡± ¡°Okay?¡± Emily is a little confused. ¡°And?¡± Tim took his Qiang and began practicing his bajiquan. ¡°I¡¯m just saying, if those are aliases, then they might not want to complicate it with surnames.¡± At that point, Emily began seeing strange images flash in her mind. A pair of people collapsed on the ground, beside a small pile of debt notices. ¡°¡­a light that shines¡­¡± is heard in a faint voice. ¡°Huh?¡± Emily is confused by what just happened. She left Tim alone to meditate and sought up Elizabeth. Elizabeth meanwhile is helping Lydia tend to the spiderlings. ¡°Hey, Lizzie?¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoed to the fairy. ¡°Yes?¡± Elizabeth said. Emily told her about the vision. ¡°Ah,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I don¡¯t think that is one of your memories. The sound accompanying implies it is connected to the Coloraturas.¡± ¡°Can you please elaborate?¡± Emily asked. ¡°You remember that the Coloraturas are [Witches] yes?¡± Emily asked. ¡°Uh-huh,¡± Emily responded. ¡°They gain powers and the fulfillment of a single wish in exchange for letting a familiar feed on their mana, right?¡± ¡°Basically,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°The familiar has to help the contractee fulfill the wish, that is a facet of the contacts that passes onto those that are inherent to their role. The [Patrons]. To that end, they are granted visions about the contracted¡¯s wish as reminders. They happen periodically.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Emily said. A question springs into her mind. ¡°Is it possible to tell who that is?¡± ¡°The visions are vague,¡± Emily said. ¡°Largely because [Familiars] tend to contract one or two at a time. Eight is an unusually high number that could only be explained by circumstance. And fewer still are Dungeons that become a patron for that many of them at once.¡± A gust of wind evocative of a sigh blew through the room where Elizabeth is in. The breeze had disturbed some of the Arachne children. ¡°Okay, so I have to find out who that memory is for then?¡± Emily then realized that the vision only had part of the wish. ¡°The wish tends to influence the powers a [Witch] possesses, though to what extent varies,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°Noted,¡± Emily said. ¡°Our ¡®visitors¡¯ will be arriving soon,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°I¡¯ll see you later.¡± ??? At the same time, Heathcliff, Flowena, and Ulric took a look at the theater. He saw Benoit at a nearby street corner. ¡°Hey,¡± Heathcliff called out to his friend. ¡°Come see!¡± Beniot rushed over to Heathcliff. In his hand is a thirty-five-millimeter camera. ¡°You want a picture of the theater? Why?¡± Ulric cheerfully fluttered to Beniot. ¡°Pleasure to meet you! I¡¯m Ulric!¡± ¡°I¡¯m Flowena,¡± the pink-haired spite said. Benoit looked at the sprites and remembered that they came from the Mirage Feywood. He looked at Heathcliff. ¡°You want to use their illusory powers for something?¡± ¡°Oui,¡± Heathcliff affirmed. ¡°They told me they know of a way to get someone to another place tout de suite.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Benoit said. ¡°And you want a picture of the theatre for that end then. Say no more.¡± He pointed his camera at the building. The camera let out a flash and a photograph emerged from the slit at the bottom of the device. He took the photo out of the camera and handed it to Heathcliff. ¡°It will need to develop,¡± Benoit said as he handed Heathcliff the photo, the image is currently black as pitch. ¡°Leave it to us!¡± Flowena said. She and Ulric used their powers to not only develop the photo but apply the enchantment as well. The spell had the side effect of turning the grisaille tones into a colorized image as well. ¡°Thanks,¡± Heathcliff said. The knight blessed Beniot as he left with the sprites. ??? A few hours later, the Colorturas are battling the first guests to visit the Black Box. A group of knights clad in metal armor. Strelitzia locked her labrys with the sword of the tallest knight, clad in silver. The helmeted man used his sword to repel the minotauride. ¡°These lasses are brave indeed,¡± the knight said. A more agile, but still armored knight evaded Anemone¡¯s arrows. She used her shield to deflect the projectiles. ¡°Rather strong too,¡± she said. A third knight took a look at the battlefield, his pointed hat was nearly blown off from Clover¡¯s gusts. Realizing her spells were unable to disrupt the armored mage¡¯s preparations, she lurched forward and tried to hit the mage with her fan. ¡°I warned you lot that this Dungeon is not to be underestimated,¡± the armored wizard said. ¡°They¡¯re the ones that hath slain The Engines, remember?¡± Rose slithered toward the taller knight and made some thrusts with her sword. ¡°It¡¯s rude to ignore us, you know?¡± she said as she used her sword to channel lightning magic and strike the silver-clad knight. The Knight took his own sword and cast a barrier spell with it to halt the strike of lightning. ¡°Maybe if you lot weren¡¯t yapping about ¡®justice,¡¯ we wouldn''t be predisposed to tuning you out,¡± the swordsman said. Rose sent a glower at the man. Strelitzia rushed in front of the knight. ¡°And who do you think you are, acting so high and mighty like that?¡± ¡°Wouldn''t you like to kn¡ªAck,¡± The swordsman is suddenly blinded by a somewhat distracted Lily¡¯s spell. She took the opportunity to charge forward and used her hind legs to kick the larger man back. The armored mage finished casting their spell and summoned a torrential downpour onto the room. The place became flooded as the swordsman used his sword to erect a veil of light over himself and his allies. Lily noticed the light magic her opponent used. ¡°That¡¯s neat, I can do that too you know!¡± the centaur said as she used her want to create an incandescent barrier over herself and her friends. ¡°Those wards won¡¯t help you!¡± the female knight said as the armored mage channeled another spell. They moved the waters over the shielded Coloraturas and concentrated for a few moments. The armored swordsman noticed something was off. ¡°Why aren¡¯t they freezing? Quit your dawdling, Alexis!¡± ¡°I¡¯m trying!¡± the armored mage said. The cape on their armor billowed as they tried to channel their magic into ice spells. He then noticed steam emerging from the orb of water and his eyes widened in shock. The water suddenly burst into an explosion of steam and Raine emerged from where it stood and slashed at the mage with her rings. ¡°Watch out, Raine is feeling very heated today,¡± Azelia quipped as she channeled some of the remaining water and hurled it at the mage. ¡°Drat!¡± the swordsman said as he rushed toward his magically inclined companion and used his sword to conjure a shield-shaped construct to deflect the water. As the water receded, the two knights tried to move but found they were unable to move past a certain distance. The mage turned back and saw an arrow piercing the floor behind them, right in their shadows. Anemone flipped her hair. ¡°That should keep you busy for a while.¡± The female knight took a look at their companion before turning to face the Colraturas. She noticed that among the eight opponents, the centaur was the least focused and rushed towards her. Lily was too busy daydreaming to notice until it was too late. ¡°Lily!¡± Hydrangea said. She used her grimoire to free the ground beneath their feet. The female knight¡¯s legs slipped on the ice as she tumbled onto the ground and Lily noticed her attacker and galled away as she tried to stand up. ¡°Lily, you have got to focus!¡± Rose said. ¡°Sorry,¡± Lily said with a chuckle. She slid onto the ice playfully, while she drew her spear. She accelerated towards the pinned-down knights as the light enveloped her and her weapon. ¡°Lumiere Avant!¡± she yellowed as she bowled over the two knights. The attack sent them and the arrow that bound them flying into the air and crashing onto the ground. With two knights defeated, all eight Coloraturas turned their attention to the third opponent. The woman knight grimaced as she knew she was outmatched. Rose took her rapier and sliced the air in front of her, ¡°Are we done yet, we can¡¯t keep our other guests waiting?¡± she said with a sweet smile. ¡°Fine,¡± the female knight said. ¡°I yield.¡± She took her fallen comrades. ¡°You haven¡¯t seen the last of us!¡± As the three knights leave, Emily¡¯s voice echoed to the girls. ¡°Good job!¡± she said. ¡°You girls did wonderfully.¡± ¡°Thanks, Emmy!¡± Lily said. ¡°Um, Lily,¡± Clover said. ¡°You seemed rather distracted today.¡± ¡°I was?¡± the centaur said. ¡°That lady would¡¯ve hurt you if Hydra hadn¡¯t acted quickly,¡± Azalea said. ¡°Oh,¡± Lily said. ¡°Sorry, Hydrangea.¡± She said with her usual smile. Hydrangea sighed as she cleaned her glasses. ¡°Can¡¯t stop thinking about Pearly huh?¡± she asked. ¡°It was that obvious?¡± ¡°Clearly,¡± Anemone said. ¡°You couldn¡¯t stop talking about her and her filmography when we were helping Charlotte practice.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Lily said. ¡°I can¡¯t help it, she¡¯s just so cool.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Rose said. ¡°Yeah, if anyone knows impatience it would be Rose,¡± Raine said. ¡°Excuse me?¡± Rose said. The other girls giggled. ¡°Hey Emily,¡± Anemone said. ¡°When will the next guest arrive?¡± ¡°I think they¡¯ll be here in about twenty minutes,¡± Emily said. The Coloraturas leave to prepare for their next encounter. ¡°Emily?¡± Lily said. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Where is Heathcliff?¡± the centaur asked. ¡°He took Flowena and Ulric to the theater, didn¡¯t say why,¡± Emily answered. I thought she had a certain hunch. ¡°Lily!¡± Anemone called out to her. ¡°Coming!¡± the centauride said cheerfully as she galloped after her friends. ??? At the same time, Pearl and Scarlet drove towards the outskirts of town in a rented car. Pearl, in the back seat, held several jewels in her hand. Black ooze emerged from the pores to absorb the gemstones. Lucia looked out the window. The sprite-like familiar noticed the verdant tones give way to azure hues. A sign that they had entered the Black Box. Scarlett also observes the changes through the windshield. ¡°Reality can get stranger than fiction,¡± she thought. ¡°Scarl¡ª¡± Pearl said. ¡°Mommy?¡± ¡°Yes, dear?¡± Scarlett said. ¡°Can you tell me more about Betty?¡± the porcine girl said. The vehicle arrived at a fork in the road, and Scarlett took the left path. ¡°Betty Gale¡­ You remember that we were colleagues in the studios right?¡± ¡°Uh-huh,¡± Pearl said as she took a large diamond. Lucia saw her absorb the brilliant jewel. ¡°You were both with Leonis right?¡± ¡°Started her career at a young age. First as a dancer, then as a starlet,¡± Scarlett said. ¡°Then she got her big break with Metropolica Esmeralda. The boss back then put a lot of roles onto her.¡± She said with a heavy sigh. The car slowed down as they approached their destination. ¡°She reminded me so much of her,¡± Scarlett thought. She continued her talk. Pearl remembered seeing some of her films and noticed that Betty was also a Porcine like her, and like Scarlett. ¡°Didn¡¯t she mysteriously vanish one day,¡± Lucia said. ¡°So they said,¡± Scarlett said. She recalled the day Betty disappeared. ¡°They were in the middle of filming The Sound of Lightning.¡± ¡°The Sound of Lightning?¡± Pearl said. ¡°Didn¡¯t you star in that film?¡± ¡°Indeed, I did,¡± Scarlett said. ¡°I was Betty¡¯s replacement. Some called that film the one that truly kickstarted my career, others called it a cursed production. I heard people claim the original reels had caused people to take their own lives.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± the child had said. ¡°Didn¡¯t the executives love Betty? What could¡¯ve caused her to vanish like that?¡± Scarlett was hesitant to explain. She had heard rumors about Betty being forced to drink alchemical concoctions that forced to to not sleep for days. About the Leonis head director insulting her. And about how she had been starved for weeks to lose weight. After a few silent moments, their rented vehicle stopped in front of a glassy black cube of a building the center of the dungeon¡¯s sphere of influence. The Black Box. ¡°We¡¯re here,¡± Scarlett said. Pearl exited the vehicle and ehard the grumbles of three armored figures exiting the building. She moved behind a nearby tree and looked at them. They bickered amongst each other seemingly ignorant of the vehicle and Scarlett¡¯s presence. She magicalized after making sure the knights were gone. Transformed, she returned to Scarlett. ¡°Seems like they had a rough time,¡± Scarlett said. ¡°Are you ready Pealry?¡± Lucia said. Pearl nodded. She took her wand and entered the dungeon with Scarlett. ??? A while later, Pearl and Scarlett arrived at the first Sentinel. After defeating the first of the Dungeon¡¯s Cells. They are met by the Tarantula construct, towering over the two Porcine ladies. They looked at the boss with surprise. The Sentinel moves one of its eight legs and tries to crush them. The pair evaded the attack. At the machine¡¯s leg made contact with the floor, a shockwave erupted from the leg, and a gust of wind followed suit. Pearl took her baton and used it to anchor her, while Scarlett used the wall for support. Pearl saw another leg move and fall onto the ground. From it emerged lightning bolts. Scarlet drew her rifle from her back and placed a bullet into the chamber. She fired it at the wave of electrified air and caused a barrier to be erected in front of Pearl. Pearl then performed an elaborate tap dance, while singing a bardsong spell. Sparks emerged from her feet as she danced her way towards one of the legs, finishing with with with a well-time kick. The spell amplified the force of the bloc and caused the larger foe¡¯s leg to tilt backward. Scarlett aimed at the moved leg and fired another bullet. The shot transformed into an icicle spear and collided with the construct, scrapping off part of the leg. ¡°Heh,¡± Scarlett said. ¡°This Spellshooter was more accurate than I thought.¡± She surveyed the area and saw another leg moving towards Pearl. She fired another shot to try to deflect it, but the bullet missed. Pearl saw the leg about to squash her and immediately began spinning, her pirouette allowed her to move away from the leg and spin like a top. A blazing shockwave emerged from the leg and Scarlett fired another bullet to create a shield of ice between it and Pearl. Pearl continued twirling, building up speed and moment as she spun towards the fallen leg and climbed it. She took her baton and used it to smack the joint connecting the leg to the main body. The blunt force of the enchanted baton caused enough damage to disable the leg. Pearl finished her twirl with a decelerating spin and a curtsy. ¡°Thank, you, thank you,¡± she said on reflex before realizing that no one but the Dungeon, Scarlett, and Lucia could hear it. Scarlett maneuvered closer to Pear and fired a green bullet at a point a few feet away. ¡°Pearly, ride the wind!¡± Air circled the spot where the bullet pierced the floor and generated a gust. Pearl heeded her mother¡¯s words and ran into the gale. The gust exploded and propelled Pearl high into the air and onto another leg of the spider. While on the Leg, Pearl used a spell to cause a ribbon to emerge from her baton and began to twirl towards another joint, using the ribbon as a shield and dodging the mechanical tarantula¡¯s rays. Emily and Elizabeth looked at the battle with some surprise. ¡°I thought the new armor would¡¯ve been enough to protect the joint,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°The aspected shockwaves also had less of an effect then we thought,¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoed to the fairy. ¡°It was weakened by the last encounter with those knights,¡± Elizabeth said. A while later, the Porcine visitors prevailed over the Tarantula, with three legs fallen and one disabled. ¡°The Coloraturas are next right?¡± Elizabeth asked. ¡°Yes,¡± Emily said. Pearl and Scarlett approached the emerging chest and found several coins, a lute, and spools of Dreamthread. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Pearl said as she took the nacreous fabric in her arms. ¡°Seems like a new fabric,¡± Scarlett said. ¡°Silk perhaps? I haven¡¯t seen this in Pacifica.¡± Pearl took the lute and tried strumming it, in contrast to her voice, the lute¡¯s tune was off-key and its notes were harsh. Lucia expressed fear for her glassy body while Scarlett simply covered her ears. ¡°Sorry,¡± Pearl said. ¡°Let¡¯s get going.¡± The three knew that their press conference was in a few hours and that they had spent a half hour in the dungeon so far. They ventured deeper into the Black Box. ??? Meanwhile, at the theater at Rosenkreuz, a well-suited man is currently talking with the theater¡¯s manager. The scene of melted wax filled the air as the two men discussed a film reel on the desk betwixt them, contained in a rich mahogany box. ¡°This reel?¡± the manager said. ¡°You said it was Betty¡¯s takes?¡± The suited man nodded. The manager was startled by it. ¡°But why here? Why bring it to a theater in the middle of nowhere?¡± The other man chuckled. ¡°You should stop underestimating yourself. If Pearly and Vulepcula are interested in this place for filming, then there is surely something to this quaint town in New Virginia.¡± ¡°You heard about that?¡± the manager said. ¡°Of course,¡± the man said. ¡°The Hollyland studios are the first to know what happens to our stars.¡± ¡°And yet Miss Gale¡¯s absence remains shrouded in mystery.¡± The manager said. ¡°Indeed,¡± the suited man said with a sigh. ¡°Who knows what occurred at the Leonis studio? So many rumors and hearsay about about her time there.¡± ¡°Aye,¡± the manager said. He took a sip from his mug. The wind blew past the open window and the loose sleeves on his coat. ¡°Rather contradictory rumors at that.¡± He moved from his desk. The well-suited man looked at his host¡¯s Arachne legs with a calm and stoic smile. ¡°Many of which circled among the disgraced Leonis ¡®mayor¡¯. One day people claimed to see him heap praise upon Berry, the next he chastised her for being a ¡®fat little pig with pigtails¡¯.¡± Her disappearance and the subsequent retakes of The Sound of Lightning had led to much scandal. And of course, the investigation that saw him outed.¡± ¡°Yet even the investigator couldn¡¯t find poor Betty,¡± the arachnid man said. ¡°It¡¯s been more than a decade since the disappearance,¡± the suited man said. ¡°No child should¡¯ve vanished under that, yet she did.¡± ¡°No normal child perhaps,¡± the arachne said. ¡°You must be well aware of those rumors yes?¡± ¡°I am,¡± the well-suited man said. ¡°But those remain little more than conjecture right now. I trust that you can safeguard the original takes of the Sound of Lightning. You¡¯ll be compensated handsomely for the reel of course.¡± ¡°Under normal circumstances,¡± the Arachne said. ¡°People would be paying for preproduction material like that, but these are not normal circumstances. That reel¡¯s cursed ain¡¯t it?¡± During their coverage of the disappearance, the papers have reported various claims of people disappearing on the film set, and around the Leonis film archives after its release. Both men were aware of these rumors, and also of the responses from Leonis rebutting it. ¡°Perhaps,¡± the well-suited man said. ¡°People vanish all the time. Syndicate-related kidnappings, press-ganging, monster attacks. It¡¯s a dangerous world out there. Who¡¯s to say.¡± ¡°Yet the timing is rather suspicious,¡± the Arachne manager said. ¡°Mere coincidence I assure you,¡± the man from Leonis said. ¡°Pearly¡¯s press conference was not on management¡¯s mind when they made that decision.¡± ¡°Uh-huh,¡± the Arachne man said. ¡°And besides,¡± the other man said. ¡°Weren¡¯t there increased missing people cases in this area as well? Dungeons too?¡± The Arachne man sighed. ¡°I¡¯ll take the reel, maybe the Guild might know someone who can confirm if it¡¯s cursed or not.¡± ¡°That is all we ask for,¡± the Leonis envoy said. ¡°Have a nice day.¡± He walked away from the theater manager. The Arachne took a look at the container with the film reel on it. A sense of dread filled his mind as he took the dusty reel in in hand and cleaned it. As he placed the reel back int he box, he noticed that there were some black stains on the purple lining. ¡°Hmm,¡± the Arachnid looked at these stains for a while before placing the reel back int he box. He called for his secretary. A burgundy-suited woman approached the room. ¡°Yes, sir?¡± ¡°Contact the guild,¡± the manager said. ¡°Ask them to look into this reel.¡± The woman left with the box. The manager looked out the window and saw Stella had receded into the horizon. Her diminishing sunlight dying the sky in shades of orange and red. He knew it¡¯s almost time for the event. ??? At the same time, Pearl and Scarlet had just finished unlocking a door. ¡°Those Tatzelwurms were rough,¡± Pearl said, as she straightened out the ruffled feathers on her dress. Scarlett took a look at her coat. She saw that she had only three bullets left. ¡°I might need to result to more¡­clerical methods after the next fight,¡± she thought. An hour and fifteen minutes remain before the Black Box ejects them. The pair walked down the indigo and black halls of the Black Box. ¡°Do you remember the day you asked to be an adventurer?¡± Scarlett said. Pearl nodded. She knew that Scarlett was hesitant at first. Scarlett in turn sensed that Pearl was feeling rather lonely and isolated by the studios. She herself was well aware of the toll acting took on someone as young as her. ¡°You said we had to make time for it,¡± Pearl said. ¡°I did,¡± Scarlett said. ¡°Took a while to convince Vulpecula to agree to it. Had to call in a lot of favors.¡± ¡°That was five years ago,¡± Pearl said. The two came to the end of the corridor. ¡°Get ready, dear,¡± Scarlett said as she loaded two of the remaining magic bullets onto her rifle. Pearl steeled herself as she began to open the door. A little earlier, the Coloraturas were awaiting their latest guests. Rose practiced her thrusts while Azalea practiced some jokes in front of Raine and Hydrangea. Anemone noticed Lily¡¯s smile barely concealed a tinge of impatience. Her suspicions were not helped by the centaur¡¯s anxious pawing of the ground. ¡°Emily said they¡¯ll be here soon,¡± the wolf-eared girl said. ¡°I know,¡± Lily said. ¡°In a rare moment, Lily frowned. Anemone sighed. ¡°I understand you¡¯re excited about Pearly¡¯s announcement, and that you want to be at the theater, but you should¡¯ve known that our tasks as Sentinels could come into conflict with that.¡± ¡°Of course I knew that,¡± Lily said. ¡°I had always wanted to be one my whole life. It¡¯s just that¡ª¡± Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching. ¡°They¡¯re here!¡± Lily perked up. ¡°Maybe we could still make it!¡± she thought. ¡°Everyone, hide,¡± Raine said. Rose took a bauble she borrowed from Kasumi and threw it onto the ground. The mist that emerged from the ornament shrouded the Coloraturas as they got into position. Pearl and Scarlett arrived at the mist-filed arena. ¡°What¡¯s with this mist?¡± Pearl said. ¡°Keep your guard up,¡± Lucia chimed in from within Pearl¡¯s bag. ¡°I feel people nearby.¡± ¡°Sentinels perhaps?¡± Scarlett said. The pair heard a voice. ¡°From the mists, we rise! To bring justice to the land!¡± The fog suddenly gave way to a seemingly empty room. The lights dimmed as spotlights shone on Hydrangea. ¡°We stand as this Dungeons¡¯ guardians,¡± the cyan-bobbed girl said. Her face hid her surprised on who their guests were. ¡°Our flames shall burn the wicked!¡± Raine descended from a perch above. ¡°The winds tell of our feats!¡± Clover emerged after Raine. ¡°May the love we hold prevail!¡± Anemone followed suit. ¡°For we shall shine a light on¡ª¡± Lily stopped her introduction as she saw just who was there with them. ¡°Elisa? You¡¯re our visitor?¡± Her surprised tone threw off the subsequent introductions. ¡°Lily?¡± Pearl said. Streltizia, Rose and Azalea emerged. Rose is visible annoyed at how their introduction was derailed. Lily galloped toward her new friend in a mix of joy and confusion. She eagerly greeted the porcine girl. ¡°Um, Lily,¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoed to the centaride with a hesitant tone. ¡°Oh right,¡± Lily said as she returned to the other Coloraturas. ¡°Anyway,¡± Rose said. ¡°We are the Coloraturas! Heroines of love and justice. Guardianesses of the Black Box. Friend of now, we shall not hold back.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± Scarlett said. ¡°Well that was an unexpected twist,¡± she thought. ¡°Right,¡± Pearl said. The two parties prepare for a battle. ¡°Please forgive me, Lily,¡± Pearl thought. ??? Pearl and Scarlett prepared for their battle with the Coloraturas. The Porcine magical girl looked at her new friend with anticipation. ¡°Let¡¯s make it fun,¡± Lily chirped to Pearl as she gripped her lance. This is a dungeon run, but Pearl and the Coloraturas were content to treat it more like a sparring match. ¡°R-right,¡± Pearl said. She gripped her baton and looked around the room. Scarlett noticed that fog began rolling in again. Clover rushed forward and swiped her folded fan at Pearl. The young girl dodged the swipe and used the gust to maneuver behind the fawn. With a swing of the baton, Pearl clashed with Clover¡¯s fan. Scarlett put her rifle and placed it on her coat. Azalea swam towards the red-clad woman. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Out of ammo?¡± ¡°Not quite,¡± Scarlett noticed the moisture around her began to form an orb of water around her and used her rifle as a staff. ¡°O Obsidian,¡± she prayed. ¡°May the heat of your forge evaporate this sphere of water!¡± Before Azalea could attack, the heat from Scarlett¡¯s prayer evaporated from the sphere. Azalea noticed beads of sweat forming at her temple. ¡°Can you maybe turn down the heat a little? ¡°O Melodia,¡± Scarlett said. ¡°Grant us your benediction.¡± Her rifle began transforming into an ethereal musical bow as a violin formed on Scarlet¡¯s left shoulder. Strelitzia noticed Scarlett¡¯s instrument and tried to charge her before she could string the ethereal violin. ¡°Um, Emily,¡± Elizabeth said while witnessing the battle. ¡°Does something feel a little off?¡± ¡°Lily?¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoes to the centaur as she charged toward ¡°Elisa¡±. ¡°Do you know these two?¡± ¡°Oh yeah!¡± Lily thought, ¡°That is Elisa, she helped us when we went to the desert yesterday!¡± Pearl parried Lily¡¯s spear with her baton and a playful smile. Strelitzia meanwhile tried to use her labrys to disarm Scarlett, but the older woman dodged while playing a bardsong tune. A red aurora formed above the battle as Scarlett dodged Azalea and Streltizia¡¯s attacks. Anemone tried to use her bow to immobilize the two visitors, but the crimson curtain of light lulled her into a slight stupor and in her daze, her arrow missed Scarlett. She looked up and saw the curtain with horror. ¡°That light it¡¯s ¡­¡± As Scarlett continued playing her instrument, Rose tried to help Lily against Pearl, slithering to the side of the Porcine girl and trying to thrust with her rapier, but Pearl used her baton to parry the sword and move the blade to her side. ¡°How long had you been using the rapier,¡± Pearl casually asked while parrying the thrusts. ¡°About a few months now,¡± Rose answered. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°No reason,¡± Pearl said before manifesting a ribbon from her baton and using it to retaliate against the lamia. Clover and Raine attacked with ranged attacks but they felt more tired than usual and Raine¡¯s fire and Clover¡¯s winds failed to even touch Pearl. Anemone rushed to the Peryton fawn and phoenixian girl. ¡°Raine, Clover, that aurora is sapping our strength,¡± she said. ¡°What?¡± Raine said. ¡°I thought they were supposed to mitigate attacks.¡± ¡°They are,¡± Anemone said. ¡°But that spell is not a normal case, darkness is added to the spell!¡± Clover yawned as she realized what that meant. Azalea swam towards the other three. ¡°It¡¯s Scarlett,¡± the mermaid said. ¡°The spell¡¯s her doing!¡± ¡°Clover,¡± Raine said. ¡°Can you and Azelia try to silence her violin?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give it a shot!¡± Clover said. Meanwhile, Hydrangea was already aware of the aurora¡¯s effects and used ice shards to try to wrest the ethereal instrument from the player. ¡°My oh my,¡± Scarlett said. She expected the Coloraturas wouldn¡¯t be holding back but hadn¡¯t expected such resistance from the group of eight. She took one of the remaining bullets from her coat. Azalea tried to trap Scarlett in a sphere of water again, while Clover used her wind magic to muffle the notes of the violin. Hydrangea tried to freeze the bubble, but as she was about to do so, the bubble instead exploded again. Frozen shrapnel burst from the shattered ice and landed on Clover¡¯s hooves and Azalea¡¯s tail, rooting them to the floor. Lily, Rose, Anemone, Streltizia, and Raine meanwhile tried to fight ¡°Elisa,¡± but whenever they got close, she deflected with her ribbon or dodged with a mix of tap dances and gymnastic moves. The red aurora not only protected her and Scarlet from most of the damage but also slowly lulled the coloraturas to sleep one by one. After twenty minutes. Only Lily was left still awake. Pearl and Lily locked their gaze on one another, but the battle was already decided. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Lily, but I have to go soon. I¡¯ll see you later.¡± Lily collapsed, grateful for the chance to see her friend again, but also frustrated about what this meant for her tonight. The centaur was lulled to sleep as Emily materialized a chest for the two victors. The red aurora faded as Scarlett stopped her performance. The two claimed their prizes of one mythril ingot, a pair of cesti, a pair of breeches and some jade. ??? A while later, Emily had managed to rouse the eight girls from their premature rest. ¡°Are you okay?¡± her voice echoed to Lily. The girls awakened with a small groan. Elizabeth handed them small cups of coffee to ensure they were awake. ¡°I made sure to limit the caffeine a bit?¡± ¡°Man those two were tough,¡± Rose said groggily. ¡°Stupid aurora.¡± Lily then remembered something. ¡°Did Elisa¡ª¡± ¡°They won,¡± Tim said as he led the two visitors back to where the coloraturas were. His face while calm, also had a tinge of annoyance. Pearl took a look at the armor and hammer she and Scarlett won from their battle. ¡°Congratulations!¡± Lily said. ¡°Did Timmy give you a hard time?¡± ¡°Very,¡± ¡°Elisa¡± said. ¡°He was a big old meanie.¡± Tim simply humphed. ¡°He certainly fared a lot better against my bardsong than you did,¡± Scarlett said. ¡°I hope we weren¡¯t too rough on you girls.¡± ¡°No hard feelings,¡± Rose said. She knew that being Sentinels being helping the Dungeon train the vising adventurers by fending them off. ¡°I¡¯m sorry again,¡± ¡°Elisa¡± said. ¡°We have to go. It¡¯s almost time for the event a tthe theater!¡± ¡°Oh shoot!¡± Lily said She begin to panic as she realized that there were only five minutes before Pearl¡¯s announcement begins. ¡°Guess we came here in the nick of time, chers,¡± Heathcliff, Ulric and Flowena had just returned to the Black Box. Scarlett recognized the armored man from yesterday. ¡°You know how to get us to the theater quickly?¡± ¡°Indeed I do, mademoiselle,¡± Heathcliff said as he held up a photo¡­ ??? Earlier, as Heathcliff, Flowena, and Ulric left Rosenkreuz, Heathcliff asked a question of the sprightly sprites. ¡°How certain are you that it won¡¯t just bring a replica straight to Emily?¡± He looked at the photo of the theater. ¡°We used a spell that makes sure that whoever looks at the photo while a Mirage Staff is cast on it will be immediately warped to the point the picture was taken from. Give or take their distance of the photo at that point, of course.¡± ¡°The spell can only be cast once every five hundred years, however. It required a special extract from a plant that only bloomed at that time. We were lucky that some of us had gotten some vials when the Baton attacked the Feywood, but all of us were used in that photo.¡± ¡°You¡¯re saying it only works once?¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°Basically,¡± Flowena said. ¡°You have my thanks, and my apologies for having you waste something so rare on this on what seemed like a trivial matter.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the least we could do,¡± Ulric said. ¡°After Emily took us in and defeated the Baron.¡± He let out a wistful sigh. ¡°Plus, Lily seemed very eager about going to that theater today for some reason,¡± Flowena said. ¡°Something about a movie star coming to announce something there?¡± Ulric said. ¡°Yeah,¡± Heathcliff said. He took a look at the photograph before continuing his long hike back to the Black box. ??? ¡°So these sprites had enchanted the photo to serve as a portal of sorts?¡± Scarlett said. Flowena nodded. ¡°Just point the Mirage Staff at it and we can get you there lickety-split!¡± ¡°That¡¯s amazing!¡± Lily said. ¡°Thank you, thank you, thank you!¡± She quickly galloped outside the room. The sound of rummaging through various items was heard until the centaur returned with the item in tow. ¡°Elisa¡± took the photograph from Heathcliff and followed the sprite¡¯s instructions. The two girls held the photo in the air as they used the mirage staff to channel light and dark magic through it and onto the picture. The image had vanished and parts of the wall were replaced by a larger replica. ¡°Have fun!¡± the knight said. ¡°You have our thanks,¡± Scarlett said. ¡°Elisa¡±, Scarlett and the Coloraturas entered the illusion of the theater, through the sprites¡¯ magic, this materialized them right in front of the actual building. Lily excitedly galloped towards the front doors. ¡°Lily, wait!¡± Raine said as she chased the centauride. The other Coloraturas followed up, leaving Scarlett and her daughter alive to discreetly enter the theater through the backdoor. By the time the Coloraturas had caught up with Lily there were no sign of either in the lobby with them. ??? Later, The Coloraturas took their seats among the crowd of reporters and spectators looking at a stage for the press conference. The flashes of various cameras and the murmurs of paparazzi and more legitimate reporters filled the room as Pearl Elouse Templeton took the stage. The young actress announced that Vulpecua will be using Rosenkreuz as the site of filming for her next film, and confirmed the rumors that Aurora Scarlett will come out of retirement to be her co-star. Anemone looked back to her fight with ¡°Elisa¡± and noticed the red aurora. ¡°That spell¡­¡± she noticed how peculiar it was. Lily meanwhile paid more attention to Pearl¡¯s words. After the conference, Pearl held an autograph signing. Lily eventually headed up to the booth. ¡°Hi, I¡¯m your biggest fan!¡± ¡°You¡¯re too kind,¡± the porcine star said to the centaur. Yet internally she had hoped Lily didn¡¯t notice the similarities between her normal and magical girl forms. While her normal appearance is shorter in both height and hairstyle, she feared that Lily might still piece it together. As Lily took her autographed memorabilia she looked at the actress. ¡°That reminds me¡­¡± ¡°Oh no,¡± Pearl thought. ¡°She¡¯s onto me!¡± She tried to maintain a calm face. ¡°Have you seen Elisa?¡± Lily said. ¡°We must¡¯ve got separated on the way to the theater.¡± ¡°Phew,¡± Pearl thought. ¡°I think she might¡¯ve left already,¡± she said. ¡°Aw,¡± Lily said. Still left the stand contented enough and regrouped with her friends. Anemone looked at Pearl and noticed she looked familiar to her somehow, but couldn¡¯t place her finger on it. The Coloraturas left the theater and realized that the sprite¡¯s photo worked only one way. Fortunately, Emily¡¯s avatara arrived to pick them up and led them home. That night Lily had dreamt a good dream as she looked forward to meeting Elisa again. Chapter XXXVII: Libert茅an Psychos On a cold night in Noir, a group of adventurers recently exited a Dungeon. ¡°Man, what was up with that abandoned stadium?¡± A Nekomata bard asked. ¡°Beats me,¡± an elf gladiator said, looking over the various sporting-themed armor they¡¯d acquired. ¡°But we got all this sweet gear at least!¡± A dwarven mage looked at the battle mage armor she had acquired. It bore a double-digit number on the front and back with the outer layer of cloth having porns at uniform distances. The color scheme of teal and white distressed her, as did the helmet with an unusual mouthguard compared to standard helmets. She looked at her elven friend with bemusement. ¡°I get it, you¡¯re a gladiator, a real showboat, but don¡¯t you think this attire is a little garish?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± the elf said. ¡°I think it suits me just fine¡± as he took his gladius and struck several poses. ¡°Typical meathead,¡± the mage said. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Eleanor,¡± the bard said. ¡°We can discuss it over some nice ¡®grape juice¡¯ at Club 4706.¡± ¡°Hell yeah!¡± Eleanor said. ¡°John, you coming? Makoto¡¯s treating us to drinks!¡± The elf gladiator heard the mention of drinks and followed the bard and mage. As the trio headed to the nightclub for illegal beverages, they were unaware that they were being watched. Later they arrived at an alleyway. ¡°We can take this shortcut,¡± Makoto said as they strummed their guitar. They entered the alleyway. John heard rustling from behind them and turned back, but he saw no one there. The elf scratched his head and shrugged. As they were halfway through the alley, Eleanor noticed something. She took her wand and immediately cast a fire spell. The fireball missed, but she caught a fleeting glimpse of a shadow moving behind strewn waste. ¡°On your guard!¡± She said. ¡°Someon¡ª¡± Before she could finish her sentence, she was knocked out from behind. ¡°Eleanor!¡± Makoto said. They tried to prepare a bardsong spell, but a shadowed figure tripped them and knocked them unconscious. John took his gladius and shield and rushed to his fallen friends. He is assaulted by rapid blows from the shadows. One of the figures took a dagger and slashed his bared neck with it. ¡°Wow, the lunkhead was a lunkhead, who would¡¯ve thought?¡± a voice said as the elf collapsed. Her voice had a tinge of exuberant cheer and snark. ¡°We gotta get this to the coffin, those organs won¡¯t harvest themselves,¡± a second voice said. His voice in contrast was dull and tired. A while later, a black truck had arrived and the three unconscious bodies were placed into the back of the truck. The two then closed the truck and drove away from the alley. The three adventurers weren¡¯t seen again since. ??? Meanwhile, Clover frolicked in a lush meadow. Her parents gazed at her from a distance. Their verdant hair blew serenely in the wind. Clover laughed and played and smelled the various flowers. Her smile brightened up the sky as much as the midday sun. A while later, Clover felt a drop of rain on her green-toped hair. Another drop fell on her antler, then on her wing, then on the tip of her tail. Clover looked up and saw the sky had turned grey with storm clouds. Halcyon¡¯s tears blotted out Stella from the sky. She looked at the meadow around her. The flowers had wilted and the earth had trembled. ¡°Gretchen!¡± her mother cried out. The young fawn turned in the direction of her voice and saw her parents rushing to grab her. She rushed toward them, but before they could reunite, the earth trembled. Anesidora¡¯s rampage carved an ever-widening crevasse between parent and child. The peryton fawn tried to use her wings to cross the gap and reach her parents, but as he made her leap, the earth rumbled once more. Clover tried to reach for her parents, but they receded from view as the cavern widened. Her descent into its depths began. The brown soil soon gave way to vertical iron bars, behind which the silhouettes of stampeding bulls could be seen. Clover tried to use the bars to stop her advance, but they were frictionless, her grip was unable to slow her descent to the bottom of the cage she found herself in. ¡°Mommy! Daddy!¡± she cried out, despite knowing they were beyond her reach. The bovine heard circled her like vultures, their stampede drowning out her pleas as she plummeted further. She soon landed on a disc. The shock and impact broke her legs and pinned her to the ground. She saw ravenous bulls staring intently at her. The disc tilted and Clover slid toward the edge, towards the hungry animals. She saw that beneath the dish was a hellish maw. Rows of teeth lined the pit as she gazed into its infinite depths. The disk was now vertical. Clover yelled again as she fell once more. But her fall was halted by someone grasping her hand. The fawn turned up to see her savior, but she could make out the silhouette of a minotauride. One of the figure¡¯s arms hung onto the edge of the upright disk, while the other grasped Clover¡¯s arm. ¡°Hold on,¡± the young girl said. ¡°¡­won¡¯t let them¡­¡± Clover could barely make out the figure but knew it was a child her age. A gut feeling told her that this minotaur could be trusted. Yet her nightmare was not over, as her arm began to slip from the figure¡¯s grasp. Clover tried to reach her with her other arm, but despite her best efforts, it wasn¡¯t able to reach even the arm. The figure too tried to tighten her grip, but despite her own efforts, Clover still slowly slipped away. The disk wobbled and tiled as if trying to lose the minotaur¡¯s hold on it. Eventually, it tilted towards the heavier side, weighted down by the minotaur and fawn hanging on its edge and the sudden movement was enough to force the minotaur girl to let go. The two girls screamed as they fell. The maw slowly closed. Clover suddenly woke up from her nightmare with a mighty scream of terror, enough to break the trance on Strelitzia next to her. The orange-haired minotauride groggily rubbed her eyes. ¡°Is it morning yet?¡± ¡°Stre! Did they¡­¡± Clover began to realize that what had recently transpired was in fact, a nightmare. Streltiiza looked at Clover and realized it was her that woke up her. The two then looked at the other children with them. They are still in a trance. Still kept in slumber by the timed Bardsong eyes of the Arachne helpers of the Black Box. The time is three minutes until eleven. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Clover said. Stretlizia stretched her arms. ¡°Don¡¯t sweat it, Clo. I¡¯d been roused by worse.¡± Unusually, Lydia is taking a while to get here. Strelitzia noticed her friend¡¯s sullen expression. ¡°Was it about them?¡± the horned girl said. Clover nodded. ¡°At first. There was a great tremor, I tried to reach them, but¡­but.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Strelitiza was aware that Clover was separated from her parents, and that she had tried to find them after they escaped where she was being held captive. ¡°You were there too, Streltizia.¡± ¡°I was?¡± Clover nodded. ¡°You tried to save me, but¡­¡± Tears welled up in her eyes. Strelitzia understood what she was about to say. She patted her friend on her back. There there,¡± she comforted. ¡°It¡¯s just a bad dream.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Clover sniffled. ¡°But¡ª¡± ¡°No buts,¡± the minotaur said. ¡°I said I¡¯d keep you away from the reaper. I have done well on that so far right?¡± ¡°R-right.¡± Clover turned to her friend. ¡°And you have the other Coloraturas, and Emily, and Elizabeth, and the others as well,¡± Strelitzia said. ¡°You know we won¡¯t let you down. You know that I would never let you get harmed, right?¡± Clover was assured by those words. ¡°Thank you, Stretlizia,¡± She said with a chuckle. At that moment Lydia arrived. Her calm expression was marred by bags under her eyes. ¡°I see most of my work here was done for me,¡± she said cheerfully. ¡°Is this your bid to prove you don¡¯t need a broodmother?¡± Strelitzia was startled to hear that. ¡°Sorry,¡± the minotaur said. She then held her mouth in shock. She knew she was usually more hostile to Lydia and Heathcliff. Lydia chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s no problem, silly. Besides, I should be the one apologizing for the delay. Took me a while to figure out who broke the spell.¡± Clover shied away from Lydia. ¡°Besides,¡± the Arachne broodmother said. ¡°What kind of a broodmother would I be if I get worked up over something like a nightmare scaring my charges awake? Things like nightmares breaking the trance we use to send you guys off to dreamland just happen.¡± Her eyes began to glow with the Arachne¡¯s mesmeric abilities. ¡°Now then, get some rest. It¡¯s still late here.¡± The minotaur and fawn gazed into Lydia¡¯s eyes. ¡°Night,¡± Streltizia said as they were lulled back into a trance. Once they were asleep, Lydia wiped the drool from Clover and Streltizia¡¯s mouths, and then she left them and the rest of her brood to rest. ??? The next morning, Emily, Tim, Elizabeth, Atsuko, and Heathcliff were again at Spearhead¡¯s Peak. Wu Jingyu wanted to speak with them about certain matters. ¡°¡®Tis a shame that I am unable to partake in the cinema,¡± Jingyu said. ¡°I heard plenty of things about this ¡®Pearl¡¯.¡± ¡°Is that what you wanted to talk to us about?¡± Tim said. Jingyu laughed. ¡°No, I want to review what you¡¯ve learned so far.¡± ¡°We are currently in the Nigredo phase, the gathering of mana,¡± Emily said. ¡°We need to complete the Magnum Opus cycle once before we can revive the Golden Spear and find the other remnants.¡± ¡°At that point, we need to find the Jian, the Gun, and the Dao,¡± Tim said. ¡°The other three treasures of the school, and likely markers of the remnants.¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± Jingyu said. ¡°Now excuse me, monsieur,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°When you say ¡®gun¡¯ are we talking ¡®shooty shooty bang bang¡¯ here?¡± the knight made pointing gestures with his hands as she asked the question. ¡°It¡¯s actually a staff,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°Tim¡¯s [Qiang] is part of a collection of weapons believed to have been sued by the sect.¡± ¡°Correct,¡± Jingyu said. ¡°The Gun is what you would call a ¡®polearm¡¯, much like the Qiang. In the same vein, the Dao and the Jian are different forms of swords. The latter is defined by its elegant two edges, while the former is considered more brutish. A contrast by how westerners considered sabers.¡± ¡°It¡¯s mainly rapiers,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°Several elite knights are also skilled fencers.¡± ¡°And yet the Crimson Hound, favors broadswords more analogous to the Jian?¡± Jingyu said. ¡°You could say that,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°As a follow-up question, are these four unique in any way?¡± ¡°That would depend on your perception,¡± Tim said. ¡°The types themselves are not unique, in fact, Elizabeth and Master said that every sect worth its salt has them and trains students in them. In my own experience, I used a different qiang at my time in Jiang-Hu.¡± ¡°Yet, at the same time, the ones we speak of were imbued with the founder''s techniques, left behind so that his disciple may one day follow them into the higher realms.¡± ¡°Wait,¡± Emily said. ¡°Heathcliff, you mentioned rapiers right?¡± ¡°Oui,¡± the red-clad knight said. ¡°Something the matter, cher?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t Sarah make a Rapier for Rose?¡± Emily said. ¡°That is true,¡± Tim said. ¡°She did.¡± ¡°I highly doubt that is related to any veneer of regularity, Emily,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°Just because they¡¯re associated with frou-frou royalty doesn''t mean you have to be one just to use it. Hell, the guilds probably have fencing inspectors on their payroll.¡± ¡°Rose has proven to be a rather troublesome student,¡± Jingyu said. Elizabeth glared at Jingyu. ¡°Before you get the wrong idea, her focus is not the issue. Rather it¡¯s the techniques itself. Bajiquan focuses on the use of all extremities, but they were designed for bipeds. Her serpentine tail renders those involving the lower body difficult at best and incompatible at worst, surely you must know this, Elizabeth.¡± ¡°¡­Oh,¡± the fairy said. ¡°Sorry.¡± ¡°If she were here,¡± Tim said. ¡°She is demanding an apology as well.¡± ¡°Rightly so, at that,¡± Heathcliff said. Atsuko stood silent throughout this conversation. But a question suddenly sprang to the teal-haired girl¡¯s mind. Her two tails swished as he turned her eyes to Jingyu. ¡°Hey Jingyu, do you know how relations between Jian-Hu and Yae Shoto are going?¡± ¡°That I do not know, Miss Atsuko,¡± Jingyu said. ¡°I am aware that both of our homelands are gripped with internal strife and disarray, but now if they had made contact with each other. The state of diplomacy there is beyond my ken.¡± ¡°I see,¡± the nekomata said. ¡°Sorry for troubling you.¡± ¡°Is something wrong Akko?¡± Emily said. ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± she replied. ¡°I have known what I needed to know for the moment,¡± Jingyu said. He turned to Emily and Tim. ¡°You both are but a half step away from Albedo.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that last time?¡± Emily said. ¡°Perhaps,¡± Jingyu said with a laugh. ¡°But it is true. When the furnace forms in your root, your core. You will know. But be warned, for the shades will come to assail you once you do. Take good care.¡± ¡°May you be blessed in the Starlight,¡± Elizabeth said to Jingyu. The group leaves Jingyu and Tim¡¯s Qiang¡¯s microdugneon. ??? A few days later, over at Noir¡¯s underground. Clover and Streltizia chased a man down the dilapidated streets. ¡°Cyclonic Crescendo!¡± Clover shouted, a small horizontal cyclone emerged from her fan and lifted the man into the air. Strelitzia leaped into the twister and faced the man. His eyes showed a frightened look. ¡°Look there has to be some mistake,¡± the man pleaded. Clover shouted at the man. ¡°Yield you thief!¡± ¡°Thief?¡± the man said with confusion. The orange-haired minotauride pinched her brow. ¡°Do you know of the ¡®Orb of Fata Morgana¡¯?¡± ¡°What orb?¡± The man said as they floated in the whirlwind. Strelitzia could see that the man in question had nothing to do with the object in quest and let out a sigh of resignation. ¡°Clo, put us down, this guy¡¯s clean!¡± The fawn used her wand to gently lower the cyclone and let down both her friend and her assumed suspect. The man looked at her with fear. ¡°Sorry about that,¡± Clover sheepishly said. The man simply ran away in fear. Strelitzia sighed again. ¡°Clover, this is the eighth time this month!¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry!¡± Clover said. ¡°I was certain that man was the one that took the Orb.¡± Later, the girls regrouped at the Diner where they used to live. After greeting Jacqueline and paying for their meals. The girls took to a table in the corner. ¡°So did you find anyone?¡± Raine said. Clover bore a forlorn look on her face. ¡°Another red herring?¡± Hydrangea said. ¡°Uh-huh!¡± Clover said. ¡°Darn it, Clover,¡± Raine said. ¡°That¡¯s the eighth time this month.¡± ¡°I know¡­¡± the winged fawn hung her green-haired head in shame. ¡°Even Rose never flew off the handle like that,¡± Azalea said. Jacqueline delivered several orders of burger friends and the ¡°all the way¡± special for Rose and Raine. ¡°How about you?¡± Stretlizia said. ¡°Any leads on the Orb of Fata Morgana?¡± ¡°Esteban said he and Heathcliff might have a lead,¡± Anemone said. ¡°The orb is like the Mirage Staves, an illusion-attuned artifact, and it¡¯s possible that it might not have been stolen at all. Emily is already at the Met to confirm the theory.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re saying it might not have been stolen at all?¡± Clover said. ¡°Correct,¡± Anemone said. ¡°It might be a false alarm.¡± She then turned her attention to Rose. Raine also shot a glare at the lamia. ¡°What did I do?¡± Rose said. ¡°Were you the one that claimed the orb¡¯s disappearance in the first place Rose?¡± ¡°I thought it wasn¡¯t there!¡± Rose said. ¡°It¡¯s not my fault the thing could easily fade from sight.¡± Clover sighed. ¡°I frightened that guy over nothing.¡± ¡°He did act somewhat suspicious,¡± Rose said in an attempt to cheer Clover up. ¡°Like there was something shady about him.¡± Raine sighed. A while later, an irate Emily arrived at the diner. ¡°I heard from the Rouges about someone being thrown several feet into the air?¡± ¡°Sorry,¡± Clover said timidly. ¡°It¡¯d the eighth time this month.¡± Emily sighed. ¡°It turned out the Orb simply turned invisible. There was nothing to worry about. But please, try to avoid attacking strangers without evidence.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Clover said. The radio suddenly aired breaking news. ¡°Breaking: Elf, dwarf, and nekomata went missing last Monday. The last reported sighting was at Madison Ave at 11:00 PM. The Ebony guards are currently investigating.¡± Emily and the Coloraturas heard the report and are curious about the disappearances. They were reminded of the Project Stronghold rumors and wonder if this is connected to that. Emily requested containers for the Coloratura¡¯s leftovers. Once that was provided, the group thanked Jacqueline and left the diner. ??? Meanwhile, A young woman had entered a strange apartment complex. The tears of Halcyon fell from the heavens as the roar of thunder boomed throughout the sky above Noir. The scent of meat wafted from the open windows as the woman entered the door. ¡°I¡¯m home!¡± the woman said, she heard no response as she looked around the messy apartment. Her mischievous smile remained plastered on her pallor face, her black and pink hair kept in unkempt tangles. She took out a black top with pink and yellow splat designs, matching black jeans, and studded bracelets, as well as a hair tie. A replica of the outfit she currently wears. She giggled as she took the clothes and prepared for a shower. At the same time, her brother lounged on the sofa as the radio mentioned the abduction of three adventures, a drawven mage, a nekomata bard, and an elvish gladiator. He yawned and placed his hand on his black and teal hair. Later the woman found him lying on the sofa. ¡°There you are,¡± the woman said playfully. ¡°Hello, Patricia,¡± the brother said. Patricia walked in front of the sofa and looked at her brother and his black shirt, decorated with teal and blue designs. Her gaze held an exuberant look yet also had a tinge of frustration. ¡°C¡¯mon, Normie, we¡¯re expecting Hathor tonight. I¡¯ll cook dinner!¡± ¡°It¡¯s Norman,¡± the older brother said apathetically. He knew she wouldn¡¯t heed his correction. Patricia had always used that name for him ever since they were children. He stood up from the sofa and headed to another room. His hair cascaded to his back as he stood up and looked at his sister. A slightly pungent odor lingered in the air as he headed towards the basement of the building. While Patricia was busy getting food made, she saw a girl sitting on a chair in the dining room. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re still here.¡± Her grin turned into a frown. ¡°Hello Patty,¡± the child said. Light passed through her body as if it were stained glass. Her smile while cherubic was paired with a look that betrays both innocence and lament. ¡°Did you find an exorcist?¡± ¡°Not yet,¡± she groaned. ¡°Would be nice to get a rise of that brat,¡± she thought. The three had been living together for years. Two siblings and the spirit that haunted them. The ghostly child turned her gaze toward the living room. Her skin, despite the pallor, is slightly less pale than that of her hosts. ¡°You know you could just leave if you wanted to,¡± Patricia said. ¡°I would, but I have to make sure Tony is¡ª¡± Patricia glared at the child. ¡°That Tony is safe,¡± the ghost finished. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about him,¡± Patricia said. ¡°I¡¯m all the protection my brother will ever need.¡± She said with a confident tone. ¡°Uh-huh,¡± the child said skeptically. ¡°You heard about the people who went missing recently?¡± Patricia ignored her. ¡°Mr. Hathor is arriving tonight, be on your best behavior,¡± she said. ¡°You first!¡± she said. ¡°Are you two fighting again?¡± Norman shouted from the other side of the apartment. ¡°No!¡± the two girls shouted. Norman sighed. He took out a steel crate. ¡°That¡¯s what Hathor requested, yes?¡± she said with his usual tired tone. ¡°That¡¯s my Normie, ever the reliable brother!¡± Patricia said excitedly. Norman groaned. Later that night, a well-suited visitor arrived. He was a minotaur with sunglasses and a black suit. His horns were adorned with several golden bands. ¡°Welcome back Master,¡± Patricia said as she and Norman bowed respectfully. ¡°Evening,¡± he said to the tenants. He looked at the impudent spirit behind them as he walked in. ¡°I¡¯m here for this week¡¯s haul.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like he visits for any other reasons,¡± Patricia thought to herself. The minotaur took the crate Norman had placed in the living room and returned to his vehicle. ¡°Do you think it would be enough?¡± Patricia whispered to Norman. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Norman whispered back. ¡°You know how lousy these things are.¡± Patricia placed her land on Norman¡¯s back. ¡°I¡¯m certain we have enough,¡± she said as she lowered her hand for a bit. ¡°Remind me again,¡± the minotaur said. ¡°That child, how long has she been with you guys?¡± ¡°Several years now, Master,¡± Norman said. The child humphed. ¡°Sadie hasn¡¯t caused us any trouble yet,¡± Patricia said. ¡°Good,¡± the minotaur said. ¡°You took your cut, right? It would do neither of us any good if you lack the energy to do your job.¡± ¡°Of course Master Hathor,¡± Patricia said eagerly. ¡°I try to make sure we¡¯re well fed. Especially since Normie would rather spend all day on the couch.¡± ¡°Patricia,¡± Norman said. ¡°You know how tiring these night shifts are?¡± ¡°Oh Normie, I know,¡± Patricia said with a giggle. ¡°There she goes again,¡± Sadie said. Her ethereal form turned away from Patricia. Hathor handed them a list of locations. ¡°My contacts gave me this. It should lead you to more ¡­bountiful places in Noir. Be sure to scope them out at your earliest convenience.¡± ¡°Will do!¡± Patricia said. The minotaur left with the crate. Patricia took a look at the list. ¡°Hmm, these do look interesting,¡± she said. ¡°What do you think, Normie?¡± ¡°Will you please leave me alone?¡± Norman said in a tired tone. ¡°I have to sleep.¡± He walked towards his bedroom. Sadie looked at the older man with concern in her eyes. ¡°Sleep tight!¡± Patricia said. ??? A few days later. Minerva took Nina, Clover, and Strelitzia to the Floreginum flower shop. After picking up a few seeds for Clara and Charlotte, they heard a cry for help. Clover rushed off to find the source. Strelitzia and the two arachne followed them. There they found a black-and-pink-haired woman lying on the ground. A porcine man loomed over her. The man, clad in a pastel green suit looked at the interlopers. ¡°Stay back, this isn¡¯t your concern.¡± The pastel suit contrasted with his tanned skin. The fallen women cried out. ¡°Help me! He¡¯s going to hurt me!¡± Her unkempt hair flowed to the back of her shoulder. A part of it was tied in a small tail to the upper right of her head. Strelitzia noticed something strange in the air. She looked at the green-suited man. ¡°Leave her alone!¡± Clover yelled to the man. ¡°What business do you have assaulting an innocent woman?¡± ¡°Innocent?¡± the man in the green suit said. His porcine ears jutted out of his hat in shock before he turned back to the woman who flashed a mischievous smile. ¡°Checkmate,¡± the woman whispered slyly. The porcine man growled before turning his back to the peryton fawn approaching him. ¡°Miss, this isn¡¯t what it looks like.¡± The wind began to swell as Clover glared at the man and brandished her fan. ¡°You have five seconds to leave, or else!¡± The man cursed internally as she saw how serious, and how dangerous, the young girl before him was. He accessed his options and decided that the best course of action was to flee. He leaped towards a nearby rooftop. ¡°You¡¯re making a mistake,¡± he yelled before leaving the vicinity. Clover smirked as she approached the woman. Her hooves and her fan propelled her to the fallen woman. ¡°Are you okay?¡± she asked. ¡°Thanks to you,¡± the woman said. ¡°Who knows what dastardly thing that man would¡¯ve done to me if you hadn¡¯t interfered?¡± Strelitzia sniffed the air and learned that the strange scene still lingered. ¡°That¡¯s strange?¡± ¡°Is something wrong?¡± Nina asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± the minotaur said. ¡°Something isn¡¯t right,¡± she thought. ¡°My name¡¯s Clover!¡± the fawn said to the woman. ¡°Clover Capriccio!¡± ¡°Name¡¯s Patricia,¡± the goth said in a perky voice. Her face turned into her usual mischievous grin. ¡°Say, could you lead me to this place?¡± She handed Clover a note. The deerlet girl read the slip of paper. ¡°I know that place, it¡¯s the Breakdancer Hall at Madison Avenue!¡± We¡¯ll take you there, right guys. Minerva and Nina noticed Strelitiza¡¯s apprehension at the request. ¡°We¡¯ll bring you there,¡± Minerva said. ¡°What?¡± Stretlizia said. ¡°Perfect!¡± Patricia said exuberantly. Along the way, Clover and Patricia had hit it off as they talked about various things. Much to the dismay of the minotauride who suddenly learned that Patricia is as prone to long-winded rambles as Clover. They eventually arrived at the Madison Breakdancer Hall. There they find several people wearing white pants, tied with a rope as they perform several dance moves tot he tune of drums. Many of them dance in pairs. The sound of drums filled the room as they capoeiristas practiced their moves in their rodas. ¡°I¡¯m here!¡± Patricia said. ¡°Ah,¡± the dark-skinned instructor said. ¡°Glad to see you, Patricia. What happened, you¡¯re usually not this late.¡± ¡°Oh, nothing,¡± Patricia said. ¡°Just a li¡¯l snag.¡± Clover and her group prepared to leave but Patricia approached the peryton fawn before she could. ¡°Maybe we can hang out later?¡± Patricia said. ¡°I¡¯d love to give you a more proper thanks for your help.¡± ¡°Sure!¡± Clover said enthusiastically. ¡°Clo,¡± Streltizia said. ¡°Are you sure that¡¯s a good idea?¡± She suspected that the source of the stench was Patricia. ¡°Of course I¡¯m sure! It¡¯ll be fun Stre!¡± Clover insisted. ¡°Yeah,¡± Patricia said. ¡°I have so much to show you!¡± Nina looked at the young woman and noticed that Patricia¡¯s appearance was slightly disheveled. Her clothing is torn, her hair is tangled, and her bracelets are missing some studs. ¡°Did that man rough you up?¡± Patricia was confused before she realized that the spiderling was referring to her appearance. ¡°Crap, I just had these wahsed!¡± she responded. After a few minutes, Patricia parted ways with the group. Streltizia couldn''t help but think about the stench, she found it familiar for some reason. ??? A while later, Norman and Patricia are inside a warehouse in the underground, alongside other students of Hathor. With them is Hathor and a woman beside him. The woman resembled an Arachne, but the characteristic abdomen was replaced by a long segmented stinger tail. ¡°I heard you visited another dojo already today Patricia,¡± the scorpion woman said. ¡°Oh don¡¯t worry Master Serket,¡± Patricia said. ¡°Those guys were chumps. They wouldn''t last long in a serious fight.¡± ¡°I would hope so,¡± Serket said. Another man spoke up. ¡°Remind me again, how did an Antarean and a minotaur get¡ª¡± Hathor interrupted the man. ¡°Training begins now!¡± Patricia already took the initiative and used a sweeping motion on the inquisitive man. Her foot hooked his heel and knocked him to the ground. She and her brother moved in a cyclic dance-like motion as they anticipated the actions of their opponents. ¡°Rule one,¡± Serket said. ¡°Never stop moving, A still target is a sitting duck.¡± Another of the students lunged at Norman. Norman leaned backward to dodge the jab and then pivoted towards a handstand. With his legs high into the air, he rotated his body and performed a kick at the opponent. The riposte hit the jaw of the man and forced him back. The other man noticed blood dripping from his cheek. A woman lunged towards Norman from the other side, using cartwheels to move towards him. Patricia countered with a headbutt to throw her off her course, then made a roundhouse kick. The other woman dodged by crouching and attempted a leg sweep, but Patricia jumped to avoid the attack and landed on her hands. Patricia then used her legs to grip the other woman and then threw her over her own body. The opponent collided with a merman to the light and knocked them both out. Hathor and Serket looked at the display with a sense of pride. ¡°They¡¯d been taught well Hathor,¡± Serket said. The minotaur smirked. ¡°Nothing but the best for our students. Now then, what about the deliveries?¡± ¡°Anubis handled the blood transportation,¡± Serket said. ¡°Thoth had acquired the organs for conversions into philosopher¡¯s stones. Nephthys already took care of the other items. By the way, Horus mentioned the Maahes is ready.¡± ¡°You cleared it with Sekhmet?¡± Hathor said. ¡°Of course,¡± Serket said with a smirk. ¡°She owed me a lot of favors.¡± The siblings had overcome most of their opponents by now. The only ones left were a dwarf and another student. They tried to attack Patricia, but the dwarf was ambushed by Norman maneuvering behind them and slapping their ears, and the other student was easily dispatched by a roundhouse kick from Patricia. With all of their adversaries defeated, Patricia clapped their hands together. ¡°Maybe you should be worried about that other school after all,¡± Patricia snarked. ¡°Seems like they are more evenly matched.¡± ¡°If necessary we¡¯ll know who to send,¡± Serket. ¡°Now then, we have something for you two.¡± She clapped her hands. A monster entered the room, heeding Serket¡¯s call. The beast resembled a lion, but its fur matched the hue of a clear blue sky, and its snout and jaw had features that resembled a Lynx. ¡°Leonis Azurius,¡± Hathor said. ¡°Better known as a Maahes lion.¡± ¡°Gee, wonder who came up with that name,¡± Patricia said while pinching Norman¡¯s cheek. ¡°We had gone to great lengths to import these lions from Jiang-hu,¡± Serket said. ¡°Many of us had lost our lives trying to bring these beasts to Libert¨¦. Many more had struggled to ensure they did not escape and bring unwarranted attention. I think you two can make excellent use of this creature.¡± ¡°You¡¯re saddling us with pet duty?¡± Norman said with a groan. ¡°Oh come on, Normie, It¡¯ll be fun,¡± Patricia said. ¡°This is no mere pet,¡± Hathor said. ¡°The Maahes is capable of limited shapeshifting. It can take forms that would be well suited to your tasks, and its fangs and claws are both sharp enough to rend flesh apart if necessary.¡± ¡°Fine,¡± Norman said. ¡°We have more than enough food anyway. Anything else Master Serket?¡± ¡°Glad to hear it,¡± the Antarean woman said. ¡°As for your question, Hathor gave you the list right?¡± ¡°Normie found several people with good roots,¡± Patricia said. ¡°I think they can make a great contribution to our cause.¡± ¡°Excellent,¡± Serket said. ¡°You know what to do then?¡± ¡°We go up to them and feed them homemade treats of course,¡± Patricia said. ¡°Those dumplings of yours were ¡­decent, Master Serket,¡± Norman said in ignorance of his sister¡¯s sarcasm. ¡°They need certain ¡­ingredients to produce, to remind,¡± The antarean woman said. ¡°¡­noted,¡± Norman said. He turned toward the exit. ¡°Come on Patty.¡± Patricia noticed that Norman had used a name she wanted him to use more often. ¡°Coming!¡± she said gleefully. The Maahes followed them out. The two siblings left the dojo. ¡°How¡¯s your visions?¡± Norman asked. ¡°Haven¡¯t been able to see anything past five seconds,¡± Patricia said. ¡°I think I need to eat some more.¡± Meanwhile, Hathor turned to Serket. ¡°Has Ra finished preparations?¡± Serket turned to the minotaur. ¡°He has. The Tombraiders will make a move near Joyfuller Island. I¡¯m sure the rest of the Syndicate will make good use of their treasures.¡± Hathor smirked. ¡°I¡¯ll check in on Thoth. We¡¯ll need those Philosopher¡¯s Stones if we are to bring these Alkahestists up to speed.¡± ¡°I¡¯m certain it will take more than that to keep up with these two,¡± Serket said. ¡°I wonder what enabled them to become cultivating prodigies?¡± ¡°That is a mystery, but a fortuitous one,¡± Hathor said. The two left the dojo, now empty of living souls. ??? Meanwhile, at the Black Box. Emily¡¯s Avatara, as well as Tim, Heathcliff, Elizabeth, Nina, Minerva, Atsuko, The Truces, the Coloraturas, the Hermnadezes, the Smiths, and Elisa were all gathered around a table. ¡°What¡¯s going on, mommy?¡± Nina asked. ¡°I brought something back with us from our trip to Noir,¡± Minerva said. She placed a small box on the table. Elizabeth opened it and saw a deck of eighty-eight cards. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. ¡°A [Stardeck]?¡± Elizabeth asked. Emily recalled the cicadian girl who visited the Black Box a while back. Carla also recalled her encounter with the Stardeck-wielding witch. ¡°Why this?¡± Charlotte asked. ¡°Are we getting fortunes?¡± Rose asked. ¡°That is what I bought the deck for,¡± Minerva said. ¡°I see,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°Would you mind if I perform the readings? We¡¯ll need to find out everyone¡¯s [Astral Cards] before doing any readings.¡± ¡°Be my guess, Lizzie,¡± Minerva said. Elizabeth puffed her cheeks, she still preferred the nickname to not be sued, least of all by anything except Emily. The magenta-haired fairy turned her eyes to the deck and touched it. Eighty-seven of the eighty-eight cards turned transparent leaving behind a cyan-backed card, marking it as belonging to the Stilbon deck. She removed the card from the stack and held it up. She saw a triangle with its bottom edge curved. And a cross intersecting it from the bottom of the curve and the three points. ¡°Sextans?¡± Elizabeth asked. ¡°It does make sense as I am meant to be a guide.¡± Nina giggled a bit, to Minerva¡¯s exasperation. Elizabeth shuffled the Sextans card back into the deck and lied it down. ¡°I think Emily should go next.¡± Emily touched the deck with her avatara¡¯s arm. As with before, all but one of the cards turned transparent. Elizabeth picked up the sole visible card and saw an incomplete circle, ending in a triangle in a way that made it resemble a stylized dog. The sigil and back of the card are green, the color of the Glaucus deck. Heathcliff looked over Elizabeth¡¯s shoulder and saw the card. ¡°Looks like you got Canis Major, cher.¡± ¡°You know the Stardeck¡¯s signs?¡± Emily asked. ¡°Oui,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°Been crossing paths with several seers and astrologians in my travels.¡± ¡°Then perhaps you wouldn¡¯t mind telling us your [Astral Card] then?¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°I got Scutum, of the Pyrosis deck,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°Tim got Aquilla.¡± ¡°Aquilla?¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°Yeah,¡± Tim said. ¡°They said to mark a destiny of nobility and righteousness.¡± ¡°Yeah, that fits Timmy alright,¡± Emily said. ¡°Knock it off,¡± Tim said. ¡°My sign is Corvus,¡± Esteban said. ¡°Same with Julia, we can confirm it if you want.¡± Elizabeth agreed to it and had Esteban touch the deck. The revealed card is indeed Corvus of the Mesonyx deck, as marked by its crow-leg-like sigil and purple background. Elizabeth placed the card on top of the deck and had Julia touch it. The cards beneath it had disappeared confirming it as well. ¡°I already know my sign,¡± Sarah said. ¡°A friend was big into Horoscopes, she said I got Fornax and Brother got Sculptor.¡± ¡°That would track with artisans such as yourselves,¡± Elizabeth said. Richard rolled his eyes. ¡°While the Stardeck¡¯s skills are formidable in battle, if you get the right card that is. I believe their divinatory uses are little more than malarky,¡± the blond dwarf said. ¡°Ah don¡¯t mind him,¡± Sarah said. ¡°He¡¯s just mad because our friend claimed he was doomed to lose all his money on gambling debts.¡± ¡°It is rather presumptuous to assume me the type of person to waste money on something as frivolous as that.¡± ¡°Can I go next?¡± Azalea said. ¡°I want to be an ace!¡± Raine groaned. ¡°Azalea that pun was awful!¡± ¡°Really,¡± Azalea said. ¡°I thought it was a royal flush.¡± ¡°I think it would be better to save you and the other Coloraturas for last,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°Aw,¡± Azalea said. ¡°Let¡¯s see,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°I got Sextans, Emily got Canus Major, Tim got Aquila, Heathcliff got Scutum. Both Esteban and Julia got Corvus¡­¡± She noticed that neither Minerva nor Nina haven¡¯t gotten their turns yet despite Minerva buying the deck. She offered the next spot to the Arachne mother and daughter. Minerva went first. Elizabeth confirmed that her card was the Ursa Major card of the Pyrois deck, claimed to be for protective mothers. Nina¡¯s was revealed to be Circinus of the Mesonyx deck. ¡°Circinus?¡± Nina said. ¡°Though many cards have various interpretations,¡± Julia said. ¡°This one is the most vague. For some, it is said to be directionless and being stuck in a rut, for others is instead an assurance that you will always return to where you¡¯re needed most.¡± ¡°So Sarah had Fronax, Richard had Sculptor, Nina had Circinus and Minerva had Ursa Major,¡± Elizabeth mused. ¡°How about you Atsuko?¡± ¡°Ooh,¡± the teal-haired nekomata said. ¡°Haven¡¯t had a reading in a while.¡± ¡°You already knew your astral card?¡± ¡°Noboru said it was Lynx,¡± Atsuko said as she touched the deck. Sure enough, Elizabeth saw a single card with the characteristic purple hue of the Mesonyx deck and saw the sigil of Lynx on its front. ¡°Um, Can I go next?¡± Elisa said. ¡°I hadn¡¯t had a reading done for me before.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a great idea!¡± Lily chimed in. ¡°Go ahead,¡± Elizabeth said as she shuffled the Stardeck. The porcine magical girl touched the deck and saw one card remained visible. Elizabeth took it and saw it was of the yellow Eosphoros deck. ¡°Corona Borealis?¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°Doesn¡¯t that usually denote fame and fortune?¡± Julia said. ¡°That¡¯s amazing, Elisa!¡± Lily squealed as if she was a porcine girl instead of a centaur. ¡°Elisa¡± herself is shocked. ¡°Is this because¡­¡± she thought about her true self and her long career as an actress. ¡°Who¡¯s left?¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°We did myself, Emily, Tim, the Lycosas, the Smiths, the Hermandezes¡ª Oh Carla and Charlotte, you haven¡¯t gotten yours yet!¡± ¡°Hm?¡± Carla said. ¡°So we haven¡¯t, very well.¡± The alraune mother and daughter had their Astral Cards revealed. Carla had the Pisces card of the Glaucus deck while Charlotte had the Phoenix card of the Pyrosis deck. The latter¡¯s fiery imagery had given the young girl pause as she saw it. Yet Charlotte saw that the presence of the Stardeck itself gave her peace. ??? ¡°Well that¡¯s everyone but the Coloraturas,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°Azalea you want to¡ª¡± ¡°Wait!¡± Euryale, Sthenno, and Kaitlyn barged in. ¡°We want to know our cards too!¡± ¡°Were you eavesdropping on us?¡± Emily said. ¡°Sorry, Emmy, Kaitlyn said. ¡°It was Euryale¡¯s idea,¡± Stenno said. ¡°Nuh-uh!¡± Euryale said. ¡°I heard you said you saw Minerva with that Stardeck!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s wait until after the Colroatura¡¯s are done first,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°They already waited long enough.¡± Elizabeth started with Azalea. She took a look at a purple card and showed it to the clionid mermaid. ¡°Your [Astral Card] is Delphinus.¡± ¡°Nice, I knew it would be a straight win!¡± Azalea said. Elizabeth then did Lily. She showed the centauride a red card. ¡°Aurgia,¡± she declared as Lily looked at the respective card. Rose came after her. Elizabeth saw an orange card, something that had never shown up this far, and looked at it. ¡°Rose,¡± she said to the lamia. ¡°It seems your card is Ophiuchus.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that a doctor?¡± Rose said quizzically. Elizabeth nodded as she beckoned Raine forward. Elizabeth saw another Orange card and flipped it up for the Phoenixian girl to see. ¡°Bootes, looks like.¡± ¡°The shepherd huh,¡± Raine said. ¡°I¡¯m not sure how well that fits.¡± Anemone stepped up, requesting to be next. Elizabeth obliged. The lone visible card was of the Mesonyx deck. ¡°You got Lupus.¡± ¡°Fascinating,¡± the lycanthope said. ¡°Thank you?¡± ¡°Wait,¡± Rose said. ¡°Is that right?¡± ¡°Something wrong?¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°It¡¯s just,¡± Rose said. ¡°My astral card wasn¡¯t the snake, Lily¡¯s wasn¡¯t the centaur and Raine wasn¡¯t the Phoenix, right? Why does Anemone have Lupus as her sign?¡± ¡°Rose,¡± Raine said. ¡°The cards weren¡¯t based on species.¡± ¡°If it did,¡± Azalea said. ¡°I would¡¯ve had one maid in my image.¡± ¡°You said the Stardeck was said to be created by Messengers, right?¡± Emily asked. ¡°Correct,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°As you recall, the cards were based on the night sky of the old world.¡± ¡°Can we move on already?¡± Euryale said impatiently. ¡°Patience, dear sister,¡± Sthenno said. Elizabeth returned to the deck. Hydrangea was next. ¡°Annemone and I knew a fair bit about the stardeck,¡± she said. ¡°If I remember right, my Astral card should be Andromeda.¡± She touched the deck and saw all but a blue card vanish. Elizabeth took the card and saw Hydrangea¡¯s recollection was correct. ¡°Isn¡¯t that card supposed to imply you¡¯re bound to something?¡± Evelyn said. ¡°That is correct,¡± Sarah said. ¡°Thought the specifics vary.¡± Strelitzia apprehended the table and calmly touched the deck. Elizabeth saw another Mesonyx card and showed it to the minotaur. ¡°You have Apus, huh?¡± ¡°Apus huh,¡± the orange-haired girl said. ¡°What does that mean.¡± ¡°It suits you well, Stre!¡± Clover said. ¡°It does match your name,¡± Anemone said. ¡°I¡¯d expected Taurus,¡± Rose said. ¡°But okay.¡± The last of the Coloraturas is Clover. The peryton fawn looked at the deck and touched it. All but one card had vanished as had been done with the previous Astral Card readings. The exception was colored yellow. Elizabeth picked up the card and saw a representation of scales. ¡°Libra, the balancing scales,¡± Elizabeth said to Clover. ¡°Those with this sign are said to hold justice to their heart.¡± ¡°That tracks,¡± Raine said. ¡°Heck yeah it does,¡± Rose said. ¡°As heroines of justice, we should be embodiments of that which is right!¡± Clover made a determined gaze at the card. ¡°She¡¯s right,¡± the fawn thought as she saw Elizabeth shuffle it back into the deck. The other cards became visible as the fairy placed them on the table. ??? ¡°The Coloraturas are done,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°Euryale will be next.¡± ¡°Finally!¡± Euryale said as she walked to the table. Both she and her sister Sthenno were revealed to have Serpens of the Phaenon deck as their Astral Cards. Evelyn was the next and last and the artist was revealed to have Pictor of the Eosphoros deck as hers. ¡°Guess we¡¯re all done,¡± Sarah said. The dwarf took her hammer. ¡°Now if you¡¯ll need me and Raine, we¡¯ll be working on creating a new hammer design. I think I can put that bismuth to good use there.¡± She left with her phoenixian apprentice in tow. ¡°I¡¯m gonna turn in early,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°Pauline wants to meet me early about that movie shooting thing.¡± Elisa winced upon hearing Heathcliff mention that. ¡°Is something wrong, Elisa?¡± Lily asked. ¡°Everything¡¯s fine,¡± Elisa said. The porcine girl continued to act the part of Elisa, a normal adventurer. ¡°I got to go. Scarlett¡¯s is probably here to pick me up by now.¡± She left the Black Box to wait for her mother. ¡°I¡¯m going to head back to Noir,¡± Julia said. ¡°Heard a friend of mine is looking into a cold case.¡± ¡°Come to think of it,¡± Minerva said. ¡°It is about time for your girls to rest.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Rose said before she saw the time. ¡°Wait, it¡¯s that late already?¡± ¡°Seems like it,¡± Tim said as he left to meditate. Emily¡¯s avatara receded into the floor while Richard went back to the Atelier to check on Sarah and Raine. As most of the children are preparing for bed. Clover and Strelitizia began chatting about their encounter with Patricia. While the fawn spoke highly about her, the minotauride still can¡¯t help but feel like there is something wrong with the woman. ??? Later that night, Julia arrived at Noir and at Club 4706. There she saw a Porcine man in a mint green suit partaking in the sake served in the club. ¡°Better be careful with that,¡± Julia said. ¡°The temperance laws are still in effect.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just one cup,¡± the man said. ¡°I know my limits.¡± Julia sat down next to the porcine man. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Raimundo.¡± The green-suited man turned and saw Julia. ¡°Haven¡¯t seen you since the Hapsburg fiasco. How¡¯s Esteban?¡± The two were old acquaintances. It was Raimundo who brought Julia to Wintersun all those years ago. ¡°Esteban is doing well,¡± Julia said. ¡°The rouges assigned us to help a Dungeon Core near Rosenkreuz.¡± ¡°That seems rather far,¡± Raimundo said. ¡°How do you get to Noir on such short notice.¡± ¡°I have my ways,¡± Julia said. The two talked about what had happened since they last met. ¡°I took up a cold case recently,¡± Raimundo said. ¡°I was hired to investigate the disappearance of three people.¡± ¡°Three people huh?¡± Raimundo is a private investigator. He made it his business to solve cases the Ebony Guards won¡¯t solve and help with those the Rouges cannot solve. ¡°So what is it this time, Rai?¡± Julia said. ¡°Fifteen years ago, a Yanese-Libert¨¦an child went missing,¡± Raimundo said. ¡°The investigation had questioned the neighbors about it, but they didn¡¯t see the girl. A week later, two other kids went missing. I was hired to look into the mystery.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Julia glanced around and noticed a figure in the room. They wore a black jacket, and their hooded face was covered in gauze. They wore sunglasses to conceal their eyes. Julia knew that the attire signified. ¡°People had some theories on what happened,¡± Raimundo said, the alcohol in the sake hindered his alertness. ¡°The sensible one assumes they just ran away from home, but others claimed they were taken by the Vanishers. The wildest one claimed they attempted to summon a demon and were taken by them.¡± ¡°A demon huh?¡± Julia said. She had recalled hearing about the Piper Pruflas from Carla and Emily, a normal bard possessed by a demon. She turned back to the figure in the strange garb. His posture was slumped over an empty table. Their shaded gaze seemed directed at nothing at all. Not the bartender, not the various dancers, not even Julia and Raimundo, or so it seemed. Julia sensed that despite appearances, the figure was watching them. ¡°We should talk elsewhere,¡± Julia said. ¡°Huh?¡± Raimundo said. ¡°You know this place attracts all kinds, Raimundo,¡± Julia said. Even in his drunken state, the Porcine detective understood what Julia implied. ¡°Noted. Let¡¯s go.¡± The two left the nightclub. On the way out, Julia looked back at the table where the figure slouched over and saw no one there. ??? A few moments later, Raimundo was sober. He led Julia to a nearby diner where they continued their talk. ¡°So do you know what those missing kids looked like?¡± Julia asked. ¡°I do,¡± Raimundo said. ¡°Two girls and a boy. The first one had blond hair tied in brunches and freckles on the bridge of her nose. The other two were a brother and sister, both with black hair and a slight pallor.¡± ¡°Wait, didn¡¯t you say the first one was Yanese?¡± Julia said. ¡°Her mother claimed that a hair-altering spell was used on her,¡± Raimundo said. ¡°Her natural hair color was black.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± Julia said. She heard a rustle outside the diner and glanced at the window. She could only see the effects of the wind blowing on the nearby trees. She turned back to the private eye. ¡°Go on?¡± ¡°As for the siblings, the brother is older by a couple of years. Their parents were landlords.¡± ¡°Landlords huh?¡± Julia said. ¡°While they lived as Elegere, they were actually Emperyans,¡± Raimundo said. ¡°With ownership of several properties on the surface. The missing siblings were likely being groomed to inherit some of these assets. The other one was instead an Elegeo.¡± ¡°Any names?¡± Julia said. ¡°Unfortunately the siblings¡¯ parents were unwilling to share their names. They are very private individuals and thought the physical description they volunteered would¡¯ve sufficed. They used a representative of their company as a proxy for them in the investigation. The other child did have a name provided. Sadako Morgana.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Julia said. ¡°Did you find any leads?¡± ¡°I had one,¡± Raimundo said. ¡°I encountered a woman that resembled one of the missing children and tried to approach her, but¡­¡± ¡°But,¡± Julia said. ¡°There was an altercation,¡± Raimundo said. ¡°She had lured me into an alleyway and attacked me. Her attacks matched the techniques of a caporiragem. ¡°But that was outlawed,¡± Julia said. ¡°So was alcohol and there we were,¡± Raimundo said. ¡°I managed to subdue her, but when I tried to take her in for questioning, some interlopers butted in.¡± ¡°Interlopers?¡± Julia said. ¡°Fools,¡± Raimundo said. ¡°She accused me of attempting untoward deeds towards her. I didn¡¯t want to escalate things, so I bailed.¡± ¡°Do you think she was one of the missing children?¡± ¡°A lot could happen in fifteen years Julia,¡± Raimundo said. ¡°Whoever she was, it is clear to me that she is dangerous.¡± ¡°How so?¡± Julia said. ¡°Use of forbidden fighting techniques aside,¡± Raimundo said. ¡°There are rumors about this part of Noir. Recently, more people were vanishing without a trace. Others thought it was connected to those Project Stronghold rumors, but many of them seemed too concentrated to relate to that mess.¡± ¡°How so?¡± Julia asked. Before the porcine private investigator could answer. They heard a bang outside followed by one of the employees running through a door. ¡°Run!¡± the waiter screamed. ¡°The Tombraiders are here!¡± ¡°Tombraiders?¡± Julia said. She recalled the strange figure from the nightclub. Her suspicions confirmed she went outside to confront them. Raimundo followed her. ??? Julia and Raimundo went to the source of the noise, there they saw only a lone man unconscious on the ground. ¡°Are they gone?¡± Raimundo asked. Julia suspected something was off. She carefully approached the unconscious man. A sense of dread warmed over her as she inched closer to the man. As she began to place her hand on the unconscious body, he suddenly sprang up and attempted to ponce on Julia. Julia dodged the attack and saw the ¡°victim¡± transformed into a blue-furred lion. ¡°A Maahes?¡± Julia said as she whipped out her dagger and summoned her guardian. Her shadow rose from the ground and grappled with the beast. While Julia fights the Maahes, Raimundo saw two figures approach the dark corner of the alleyway. Both were clad in black jackets and grey gauze, both wore sunglasses to conceal their eyes. Raimundo started moving his legs in a triangular pattern. The two adversaries mirrored his movements. Raimundo is disgusted by their act. ¡°Vile fiends,¡± the detective said. ¡°If there no end to your defilement?¡± The taller of the pair scoffed as he lunged towards Raimundo. The green-suited man leaned backward and placed his hands on the ground behind him. He then uses the momentum to lift both legs to kick the opponent. Now upside down, he followed suit with a spinning kick and knocked the elder back before returning to an upright stance. The other danced forward toward him and tried a flurry of chops. Raimundo ducked and dodged through several moves and attempted to use his feet to sweep the assailant off hers. She, in turn, countered by leaping to her left and keeping her knee close to her chest, she then transitioned into a sweep, but Raimundo blocked it with his knee. The other Tomeraider used the distraction to ambush Raimundo. Julia and her shadow continued to fight the Maahes. Her guardian intercepted the claws of the beast while she used her dagger to strike at its back. The attack missed and the lion maneuvered behind Julia and towards Raimundo. Raimundo is now surrounded, the porcine man continues his ginga steps while dodging attacks from the two assailants and the Maahes. ¡°Now bad,¡± the female Tomeraider said. ¡°But not good enough. She rushed forward and threw a punch that Raimundo dodged. The male one attempted an upside-down kick, but Raimundo assumed a position similar to a horse stance and parried the kick with his arms. The Maahes leaped at Raimundo and pinned him to the ground, but the private investigator repulsed it using his legs and followed it up with a throw. Julia regrouped with Raimundo. Her shadow covered the pair. ¡°These guys are getting on my nerves,¡± Raimundo said. ¡°Mine too,¡± Julia said. ¡°They shouldn''t be able to land a hit on us for now.¡± The orb of darkness prevented the assailants and their ¡°pet¡± from seeing the two. Any strikes they land missed and hit thin air. The female assailant had an idea and closed her eyes. A few seconds later, she dodged a strike from Raimundo, positioned herself into a handstand, and retaliated by kicking the detective with both legs. Raimundo was knocked away from Julia¡¯s shadow and slammed his body into the way. Julia tried to help her friend, but the Maahes got between her and Raimundo. The Tomeraider assailants approached Julia, but as they prepared their attack. Julia noticed a student¡¯s presence. She rushed forward and threw the male assailant over her. The female Tombraider was both shocked and angered by this act. She danced toward Julia, but an invisible force blocked her attack. Before she knew it, she was knocked back by an attack as Esteban revealed himself. ¡°Perfect timing,¡± Julia said to her husband. ¡°This was getting down to the wire here.¡± The male assailant stood up and danced his ward to his partner. Esteban and Julia worked together to protect the unconscious Raimundo and fight off the assailants and their Maahes. Eventually, Julia slashed at the female one with her knife. The assailant dodged the attack, but the blade still made contact with the grey gauze that wrapped her face and sliced through it. Parts of the gauze fell to the ground and revealed her right eye and mouth. Raimundo soon woke up and got a glimpse of the girl¡¯s revealed face, showing a pink eye, pale skin, and pick and black bangs. The woman tried to cover her face, but it was too late Raimundo had recognized her. The sound of sirens in the distance alerted the brawlers to the imminent presence of the Ebony Guards. They all knew that if they ling here longer then they would be taken in for questioning, and that of the two parties here, the Tombkeeper assailants would be the one punished. The hooded figures and the Maahes quickly left the alleyway. Esteban and Julia helped Raimundo up. ¡°It¡¯s been a while old chum,¡± Raimundo said. ¡°Save your strength,¡± Esteban said as he prepared his cloaking magic. The three turned invisible before the Guards arrived. One of the Ebony Guards, an elven man, took a flashlight and swept the alley with it, but found no one there. ¡°Must¡¯ve left already,¡± the elf said. ¡°Or it was just a prank call,¡± a lamia woman said beside him. ¡°Damn pranksters.¡± The two adventurers returned to their vehicle and drove off. Leaving a concealed Esteban, Julia, and Raimundo to move away from the alley. By the time the cloaking spell wore off, they were already close to the Black Box¡¯s extension. ??? The Hermandezes and Raimundo arrived at the Black Box, entering through the extension in Noir. Emily¡¯s consciousness was roused by their presence and she turned her gazed onto the three. ¡°Esteban?¡± her groggy voice echoed to the Rouges. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Good question,¡± Esteban said as he turned to his friend and wife. ¡°Right you weren¡¯t there when I explained to Julia,¡± Raimundo said. ¡°First an introduction,¡± the porcine man introduced himself to Emily and then explained to her that he was investigating a cold case. ¡°¡­as for that night¡¯s events,¡± he continued. ¡°We were ambushed by the Tombraiders.¡± ¡°Tombraiders,¡± Emily said. She had heard a bit about them through her talks with Esteban and the Rouges. ¡°Why were they after you?¡± ¡°If I had to hazard a guess,¡± Raimundo said. He recalled his glimpse of the shorter one and the uncanny resemblance to the woman that he encountered earlier. ¡°I think the missing children were entangled with the Syndicate.¡± ¡°Two girls and a boy went missing fifteen years ago?¡± Esteban said. ¡°Right, friend,¡± Raimundo said. ¡°One of them resembled the woman enough that warrant suspicion, but¡ª¡± ¡°You were unable to confirm it, right?¡± Julia said. ¡°But if it is true,¡± Raimundo said. ¡°Then they would¡¯ve seen me as a threat to be eliminated.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Emily said. ¡°Would you like to stay here for the night?¡± ¡°Are you sure that is wise?¡± Raimundo said. ¡°If they know I¡¯m here they might try to come after you as well?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure,¡± Emily said. ¡°At the very least wait until your wounds heal.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Raimundo said. ¡°I don¡¯t think there is much that could be done tonight anyway. Esteban and Julia led Raimundo to a bedroom that Emily conjured within herself. There he stayed the night. ??? Meanwhile, Norman and Patricia walked through a corridor in their apartment. All the doors were locked and barricaded. Each barricade had a note with the name of certain metals on the,. ¡°Ugh that was an awful night,¡± Patricia said as they went into their apartment, the only one without a barricade. There they saw the specter of Sadie lying down on the floor. ¡°Welcome home,¡± she said with a tone that matched Norman¡¯s. She knew they had been out doing tasks she preferred they didn¡¯t do. ¡°Been up to anything, twerp?¡± Patricia said. ¡°And what do you think I could¡¯ve done in my current state?¡± the ghostly child said. Norman simply walked to his bedroom. Patricia turned on the radio for some music. Sadie followed Norman. ¡°She has him wrapped around her finger,¡± Sadie thought. As the two walked across the apartment, Norman began to see memories of past times. Memories of things gone tragically wrong. He entered his room and told Sadie not to walk in as he prepared for a night¡¯s rest. ??? The next morning, Raimundo talked with the Hermandezes about what to do next when the porcine detective saw several statues emerge in the nearby tubes. The statues were of various people, including a fairy, an adult man, a teenage boy, and eight young girls. The porcine private eye was surprised to see the statues turn into living beings. Esteban told them that they were Emily¡¯s Fairy, Master, and some of her Sentinels. Clover was the first to wake up after arriving at the extension, and the first thing she saw was the porcine mand they had encountered earlier. She immediately let out a scream upon seeing that. ¡°Clover, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoed out to the fawn. ¡°What is that creep doing here?¡± Clover asked. ¡°Creep?¡± Raimundo said he took a long look at the girl as she ran to brandish her fan. ¡°Now I get it,¡± Julia said. Raimundo realized that she, and the minotaur, were from the group that the woman asked her for help. ¡°Seems like there is some ¡®splaining to do,¡± Heathcliff said after walking up. Emily and Julia calmed Clover down as Raimundo explained things again. A while later. ¡°You were looking for three kids that went missing fifteen years ago?¡± Rose asked. ¡°Yes,¡± the private investigator said. ¡°I apologize for my conduct back then, but I had reason to believe that the woman you aided was one of those three, and more pressingly, that she had become embroiled with the Tombraiders.¡± ¡°Liar,¡± Clover said. ¡°What makes you think Patty would join the Syndicate?¡± Unlike her friend, Stretlizia was more convinced by Raimundo¡¯s explanation. ¡°Do you even know her?¡± Raine said. ¡°You said you only met each other for a day.¡± ¡°This is just like what happened with the Edelweiss fiasco,¡± Rose lamented. ¡°That had nothing to do with that!¡± Clover said. ¡°I was certain that they attacked that innocent man.¡± ¡°Clover,¡± Tim said. ¡°Has it ever occurred to you that maybe all is not as it seemed?¡± The peryton fawn turned to Tim. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°There are two sides to every story,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°Right now we don¡¯t have the full details.¡± Hydrangea took a look at the Procine man. ¡°Besides there is the matter of the Tombraider attack on his life. Don¡¯t you think it is worth investigating why they would go out of their way to fight a private investigator?¡± ¡°Maybe he stumbled onto their operations somehow Clover said?¡± ¡°And how would investigating a cold case lead to that?¡± Raimundo asked. Clover thought about the matter. She noticed there were some questions about the woman. But she still couldn''t think Patricia was evil. ¡°I think his story checks out,¡± Streltiiza said. ¡°Stre?¡± Clover said. ¡°When we took her to that place, there was something about her I couldn''t shake,¡± the minotauride said. ¡°An aura that just didn¡¯t sit right with me. It has been nagging at me ever since. I do think it¡¯s possible she did get involved with them.¡± Clover understood her friend well. Ever since they escaped together, they had been inseparable ever since. She knew Streltizia was not the type to lie to her. Even if she couldn''t trust anyone else on Titania she was certain she could trust her. The fawn turned to Raimundo. ¡°We¡¯ll help you?¡± ¡°You will?¡± Raimundo said. ¡°They will?¡± Emily said confusingly. ¡°I want to learn more about that cold case. See for myself what is going on with Patty and the Tombraiders. I want to make sure that the people in Noir sleep soundly at night, free of the terror that lurks in the shadow and the machinations of the mob. I want a world where no child should ever be separated from their parents. If that means helping you solve the mystery of those missing children, so be it.¡± ¡°Well, that settles it then!¡± Rose said. ¡°You sir have the aid of the Coloraturas. The eightfold defenders of peace. The banishers of wickedness!¡± ¡°That¡¯s Rose and Clover for you,¡± Raine said exasperatedly. ¡°I¡¯ve seen glaciers colder than that case,¡± Azalea said. ¡°That mystery will be solved with a snap!¡± ¡°But do you girls have any idea where to start?¡± Raimundo asked. After a few moments of silence, none of the eight Magical Girls could provide a satisfactory response. Strelitzia, Lily, Anemone, and Hydrangea gave their own responses and affirmed the group of eight magical girls are willing to assist Raimundo. Emily then manifested her avatara. ¡°I might have an idea,¡± the dungeon core said as she took a good long look at Raimundo. ¡°Are you planning to use {Shapeshfting}?¡± Elizabeth asked. The form of Emily¡¯s avatara begins to change into that of a porcine man in a pastel green suit. ¡°What do you think?¡± she said. Raimundo looked over Emily¡¯s new form with his eyes, seeing any sign of deviation from his own appearance. ¡°That¡¯s your gambit, huh?¡± ¡°You sure that is what you want to do?¡± Tim said. ¡°There has been no indication that the Tombraiders were capable of claiming Cores like the Baron Roberts,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°and yet...¡± ¡°They are still part of the Syndicate,¡± Esteban said. ¡°If they are connected to Project Stronghold¡­¡± ¡°Guess that means we¡¯ll have to be on our toes,¡± Emily said. ¡°Right then,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°Esteban do you think you can get a list of scenes of abductions.¡± ¡°Si,¡± Esteban responded. ¡°Julia and I can handle that.¡± ¡°Club 4706 seems like a good place to start,¡± Julia said. ¡°In the meantime,¡± Emily said after returning to her normal form. ¡°Clover, Strelitzia, can you help me find this ¡®Patricia¡¯ person?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Clover said. Her eyes showed a determined glare. ¡°We can start with the Breakdancer Hall.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll head to the library then,¡± Hydrangea said. ¡°The library?¡± Rose said. ¡°I¡¯m certain the records of what occurred the day they went missing would offer some useful clues,¡± Hydrangea said. ¡°Rose, Lily, Anemone maybe you can help me.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a great idea!¡± Lily said. ¡°I¡¯m certain that it can help us gleam the context at least,¡± Anemone said. ¡°I¡¯ll go too,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°A [Maahes] being involved means that I¡¯ll need to learn how that beast operates.¡± Rose was less than enthused. ¡°Guess that leaves me and Azalea,¡± Raine said. ¡°Actually,¡± Tim said. ¡°If the Tombraiders are involved then Heathcliff and I might have some ideas for leads. We could use your help there.¡± ¡°Actually,¡± Azalea said. ¡°Can I go with Emily¡¯s group?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Emily said. ¡°But why?¡± ¡°I just get the feeling that I can get a kick out of seeing what goes on at Breakdancer Hall,¡± Azalea said with a giggle. Raine sighed, knowing that Azalea had made yet another pun. With that settled there are now several groups. Emily, Clover, Streltizia, Azalea, and Raimundo will head to the Madison Breakdancer Hall. Esteban and Julia will head to the nightclub to search for clues. Hydrangea, Lily, Rose, Anemone, and Elizabeth will look at the historical record of the year the cold case began and Raine will go with Tim and Heathcliff to pursue their own leads. With this, the four groups set off for their respective tasks. ??? Emily¡¯s group arrived at the Breakdancer Hall in Madison. The sound of drums is heard as Emily, Clover, Streltizia, Azalea, and Raimundo see the people engaged in dances. The movements of the capoeiristas move in nigh ritualistic motions, each trying to upstage their partner. Clover and Streltizia remembered the place from the other day, but they hadn¡¯t lingered there long enough to understand what was going on there, and who to ask about Patricia. ¡°Leave it to me,¡± Raimundo said. He saw the bamba overlooking the class and the musicians. Raimundo navigated around the dancers. ¡°Welcome, friend,¡± the master said. ¡°What brings you here today?¡± ¡°Raimundo Silva Peres,¡± the porcine man said as he flashed his business card. ¡°I want to ask about a woman that was here recently.¡± He then described the woman in question. ¡°Interesting,¡± the other person said. They took out a berimbau. ¡°My memory is a little hazy, perhaps you could jog it with a little dance?¡± One of the students stepped up to challenge the detective. Raimundo expected as much and obliged the master and his challenger. ¡°What is going on?¡± Azalea said. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Clover said. ¡°Looks like they¡¯re testing him,¡± Streltizia said. ¡°I¡¯ve heard about this from Jacqueline once. The dojos have to conceal themselves to avoid the scrutiny of the Ebony Guards.¡± ¡°Because they outlawed the practice?¡± Emily asked. ¡°Yeah,¡± the minotauride said. Raimundo and his opponent entered a roda. ¡°Manuel, Raimundo,¡± the bamba said as they began playing a tune with the berimbau. ¡°Begin!¡±. Manuel took the first move, striking with an attempted high kick. Raimundo evaded by falling backward and landing on his hands. He moved backward and resumed an upright stance before trying to chop the opponent. Manuel parried Raimundo¡¯s attack and landed a chop on Raimundo. Raimundo then ducked the subsequent punch and performed a leg sweep to topple Manuel. Then performed a handstand while positioning his legs into an L. The Bamba was impressed. They helped Manuel up and congratulated Raimundo. ¡°I¡¯ve seen enough, thank you for your performance.¡± ¡°Thank you, sir,¡± Raimundo said. ¡°About that woman,¡± the master said. ¡°I recalled she had wounded several of my students in her rodas that day¡­¡± They led Raimudo and his group to the affected students. Each of them gave their own testimonies, but they didn¡¯t know where she came from or where she learned her techniques. ¡°Maybe it was a different woman?¡± Clover said, hopeful that it wasn¡¯t Patricia. ¡°Black and pink hair with a gothic outfit?¡± one of the students said. ¡°There was only one girl like that in the past month.¡± Emily turned to the Bamba. ¡°Do you guys know where she went next?¡± Another of the students said, ¡°I saw her go that way after she left here.¡± He pointed in the direction of a shopping center. ¡°Thank you,¡± Emily said. The group headed toward the shopping center to look for leads on Patricia. ??? Later at the shopping center. Emily and her group asked around for Patricia. ¡°She gave off an eerie vibe, to be honest,¡± one store clerk said to Emily. ¡°I recall a girl like that,¡± another clerk said to Clover. ¡°She didn¡¯t talk much.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t pay attention to the customers,¡± another clerk said to Strelitzia. ¡°They get in, buy stuff, and get out. Speaking of which¡­¡± The clerk then had the young minotauride escorted from his storefront. Azalea was likely kicked out after a failed attempt at a stand-up routine got on the clerk¡¯s nerves. Raimundo likewise had little luck. Many of the clerks were distrustful of the porcine man. They soon converge at a restaurant, a family diner that specialized in salad bowls and seafood. Strelitzia was the first to order food there. A plate of several vegetables appears in front of her. ¡°Well that was a bust,¡± Clover said. ¡°Seems like we put the cart before the horse,¡± Azalea said. While Stretlizia finished her all-vegetable meal, the others ordered some lunch as well. After they finished their meals. Strelitzia and Clover went to the restroom. As they headed towards the sink, alone in the lavatory. They began to talk a bit. ¡°You said you had a strange feeling from Patricia, right?¡± Clover said. ¡°Yes,¡± Streltrizia said. ¡°Something about her didn¡¯t sit right with me.¡± Water flowed from the faucet as Strelitzia washed her hands. She lathered the soap as she said. ¡°It was like I¡­no never mind.¡± Clover understood her friend. ¡°Was it your parents?¡± Strelitzia turned the faucet and took out some paper towers. They both knew about what had happened with the minotaur¡¯s parents, for they were there when it happened. That was the night they had escaped the Labrynthia Minoa. Strelitzia flashed back to time when fellow minotaurs surrounded her. A place black and dark orange in color, decorated by marble statues. She saw memories of people being paraded around to a room she was forbidden to enter. Memories of other minotaurs eating meals that exuded strange scents. Her reminisce ended with lament, as she recalled picking up a bloodied labrys before escaping with Clover. Clover in turn recalled memories of being captured and placed in a cell, with Streltizia sneaking out to talk to her. As the fawn washed her hands she recalled her many talks with her best friend. ¡°Do you think that things would have ended differently, back then?¡± Clover said. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Streltizia said with a sigh. She didn¡¯t know why her parents were the way they were. Why did they have to impede her and Clover¡¯s escape? Why they haven¡¯t respected their wishes? Above all, why did they eat the flesh of¡­ Her lamenting train of thought was interrupted. She suddenly heard a loud growl. That of a predator stalking her prey. ¡°Clover,¡± Streltizia said. ¡°Stay calm.¡± Azalea opened the door. ¡°Are you two done, we¡¯re getting ready to¡ª¡± Strelitzia tacked Clover as a blue creature lunged forward. She punched the mermaid just enough for the beast to miss. The three Coloraturas sighted a blueish blob transforming into a more leonic form. The natural form of a Maahes. ??? Meanwhile, Esteban and Julia had just left Club 4706. Raoul approached them. ¡°So you are helping with a cold case huh?¡± the talbard-wearing man said. ¡°An old friend wanted help,¡± Esteban said. ¡°I see,¡± Raoul said. ¡°Mr. Sorpano and Rebecca had come across something that might help.¡± Raoul handed them a slip of paper. ¡°It turns out that people near certain apartments are dispersing en masse.¡± Esteban and Julia read the paper. It tells of a string of missed person reports near apartment complexes. As well as sightings of people near the more dilapidated buildings. Many of them were in the Underground, but there were a few on the surface as well. ¡°Interesting,¡± Julia said. ¡°Housing is at a premium up on the surface. In no small part due to investors buying the deeds and doing nothing with them.¡± ¡°Aye,¡± Raoul said. ¡°Those on the surface, that weren¡¯t converted into other establishments were instead left to rot, while the Ebony Guards scoured the place for trespassers and squatters. If these were actually being used, I doubt it is for housing.¡± ¡°That the apartment in the underground is among these indicates something suspicious is happening,¡± Esteban said. ¡°That is true,¡± Raoul said. ¡°There is no value to landlords in the Underground, that is why the city uses it to house the Exsecratii.¡± The Hermnadezes thanked Raoul and set off to examine the apartments on the list. ??? At the same time, Elizabeth, Hydrangea, Anemone, Lily, and Rose are at a library. They surveyed various newspapers and other records about the year those three kids went missing. As well as various material related to the incident. Elizabeth began reading a book about the Maahes and its abilities. ¡°Palimpsest Boulevard,¡± Hydrangea read one of the newspapers. ¡°Tertimber 20th. Child vanished under mysterious circumstances.¡± The front page displayed an image of a box with a transparent side. Rose looked at the image curiously. ¡°What is this?¡± Elizabeth looked at it. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°I found something!¡± Lily said. The centaur held up another newspaper, dated before the one Hydrangea read. The headline reads ¡°Experimental manameter to be moved to Palimpsest.¡± The image shows a device similar to that seen in the other paper. ¡°A [Manameter]?¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°So they were using it to gauche the mana levels of items then?¡± Anemone asked. ¡°It seemed too large for use with simple items,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°Was it intended for use with armor?¡± ¡°Maybe it was used for people?¡± Rose said. ¡°That seems plausible, but,¡± Anemone said. They read through the papers and discovered that the articles had details on their specifications. ¡°Vacuum spells to used to seal Manameter, placing live animals or people inside prohibited, dyspnea and asphyxia will ensue.¡± Elizabeth mused on the device. ¡°I wonder what such a device was doing in a normal apartment?¡± She took a pen and paper and began writing down several details. Hydrangea helped with the notes. Rose meanwhile sighed heavily. Her distaste for libraries was well-noticed among the rest of the Coloraturas. The lamia child slithered around the table looking for something to stave off her boredom until she stumbled upon a third newspaper. An issue of The Bugleblitz. A name that felt like something Azlaea would come up with after hearing one too many cacophonies of brass instruments. The headline of the paper reads ¡°Siblings reported missing in Palimpsest apartment.¡± ¡°Look at this,¡± Rose said upon showing them the Bugleblitz issue. The date is exactly one week after that of the first issue they checked, Tertimber 27th. The article detailed that an Empyrean brother and sister were reported missing the night before and that the parents offered a large bounty for those who found them and returned them safely. Anemone then found another issue of The Bugleblitz with a headline reading in big bold letters ¡°REAL ESTATE MOGULS FOUND DEAD IN THEIR HOMES¡±. The group of five looked closer and found a reference linking the deceased to the missing siblings. ¡°That family seemed cursed,¡± Lily said. Elizabeth read the article and found out that they were living in a different apartment than the ones where their children were last seen. The issue also held another article. Elizabeth turned toward it and was shocked to see a photograph depicting a box resembling the manameter, and someone inside of it. The accompanying article said that eyewitness accounts claimed that someone accidentally got trapped in the manameter and perished inside and that attempts to investigate it and verify the rumors were stymied by the sudden disappearance of the manameter. Reading through various newspapers, they learned that the photographer was killed and that a strip of gauze was found at the crime scene. A tabloid article claiming that ¡°mummies¡± prowled the streets to drag people into the Underground and an advertisement for breath mints juxtaposed with complaints of apartments with foul odors around the same time. After perusing the material, Elizabeth had finished her notes. ¡°Well, I think we learned all we could about the incident.¡± She said. ¡°Still,¡± Hydrangea said. ¡°This opened more questionable than answers.¡± The group left the library and headed towards Madison to regroup with Emily¡¯s group. ??? At the same time, Raine, Tim, and Heathcliff are at one of the Rouge¡¯s guildhalls. Heathcliff asked the guildhalls for rumors on Tombraider activity. ¡°Tombraiders huh?¡± the receptionist said. ¡°That is quite a broad net you¡¯re casting with.¡± ¡°I figured, cher,¡± Heathcliff said. The receptionist hands the three a paper with rumors of ¡°mummies¡± written on them. They looked over the ones pertaining to the district of Madison. ¡°Let¡¯s see,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°An assault on a group of bards after a concert. Suspected theft of the ¡®Codex Altair¡¯ from the Met. Loitering near Halcyon¡¯s Aqueduct.¡± He came across something peculiar and read it. ¡°Sighted escorting several individuals, attempted to intercept them failed. Later intercepted by the Ebony Guards, but slipped passed them. Blackmint Way. House 453.¡± ¡°Blackmint Way?¡± Tim said. ¡°Isn¡¯t that close to an abandoned condominium?¡± Raine asked. ¡°Actually,¡± Tim said. ¡°There was news about it being taken under private ownership recently.¡± Heathcliff rubbed his chin. ¡°It seems like something worth checking out. Let¡¯s come see to the others first.¡± ¡°Hold on,¡± Tim said. ¡°There is something I want to check first.¡± Tim took the list and skimmed through it. He found several similar sightings on Firestorm Way, Silvermist Road, and Palimpsest Boulevard. He then wrote a list of those and other similar sightings. ¡°There.¡± ¡°Any reason why you wrote those down?¡± Raine said. ¡°Just in case Blackmint¡¯s a dead end,¡± Tim said. ¡°Heathcliff tends to jump in unprepared.¡± He returned the original list to the receptionist. ¡°S''il te pla?t, cher,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°I¡¯ve never jumped into an adventure with any less than I needed.¡± Tim rolled his eyes. The three left the guild hall and and headed for Madison as that is the closet to Blackmint and where Emily¡¯s group is. ??? Meanwhile, Clover, Streltizia, and Azalea are fighting a Mahees in the restroom of the restaurant. ¡°Halcyon¡¯s Rhapsody!¡± Azalea shouted out. She channeled water from the running faucets into a chain-like form that wrapped over the legs¡¯ of the beast. Clover used her fan to try to channel cool air to freeze them. ¡°It would be easier if Hydrangea¡¯s here!¡± Clover said. Before the chains could freeze, the blue lion changed its form into that of Streltizia¡¯s. The real one, incensed, plunged forward and slashed at her doppelganger with her labrys. The Maahes dodged her swings and counted with a slash from its unmorphed claws. The minotaur¡¯s armor protected her from the claws, but the attack still severed the axe from Streltizia¡¯s grasp and sent it in front of a stall. Clover rushed to Streltizia and used her wand to call forth a gale strong enough to forbid the Maahess from approaching them. ¡°Stre, lend me your strength!¡± she said. Strelitzia knew what Clover was planning and drew her wand. ¡°Giocosto¡­¡± she began as she crossed her wand with Clovers. ¡°¡­Sandstorm!¡± Clover finished the spell as their magical foci glowed in orange and green light. Sand began to form in the restroom and coalesce into a cyclone circling the Maahess and buffeting it. ¡°Don¡¯t leave me out of the fun!¡± Azalea said as she took her knife. ¡°Mudslide Ostinato!¡± she shouted as she threw her knife into the sandstorm. The sand began to turn to a mud-like quicksand and bury the Maahes. It attempted to shapeshift, but the fluid sand simply flowed to trap it further. Clover used her fan to summon a gust of air to dry the quicksand enough to trap it. Strelitzia retried her ax as she ran out of the lavatory. The three girls then escaped the restroom while the predator tried to break out of its sandy fetters. Emily and Raimundo saw the children running from the ladies¡¯ restroom. ¡°What happened?¡± the avatara said. ¡°Ma¡ª Maa¡ª¡° Clover attempted to tell her what they encountered in eh restroom. ¡°There¡¯s a Maahes in the restroom!¡± Streltizia yelled. Nearby diners spat out their drink upon hearing what the minotaur uttered. They asked for a check in a frightened manner. The Maahes used their abilities to change into an avian form unbound by the quicksand and flew into the restaurant dining room. Several diners and employees fled the establishment as Emily and the three Coloraturas prepared to fight off the monster. The manager of the restaurant joined the fight, using a mop to attack the shapeshifter. ¡°Back you foul beast! Back I say!¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± Azalea said. ¡°Back you fowl beast!¡± she used water spells to encumber the Maahes, but it changed its for to mirror the clionids¡¯ and deft swam across the tables, retailing with its won water magic. Emily used her swords to deflect the dense water that flew toward her. Strelitzia charged the Maahes and used her labrys to leave a wound on the beast. The disguised Maahes recoiled in pain and shifted to its normal leonid form. Emily¡¯s swords glowed green as she enchanted them with wind magic. She and Clover then summoned a gust that blew the Maahes out of the building alongside several trays and plates. The Maahess began to charge until¡­ ¡°Presto Electro!¡± Rose zipped to the side of the Maahes and struck it with a heavy bolt of lightning. The beast collapsed onto the ground. Elizabeth, Hydrangea, Lily, and Anemone came towards Emily and her group. The Maahes tried to stand up, but before it could, it sensed another attack coming its way. It shapeshifted into a slime-like form right as Tim impaled it from above with his Qiang. As Tim made the blow, the spear cut off a path of fur and skin loosened by the wound Streltizia left on it. The beast used this slime form to escape, knowing it was now outmatched. Tim swiped his Qiang at the air in front. Raine flew towards the group and Heathcliff rushed toward the others. ¡°Are you alright, cher?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Emily said. They looked at the direction the Maahes fled. Anemone saw the patch of flesh left on the ground and picked it up. The blue fur felt coarse to her fingertips. ¡°We lost it,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°Lovely.¡± He let out a sigh. ¡°We have gathered some information,¡± Tim said. ¡°How about you?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve learned all I need to know about fighting the [Maahes] now,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°We also looked into the day those kids went missing,¡± Hydrangea said. ¡°We came up with zilch,¡± Azalea said. ¡°Just a Maahes attack.¡± ¡°Actually,¡± Anemone said as she presented the patch of fur. ¡°I think I can use this to track the monster.¡± During the discussion. Emily saw the restaurant manager and employees look over the destruction wreaked by the battle in a mix of shock and shame. ¡°Can you give me a minute?¡± she said. She went to talk with the manager. ¡°We¡¯re sorry about what happened.¡± ¡°It happens,¡± the manager said. ¡°Monsters thinking they could just waltz in here and terrorize the patrons.¡± Emily offered to help clean up the restaurant, to Rose¡¯s dismay. The rest of the group also agreed to lend a hand to her efforts. Chapter XXXVIIS: The Sarcophagus at Palimpsest The night was calm, Trainqulaitas hung over the city Noir. A young boy played some games with his sister throughout the day. Their dyed raven locks marked them in the night. A third child soon joined them, a young girl with light brown hair, almost blond, tied in two short tails. She approached the brother with curiosity. She had always wanted friends especially since she had just moved into the apartment on Palimpsest last month. She had spent several months playing with the two, to the point where she saw the brother as a dear friend. The brother in turn came to develop a platonic relationship with the girl. The sister looked at the neighbor jealously. She had never wanted to share her brother with anyone else. Storm clouds began gathering a year later as the brunette child was lured toward a strange device. The machine was cubic. A rectangle the size of a refrigerator, with a transparent ¡°door¡±. She was told there was something special inside. The naive child went into the chamber to retrieve whatever was teased inside. The door soon closed on her. The pigtailed girl tried to push it open, but her strength was not enough to force it open. Hours passed and she heard murmurs from outside. She banged on the door, and she cried for her, but her voice could not reach them. ¡°¡­faking it.¡± She heard a familiar voice say, but she could not recognize who it was. Her breath grew heavier. She could not know why, but she knew that something was wrong. She grew more dazed and lightheaded as precious oxygen left her lungs, never to return. The room outside was dark, but she could make out the expressions of the two figures outside. One had a nonchalant expression, a look of indifference. The other instead held a look of horror plastered throughout. Yet he seemed unwilling to open the chamber. The child desperately tried to call for help, unaware that the mere action would deplete her already limited supply of oxygen. Her legs gave out and she landed by her bottom, unable to lift them up, nor was she able to lift her arms. Soon her lost consciousness, as she breathed her last. That was the beginning of what occurred fifteen years ago. ??? In the present, Norman woke up. A cold sweat dripped from his temple. He saw the apparition. ¡°Good morning!¡± Sadie said with a cheerful smile. The ghost¡¯s greeting was not what Andrew wanted to hear. To him, it was the continuation of his nightmare. An extension of a memory of days long past. ¡°Morning,¡± he said groggily as he got out of his bed. He approached his closet and took out several items. Including a jacket and some sunglasses. ¡°Are you going to¡­¡± Sadie asked. ¡°You know Master Hathor wants the deliveries soon.¡± Norman put on the jacket. He then took something out of the gauze and left the apartment. Sadie followed him. The ghost tried to plead with him not to do this, but her pleas fell on deaf ears as they walked down the hallway. Barricaded doors and men clad in grey jackets and gauze bandages lined the halls. ¡°Ey, boss,¡± one of them said. ¡°One of the tenants is almost done. Your sister is already at her apartment.¡± ¡°Noted,¡± Norman said. ¡°How close are they?¡± ¡°We have already received four livers, four hearts, twenty gallons of blood, and a liver from her before the ¡®Symphallian Regeneration,¡¯ Spell failed. We¡¯re certain she¡¯s as good as dead now.¡± Sadie is repulsed to hear that from the Tombraider. ¡°I see, thank you.¡± Norman walked past the man and entered a barricaded apartment. Inside were Patricia and the dwarven mage they had abducted recently. Eleanor¡¯s face is frozen in fear and shock. Besides the dying dwarf lay several canopic jars. ¡°Glad to see someone didn¡¯t oversleep this time,¡± Patricia said in a playful tone. Her feline smile turned into a frown upon seeing Sadie here. ¡°You should go, twerpette. This isn¡¯t a place for girls your age.¡± Sadie looked at the corpse with a repulsed expression. Norman simply walked toward the operating table. ¡°Is the ¡®sarcophagus¡¯ ready?¡± he asked in his usual tired tone. ¡°Of course, dearest brother,¡± Patricia said. She directed his attention to a device similar to a certain manameter. Besides it was a box of gloves. ¡°Please don¡¯t do this!¡± Sadie said. ¡°What about the other two?¡± Norman said, ignoring Sadie. ¡°The meathead elf still has a few more in him. The singing cat? Don¡¯t think he can provide much more than a gallbladder at this rate. Hapi put in some work with that spell today.¡± Norman sighed and put on a pair of gloves. He saw Eleanor¡¯s eyes move in horror. She tried to speak but remembered that she had a toungebind spell placed on her, sealing her mouth shut. Norman opened the sarcophagus and tried to load the dwarven body into the device. As he placed his arms on the table, he hesitated. ¡°Aw, Normie, having second thoughts?¡± Patricia said. As she approached her brother. ¡°You know there is no place for us out there, right? Not after what we did to her.¡± Sadie gave a disapproving look at Patricia. Norman could only avert his eyes from both girls as she pushed the body into the sarcophagus. The chamber closed and sealed Eleanor in. She tried to scream, but the toungebind spell prevented it. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Norman said. ¡°It will be all over soon.¡± ¡°Look on the bright side,¡± Patricia said while rubbering her hands gleefully. ¡°We¡¯re going to have mashed potatoes tonight!¡± Eleanor grew lightheaded¡­before long, she collapsed into unconsciousness. Her eyes were still wide open. ??? At the restaurant. Emily and her group sat at a table. Though the Maahes attack still damaged the building, they were able to clean up the wreckage enough to ensure the renovators could work safely. They sat at a table on a terrace outside the restaurant. ¡°You didn¡¯t have to do this,¡± the manager said to Emily. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°It was no problem,¡± Emily said. ¡°Someone had to help you clean up after what happened.¡± By that time, Esteban and Julia had arrived. ¡°What happened,¡± Esteban said. ¡°Well, we had a bit of a beastly encounter in the restroom,¡± Azalea said. ¡°That reminds me,¡± Elizabeth said. She took out some of the notes she and Hydrangea took while she was at the library. ¡°What are those?¡± Raimundo said. ¡°While we were researching the [Maahes],¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°We came across several newspapers about the days the three children had vanished.¡± ¡°What did you learn?¡± Esteban said. ¡°The [Maahes]¡¯s shapeshifting powers change the form over a short period. During this time, its body is enfeebled as the cells are forced to change to match the new form. If it takes an attack in that in-between state, it can be wounded.¡± ¡°That explains why Tim was able to rip off some of its flesh,¡± Anemone said. Raimundo read through the notes. His eyes widened. ¡°This can¡¯t be right!¡± he said. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Strelitzia said. The notes referenced the Bugleblitz issue about certain real estate moguls¡¯ deaths¡ªthe Bales. Raimundo knew them as the owners of the Bale apartment network. He explained what he knew about the couple that hired them, and reminded them that they used a proxy when they hired him to investigate the three disappearances. ¡°Something doesn''t add up,¡± Esteban said. ¡°Do you have the articles with you?¡± Raimundo said. ¡°We didn¡¯t bring them,¡± Hydrangea said. ¡°Sorry.¡± ¡°So what does this mean exactly?¡± Raine said. ¡°Yeah I¡¯m kinda lost,¡± Rose said. ¡°The Bales were the eponymous owners of a condominium apartment chain right?¡± Emily said. ¡°Yeah,¡± Tim said. ¡°One of the more expansive ones to boot,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°These were Empyrean magnates we¡¯re talking about. Whoever could send them to the Pathfinder would need to get past some very tight security to get to them.¡± Julia mused on that. ¡°Come to think of it, that ¡®made man¡¯ we found at Club 4706 did mention rumors that the missing siblings were originally heirs to the apartment business.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Heathcliff noticed something. ¡°Apartments you say.¡± He presented his own list. The paper detailed several sightings of Tombraiders in streets like Blackmint Way, Firestorm Way, and Palimpsest Boulevard. ¡°These locations,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°They are all near the condos?¡± ¡°Seems like it,¡± Raine said. Raimundo surveyed the list. ¡°Palimpest Bolvevard hmm. I was told that it was where the three children went missing.¡± ¡°That was collaborated by our own research,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°Yeah,¡± Lily said. ¡°The Bugleblitz mentioned that they went missing too.¡± Anemone was busy trying to track the Maahes with the patch of severed flesh. But she listened in the conversation and chimed in. ¡°They also detailed a special manameter.¡± Raimundo looked over Elizabeth and Hydrangea¡¯s notes. ¡°I noticed, It was supposed to be used for experiments involving vacuums, right?¡± The cyan-bobbed girl nodded. ¡°The newspaper mentioned that a corpse was discovered, but it and the mana meter eventually vanished. From what the article said. It seemed like they couldn''t even identify who was inside it when it vanished.¡± ¡°Maybe that happened to the first kid?¡± Streltizia said. ¡°It¡¯s certainly possible,¡± Raimundo said. ¡°I found it!¡± Anemone shouted. The lilac-haired lycanthrope saw the blue patch of fur glow with her magic. ¡°Found what?¡± Rose asked. ¡°She was looking for the Maahes you dummy!¡± Raine said. ¡°Oh,¡± Rose said. ¡°Where is it?¡± Clover asked. ¡°It seemed to be at Blackmint Way?¡± Anemone said. ¡°Sorry this spell is difficult to maintain and the monster was wandering throughout the Madison area.¡± ¡°Guess we got a lead then?¡± Heathcliff said., ¡°Allons.¡± ¡°Hold it,¡± Esteban said. ¡°This might be misdirection.¡± ¡°If The Tombraiders knew we were searching for them,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°They would attempt to lure us away from their operations.¡± ¡°Besides,¡± Raimundo said. ¡°There is another area of interest here.¡± He placed the notes and list back on the table with the Palimpsest address circled. ¡°Maybe we can split up again?¡± Emily asked. ¡°That would be wise,¡± Tim said. ¡°We can cover both grounds that way. And if there is a trap, then that means we wouldn¡¯t be completely incapacitated.¡± ¡°Okay then,¡± Rose said. ¡°But who¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯m heading to Palimpsest,¡± Clover said. ¡°Ditto,¡± Streltizia said. ¡°I want to go to Palimpsest,¡± Azalea said. ¡°While I¡¯m certain we¡¯ll get some fresh insight at Blackmint. I want to give would be trappers there the slip.¡± ¡°At the very least, we could find something of use at Blackmint,¡± Hydrangea said. ¡°I¡¯ll be right back,¡± Emily said. ¡°Need to ¡®change¡¯.¡± While Emily looks for a proper place to transform. Heathcliff turns his list to blank side and writes the words ¡°Palimpsest,¡± and ¡°Blackmint¡± there. ¡°Alright chers,¡± he said. ¡°Write your name under the place you want to investigate.¡± Clover, Streltizia and Azalea wrote their under ¡°Palimpsest¡± while Hydrangea wrote hers under ¡°Blackmint,¡± ¡°Blackmint for me,¡± Anemone said as she wrote her name. ¡°The tracking spell works better the closer we are.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go to Palimpsest,¡± Raine said. ¡°Someone has to keep an eye on you two.¡± ¡°And what is that supposed to mean?¡± Strelitzia said while the phoenixian girl wrote her name. ¡°I wanna go to Blackmint!¡± Lily said as she wrote her name. ¡°I heard there was a souvenir shop nearby and I want to get some for Elesa!¡± ¡°Guess, I¡¯ll head to Blackmint too,¡± Rose said. ¡°So that is three for Palimpsest and five for Blackmint then,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°I¡¯ll wait until Emily¡¯s back to decide,¡± Tim said. ¡°I¡¯m back!¡± Emily said as she returned. Her body has changed to resembled Raimundo¡¯s more. ¡°Hmm,¡± Raimundo said. ¡°I think I should investigate Blackmint,¡± the porcine man said. ¡°Why?¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°You think they booby trapped Palipsest as well?¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°If that woman is connected to the tombraiders, then it is possible that she could be there,¡± Raimundo said. The private investigator said as he looked to Clover. ¡°However I do not think this is mine to verify. Besides given the recent revelation I can¡¯t say for sure I was hired in good faith. That the investigation isn¡¯t itself a trap.¡± ¡°Guess that means I¡¯m here to Palimpsest,¡± the disguised Emily said. ¡°Me too,¡± Tim said. ¡°Rather lopsided,¡± Heathcliff said. His list now has Emily, Tim, Clover, Raine, Streltizia and Azalea for Palimpsest while Lily, Anemone, Hydrangea, Rose and Raimundo decided to go with Blackmint. ¡°Might be for the best,¡± Esteban said. ¡°We could split into small groups after reaching Blackmint,¡± Esteban said. ¡°I¡¯ll keep an eye on them,¡± Julia said. ¡°Just in case.¡± ¡°And what is that supposed to mean?¡± Raine said. Azalea giggled. ¡°Heathcliff and I will head to Blackmint then,¡± Esteban said. ¡°I¡¯ll go too,¡± Elizabeth said. With the names written, Julia decided to join Emily¡¯s group while Heathcliff, Elizabeth and Esteban joined Raimundo¡¯s. At the time that had happened hwoever, they noticed the sun was ready to set. ¡°Guess we should find a place to rest first,¡± Heathclfif said. ¡°I don¡¯t think these sleepshells would be convenient in closed spaces.¡± ¡°And what is that supposed to mean?¡± the fairy exclaimed. ¡°Lizzie,¡± Emily said gently. The pink-haired fairy sighed. ¡°Fine. Those spells shouldn''t activate unless we are miles off from bads anyway.¡± The group decided to find a nearby hotel and stay the night there. ??? Within the Palimpsest condominium. Norman and Patricia begin eating dinner. Before the two siblings are a pair of platters. Each has a serving of mashed potatoes with some meat mixed in and gravy. Patricia consumed her food unhesitatingly, while Norman is careful to not touch the meat. Sadie, who doesn''t need nourishment looked on in disgust at the food. ¡°Why do you¡ª¡± Sadie said. ¡°Are those ¡®roots¡¯ really so important to you?¡± ¡°Well they helped us out thus far,¡± Patricia said. ¡°Master Hathor said our mana capacity increased tenfold after eating them.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± the ghostly child said. She wondered if she could somehow get them to break rank from the Tombraiders. A while later, both siblings had finished their meals. Their plates were scrapped clean. Norman took the dishes out to the sink and noticed something next to it. A broken picture frame. The photograph contained within had its top half torn off. The intact portion depicted Norman and Patricia in happier days. Norman sighed upon seeing the image. Meanwhile, Patricia walked past Sadie and whispered something in her ear. The ghost recoiled in shock. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Sadie said. ¡°My soul is still the same as it has been.¡± ¡°It sure looks the same,¡± Patricia said with a cheeky grin. ¡°But do you think you are as incorruptible as you claim to be?¡± ¡°I-I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about!¡± ¡°I guess it doesn''t matter,¡± Patricia said. ¡°After all it only matters if Normie and me die, right? I can assure you that will not happen.¡± ¡°Do you believe that minotaur¡¯s lies?¡± Sadie said naively. ¡°Why not?¡± Patricia said. ¡°How many Administrators started out as morals.¡± ¡°Those were pure of heart!¡± Sadie said. ¡°Oh year, Lucifer, the Fallen. Real paragon of virtue here,¡± Patricia sardonically commented. ¡°Besides, whose job is it to steer us to the straight and narrow again?¡± Sadie was speechless. ¡°Thought so,¡± Patricia said. She left Sadie to prepare for bed. ¡°Sweet dreams!¡± she said with a venom in her voice. Sadie looked back at the moment she had died, and the moment she found herself floating in the Sea of Souls. ??? Within the Sea of Souls, fifteen years ago. A soul floated in the waters, still unable to move her arms and legs. Now was she unable to see around her. Yet she could still feel. She felt like she was underwater, unable to swim, unable to drown. Yet she could hear. She heard the murmurs of other souls bubbling around her. She heard the whispers of those who had recently perished, gurgling and bubbling in the waters. Above all, she heard a voice. ¡°So,¡± the voice said. ¡°Tell me what happened, young one.¡± The girl tried to speak but could not hear her voice. She was concerned it was a hallucination. She had barely recalled what had just happened. ¡°Tis is no illusion, child,¡± another voice said. ¡°You are currently witin me, child. You are witen te Sea of Souls.¡± ¡°The Sea of¡­,¡± the girl is shocked. She had passed into the afterlife. The subsequent realization of the true identity of the voices dawned on her shortly after. ¡°Tis a tragic fate,¡± the first voice said. ¡°Yet tat your soul had not dissolved in te water tells me it has not ended yet. Tell us, child, how did you meet ty end?¡± The girl tried to recall the events of her death. ¡°I was looking for something.¡± Her thoughts were audible to her now. I thought that there was something in that chamber.¡± The Reaper saw an image of an unusual manameter. A special tool meant to analyze the reaction of mana in objects in airless circumstances, with pumps and runes designed to create a vacuum after it was closed and sealed. ¡°Oh dear,¡± the Pathfinder said. ¡°Didn¡¯t your moter tell you not to go into strange places?¡± ¡°[Ereshkigal],¡± the Reaper said. ¡°Look at tis.¡± The Pathfinder sighted the two figures outside the manameter. ¡°Tere be some interesting souls. [Revotos], what say you?¡± ¡°Bring [the Fates]. Let us scry teir destinies.¡± The two divinities summoned three more to observe the past, present, and possible futures of the two children. ??? Throughout the night, Raimundo had coached Emily on how to act like him to sell her act better. The next morning, the two groups prepared for their respective destinations. ¡°So who is going where again?¡± Rose asked. Raine turned to the lamia child. With exasperation. ¡°Rose, did you forget already?¡± Elizabeth fluttered to the two children. ¡°Emily¡¯s heading to Palimpsest Boulevard. Tim, Clover, Raine, Streltizia, Azalea, and Julia will go with her. Raimundo will take me, Lily, Anemone, Hydrangea, Heathcliff, Esteban and you to Blackmint Way, Rose.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Rose said. ¡°Everyone¡¯s ready?¡± Emily said. ¡°Ready!¡± Rose said. ¡°I¡¯m here,¡± Elizabeth said. Everyone else gathered outside the hotel. Esteban already rented a card for the groups. ¡°Heathcliff and I made sure proper seating is provided.¡± ¡°It is hard to find one that could accommodate a Centaur around these parts,¡± Heathcliff said. Emily looked at Raimundo and noticed a detail that she hadn¡¯t noticed until now. Above Raimundo¡¯s head floated a familiar yet strange shape¡ªtwo cones interspersed by a ring. The shape reminded her of her own core. Her true form as the Black Box. She wondered about the significance of this shape. ¡°Emily!¡± Elizabeth cried out. ¡°Are you ready?¡± The fairy¡¯s call snapped Emily back to the present. She saw that Julia was already in one of the vehicles, while Tim, Raine, Clover, Azalea, and Streltiiza were in the backseats. Emily walked to the passenger side front seat of the vehicle and buckled herself in. The longer vehicle had Esteban and Raimundo in the front seat, while Heathcliff, Elizabeth, Rose, Lily, Anemone, and Hydrangea were in the back seats. Lily¡¯s equine frame in particular was too large for the seats this time and she was instead strapped into the vehicle floor next to the trunk¡¯s door. The two vehicles drove off to the condominiums at Palimpsest and Blackmint. ??? Julia drove through the bumpy streets of Noir¡¯s surface. Despite wearing a seatbelt, Azalea banged her head on the ceiling of the car. Her bubble caused the fabric liner on the ceiling to grow wet. ¡°Why is this road so bumpy?¡± Raine said. ¡°I thought the surface was supposed to be nice!¡± ¡°It is better maintained than the underground,¡± Julia said. ¡°But even it has some areas wanting for care.¡± ¡°Ow,¡± Azalea¡¯s head collided with the ceiling again. ¡°Is something wrong?¡± Emily said. ¡°Oh no,¡± Azalea said. ¡°Just the usual ¡®floating in the air¡¯ problems,¡± Azalea said. ¡°Nothing Anemone¡¯s gravity spells couldn¡¯t fix¡­if she were here that is.¡± ¡°And here we go,¡± Streltizia said, dreading that Azlaea had begun a stand-up routine in the car. Julia slowed down the vehicle enough to ensure Azalea doesn¡¯t bang her head again. Tim meanwhile tried to ignore the conversation and focus on meditation. He focused on how he could gather the last slivers of mana he needed for his breakthrough. To enter Albedo. ¡°Us merfolk tend to be very nimble beings,¡± Azalea said. ¡°Since we can swim through the air, we tend to be lighter than most people. It is said that we could float up into the atmosphere if we wanted to. Granted most of us can¡¯t breathe ice, so few care to verify that. It would be ice if someone did, however.¡± ¡°If you liked ice puns so much, why do you favor water spells?¡± Raine said. ¡°Water you talking about, Raine?¡± Azalea said. ¡°That¡¯s like asking why you use fire despite your name being ¡®Rain¡¯¡± Clover noticed something. ¡°That reminds me, why did you call yourself Raine Carnation Cadenza?¡± ¡°The Cadenza part¡¯s obvious,¡± Raine muttered. ¡°That isn¡¯t why she asked,¡± Streltizia said. Emily looked at the rearview mirror. ¡°Come to think of it, why did you girls use musical terms for your names?¡± ¡°There are also vernal themes there as well,¡± Julia mused. Raine was stunned to hear that. ¡°Oh, that was easy,¡± Azalea said. ¡°The musical terms were Raine¡¯s idea!¡± Raine blushed. ¡°Why did you go and say that?¡± ¡°Because it¡¯s true,¡± the minotaur chimed in. ¡°Rose on the other hand was the one that added the flowers.¡± ¡°Come to think of it,¡± Azalea said. ¡°Rose was the only one who didn¡¯t change her given name, and you said you forgot yours, Raine.¡± ¡°That¡­what does that have to do with naming conventions!¡± Raine tried futilely to steer the conversation away from her forgotten name. Clover giggled. ¡°It has everything to do with names, Raine. You and Lily are the only ones with three parts in it.¡± ¡°Why did you change your names anyway?¡± Julia said. Tim chimed in as well. ¡°It does seem strange.¡± ¡°Well,¡± Clover said. ¡°We¡¯re magical girls first, so Whisper said we must have aliases to match.¡± ¡°That implies you have more normal names,¡± Emily said. ¡°Well, Raine wasn¡¯t the only one that forgot hers. I have trouble remembering what happened before I even came to Noir,¡± Azalea said. ¡°Nothing but darkness before Rose and Raine found me.¡± The other three Coloraturas were made aware of the specific details but were reluctant to tell Emily and Julia about it. ¡°You two can¡¯t remember your pasts?¡± Emily said. She is reminded about how she can¡¯t remember anything before awakening as a Dungeon core. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t sweat it,¡± Azalea said. ¡°I¡¯m not going to let a silly thing like amnesia drive us apartment.¡± Raine and Strelitzia groaned. ¡°But Azalea,¡± Clover said. ¡°Does this mean you can¡¯t remember your life under the sea?¡± The clionid cheerfully nodded. ¡°Lucky her,¡± the minotaur muttered under her breath. ¡°I¡¯m sure I had a good life back then,¡± Azalea said. ¡°My parents were loving, and very supportive of me! I¡¯m sure that if they¡­¡± Emily and Julia were suddenly reminded of the fact that the Coloraturas were all orphans. Azalea noticed she brought down the moon with her lament and pivoted to another topic. ¡°I¡¯ve been wondering. Is there is a Stardeck, then wheres the Starboard¡­¡± A while later, the vehicle stopped a few yards from their destination. Julia noticed that the surrounding buildings were devoid of any people. The group departed form the vehicle. ¡°Keep your guard up,¡± Julia said. ¡°Something is not right here.¡± The group walked the rest of the way down Palimpsest road. Their steps were met by only eerie silence and desolate echoes. Yet despite all indications otherwise, they can¡¯t help, but feel like they were being watched. ??? Raimundo¡¯s group meanwhile arrived at their Blackmint Way. Raimundo stepped out of the vehicle first. ¡°It¡¯s quiet,¡± the porcine detective thought. ¡°Too quiet.¡± Esteban, Heathcliff, and Elizabeth dismounted from the car. Esteban preferred to use his cloaking arts on himself and Raimundo. ¡°This part of [Noir] seems,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°Eerie.¡± ¡°Hello?¡± Rose yelled. ¡°Anyone there? Yoo-hoo!¡± ¡°Oh boy,¡± Heathcliff said as he heard the Lamia child jeopardizing any element of secrecy they had. Rose¡¯s cries were met with no response. Raimundo cautioned everyone, including Rose, to stay quiet as they approached the building. Esteban used his spells to cloak himself and Raimundo as they came across a pair of men in tattered Ebony Guard uniforms. ¡°¡®Ello there,¡± one of the uniformed men said. His expression seemed cheerful, but at the same time, Anemone noticed something off coming from him. ¡°What brings you here? Can¡¯t you see this street is being quarantined?¡± ¡°Quarantined?¡± Lily asked curiously. ¡°Oh yeah,¡± the uniformed man said. ¡°Been an outbreak of the retrograde virus. Very nasty stuff. Street¡¯s been closed down for weeks.¡± ¡°Retrograde virus huh?¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°Why haven¡¯t the rest of the city been put on notice?¡± Anemone asked. ¡°Surely a virus as dangerous as that would¡¯ve spread beyond just this city block?¡± The loosed patch of blue fur, the werewolf had on her glowed dimly. ¡°Whose to say?¡± the man said. His silent partner took a look at the lilac-haired werewolf and more importantly the faint flow in her fist. He let loose a menacing growl before his partner calmed him down. ¡°Isn¡¯t that the virus rumored to change your body to a younger form?¡± Heathcliff asked. ¡°A younger form?¡± Rose asked. ¡°Like a child?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the primary effect, yes,¡± Anemone said as she eyed the silent man in uniform. ¡°It isn¡¯t uniform, however,¡± Hydrangea said. ¡°It affects each part of the body differently. The brain could regress to a younger age. Skin could shrink over bones, or bones would shrink and leave gaps in the tissue. The side effects were such that people had died from things like a mismatched lung, or the blood flowing in reverse. It isn¡¯t the kind of thing people should lie about.¡± The Maahes patch in anemone¡¯s hand glowed more as she approached the silent partner. With each second, Anemone, and the others grow more suspicious about the uniformed men. Sweat dripped from the talkative man¡¯s brow. ¡°Dammit, they are onto us.¡± He tried to press a button, but before he could, He was suddenly decked onto the floor by an invisible force. The other man suddenly transformed into a Maahes and confirmed everyone¡¯s suspicions. Mis transformation, Rose struck the beat. ¡°Presto Electro!¡± she yelled as she rapidly slithered past the Maahes and slashed it with a draw of her rapier. The electrified sword left wounds on the shapeshifter and forced it to flee. Hydrangea froze the wounded beast in a block of ice. Rose sheathed her sword and a bolt of lightning stuck the ice. ¡°¡­So there wasn¡¯t a retrovirus pandemic?¡± the lamia said. With the exception of Lily, everyone had sighed. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. ¡°Rosie,¡± Hydrangea said calmly. ¡°It was clearly a trap.¡± ¡°Or part of it,¡± a cloaked Esteban said. ¡°The Tombraiders are operating here.¡± ¡°We must be on our guard at all times now,¡± Raimundo said. The group moved towards a run-down building further down the street. The condominium at Blackmint Way. ??? A group of travelers arrived at the condominium in Palimpsest. Red brick lined the outer walls. The windows were decorate with gray blocks that broke the continuous pattern of red rectangles. The door to the lobby sit atop a concentric stack of rounded steps, with rails placed at diagonal angles. From their apartment in the building. Patricia looked out the window. She saw the envoy. Led by a Porcine man, it consisted of a woman, a minotaur girl, a mermaid, two winged children, one being a fawn, and a teenage man. Patricia went to her brother. ¡°Are you in the mood for pork tonight?¡± Norman lounged on the couch, he was tired from the previous day¡¯s events. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°Maybe some venizon instead?¡± Patricia said playfully. ¡°There is some beef on the side, as well.¡± Norman stood up from the sofa. As he does so he hard someone yell from outside their room. ¡°Boss!¡± a tombraider said. ¡°We bot a breach. Adventurers had entered the front door!¡± Norman¡¯s eyes widened. He turned to Patricia. ¡°How many?¡± ¡°Looks like seven. Our defenses are already mobilized.¡± Norman put on his coat and gauze. He then handed a jacket to Patrica. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± He said in an somewhat apathetic tone. Patricia eagerly donned the uniform as she followed them out. At the same time, Sadie also looked at the travelers. ¡°Maybe they can help me save them?¡± she thought. Thoughts ruminated through her head. ¡°But how can I contact them?¡± a moment later, she had an idea and phased through the wall. A nearby radio suddenly turned on as the ghost¡¯s ethereal body and mana caused the wires to short circuit. On the way down, she passed a manameter chamber, she looked at the device and recalled what had happened after she met two of the Administrators. ??? Long ago, in the Sea of Souls, the soul of a dead girl heard the Pathfinder and the Reaper discuss the circumstances of the former¡¯s death. She had learned that the figures that were with her were the siblings she had encountered earlier. The boy she tried to befriend, and the girl that let a scornful gaze upon her. ¡°I-it was an accident right?¡± the girl said. ¡°So it seems,¡± the Reaper said. ¡°Yet te sister¡¯s left many questions.¡± ¡°Are you sure tis is what you want to do?¡± the Pathfinder said. ¡°[The Fates] had said¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure,¡± the girl said. ¡°I want to try, at least. Maybe there is a chance that¡­¡± ¡°You make a dangerous wager, child,¡± the Reaper said. ¡°To entangle yourselves with them means you will follow them to te hereafter. You tree will be judged together. And none will be able to save you when judgment is rendered.¡± ¡°You bore witness to the crimes tey might commit,¡± The Pathfinder said. ¡°You witnessed what had befell you after you perished, and you wish to help them? Knowing tat you risk tainting your own soul?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure,¡± the child said. ¡°Te youthful make the most surprising decisions,¡± the Reaper said. ¡°Very well, child. You shall have your wish. You will become teir guardian spirit, their conscience. Pray that you will not come to regret it.¡± Light began flooding the girl¡¯s vision. Before she knew it, she was back in the manameter the one that for a scant few hours, housed her in her final moments. She noticed she was able to move but not feel. To see, but not be seen. She noticed that she could walk outside the confines of the chamber. As if she was nothing but air, no not even air. Her new ethereal form felt weird to her. She could see, hear, and smell, but could not feel, or taste. She felt no pain, no hunger. Such is the lift of a spirit, destined to haunt, but also to guide. She hoped that she would be able to steer those two children away froma grim fate. ??? In the present, A disguised Emily, Tim, Clover, Streltizia, Azalea, Raine, and Julia encountered Tombraiders and several constructs. Several of them were wrapped in gauze. Strelitzia rushed ahead of the group, using her earth magic to block attacks directed toward the others. Julia used her shadow guardian to incapacitate several of the gangsters, and Azalea flooded the entire floor with water before using her knifework to create water blades. ¡°Get them!¡± a Tombraider said. The opponents rushed toward them, but ¡°Raimundo¡± warded them off by drawing swords and unleashing a flurry of wind-powered slashes. The adversaries were dispatched. ¡°Is it just me,¡± Raine said. ¡°Or does this place seem bigger?¡± Emily looked around. ¡°I wonder¡­¡± she thought. They delved deeper into the apartment. They saw hallways lined with doors barricaded by wooden bars. Clover tried to remove one of the bars, but the seemingly normal piece of lumber refused to budge. ¡°They must be using a spell to reinforce the doors,¡± Emily said. She attempted to sound as close to Raimundo¡¯s voice as possible. ¡°Excuse me?¡± The group turned and saw a pair of men clad in the uniform of the Ebony Guards. Azalea looked at them and noticed something was amiss. One of the uniformed men approached the group. ¡°We heard there was a disturbance in this here building. Care to explain what you lot of doing trespassing here.¡± Emily stepped forward, trying to sound as masculine as possible. ¡°We¡¯re here to investigate the disappearances of three children in this apartment.¡± ¡°Children?¡± the ¡°guard¡± asked. ¡°No kid got lost here here in fifteen years.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m investigating,¡± Emily said. ¡°I was hired to find out what happened to them and since this was where they were last seen¡ª¡± ¡°Sir,¡± the ¡°guard¡± said. ¡°It¡¯s been a decade in a half. If any trace of them remained it would''ve been found by now. Or do you think someone took their skeleton and placed them in the walls?¡± The other man laughed at his partner¡¯s absurd suggestion. Azalea noticed the uniforms of the two men had tatters on them. A small rip here, a tear there. ¡°Excuse me sirs, but why are your outfits so worn out?¡± The first ¡°guard¡± glared at the clinoid. ¡°What are you talking about missy?¡± Julia noticed the imperfections in the outfits. ¡°No, she has a point, the Ebony Guards are the official guild of Noir. They have a reputation as elite adventurers and enforcers of law. A reputation that comes with certain standards that you have failed to live up to.¡± The second man growled. ¡°What are you insinuating, woman?¡± he asked. Tim looked outside. ¡°Tell me this, if you two are who you say you are then why are the streets so quest. Why can¡¯t a soul be seen around the apartment?¡± ¡°And why are there barricades on the doors?¡± Emily asked. In the guise of Raimundo, he pressed the ¡°guards¡± further about Palimpsest Boulevard¡¯s abnormal circumstances. ¡°We are in the middle of an¡ªan epidemic. That¡¯s right, an epidemic.¡± The second man said. ¡°Of what?¡± Emily asked. ¡°Yes,¡± Julia said. ¡°Tell us what plague would befall only this part of Noir while lying beneath the notice of the nearby communities?¡± The two men felt beads of sweat drip from their faces. ¡°We don¡¯t have to explain nothing to you! You guys are trespassers!¡± ¡°You want to subject us to physical removal then?¡± Tim said as he assumed a horse stance. ¡°Well then, you¡¯re welcome to try.¡± The ¡°guards¡± cracked their knuckles, but for all their showboating they fell quickly to Tim¡¯s attacks. As they collapsed onto the ground, their uniforms faded away into dust, replaced by the telltale gauze and jacket combination of the Tombraiders. ¡°So they were Tombraiders,¡± Emily said. ¡°Poor raiders,¡± Azalea said. ¡°They arked up the wrong tomb there.¡± Clover noticed a glint from one of the unconscious men and moved closer to them. She saw a strange stone inscribed with a rune hanging from a keyring. She relieved the man of the keyring and brought it to Emily. ¡°A runestone?¡± Emily asked. The rock was smooth, and the sigil on it resembled a keyhole. A thought came to the disguised avatara¡¯s head and she took the runestone to the door behind them. The barricade turned to dust and the door unlocked. Strelitzia opened the door. The group entered the unlocked room and saw a figure hooked up to several rubs. Besides the bed lied several jars, each emitted a foul stench. Azelia looked into one of the containers and immediately recoiled from repulsion. ¡°Don¡¯t look into these. They are for the faint of heart,¡± she said before gagging. ¡°She¡¯s right,¡± Julia said. ¡°The Tombraiders used these to store organs.¡± Clover¡¯s attention was not on the unconscious person or the rancid jars but on a large box on the opposite side of the room. One side of it was a transparent screen, while the other sides were opaque. As with the jars, a fowl stench emanated from its boxy appearance. Raine and Azalea tried to rouse the sleeping figure but were unable to wake them from their slumber. Julia observed that several magical fetters were placed on them. ¡°Can I borrow that keyring?¡± Emily handed Julia the runestone, the indigo-clad woman pointed it at the figure, but it did nothing to rouse the man or unbind the fetters. ¡°Looks like there¡¯s nothing that could be done here,¡± Julia said. ¡°This runestone won¡¯t undo the bindings.¡± She noticed that the figure had a pallor on them. Strelitzia noticed Clover examining the manameter. ¡°Clo?¡± she said. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Is this the manameter Lizzie mentioned?¡± Clover said. Emily, still in her porcine disguise, looked at the box. ¡°It does match the description on the notes.¡± ¡°What is a device like that doing in this room?¡± Tim asked. ¡°Another mystery for us to solve, right ¡®Raimundo¡¯?¡± Julia said. ¡°Right,¡± Emily said. ¡°Speaking of which,¡± Azalea said. ¡°I wonder how the others are doing?¡± ??? While Emily and her group are at Palimpsest. Raimundo¡¯s are locked in a battle with a gigantic humanoid golem. The golem brandished two cleaver-like weapons and a golden mask. ¡°Get ¡®em Imsety!¡± A tombraider called from nearby. The automaton¡¯s swords clashed with Heathcliff¡¯s shield. Heathcliff pushed Imsety¡¯s weapon¡¯s back. Anemone and Lily use illusions to befuddle the tomberaiders rushing to attack them and support Imsety. The addled spellcasters directed their buffs to the two girls and allowed them to gain enough strength to contest the golden-asked golem. ¡°Take this, Lumiouse Chanson!¡± Lily used this stolen boon to pierce Imsety with with lance and then lick it with her hind legs. This attack nearly toppled the golem, but Imsety regained balance by stabbing the floor with one of its cleavers. Rose and Elizabeth used lightning spells and bardsong to strike at the golem while it was vulnerable. Hydrangea attempted to freeze the Sentinel solid. Meanwhile, in a nearby room, Esteban and Raimundo defeated several Tombraiders through a mix of Esteban¡¯s cloaking magic and Raimundo¡¯s capoeira. They found a terminal near the fallen tombraider. The terminal overlooked the battle where Heathcliff, Elizabeth, Rose, Lily, Anemone, and Hydrangea were fighting Imsety. ¡°The runestone,¡± Raimundo said. Esteban handed him a keyring with several stones attached to it. Raimundo held it up to the terminal to see if it could affect the boss. Imsety managed to return to its feet, but the terminal, operated by Raimundo caused it to short-circuit further and Hydrangea¡¯s spells froze the golem¡¯s joints solid. Imsety turned and attacked the Tombraiders. ¡°What the¡ª¡± the gangsters said as they tried to defend themselves from the renegade Sentinel. Eventually, Raimundo managed to shut off the golemn. Defeating it and causing a treasure chest to appear in its place. Rose opened the treasure chest and found gear that was of a visceral aesthetic. Crimson red with a texture evoking blood vessels. The nauseating sword and greaves nearby caused the lamia to vomit. Anemone took the items without looking at them. ¡°This chest, these weapons,¡± She said. ¡°Does it mean?¡± Rose grew delirious from the stench of the sword and armor. She hallucinated a gigantic brain with eyeballs and tried swiping her sword at thin air. Lily and Hydrangea kept her from harming herself or others while moving away from the cursed weapons. Elizabeth looked at Anemone. ¡°This is no doubt about it, the apartment has become a [Dungeon].¡± Esteban and Raimundo leaped from the terminal. ¡°Seems the Tombkeepers had been busy,¡± he handed Heathcliff a document from the terminal. It detailed the operations of the modified manameters. The knight¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Sacrebleu,¡± he said before handing the document to Raimundo. ¡°What did it say?¡± Lily asked innocently. ¡°You do not want to know, cher,¡± Heathcliff said. With Imsety gone they take the newly appeared staircase to the next floor up. ??? Later, Emily and her group arrived at a chamber lined with boxy manameters. By now the group learned that the Palimpsest apartment is somehow a Dungeon and behaves as such. Having battled through shifting corridors and tomb raiders. They are now in what seemed to be the first Sentinel¡¯s arena. ¡°Why did this place become a dungeon?¡± Clover said. ¡°It makes no sense?¡± ¡°Emily,¡± Tim said. ¡°Can you sense the core?¡± ¡°No,¡± Emily said. It brought something to her mind. ¡°Could I be able to sense other Dungeon Cores?¡± she thought. ¡°Do you think the missing kids had become the core of this place?¡± Clover said. ¡°It¡¯s possible,¡± Julia said. ¡°But only one of them is likely to be the core.¡± The group wondered when did the apartment¡¯s transformation happen. Their questioning is interrupted when the glassy sides of the manameters begin to glow with an eerie blue light. An apparition crawled out from one of the manameter¡¯s screens. Her figure was ethereal but barely perceivable. Her hair was white but stringy. What could be seen of her attire was similar pale. She tried to call out to Emily and her group, but they couldn¡¯t hear her. They could only hear what sounded like guttural vengeful moaning. They mistook her for the Sentinel. Streltizia tried to fight the apparition, but her axe phased through it. The ghost faded from view and appeared in front of Emily. Emily reflexively placed the being with one of the twin swords, and her lightning-enhanced attack caused the phantom to recoil in pain. Emily noticed something was off. The ghost didn¡¯t feel like a Sentinel. ¡°Please¡­¡± the ghost whispered. ¡°¡­help me.¡± Before the avatara could respond. The floor rumbled as a large number of tombraiders stormed the floor, aided by a winged golem with a golden falcon mask. The Garuda-like figure used its wings to buffet the room. The ghost was thrown into the glass door of one of the manameters. Emily sensed an intimidating aura coming from the Sentinel. The golem swooped in and flew close to the ground. Emily and Julia were hit by its wings and were forced back. ¡°By the mighty wings of Qebehsenuef,¡± One of the Tombraider cheered. ¡°You will be repelled.¡± Azalea swam after the aerial golem and used her knife as a conduit to create blades of water. The spells were evaded by the gardua-like golem who turned around and manifested a forked weapon. Qubehsenuef then flew towards Azalea. ¡°Oh come on!¡± the clionid petulantly ¡°It¡¯s garuda of you to reject a lady¡¯s gifts!¡± she encased the golem in an orb of water, but Qubehsenuef was not trapped. Instead, it flew out and resumed its course. Azalea tried to fly away, but the little clionid was too small and too slow to evade the fork of the falcon-masked golem. Qubehsenuef was close to skewering Azalea before being thrown off course by an errant earth-enchanted labrys. The weapon curved around and returned to Streltizia¡¯s arm. Angel filled the child¡¯s expression at the sight of the forked weapon on her opponent. Qubehsenuef hovered over the minotaur. Clover posied herself to counter the winds created by Qubehsenuef¡¯s wings with her own wind magics and her fan, Streltiiza used heart spells to create boulders for Clover to hurl with her wind powers. The peryton fawn used her spells to lift the boulders and hurl them at the golem, but they missed the entity. Tim and Emily followed suit, with Tim propelling himself to the back of the golem and the other two using their own magic to strike Qubehsenuef. Tim landed on the garuda-like golem and stabbed the back with his Qiang. The lance-piercing Qubehsenuef caused it to crash onto the floor. Julia and Clover went to help the others wail on the golem before it could take flight again, but they noticed one of the manameters glass doors turned blue again. The apparition appeared near a door and vanished as soon as they could. ¡°Emily!¡± Julia called, she directed the avatar¡¯s attention to the door. The disguised girl was about to move toward them, but Tombraiders descended from the ceiling to assist Qubehsenuef. Strelitzia and Azalea drew their ire away from the golem and towards themselves. The minotaur turned to her friend ¡°Go, I got this!¡± Clover hesitated but decided to leave her friend to help Julia investigate the door. They went to the mysterious room and unlocked it with the runestone. There they found a terminal and an unconscious tombkeeper, Clover saw a glint from the man¡¯s pocket and discovered another runestone, with a purple sigil on it. Julia approached the terminal and saw the name ¡°Qubehsenuef¡± written on it. ¡°That¡¯s odd,¡± Julia said. On a hunch, she pointed the new runestone to the terminal. The nameplate glowed purple as Qubehsenuef rose to eh skies with a mighty caw. It flew erratically around the arena, attacking friend and fore alike at random. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Qubehsenuef?¡± a tombraider asked. ¡°Someone hijacked it!¡± another responded. The gangsters headed toward the control room. The golem descended toward the ground to swoop at everyone. Julia tried to use the runestone to get it to self-destruct, but Qubehsenuef instead took random actions. As it attempted another dive bomb, Streltizia saw an opening. ¡°Tim!¡± she called out to the martial artist. ¡°I need a lift!¡± Tim obliged and used his wind arts to conjure a gust that propelled the young girl up high enough to land on the golem. She saw that his Qiang was still lodged in it and used it to steer Qubehsenuef towards the Tombraiders rushing towards the control room. Clover used her fan to repulse the approaching mobsters but for everyone she successfully fended off, two more took their place. The Tobraiders were set to overwhelm her. The deerlet braced for the imminent attack and closed her eyes. But rather than feeling a myriad of blows on her flesh, she instead heard a loud thought and opened her eyes. There she saw that Qubehsenuef had crashed on the present mobsters, with Streltiiza standing proudly on its back. The golem was defeated and began to turn into gold dust. The Tombraiders not knocked out by the impact fled the arena in fear. In place of the winged Qubehsenuef now lay a treasure chest. Emily opened it and retrieved a spear, a shield, and pauldrons all with a red moss-like texture. She put the items away as everyone regrouped. The manameter¡¯s doors and screens flashed with the same blue glow and a staircase descends from the ceiling. ¡°That ghost was odd,¡± Clover said. ¡°Were they the core?¡± Emily mused, she was unsure why the dungeons¡¯ core would come to directly aid them. She recalled the words the ghost uttered before vanishing and wondered if she is connected to the missing children case. The group ascended the staircase onto the next floor. ??? Last night, within the tomb of the house of Hathor. The eponymous patriarch walked into an ornate room set aside for a special guest. ¡°We¡¯re honored to have you at this hour, Master Ra,¡± Hathor said. A tall man, clad in golden adornments sat opposite the minotaur. The man wore gold and black armor adorned with solar imagery. His cap evoked the image of a god among men, and a god among gods. ¡°You remain as diligent as ever, Hathor,¡± Ra said. ¡°I heard the House of Thoth had made a breakthrough thanks to your efforts.¡± ¡°It was my pleasure,¡± Hathor said. ¡°As for recent projects,¡± Ra said ¡°How were your efforts in gathering fresh tributes?¡± ¡°They are proceeding smoothly, Master Ra. We and the House of Anubis had worked diligently to gather many people from all throughout Noir.¡± ¡°All of this so that one day we can reclaim our thrones over these puny mortals,¡± Ra smirked. ¡°Indeed,¡± Hathor said. ¡°I must say,¡± Ra said. ¡°Alkahestry yielded excellent results for us. I must thank you for the proposal.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll all to kind, Master,¡± Hathor said. ¡°Serket and I were well versed in the matter of cultivation.¡± ¡°Though the House of Horus remained discontent with the ¡­methods you proposed.¡± ¡°Efficiency is key,¡± Hathor said. ¡°The House of Seshat had reported rumors that the Voorhes Gang had made strides in their cultivation efforts. Sure they must understand the risk they pose to us, and to your ascendancy, Master Ra.¡± ¡°They were understanding enough to contribute the guardians at least. The House of Montu specifically enjoyed their presence.¡± ¡°Yes, the Canoptic Guardians were quite excellent for the Sarcophagi,¡± Hathor said. Ra took a sip of tea. ¡°Onto other matters. How are your students faring?¡± ¡°Which ones?¡± ¡°The orphans from Palimpsest.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± Hathor said. ¡°Patricia and Norman continued to show great promise and potential. Perhaps one they they might become future leaders of the houses.¡± Hathor laughed heartily. Ra chuckled. ¡°Perhaps. It wouldn''t be the first time. You and Serket have proved quite invaluable despite not originally being of the houses.¡± ¡°That reminds me,¡± Hathor said. ¡°It came to my attention that a private eye is looking into the circunstnaces of their ¡®disappearances¡¯.¡± ¡°Seshat told me about that,¡± Ra said. ¡°She said she had collaborated with the house of Tatenen for a feint. Using the latter¡¯s shells to gather those drawn to the cold case to execute them. Palimpsest Boluevard would be the site of their execution.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a bold plan.¡± Hathor expressed concern. ¡°Did they weight the risks?¡± ¡°Our spymasters are certain that with all known information,¡± Ra said. ¡°That there would be minimal chance of failure.¡± ¡°A minimal chance is still a chance,¡± Hathor said. ¡°Improbabilities are not impossibilities, Master Ra.¡± ¡°Perhaps,¡± Ra said. ¡°Still there is no need to fear. As with all things. The weak would perish. That is the way of Noir, and not even the pitiful rouge can stem the tide.¡± ¡°A great change is coming, Master Ra,¡± Hathor said. ¡°Though you are great, thought you are wise, you are still vulnerable. If we do not sucked before that change comes we will be left behind, buried in the sands.¡± ¡°Duly noted, Hathor,¡± Ra said. ¡°I have lived a great many years, but even my experience paled in compassion to yours and Serket¡¯s, to Thoth¡¯s and Khonsu¡¯s. I hope you shall continue to offer your consul.¡± ¡°One last thing, sir,¡± Hathor said. ¡°What is it, Hathor?¡± Ra said gently and calmly. ¡°The House of Bastet has expressed concerns about Project Stronghold. Specially that our sarcophagi Dungeons would be at risk of being raided and bereaved of their cores by the rest of the syndicate.¡± ¡°Their concerns are misguisded,¡± Ra said. ¡°As logn as our allience holds the Syndicate would not date to lay afinge ron us. And in the event they do, they will be met by the crushing force of the Houses of Khonsu and Montu, and all of the force of the Tombraiders.¡± ¡°I fear that might only embolden them, sir,¡± Hathor said. ¡°They are already predisposed to claiming you seek to claim the unclaimed title.¡± ¡°Why that is because I am the most fit to claim it,¡± Ra boasted. ¡°I¡¯m certain if Vladimir Draconus or Viktor Pygmalios were in my shoes, they would think the same things. Yet it is not ready to be restored yet.¡± Ra stood up from the table. ¡°I must go. The hour is up and I must visit the House of Anubis next. I think you for this talk. We will meet again tomorrow, just as we always had.¡± ¡°Thank you, sir.¡± Ra left the tomb and his entourage carried him to the next one. ??? The girl wandered the apartment in search of her friends. She had noticed that it had been a week since she had perished. And that whenever people had mentioned her, it was in claims that she had vanished, not that she had died in a dangerous arcanological instrument. She saw no one had noticed her presence. ¡°Right,¡± the girl said. ¡°They probably didn¡¯t have enough man to see me.¡± She sighed upon knowing that only a few people were able to perceive her. That she could not say goodbye to her parents one last time. She wondered what they must¡¯ve been thinking. She headed towards the apartment where they lived. The ghostly child saw the Morrigans, her family, stricken by grief. The father, a Yanese man with black hair, glasses, and a brown suit, held a melancholic expression as he set out for work. The mother, a Libert¨¦an woman with brown hair, had eyes and ears on the radio, desperately waiting for news on her daughter¡¯s safe return. News that the child knew would never come. The mother¡¯s eyes remained glued to the radio, and vacant She left her parent¡¯s apartment, unable to bear seeing her mother in such a state any longer. It was at this point that she heard indistinct chatter. ¡°Why did¡­horrible idea¡­¡± ¡°¡­in trouble for¡­¡± The child recognized the voices, they were the same as those that were with her in her final moments. Those that refused to release her. Yet also those that she sought to save from themselves. No matter the cost. Sadako steeled herself for the reunion. For her first encounter in undeath and for the beginning of her afterlife as a conscience. ??? In the present, Emily¡¯s group wandered the Palimpsest complex. There they saw a woman limping in the wide hallway. Clover rushed to the woman¡¯s aid and noticed that her skin was a pale blue. The woman¡¯s breathing was shallow and there were several gashes on her body. ¡°Please¡­help,¡± the woman said. Julia, Stretlizia, and Tim knew that she was about to meet the Reaper. Emily and Clover tried to help the dying woman but to no avail. ¡°Please,¡± Clover said. ¡°Hang on!¡± ¡°Damn¡­dastards!¡± the woman said. Referring to the Tombraiders. Emily tried everything she could to heal the girl, but nothing she could think of was able to save the woman. The victim passed on with regret at being caught by the Tombraiders and her failure to save herself. Tears streamed down Clover¡¯s eyes as she saw the stranger die in front of her. The latest instance of death in this place. A group of Tombraiders then arrived, besides then were steal-winged Stymphallias. Clover¡¯s grief gave way to rage as she took her fan and faced the intruders. ¡°How dare you?¡± she yelled at them. ¡°How could you abduct innocent people and use them like this?¡± she summoned a strong wind that forced the rest of her party to hand onto the barricades and swept the Tombraiders off their feat. The birds used the wind to their advantage and circled the fawn. They fired metal quills at the girl, but her equally metallic fan deflected the projectiles. More Tomeraiders arrived, alongside a baboon-masked Golem wielding a spoon-shaped axe. The Dungeon¡¯s third sentinel, Hapi. Strelitzia clashed her axe with the golem¡¯s, but the larger foe swatted her aside and rushed down the hall. Clover, enraged, rushed toward Hapi and sliced at it with her fan. The blades of the fan slashed at the joints as the fawn fought viscously. Her indiscriminate rampage caused the barricades on the rooms to be dispelled and the effects of her winds affecting the people trapped within without her realizing it. The others noticed something was off with Clover. Her savage use of wind magic and her fan toppled the golem easily and left the Tombraiders scrambling to try to defeat the peryton fawn. Clover, consumed with rage rampaged through the hallways, causing the Dungeon itself to retaliate by trying to seal her within their walls. ¡°Justice will come for you!¡± Clover yelled as she threw her fan toward the opponents. The mobsters dodged the attack, but several of them were left with cuts on their jackets, pants, and extremities. The fan returned to Clover¡¯s arm after arching around the corridor. Before she could strike again, She felt someone restraining her. ¡°Let me go!¡± she cried out. ¡°I have to¡­these guys deserved¡ª¡± ¡°Clo, stop! This isn¡¯t you!¡± The person who retained the peryton fawn is Streltizia, with a tearful yet determined look in her eyes. The deerlet saw the look of the downed golem, the doors busted open by her winds, and various people bound to their beds, unable to escape the damage to the hallway or their rooms by the fetters the Tombraiders placed on them. Several of them were harmed by the winds. Clover realized what she had done in her lasing out. ¡°This¡­I didn¡¯Y¡± She collapsed into unconsciousness while in Streltiiza¡¯s arms. ¡°Clover!¡± Stretlizia cried for her friend. ??? Clover suddenly found herself in a dark swampy forest. She saw murky dark ooze where water should¡¯ve been. She saw leaves being ripped off blackened trees by gale-force winds. Winds that somehow never affected her. As she walked around the forest, she saw that the trees and critters took the form of various mementos of her parents. A quadruped resembled a childhood bed, a tree looked like a pillar her father worked on for his job. Another tree had warped pictures of herself. Clover didn¡¯t know what this place was, but she did know it wasn¡¯t the Palimpsest apartment, and that it evoked the domain of a Strega. She heard a voice giggle from behind the trees and gasped. She saw the shadow move around the oozy floor and the darkened trees as if toying with her. Clover summoned a fan and used a powerful spell to clear the trees. The revealed figure shocked her with her appearance. Resembling a winged cervitaur with green ooze instead of fur. Clover recalled what Azlaea told her and Stretlizia. ¡°A¡­are you? Is this¡­?¡± ¡°I wish¡­¡± the figure said. ¡°¡­want to.¡± ¡°Absolutely not!¡± Clover said as she glared at her counterpart. ¡°¡­control? ¡­to you?¡± Clover mused on the words of her counterpart. She knew she had lost control of herself. But she wondered why she would ask her about justice. ¡°I know what justice is!¡± she said to the cervitaur. ¡°¡­parents approve? Is¡­would see¡­?¡± ¡°I guess not,¡± Clover responded. Fog rolled in the swampy forest. ¡°Good luck¡­me,¡± the cervitaur said. Fog engulfed them both. ??? Meanwhile, Raimundo and his group wandered the Blackmint complex. They had just finished with the second Sentinel fight and were near the top of the complex. By this point, they were aware of the use of the Manameters as euthanization chambers and also that organs were harvested throughout the building-turned-Dungeon. ¡°Alright,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°We fought three Sentinels right now. That would be it if we were going for normal things there.¡± Raimundo looked over several documents he found along the way. One of which caught his interest. It mentions that the House of Tateten had covered up the demise of the owners of the Bale parents and took up the condo chain. This furthered his suspicions that this was a trap. He mused over other documents showing how the manameters were modified, and what purposes they were used for. ¡°So they used the organs for reagents and consumed the rest,¡± Raimundo said, the thought of it made him sick to the stomach. ¡°It¡¯s a huge departure from what we knew about them,¡± Esteban said. ¡°Prior knowledge claimed that they instead enthralled them as servants.¡± ¡°The twenty-four houses remain enigmatic even among the syndicate,¡± Heathcliff said. Elizabeth is more stuck on the recent interest the Tombraiders have in cultivation and the references to ¡°chthonic mana¡± scattered through the documents. The information that Jingyu had downloaded onto her mind mentioned ¡°demonic cultivators,¡± those that gathered mana through unorthodox and unscrupulous means, but she could barely fathom the lengths they went to for those ends. ¡°Oh come on!¡± Rose said. ¡°Why can¡¯t we read those?¡± ¡°Oh, now you want to read?¡± Hydrangea said in a deadpan manner. ¡°These documents are¡­to be frank, not suitable for people your age,¡± Raimundo said. ¡°It is best that you do not peruse their contents.¡± Anemone and Lily meanwhile talked about movies as they wandered the Dungeon. They talked about ¡°La Libertad¡±, ¡°The Lighthouse Keeper¡±, and Pearl¡¯s upcoming film. Hydrangea brought Rose into eh discussion as a means of distracting her from the forbidden documents. Raimundo gripped the papers in his hand, within is evidence of great misdeeds. Evidence that would be of utmost importance to those willing to protect the innocent of Noir. Evidence that shed light on why Blackmint Way seemed abandoned. The rest of the group wondered how Emily¡¯s group was fairing and hoped that what they found in Palimpsest was less disturbing than the discoveries here. Raimundo turned to the group. ¡°Thank you for accompanying me on the investigation. I think we have learned all there is to know from here.¡± ¡°You want to leave then?¡± Heathcliff asked. ¡°Fair enough.¡± ¡°We will need to find a way to deal with the cores of these Dungeons later,¡± Esteban said. ¡°These ¡®sarcophagi¡¯ present a clear danger to Noir.¡± The group prepared to leave but knew that the remaining Tombkeeprs would bar their escape. They prepared to fight their way to the entrance. Sure enough, the last Sentenal is already waiting for them at the lobby. ??? Clover woke up in the hallway. She saw Strelitzia¡¯s concerned face. ¡°Are you okay?¡± the minotaur asked. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Clover said as she stood up. ¡°Did any of you get hurt?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Raine said. ¡°Fresh as the morning dew here!¡± Azalea said. ¡°There remained no injuries among us,¡± Julia said. ¡°But as for everyone else.¡± ¡°Clover,¡± Raine said in a concerned tone. ¡°What was up with you? I¡¯ve never seen you this mad. ¡°You made those Tombraiders feel like deer caught in the headlights!¡± Azalea said. ¡°Oh¡­¡± Clover recalled her prior rampage. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I don¡¯t know what got into me.¡± Azalea noticed something in her eyes. ¡°Did you have¡­¡± Clover nodded. ¡°Have what?¡± Emily asked. ¡°It¡¯s¡­complicated,¡± Raine said. While Clover was unconscious, Tim looked around and gathered various files. He learned through them the purposes of the manameters. ¡°Cthonic mana huh?¡± Tim mused. He looked back at Clover. ¡°Should we continue?¡± Tim asked the group. ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem like there are any more clues here.¡± Streltiiza noticed her deerlet friend was lost in thought. The minotauride assured Clover that she be at her side regardless of what happened. Clover heard the group discuss the possibility of leaving the complex and initially denied that option. ¡°We can¡¯t leave!¡± Clover shouted. ¡°There is more to be found here. I don¡¯t know why, but I can feel it.¡± ¡°We could try finding the core?¡± Emily said. ¡°Maybe it knows what happened to them.¡± ¡°The apartment has four stories right?¡± Azalea said. ¡°It seemed that way,¡± Julia said. ¡°But¡­¡± Clover wondered about Patricia. A part of her had remained hopeful that she wasn¡¯t involved in this. But at the same time, she can¡¯t help but feel that she is in the Dungeon with them, and even if she hasn¡¯t she had seen enough here to conclude that the Tombraiders must be stopped. Emily and Clover then saw the presence of the ghost from before. ¡°Please¡­help me¡­ find them!¡± the ghost said. ¡°Are you this Dungeon¡¯s Core? ¡°Emily asked. The ghost shook her head, and before more questions could be asked, she faded from the room. Emily wonder if she was the ghost of the first missing child. Clover gave a determined look at the door and knew her decision was the right one. They have to press on, reach the core¡­ and defeat it. Emily made sure to disguise herself as Raimundo again before leaving. The group left the hallway and ascended to the forth and final floor. ??? Eventually, Emily and her group arrived at where the Core of the Palimpsest Complex is held. There they found two strange figures, clad in the uniform of the tombraiders. ¡°Well, didn¡¯t expect you to make it this far,¡± the feminine one said in a condescending tone. ¡°But it¡¯s a shame your long trip here has to come to an end. Oh well.¡± Clover and Stretlizia recognized the voice. The fawn tried to reason that it was someone else, but deep down, she knew it was the woman they had just met. Stretlizia meanwhile didn¡¯t need much convincing. The masculine one took out a berimbau and began strumming. As in on cure a fourth golem landed between both parties. This one wore a golden jackal mask and brandished a large knife. The core became visible above them and took the golem as its vessel for the battle. ¡°Duamutef,¡± the woman said. ¡°Please keep them nice and tender.¡± The jackal-masked golem roared and charged at the party. Azalea and Raine combined their magic to conceal the party in mist. Azalea then swam around Duamutef. ¡°Things are about to take a sharp turn!¡± the mermaid said as she took out her knife and sliced at the golem. Strelitzia rushed forward and used her axe to pin the larger boss¡¯s blade to the ground. The golem tried to swash her with its other arm, but Emily countered by using ice spells to freeze the water vapor around the golem. Julia¡¯s shadow then gripped the pauldrons of Duamutef and forced the empowered golem to kneel. The guardian held the canopic golem in place while Tim took his Qiang and sliced the joints with wind magic. Clover noticed that Tim¡¯s spell damaged the joint heavily and took her fand to further buffet it, but the female Tombraider intervened. ¡°Oh no you don¡¯t missy,¡± she said in a playful voice. She landed a roundhouse kick on Clover and sent her flying back. The winged fawn recovered her foot and clashed with the ¡°dancing¡± opponent. Strelitzia saw Clover In trouble and was about to abandon the golem to aid her, but with the movement, she loosened her Labrys¡¯ hold on the larger knife, Duamutef retracted the blade into its hand and pointed it at her, unsheathing the sword at her. Strelitzia dodged the imminent thrust. The other one played his instrument more vigorously. The party was besieged with an urge to give up through the apathetic man¡¯s tune, but they refused to yield against their opponents. Time rushed towards the man and tried to destroy the implement, but he countered by drawing a small blade from the tip of the instrument and using it to parry Tim¡¯s Qiang¡¯s strikes. Tim tried to use elbow strikes to disarm it, but the musician evaded by leaning back and countering with an upward kick. Strumming three notes between attacks to channel dark Bardsong spells at Tim. The female Tombraider headbutted Clover and then followed with a cartwheel kick. Clover tried to dodge, but the attacks were too fast for her. She is pushed to the floor by the attacks. Clover panted heavily, ¡°Why are you doing this?¡± she asked. ¡°What do you mean?¡± the female Tombraider asked as he placed a foot on Clover. ¡°Not that it matters, I¡¯m not telling you.¡± Emily, Julia, Raine, Azalea, and Streltizia try to fall Duamutef, while Tim continues to try to disarm the musician. Clover struggles to get out from beneath the boot of the female Tombraider. ¡°This isn¡¯t right!¡± Clover tried to reason with her. ¡°Patricia, why? How could be so cruel?¡± The woman is surprised to learn that this child has learned her name. She then recalled how they encountered her. ¡°Oh, the little yearling from the other day. You were useful in getting that detective off my back.¡± Patricia removed her gauze and sunglasses, no longer seeing a point in hiding her identity. She licked her lips as she looked at the fawn. ¡°I¡¯d bet your root must taste...excellent.¡± She lifted her left to Stomp her again, but Clover rolled away from her and used her wand to propel herself into the air. Patricia danced in a triangular manner, evading Clover¡¯s fan and countering with sand strikes and kicks before resuming her ¡°dance¡±. Clover tries to smack Patricia with her fan, but the momentum from her continuous movement allows her to evade easily and counter with a scorpion kick on Clover¡¯s stomach. Duamutef used its knife to attack the party, but Emily used wind magic to attack the other joints and Streltizia hurled conjured boulders to attack both the golem and the musician. The attacks cut off Duamutef¡¯s bladed arm. Emily then used the discarded weapon to slice the rest of the golem. Mana leaked from the empowered golem¡¯s arm. Emily took the opportunity to approach the core, but as she does. The core flashed and engulfed everyone in a brilliant light. Images, thoughts, and memories flooded through everyone¡¯s minds. The flashbacks show them two children standing over the corpse of another, then them being found by Hathor, a minotaur and then them overseeing the installation of a modified manameter in their apartment building. All of those and more showed them what had happened to the missing kids. Through this, they learned that the musician was Patirica¡¯s brother and they both were complicit in the consumption of forbidden flesh. The light had faded, and the core went missing, having been absorbed into Emily. The musician looked at what seemed to be a porcine man with shock. Emily shed her disguise and glared at the man. Patricia used the opportunity wrought by the core¡¯s disappearance to try to defeat Clover, but her blow was interrupted by Strelitzia. ¡°What?¡± Patricia said. Her foot was repulsed by Streltiiza swinging her axe. In the woman, she saw a reminder of who she had escaped. A fate that she had vowed to never let happen to herself, Clover, or their friends. ¡°You,¡± the minotauride said. ¡°You psychotic scum!¡± she swung her axe at the woman again. Patricia again, but she dodged and tried to counter, but Strelizia simply gripped her foot. ¡°Clover! Now!¡± Strelitzia said. Clover unfolded her fan and channeled wind art. ¡°Patricia, what you have done is unforgivable! I won¡¯t let you continue to hurt people. You must answer for your atrocity.¡± A tempest circled the fawn as her fan glowed. She glared at the woman. ¡°Supercell Chord!¡± The spell propelled the two Tombraders to the wall, slashes of wind tore through their jackets and gauze badinages. The windows broke from the sheer force of the whirlwind within the building. ¡°You little¡­¡± Patricia said as she collapsed into unconsciousness. Clover calmed down, resolving to not last out again, and calmly tried to take the unconscious siblings away, but before she could, the building started to rumble. The Core¡¯s absorption at Emily¡¯s hand and Clover¡¯s spell had caused large structural damage to the building, and the fourth floor was posed to collapse all around them. Before they knew it, they were in free fall to the third floor. Raine acted quickly, and flew to catch Clover while Azalea grabbed Streltizia before she could fall. Julia used her guardians to protect everyone from falling debris while Tim and Emily maneuvered around and used spells to destroy the rubble before it could cause total structural collapse and harm those still alive in the building. Clover and Raine saw a shadow rush quickly past them as they rapidly made their way out. Emily and Tim also saw the ghost again, seeingly guiding them towards rooms about to be crushed by the rubble. Julia and the four Coloraturas made it to the third floor and endeavored to shield the floor from crushing eight of the fourth floor and the damage caused by the dungeon returning to normal. Clover and Strelizia also make sure to free the captives in the process and help them escape. Along the way, she tried to search for Patricia and her brother, but was unable to find them. A few hours later, several people brought to the complex were not outside the ruins. Once every one of the captives was confirmed alive and safe, Emily and her group left the premises beneath their notice. ??? Meanwhile, another Duamutef has just fallen at the hands of Raimundo and his group. The collapsed jackal-headed golem was no longer able to bar their egress. The group took the spawned chest and rushed outside the condominium at Blackmint Way. The Tombraiders were unable to catch up to them. Both groups reconvened at Anesidora Park, away from both streets, where they shared their results. ¡°So,¡± Raimundo said. ¡°The siblings were not only part of the Tombraiders, but did the unspeakable as well.¡± His expression was solemn and grim. ¡°Rai,¡± Julia said. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have to write a report on this,¡± Raimundo said. ¡°With all that has happened¡­¡± ¡°These ¡®Sarcophagi¡¯ [Dungeons],¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°They are likely to be considered Rouge regardless of their core¡¯s actions.¡± ¡°If the core condoned this,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°Then they¡¯re complicit, plain and simple.¡± Clover told Rose, Hydrangea, Lily, and Anemone about what they had learned. Rose and Lily gagged and rushed toward a nearby tree upon hearing the grisly details. ¡°That¡¯s horrible!¡± Anemone said. ¡°How could they do such a thing?¡± ¡°And you guys defeated the Tombraiders in charge of that place?¡± Hydrangea asked. Clover was unsure. While she prevailed with her spell, she was uncertain about their survival. ¡°Calling them ¡®monsters¡¯ would be an insult to monsters!¡± Rose said after she finished hurling. ¡°What are you planning to do next, Raimundo?¡± Emily said. ¡°I will need to not only file a report,¡± Raimundo said. ¡°But also talk with the affected victims about what had happened. There are many people grieving the loss of their loved ones, and they would need to know for closure¡¯s sake.¡± ¡°Closure,¡± Emily said. Her mind flashed back to the Hamlin incident and Carla¡¯s plot. The memory left her wondering. ¡°Do you think people will put themselves at risk? To try to attack the Tombkeepers out of vengeance?¡± ¡°Revengance is an inevitability,¡± Raimundo said. ¡°And as mobsters and murderers, they will elicit no sympathy. I¡¯d imagine some of them will likely join the guilds just to avenge them or even seek aid from the rest of the Syndicate. Despite all appearances, the other gangs do not have a rosy relationship with the Tombraiders.¡± ¡°The Rouges will endeavor to ensure they do not harm themselves if it comes to that, and that the justice they mete will be proportionate. I¡¯m not certain about the Ebony Guards, however.¡± ¡°A great change is coming,¡± Raimundo said. ¡°At least I hope it is, this is but one of the many symptoms of the Illnesses Noir had contracted.¡± ¡°That apartment chain is on the hook as well, right? ¡°Azalea said. ¡°It was their proprieties they were being reeled to.¡± ¡°Correct,¡± Raimundo said. ¡°The involvement of the Bale apartment chain, and the revelation that its heritors are alive, would be grounds for an investigation. That however is beyond my scope.¡± Tim, Emily, and the Coloratura noticed a power welled inside each of them. Emily is certain this meant they had gathered enough mana. Emily¡¯s mind then flashed to the Pyrosphere. ¡°I¡¯ll see you around,¡± Raimundo said. The porcine detective began to leave. ¡°Raimundo¡­¡± Clover said. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Clover said. She knew that she had unfairly judged him that day, and accused him of being what he was not. ¡°I shouldn''t have¡­¡± Raimundo looked at the fawn. ¡°It¡¯s alright. You didn¡¯t know the full details. Tchau.¡± Raimundo left the group. Emily gathered the others and returned to the Black Box. After a harrowing day, they could use some rest. ??? Patricia and Norman woke up in the Underground. The Maahes carried their limp bodies on their backs. ¡°Ugh,¡± Patricia said. ¡°That girl was like a tempest in a tea kettle.¡± ¡°Good morning,¡± Sadie said with an unusually cheerful smile. ¡°Ugh, you again,¡± Patricia said. Norman looked around him and saw a newspaper dispenser. The Bugleblitz was proudly displayed on the dispenser through the window. Its headline read ¡°BALE-FIRE!¡± and the accompanying article mentioned that Palimpsest Sarcophagus is being renovated and that the Bale board of directors are being questioned for suspected Tombkeeper ties. ¡°What a pain,¡± Norman said. His apathetic tone this time had a ting of rage. ¡°Oh no,¡± Sadie sarcastically asked. ¡°Now you guys won¡¯t partaking in those vile act. Whatever shall we do?¡± her tone was clearly playful and sarcastic. ¡°You¡¯re enjoying this aren¡¯t you, twerp?¡± Patricia said. ¡°Maybe,¡± Sadie said. ¡°Heh,¡± Patrica chuckled. She saw the ghost child¡¯s mockery of her as proof that she is rubbing off on her, and that the child is not incorruptible. Norman turn toward the girls. His expression is calm. ¡°The tomb of Hathor is not that far away, right?¡± Sadie¡¯s face turned from a smile into surprised expression. ¡°Norman?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll explain what happened there and who was the cause,¡± Norman said with a determined expression. One that gave Sadie concern. She hoped that the destruction of their apartment would''ve mean that they would cut their ties with the Tombkeepers, and also that Patirica wouldn¡¯t use her demise to cow Norman. ¡°Alright,¡± Patricia called the Maahes. ¡°Surely, Master Hathor can¡¯t get too mad at us?¡± The siblings embarked for the Tomb of Hathor. Sadako followed them, her mind began thinking of another plan to convince them they should leave the Syndicate behind. Norman looked back at the ghost. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Sadie,¡± he said beneath his breath. ¡°But where you want us to go, there is no room the three of us.¡± ??? The next day. The radio told of a shocking development in Noir. The revelations brought forth by Raimundo¡¯s reports had elected furor from the Exsecratii and Elegere population of Noir, and the Ebony Guards held a press conference to announce their launching investigation into the ¡°sarcophagi¡± dungeons and the Bale condominium chain. The follow-up piece mentioned that the board of directors of the apartment chain has been questioned for involvement with the Tombraiders. Meanwhile, in Rosenkreuz. Minerva had visited the theater. ¡°Hello there, Minnie,¡± an antarean ticket taker said to the Arachnid. ¡°Here to see a movie today?¡± ¡°What could¡¯ve given you that impression, Delia?¡± Minerva coyly said. The Arachne had met her the other day and introduced to her the world of romantic comedies. Minerva had got a kick out of pointing out the question decision the couples in those films made and spend the previous day marathonning the movies. Delia was the employee she met that day and the two had hit it off fairly well. ¡°Which one will it be today?¡± Delia said. ¡°We have Phantom Isle, Night at the Roxbury, La Libertad¡­¡± ¡°I heard there was a film about a Carolingian knight and an Albionian queen?¡± Minerva said. ¡°The Many Missteps of Ser duLac?¡± Delia said. ¡°That¡¯s screen in thirty minutes.¡± Minerva purchased a ticket for the film, said her farewells to the clerk and entered the box office. As she approached the room where the movie would be screen she bumped into another employee. The collusion caused him to drop a peculiar box. ¡°Oopsie,¡± the employee said ¡°Sorry about that!¡± he picked up several objects. ¡°Boss wanted me to move these to the other closet.¡± Minerva noticed a strange film reel among the wares and picked it up. As she handed it to the man, she noticed her finger had a bit of black sludge on it. She wiped it off with a tissue and moved to the viewing room for The Many Missteps of Ser duLac. Blissfully unaware about what the reel she picked up truly was¡­ Chapter XXXVIII: Where Skies Were Blue Lily arrived at a small building nestled between two taller apartment complexes. The centauride approached the door to the house. ¡°I¡¯m home!¡± She cheerfully called. ¡°Welcome home, Lilian,¡± a feminine voice said. The young girl cantered past the coffee table, her sunny yellow-blond hair billowing behind her as she galloped past some documents with ¡°OVERDUE¡± stamped on them. Her equine body plopped down on a cushion on the floor before a dining table. The walls were a pastel yellow with while molding. ¡°Daddy¡¯s still at work?¡± Lily asked. An older female centaur nodded. ¡°He¡¯s working overtime. He says he¡¯ll be home by eight.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Lily said. Beneath the veneer of exuberance, she longed for the chance to see him again. She then left the kitchen. Later that night, Lily found herself unable to sleep. Her room had shifted from baby blue hues and pastoral pastel wallpapers to bloodstained red and images of coalblack leafless trees. She stood up from her bed, a module mattress usually used for centaurs that stand upright, with mechanics designed to lift the legs at specific intervals for those unable to do so passively. She then heard crying coming from downstairs and rushed outside her bedroom. The hallway twisted and turned as Lily rushed towards the staircase on the other side. She galloped as fast as she could but the stairs were slightly further from her than when she started despite running towards it. Her front hoof tripped on a loose plank of wood and she collapsed onto the floor. She noticed her other hoof was trapped in a tight hole in another of the planks and struggled to free herself. She heard more screams from below. ¡°Mommy! I¡¯m coming!¡± the child cried out as she endeavored to free herself from the wooden fetter on her hoof. She turned back and noticed a shadowed figure. Clad in a top hat with a black suit and tie. He slowly approaches Lily. He holds a scroll in his hand, marked with letters that Lily can¡¯t make out. ¡°Repossession¡­¡± the figure called. ¡°You must be repossessed.¡± A panicking Lily tries again to break free from the pink that had captured her hoof. When the figure was a few inches away, she successfully broke off a piece of the plank and galloped towards the staircase again. Her rapid movement eventually broke the lingering wood still attached to her body. Adrenaline flooded her body as she accelerated to the ever-receding staircase. She could hear the anguished weeping of her mother. The doors she passed on the extending and twisting corridor began to be around by wooden crates and furniture beside them. She soon made it to the end, before she could catch her breath, she saw that her pursuer was still chasing her and immediately descended the staircase to the first floor. She then saw a hallway branching off to the right and immediately turned toward it. She cast an afterimage of herself that ran down the other hall. The man in the top half chased the afterimage. Lily, now granted a moment of respite, caught her breath through heavy adrenaline-laden gasps. She found herself in the living room, the coffee table she cantered past earlier had nothing on it. The walls were not colored red and black. Lily soon saw a red liquid beneath eh door to the kitchen. Fearful of what happened, she cantered toward it and opened the door. Her eyes widened in shock, but before she could scream in hoor, a pair of gloved hands grabbed her mouth. Her muffled screams grew more frequent as another set of arms covered her yes. She felt herself being dragged away from the kitchen. ¡°Mommy¡­¡± she cried. ¡°Daddy¡­help.¡± But no one could answer her pleas. Save for a voice. ¡°Wake up,¡± the voice said. ¡°It¡¯s morning!¡± Lily opened her eyes and saw her current home instead of the twisted parody of her previous one. She looked to her side and saw Lydia and Anemone. ¡°It was¡­¡± realization dawned on her that what she had just experienced was a nightmare. She looked around and saw that the other Colorturas had already awakened and left their beds. Meaning she had overslept. ¡°Sounds like you had a horrible dream,¡± the Arachne brotherhood said. Nina approached the group. ¡°Good morning,¡± the spiderling said while rubbing her eyes. ¡°Good morning, Nina!¡± Lydia said. Anemone climbed out of her bed and helped Lily up from her. After Lily was up, the lycanthropic girl moved to place her hat on her purple ringlets. ¡°Do you want to talk about it?¡± The purple-haired girl said. ¡°About what?¡± Lily said as she looked back at the hole that served to house her each night. ¡°Your nightmare,¡± Anemone said. ¡°Oh, that?¡± Lily said. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it was just a dream!¡± ¡°Are you sure? You were asleep for longer than usual,¡± Nina observed. Lily yawned and stretched her arms. ¡°There¡¯s no need to talk about that. Besides¡¯s Anemone also overslept.¡± ¡°I did not!¡± Anemone said. ¡°I-I was just waiting for you to wake up first.¡± ¡°Sure you were,¡± Nina said. Lily walked towards the hallway. ¡°Come on. Breakfast is waiting!¡± she said cheerily. Anemone sighed. She and Nina followed Lily to get refreshed. ??? After breakfast, Lily arrived at the guildhall with Emily, Minerva, Nina, and Anemone. There they found Elisa and Scarlett were also there. ¡°Elisa!¡± Lily said to the porcine girl. ¡°Hey Lily,¡± Elisa said to the Centaurdie. The younger girls chatted while Minerva and Emily talked with Benoit about possible quests. ¡°How is Rosenkreuz, Elisa?¡± Lily said in her usual excitable mood. ¡°It¡¯s well, um,¡± ¡°Elesa¡± has not obtained the opportunity to explore the town between shots. ¡°It¡¯s great!¡± She flashed a smile. ¡°Great!¡± Lily said. ¡°You know we have moved here from Noir recently and I found it much better than the city.¡± ¡°You said you return to Noir often?¡± Elesa said. ¡°Why is that?¡± Anemone noticed Lily¡¯s tired face before she turned her attention towards Elesa. ¡°We often go back because for its faults it is still where we grew, as Magical Girls. We felt we should do our part to help the people there as well.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Lily said. ¡°Just a few days back we helped a detective investigate a cold case!¡± ¡°Really?¡± Elisa said. ¡°How did it go?¡± Lily explained the recent excursion to Palimpsest Boulevard and Blackmint Way. Her expression and tone were unflappably exuberant as she exposited about the various horrors she found there. Nina, Elisa, and Anemone were a little disturbed by her ability to cheerfully describe the Tombraider¡¯s operations there. Anemone stopped her before she could come to certain parts. ¡°That¡¯s¡­interesting?¡± Elisa said. ¡°I know right!¡± Lily said. ¡°Lily,¡± Anemone said. ¡°Nina¡¯s trembling.¡± ¡°Am not!¡± a trembling Nina said. ¡°I could¡¯ve handed those bandaged freaks.¡± The centauride looked at Nina. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the Rouges and the Ebony Guards are already working on ending the sarcophagi. We won¡¯t have to worry about them for a while.¡± She beamed a huge smile, blissfully unaware that her mood was at odds with what she had recently described. ¡°Clover seemed to be a little down the day after. Maybe I should talk to her about it?¡± ¡°So, um,¡± Elisa said. ¡°Why are you always so¡­cheerful?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Lily said with a faint smile. ¡°It¡¯s just,¡± Elisa said. ¡°You always seemed to always look at the bright side of things.¡± ¡°Ever the optimist, she is,¡± Nina said. ¡°Of course,¡± Nina said. ¡°If we can¡¯t be happy all the time then¡­¡± She recalled her nightmare from last night, and the last thing she saw before waking up. A vivid memory of the last time she saw her parents. The other girls caught a rare glimpse of Lily staring blankly at them before she composed herself. ¡°Then who knows what would happen?¡± she said, giggling. ¡°That is¡­¡± Elisa is a little surprised to hear that. ¡°A unique way of looking at things.¡± The incognito porcine child star looked back at rumors she heard about her predecessor Betty Gale. ¡°Say, what do you know about Betty Gale?¡± ¡°The missing actress?¡± Anemone said. ¡°Well,¡± Lily said. ¡°She was supposed to star in ¡®Metropolica Esmeralda¡¯, and had credits in ¡®The Moonlight¡¯, ¡®De Charlemagne, Avec Amour¡¯, ¡®Il Cavaliere Nero¡¯, and ¡®The Spiral¡¯.¡± ¡°How did you know those titles?¡± Elisa said. ¡°Anemone loves going to the movies!¡± Lily said. ¡°You do?¡± Nina asked. The purple-haired lycanthroped nodded. ¡°I do. I have a preference for the ¡®Fairy Princess¡¯ line, specifically.¡± ¡°The ¡®Fairy Princess¡¯ movies?¡± Elesa said. ¡°Did you see ¡®The Girl and the Glass Slipper¡¯?¡± Anemone affirmed she did with a small hum. ¡°¡®La Libertad¡¯?¡± ¡°Yes, indeed.¡± ¡°¡®The Girl from the Lunar Bamboo¡¯?¡± ¡°Did you know that it was adapted from a Yanese legend?¡± Anemone said. ¡°Name one film from that series, Anemone can tell you everything you need to know.¡± ¡°Elisa¡± was more aware of these films than she let on, having worked in a few of them during her career. Her upcoming film with Scarlett is also part of the part of the canon. ¡°¡®Metropolica Esmeralda¡¯ is not one of those films,¡± Anemone said. ¡°While it has similarities, it was created by Leonis instead of Vulpecula and also lacked many of the stylistic conventions associated with it as a result.¡± ¡°See what I mean?¡± Lily said with pride. ¡°She knows a lot about films outside that series too!¡± The conversation went on for a bit as the children talked about films and gossip about their actress. Though whenever the topic of Pearl Templeton is borough up, ¡°Elisa¡± remained careful not to blow her cover. ??? Nearby, Emily, Minerva, and Benoit talked about possible quests. ¡°Let¡¯s see,¡± Benoit said. ¡°The Skyfangs had already claimed a quest in la Prairie Inconnue. The Blackbolts had already dealt with a Georoc infestation near Eastshire. The Abyssal party had elected to take a quest to check out the former Tartantuopolis site. And Chiron and his fellow priests have just returned from visiting the House of the Wanderer.¡± ¡°So all the quests were taken?¡± Emily said. ¡°Afraid so,¡± Benoit said. ¡°Sorry about that.¡± Minerva and Emily saw Scarlett approach the counter. ¡°Hello Scarlett,¡± Emily said. The red-clad woman greeted her fellow adventurers. ¡°I hope Elisa isn¡¯t giving them too much trouble.¡± ¡°She hasn¡¯t given Nina or the Colorturas any trouble at all,¡± Minerva said. ¡°She seems like a well-behaved child.¡± ¡°I¡¯m pleased to hear that,¡± Scarlett said. She turned to Benoir. ¡°Any unusual phenomena lately?¡± ¡°Not that¡ªactually, there is something strange going on near the theater.¡± ¡°The theater?¡± Minerva said. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°There had been three reported disappearances of folk near the area,¡± Benoit said. ¡°But there was no trace of them there. A concurrent report showed evidence of a break-in that morning, but they couldn¡¯t find anyone there. It all seems strange to me. The details of the missing people don¡¯t match the usual profile of a robber.¡± ¡°I see, thank you.¡± Scarlett left the counter to make some preparations. Later Scarlett and Elisa left the guildhall to head to the theater. Emily and her group returned to the Black Box. ??? Pearl and Scarlett arrived at the theater. There they saw several adventures, filmgoers, and authorities crowded around a large hole in the theater wall. The magical porcine actress and her mother draw closer to the theater. Pearl noticed blackened fluids being expelled from her arm and asked Scarlet to excuse her. Scarlett saw the obsidian liquids and nodded. Pearl left to find a place to change outside from the view of others. While the young girl changes her appearance, Scarlett approaches one of the adventures. ¡°Excuse me,¡± the red-clad woman said. ¡°Can you tell me what happened here?¡± ¡°I wish I knew,¡± the red-headed man said. He had an antarian build, with a scorpion-like abdomen and a stringer tail. ¡°Three people go missing and someone tried to break into the theater.¡± ¡°I¡¯m back!¡± Pearl called out to Scarlett. The young girl is now clad in a green leprechaun-like costume, different from the feathered armor she previously wore. A disguise cobbled together from several discarded costumes from the theater. As Pearl detransformed, her height had also shrunk as a result, resembling a girl half her age. A woman approached the antarian and noticed Pearl. ¡°Aw, what an adorable little leprechaun.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the verdict, Lisa?¡± the antarian said. ¡°The manager decided to keep the theater open, Paul. They now want people from the guild and nearby adventures to serve as security against further break-ins,¡± the woman said. She had the lamia¡¯s telltale tail and wore a yellow jacket that seemed indicative of employment at the theater. ¡°Excuse me,¡± Pearl said. ¡°Can you tell me about the people that went missing?¡± ¡°Sure, I guess,¡± Lisa looked at the young child and noticed she looked familiar. ¡°But why?¡± ¡°I¡¯m part of a ¡®true crime¡¯ fanclub,¡± Pearl lied. ¡°My friends wanted to know about the recent incidents.¡± ¡°You seem a little young for something like that, little miss,¡± Lisa said. ¡°Forgive me,¡± Scarlett said as she worked to reinforce her daughter¡¯s cover story. ¡°She and her friend shad taken an interest in my line of work. I¡¯m an investigator you see. My employer had assigned me to New Virginia.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± Lisa said. ¡°Unfortunately we don¡¯t know anything about these cases. The local ages and scryers deduced that three people had broken into the building, but even they don¡¯t know where they went. Making it weirder, nothing was stolen from the theater itself except that section of wall behind you.¡± Scarlett took some notes. ¡°Do you have any possibly theories?¡± she said. ¡°Well, my coworkers mentioned that three people went missing around the same time. They might¡¯ve been the culprits,¡± Lisa said. ¡°But that they seemed to had vanished from a trace made confirming it difficult to say the least.¡± ¡°Is there anything they could¡¯ve wanted?¡± Pearl, still disguised, said. ¡°Well little leprechaun,¡± Lisa said. ¡°The scryers did find something in Auditorium B, but they kept it to themselves before leaving.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a leprechaun,¡± Pearl mutter under her breath. Her mind went to ideas for a more normal disguise for later. ¡°Where exactly did those oracles go after they left the theater?¡± Scarlett asked. Lisa shrugged. ¡°The guild said they went to nearby Firewater, about ten miles from here.¡± ¡°I see, thank you for your time.¡± Scarlett and Lisa left the theater. ¡°They clearly knew something,¡± Scarlett said. As they left, Pearl¡¯s thoughts turned to Lily, she wondered about the centaur child¡¯s unflappable exuberance. ??? Meanwhile, the Coloraturas are currently in school at the Black Box. ¡°All right, students,¡± an elderly Arachne said. He had a balding scalp and wore rimless glasses on his head. His red tie contrasted with his dark grey sweater vest and jet-black abdomen. ¡°Today we will be reviewing the principles of basic spherics.¡± The students collectively groaned. ¡°Mr. Daniels, why are we talking about this again?¡± an Arachne boy asked. ¡°It is important to know the fundamentals.¡± Mr. Daniels said. He handed out a paper with various questions on the subject. Raine had already written down her answers, while Rose slowly tried to recall the topic from memory. The lamia came across the following question. ¡°What is the Elementalist¡¯s Sphere of Lightning?¡± with the possible answers being ¡°No?sphere,¡± ¡°Astrasphere,¡± ¡°Electrosphere,¡± and ¡°Atmosphere.¡± ¡°That should be obvious,¡± Rose thought, but despite that, she struggled to recall the right answer. Lily daydreamed about battling adventurers as a Sentinel, how her spear and light magic would prevail against stories heroes and the prise they offered her upon defeat. Her flight of fancy was interrupted by Mr Daniels tapping her shoulder with one of his legs. ¡°Focus, Miss Legato,¡± the teacher said. Raine, Hydrangea and Anemone finished their test and turned their sheets to signal that to the teacher. ¡°As expected,¡± Mr. Daniels said proudly. ¡°Teacher¡¯s pets,¡± Rose muttered. A while later, the second part of the review came int he form of a practical test. The students were tasked with using their wands to channel their innate elements into spellcraft. A female Arachne student conjured a small stone and hurled it at the target. It hit the second ring. Azalea created a small orb of water and used it to play a prank instead of hitting the topic, to Mr. Daniel¡¯s wet displeasure. Clover used a bluster of wind to cut a line into the target while Streltizia manipulated the soil to bury it. A male student then lobbed a fireball, but it missed the target and instead singed another student¡¯s leg. ¡°Hey!¡± she said. ¡°You nearly set me on fire, Tom!¡± ¡°Sorry, Cassie,¡± the boy said nervously. Anemone¡¯s turn was next. She conjured a veil of darkness that eventually rendered the target invisible. She then took out her bow and nocked an arrow. The arrow hit the invisible target near the center. ¡°Show off,¡± Tom said. His messy brown hair did not go noticed by his classmates. Cassie glared at him. Her hair was pink with a yellow bow tying it into a pony tail. Lily is next. She focused on the ring target. ¡°Go get them Lily!¡± Azalea said. ¡°Light them up!¡± The cenaturide takes a deep breath and took out her wand. She channeled it into a light spell and aimed it at her target. The ring began to glow with yellow power that faded into light before exploding into splinters. A large chunk landed right next to Mr. Daniels as he jotted down on his clipboard. Soon the review was over. The arachne teacher dismissed the class. ??? Later, the students at the nascent school are having their lunch. ¡°Man, why do we have to review basic spherics again?¡± Rose said. ¡°Why can¡¯t we move on to the cooler stuff?¡± ¡°Rosie,¡± Raine said. ¡°You need to be more patient.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Rose said. ¡°We¡¯re Sentinels, we should be learning how to protect Emily better.¡± ¡°Heathcliff, Elizabeth, and Minerva want to continue our education,¡± Hydrangea said. ¡°Also,¡± Anemone said. ¡°The guild is planning to help broaden the curriculum in a few months.¡± Azalea finished her lunch. ¡°I¡¯ll be right back.¡± She swam away from the others. Raine wondered what the mermaid was planning on doing. After pondering various possibilities her wings unfurled in fear. She sets off to chase the clionid before she gets herself in trouble with her pranks. ¡°Besides, we have extracurriculars as well,¡± Anemone said. Rose slumped onto the table. ¡°You have extracurriculars,¡± she said. ¡°You¡¯re teaching Charlotte how to use gravity magic, Raine is apprenticing under Sarah and Richard at their workshop, Azalea has her comedy workshop, and¡ª¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Clover said. ¡°There¡¯s no shame in having nothing to do.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Streltizia said. ¡°We don¡¯t have extracurriculars¡­yet.¡± ¡°Yet?¡± Rose said. ¡°Well,¡± Clover said, ¡°I am a little interested in divination. Even though I don¡¯t think the Stardeck would be that good for me. Did you know that it is said that the sigils depicted on the cards correspond to constellations from the Messigners¡¯ original worlds? I¡¯m sure that¡­¡± Rose¡¯s head hit the table. ¡°To be honest,¡± Lily said. ¡°I don¡¯t have anything else to do after school as well. Unless you count playing with Nina.¡± ¡°Thanks, Lily.¡± ¡°By the way,¡± Lily said. ¡°What classes do you think they are going to add.¡± ¡°It¡¯s probably stuff like ¡®Scriptures,¡¯ and ¡®Language Arts¡¯,¡± Rose said. ¡°Rose,¡± Amenonie said. ¡°We already have the latter.¡± ¡°If I had to speculate,¡± Hydrangea said. ¡°It would be similar to the training offered by the guilds. As well as more advanced dives into the magical schools.¡± ¡°I¡¯d doubt they would delve into Alkahestry though,¡± Anemone said. ¡°Despite Emily and Tim wanting to revive the Golden Spear school, there are some hurdles they need to get past first.¡± The conversation is interrupted by a yell. The six girls turned to find the source was Cassie and Azalea, who were for some reason stuck in a ball of gelatinous mass. ¡°Sorry,¡± Azalea said. ¡°Guess I miscalculated a little bit, he.¡± Raine was nearby, trying to melt the gel with her fire. Rico was also nearby, laughing at them. Cassie is unamused by Azalea¡¯s attempted prank, and the mermaid herself is annoyed that the laughter the arachne boy had was at the prank¡¯s failure. Eventually, Raine was able to free them. The lunch period and the school day came to a close. ??? Meanwhile, Emily, Elizabeth and Tim look at a new structure that emerged within the former. The structure resembled an ash-colored furnace. ¡°So¡­what is it?¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoed to the fairy and martial artist. The structure is located in the core room. Behind Emily herself, The purple-colors of the walls and floors faded into grey around the furnace-like object. Save for one line between it and the Core. ¡°It seemed to be a [Furnace],¡± Elizabeth said. Emily manifests her avatara and has the puppet cock an eyebrow. Elizabeth took the expression as a sign of opaqueness. ¡°You know how Jingyu mentioned you were were a ¡®half step¡¯ away from Albedo?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Emily said. ¡°This [Furnace] is definite proof that you had reached it,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°It is akin to a [Core] for non-Dungeons. Where mana is gathered in refined.¡± Emily is left confused. ¡°Then why is it here?¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Tim said. ¡°I¡¯m kinda new to this myself, but if I may speculate, it might be a literal representation of your progress.¡± ¡°That would make some sense,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°[Dungeons] being [Alkahestists] is, because of both lack of public documentation and the,¡± she cleared her throat, ¡°risk of retribution deterring otherwise interested cases, to put simple, uncharted waters. I¡¯m sorry, but all we have to go on are conjecture and theory at this point.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Tim said. ¡°This will mean we will eventually encounter shades.¡± ¡°Correct, the [Shadow], or ¡°inner demon¡± would eventually manifest to test your resolve and your character. They would likely manifest in forms reflective of that. From the information the master had granted me, it could ranged from repressed emotions to fears. Several cases seemed to entail experiencing events with a point of divergence related to that.¡± Emily¡¯s avatara walked toward the collection of Elementalist¡¯s Spheres. ¡°These aren¡¯t related to those right?¡± Elizabeth nodded. ¡°The assimilation of Spheres does make the collection of [Mana] faster, and increase the well, but it is but the beginning recording to my research on the matter. If Master Wu is to believed, then it is a small step in the long road ahead, but still an important one.¡± Emily dematerialized her avatara. Her core¡¯s voice one again echoed to the other two. ¡°I see, so do we know when these shades started to appear.¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid not,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°All research into the topic that not yielded any recognizable patterns. It will come as it comes.¡± ¡°That said,¡± Tim said. ¡°The Albedo step might not refer to literal shadows. Anyway, I¡¯m going to practice some breathing Exercises. Wanna join me?¡± Emily manifested her Avatar again. ¡°I¡¯ll go.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already transcribed Jingyu¡¯s exercises in a small plate for reference,¡± Elizabeth said. Emily¡¯s avatara and Tim left the Core room. ??? Later that day, Nina was playing with Evelyn, Charlotte and the Coloraturas. Rose slithered around lost in thought. ¡°You¡¯re still hung up on not having an extracurricular?¡± Raine said. ¡°Of course I am!¡± Rose said. ¡°What happened?¡± Nina said. ¡°Rose found out that she and Lily are part of the going home club,¡± Azalea said. The spiderling raised an eyebrow. Azalea whisper in clarification on her statement. ¡°Have you considered asking about activities after school?¡± Charlotte said. An idea popped in Nina¡¯s head. ¡°Train me, Rosie!¡± ¡°What?¡± the lamia said. ¡°I still want to be an adventurer!¡± Nina said. ¡°If you can train me, then I can easily impress everyone with my skills. They¡¯ll have no chance but to bring me along with them.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­not quite how it works, Nina,¡± Raine said. ¡°Besides,¡± Rose said. ¡°What can I train you on? You¡¯re not a w¡ª¡± Anemone cleared her throat. ¡°Magical Girl,¡± Rose corrected. ¡°You don¡¯t use a sword, and as for¡­¡± Rose looks down at her own tail and at Nina¡¯s abdomen. ¡°Biological powers, I know nothing about those. I¡¯d be a poor teacher, Nina.¡± ¡°Aww,¡± Nina said. ¡°Don¡¯t worry Nina,¡± Lily said. ¡°I¡¯m certain your moment is just around the corner.¡± ¡°But I want it now!¡± Nina said, frustrated. At that point, she noticed a shadow move in the nearby hallway. The children went out to check and saw Minerva. ¡°Mommy?¡± Nina asked. Minerva didn¡¯t respond. ¡°Something isn¡¯t right,¡± Hydrangea said. The group of children followed her towards the nursery and school area of the Black Box, there they saw the Arion twins, as well as Rico and Cassie gathered there. Charlotte moved toward her two friends. They found that Euryale and Stheno remained unresponsive to her attempts to get her attention. ¡°Alright children, who wants to see a movie,¡± Minerva asked. The various kids cheered, except for the ones that followed Minerva here. ¡°A movie?¡± Streltizia questioned. ¡°But Emily hasn¡¯t set a theater up here!¡± ¡°And the theater is closed at this hour!¡± Clover said. Minerva led the mesmerized children away from the Black Box. The Coloraturas, Evelyn, Nina and Charlotte followed them, wondering what is going on. But only Evelyn was able to keep pace with their faster than usual strides. ¡°Hey Emily!¡± Rose said. Emily didn¡¯t respond. ¡°Did she have her Avatara out?¡± Clover said. ¡°Terrific,¡± Rose said sarcastically. She slithered away to try to find her. Lily and Raine followed suit. The others tried to follow the group. ¡°Why are they so fast?¡± Azalea said. ¡°I get they can cling to walls, but even the non-Arachnes are running faster than I could swim.¡± Evelyn remained the only one capable of keeping pace with Minerva and the erratic group. ¡°Minerva, what is going on?¡± the construct said. Minerva ignored Evelyn and her question. Anemone and Hydrangea cosndiered stopping them. Anemone decided to use she dark magic to stop them by pinning their sahdows, but as she nocked an arrows, Rico used a light spell to make a light source where the sadow should be and the arrow failed to land ona shadow. Hydrangea tried to freeze their path with ice blockades, but they simply turned around. Minerva and the entranced kids ignored the unmesmerized children, even as they tried and failed to snap them out of it. When they used other means of deterrence, such as Clover¡¯s wins, they simply ignored it. Even Streltizia¡¯s strength was not enough to stop them without risking severe harm to herself and others. ??? Earlier, Emily cycles through several breathing exersizes. Her avatara assumes a stance and slowly transitions to a second one, then a third, and then back to the first. ¡°Seems like you got the hang of it,¡± Tim said. ¡°Thanks,¡± Emily said. Time reminisced about his time at the Golden Spear school. ¡°You know, I had found it weird that a martial art school had that as a class.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Emily said. ¡°Come to think of it, fighting schools here don¡¯t have meditation classes.¡± ¡°With what we now know of cultivation, the purposes of these exercises are clear to both of us.¡± Tim stated at Emily¡¯s eyes. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Emily blushed and averted her gaze. ¡°Um, Tim?¡± ¡°Sorry,¡± Tim said. ¡°Was contemplating something. Shall we proceed?¡± The two preformed a small cycle of breathing exercises. They feel relaxed as they slowly changed their stances and took in the crisp air around them. A while alter, they heard loud banging. ¡°Huh?¡± Tim said. ¡°I though this space was secluded, Emily.¡± ¡°It was.¡± Emily extended her arm. A wall receded to reveal Lily, Rose and Elizabeth. ¡°Sorry to bother you,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°But we have a problem.¡± Rose led the group to the rest of their friends. They arrived to find that the Minerva and the mesmerized children are gone and Charlotte consoling Nina. ¡°What happened?¡± Emily said. ¡°Minerva¡¯s acting weird is what happened,¡± Streltiiza said. ¡°She wanted to take them to the movies,¡± Clover elaborated. Nina bawled for thirty seconds and turned to Emily. ¡°Please¡­ help me¡­ save mommy!¡± she sniffled between every other word. ¡°Lizzie,¡± Emily turned to the fairy. ¡°Can you check to see who else is missing.¡± ¡°Will do,¡± Elizabeth said. She fluttered away to check if the Smiths, the Hermandezes, Atsuko or her shinobi are still present. Emily meanwhile rushed towards the theater as fast as she could. ??? Dawn creaked over the horizon. Emily snuck into the theater to look for Minerva and the erstwhile children. She searched the auditoriums and hallways. The screening rooms and the kitchen, but couldn¡¯t find no signs of them. ¡°That¡¯s odd,¡± Emily said. There was no physical presence of them anywhere in the theater. An hour later, she came a cross an image of an employee. A female fawn with brown hair. She then heard footsteps approaching and hid behind the corner. She peeked out from behind the corner and glanced the man that entered. It was an Arachne. ¡°Minerva?¡± Emily asked hopefully. She observed the man unlock the doors and noticed his masculine features. She was distraught to find it was not Minerva. The Arachne man took out a flashlight and turned it on. Emily retreated back into the corner with an ¡°eep¡± and saw the picture of the fawn employee. Her torso was the only one visible. An idea popped into her mind. ¡°Here goes nothing,¡± she said as she began to change her form into the woman. The Archane man approached the corner and saw a head pop out. ¡°Jebedissa? What are you doing here?¡± the manager said. ¡°Oh, you know,¡± ¡°Jebedissa¡± said, ¡°Just keeping an eye out for intruders.¡± The manager noticed the lower legs of the ¡°employee¡± and that something is off. ¡°Did you see any, Dissa?¡± Emily shook her head. ¡°None at the moment, sir.¡± She noticed the man had a different uniform, with adornments that marked him as the manager. Among with was nametag with ¡°Buford Webb¡± emblazoned on it. Buford looked around. There were clearly signs of another break in around here. A clatter was soon heard from a closet. Several items fell off, including a rich mahogany box. ¡°I¡¯ll go get that!¡± the disguised Emily said. After all it fell closer to her. ¡°You best be careful with that,¡± Buford said. ¡°That reel is priceless.¡± ¡°Will do!¡± Emily said as she picked up the box. She examined the contents and found that the reel was unharmed¡­and that it had ¡°Metropolitica Esmeralda - B.G. Scenes¡± written on it¡¯s canister. She touched the canister and noticed some strange black substance on it. A small drop of it got on her fingers as she moved the reel to ensure it was not damaged before putting it back. ¡°Jebedissa¡± handed the box back to Buford. ¡°Here you go!¡± the disguised avatara said. ¡°Thank you,¡± Buford said. ¡°Now go home, theater is not opening for a few hours.¡± ¡°Jebedissa¡± took the manager¡¯s advice and left the premises. She is left wondering where did Minerva go. ??? Later, at the Black Box. Heathcliff had did a role call in the wake of last night. ¡°Let¡¯s see,¡± he looked around and checked off the Coloraturas, the Hermandezes, Atsuko and her shinobi, the dwarven Smiths, The Truces, and of course Elizabeth, Tim, Nina, and the Coloraturas. Nina remains distraught about her mother leaving her like that. ¡°This feels rather strange,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°The [Construct] shouldn''t even be able to leave the premises without an [Avatara]¡¯s presence.¡± ¡°You mean those Nezumi-like kids?¡± Atsuko said. Elizabeth nodded. ¡°Well, we can only hope Emily came back with answers,¡± Heathcliff said. He then heard footsteps approaching. ¡°Well speak of the demon.¡± ¡°Did you find Mommy? ¡°Nina asked Emily as her avatara walked in. ¡°No,¡± Emily signed. She dematerialized her avatara. Her voice then echoed to Elizabeth. ¡°Who is currently missing.¡± ¡°Besides Minerva,¡± Elizabeth said. She then listed off several names. ¡°..Evelyn¡­Euryale, Stheno¡­Rico¡­Cassie¡­¡± She soon finished listing off the vanished. ¡°About thirty total,¡± Tim said. ¡°Most of them children.¡± ¡°Did you find them at the theater?¡± Rose asked. ¡°Not really,¡± Emily said. The film reel came to mind, yet whenever she tried to focus on it, something appears to cloud her mind, to make her perceive it as a rare but otherwise normal reel. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Hydrangea said. ¡°There has to be something there that would¡¯ve dwarf Minerva and the others.¡± ¡°Like a haunted film?¡± Azalea said. ¡°That would be horrible, terrible even.¡± ¡°Azalea,¡± Raine said. ¡°This isn¡¯t the time for your puns!¡± ¡°Haunted film?¡± Emily said. The image of the reel became a little clearer in her head. ¡°What is happening?¡± Emily thought. Elizabeth sensed something is amiss with Emily. ¡°Are you okay, dear?¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯m fine, Lizzie¡­I think,¡± Emily said. ¡°I think¡­I think something is clearly wrong with the theater.¡± ¡°You want to check it out then?¡± Esteban said. Emily felt a subconscious pull. As if someone is trying to beckon her to the theater. ¡°I think that is our only lead at least.¡± The Coloraturas expressed some suspicions about the place as well. Rose floated the idea that a Strega could be involved. The group deliberates on when to head for the theater. Meanwhile Nina scurried off to prepare for the trip. ??? ¡°Nina,¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoes to Nina. ¡°This could be dangerous!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care,¡± The spiderling said. ¡°My mommy is missing and I want to find her!¡± Sarah took a look at Nina¡¯s equipment, ¡°You two have been arguing for a half hour now.¡± ¡°But still,¡± Emily said. ¡°Emmy, please!¡± Nina pleaded with the Dungeon core. Lily cantered in, ¡°Hi guys, are we ready to go yet?¡± ¡°Not yet, Lily,¡± Sarah said. Elizabeth fluttered in. ¡°Heathcliff, Esteban and Atsuko are going to ask the guild for historical information on these disappearances.¡± ¡°Richard is also sitting this one out,¡± Sarah said. ¡°He went to Eastshire to ask about similar incidents. Carla also said she is going to search the nearby forests.¡± Emily turned back to Nina. ¡°Are you sure you want to do this?¡± She was cognizant of Nina¡¯s desires, and she had expected that Nina would want to save her mother, and to prove to them that she would not be a captive again. At the same time she can sense something within her mind telling to to bring her, she can sense a voice, an instinct that is not her own. ¡°Of course I¡¯m sure!¡± the petulant child said. Emily¡¯s voice echoed to Lily ¡°Can you help take care of her while we¡¯re there?¡± ¡°Of course¡± Lily cheerfully said. Emily, reluctantly, agreed to let Nina come with her. ??? An hour later, Emily, Tim, Elizabeth, Sarah, the Coloraturas, Nina, and Charlotte arrived at the theater again. Aside form the obvious hole in the wall, it retained a veneer of normalcy and business went on as usual. The group encountered Buford who is talking with some adventurers about ¡°Jebedissa¡¯s¡± absence. Emily sheepishly moves the group away from the manager as they start searching the theater¡¯s public areas. Soon, Emily felt a subconscious tug pulling her towards one of the closets. The ¡°employees only¡± sign is enough to deter most, but something keeps nagging at her to do it. She checked around her for prying eyes and then opened the door. Within was the mahogany box she saw earlier this morning. ¡°Is this¡­¡± Emily thought. She took the box and hid it in her avatara¡¯s frame before reuniting with the others. The group reconvened in an abandoned screening room. ¡°Did you find anything? ¡°Rose asked. Emily provided the box. ¡°I could feel this thing calling me.¡± She said¡­ ??? At the same time, A disguised Pearl and Scarlett also arrived at the theater. The porcine daughter and mother saw the arachne manager speaking about an absent fawn employee. ¡°It took a lot to get that intimation out of the scryers,¡± Scarlett said. Lucia emerges in front of Pearl. ¡°What do you think they meant when they spoke about ¡®spirals in a spool of frames¡¯?¡± ¡°A film reel, maybe?¡± the actress said. ¡°But which one?¡± Scarlett looked around and saw an open closet door. She then looked at the manager still ranting about the employee. ¡°Excuse me, sir?¡± Scarlett said. ¡°Excuse me,¡± the male arachne said. He then turned to the porcines. ¡°Yes?¡± Scarlett asked him about any special film reels he might have. The manager refused to answer at first, but after Scarlett and Pearl prodded him a little. The manager explained about the a specific reel. ¡°Recently, the theater had acquired a rare reel. A collection of takes of Betty Gale scenes from ¡®Metropoliticia Esmeralda¡¯.¡± Pearl¡¯s ears perk up. She had heard rumors about the film. As to be expected when the final cut feature her mother. ¡°Go on?¡± the disguised child actress said. ¡°The reel had attracted some rumors of it being cursed. Some did include vanishments, but it was more commonly associated with madness. People going around thinking they were Betty Gale. We received it from a man from the Leonis studio.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Scarlet said. Pearl wondered if there was a Strega inside the film reel. Before they could continue they saw a plume of smoke coming from one of the screening rooms. The pair went to investigate and found the source. An old projector with a pair of reels attached. A mahogany box is found nearby. The manager followed them and saw the box. ¡°It seems our suspicions were on point,¡± Scarlett said. While the Manager tried to get the projector to stop, the porcines took a look at the screen. They saw images of the setting of the film, but with elements distorted. They saw Betty¡¯s character, but in a static pose as props and other characters moved around her. More tellingly Pearl saw parallaxes in the screen. Something that should be impossible for a normal movie on a normal screen. Pearl and Scarlett moved tot he screen. The manager took a look at them and asked, ¡°hey, where are you going?¡± ¡°To the bottom of this,¡± Scarlett said. The two approached the screen and touched it. Their arms extended past what should had been the tarp into another world. A Dungeon. A Strega. They leap into the screen, into the portal and set off to find the entity at the center of it all. ??? Lily woke up in a strange place. She was surrounded by pistons and mechanical constructs filled with smokestacks. Buildings with gears sticking out of them, connecting to other gears on the adjacent buildings and above. The cogs are maintained by people resembling dwarves. They were pulling levers on the side. The blond centauride¡¯s head felt hazy, she remembered she was in a theater. She remembered who she was with, she remembered walking into a screed, but all that happened after that was a blur. She walked around the bronze sidewalks. She saw more people pulling levels, more people pushing buttons on terminals on the walls, and more objects characterized by cogs and transparent plastics. The young girl centered on the orange metal, and noticed she had stepped on a puddle of inky black fluid. She gazed at her reflection on the iridescent liquid. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± the young girl said. She saw part of it was stuck on her hoof and then looked over. A copper dome, oxydated to the point where it was green, loomed above the structure. She saw several leaky brass pipes receding into the dome. For some reason, the whole thing felt eerily familiar to her. Lily suddenly remembered something. An old memory of her crying alone in an underground city. A subterra underground for an underclass. Where she was discovered by several children, Children just like her. One moment of reminiscent begot another. The centaur child recalled encountering an ethereal talking rodent. She recalled the rodent transforming her into a Magical Girl. Then she remembered a diner where she and seven other children lived¡ªa makeshift orphanage. She looked forward, thoughts swirled in her mind. The fig in her mind began to lift and she recalled where she was in a flash. With a cheerful smile, she galloped around the steampunk subterrane. She cried out for her friends, looking for signs of them among the lever-pullers and the button mashers. ¡°Emily?¡± she cried out. ¡°Rose? Anemone?¡± No one answered, no one responded. She took out her wand and summoned a flash of light. A pillar so bright that it would blind those who were looking at it, yet the people on the bronze sidewalks haven¡¯t noticed. No one had turned, no one noticed the light, or so it seemed. Lily turned around and noticed shadowy figures approaching her. Nearby were foldable chairs, their legs crossed each other, and their back and seat were a simple canvas. They muttered indistinct commands. Lily couldn¡¯t understand them, but she could tell they were angry about her actions. She knew what those figures were and knew they wanted her to play her part as an extra, but the young girl defied them, She summoned her spear and charged towards them. One of them was immorality skewered and reduced to an oil-like substance. The second fell shortly afterward. With this fight, the young girl feigned another smile and cheerfully cantered on. Certain that they were inside a Strega. A while later, she saw a building collapse to her left. A residential area began collapsing like a tree in the woods, she saw the falling building and galloped as fast as she could. Yet the rubble was too tall, too wide for her to evade the rubble. Its shadows encompassed her as it toppled. She panickedly looked for something to protect her from the falling rubble. She galloped as fast as she could as it fell. At the last moment she took her wand out and tried to cast a spell, the building made contact with the street. Unlike the pillar of lights, the residents did notice that and ran away as fast as they could. From the rubble, a hand arose. Lily had succeeded in protecting herself from the building¡¯s wrath but struggled to climb out. She stood atop of a pile of rubble made from the building¡¯s wreckage. One of the walls became a new ceiling, a layer that stood betwixt her and the outside. She placed her arm through an open window and tried to leverage it to pull herself up. Her equine body was too heavy for her tiny arm to pull herself by itself. The hole was too high for her legs to climb out of. ¡°Somebody!¡± she cried out, ¡°Anybody! Help!¡± she whimpered. For the first time in a long time, she was truly alone. Her friends were missing too far to hear her pleas. She tried to climb out of the rubble for an hour. She continued to struggle, to climb out of the wreckage. She considered trying to find another way out, but before she could retract her arm, she felt something had grabbed it. ¡°Hang on, We¡¯ll get you out of here!¡± The voice was muffled, but Lily could feel a sense of familiarity in it. She looked up and saw another arm grabbing hers. ¡°Brace for impact, this is going to get a little messy.¡± Lily heard a second voice, but before could respond she heard something pierce the rubble. A bullet shot through a nearby window and pierced the foot of the pile. The rubble exploded with enough force to propel the centaur child through the window. She landed several feet away from the hole and saw Elisa and Scarlett were the ones who saved her. ¡°You¡¯re here?¡± Lily asked. Her beaming smile was unwavering. The porcine girl nodded. ¡°You were investigating what happened here as well. Lily nodded. ¡°Some of my friends are missing.¡± ¡°Say no more!¡± Elisa said. Scarlett looked around and felt a strange familiarity with the surroundings. ¡°This is¡­¡± Before the red-clad woman could finish, the three suddenly found themselves surrounded by a crowd of people. Among them, Lily could spot a tanned dwarf with silver hair as she looked on in shock. The three heard the crowd mutter among themselves. ¡°Did they slaw the witch?¡± ¡°Who are these people¡± ¡°Did salvation come?¡± ¡°What if Tophet found out?¡± Scarlett approached a strange spot and saw a glint where she expected it would be. A pair of glistening slippers were found in the rubble. She beckoned Elisa to the shoes. ¡°Wait are these¡ª¡± ¡°Elisa¡± said. ¡°These will come in handy.¡± The actress took the pair and the tanned dwarf approached them. She sang a song introducing herself and the residents of this underground steam-punk town. Lily tried to beckon for Sarah, but the dwarfette was confused and asked who that was. Scarlett saw a pink-haired fairy emerge in front of them. ¡°Hello, I am the Good Witch. I heard that someone had slain the Dark Witch Adra''molech?¡± Lily was confused. ¡°Adra''molech? What is that?¡± Scarlett and Elisa refused to explain the entity to her. The fairy fluttered around the three. Lily recognize her as Elizabeth but much like Sarah, she was not recognized as Lily. ¡°You know my name kind stranger?¡± Elizabeth said. Elisa stepped forward. ¡°We¡¯re looking for our friends, can you help us find them?¡± ¡°Your friends are missing?¡± the fairy said. Lily explained what happened to Elizabeth, and asked for her aid in finding the others. ¡°So you want to know what befell your friends? I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t help you but there is someone who might know?¡± ¡°The Wizard, right?¡± Scarlett said. ¡°Correct!¡± The fairy said. ¡°He knows all that goes on within the Metropolitica Esmeralda and beyond. He knows everything that occurs where the skies are blue. He resides in the upper spires of that city. Do you know how to get there?¡± ¡°I do,¡± Scarlett said. ¡°Follow the gilded path, yes?¡± Elisa said. The silver-haired dwarf noticed something familiar about the centauride and fairy both, but as she thought about it she was overtaken by a strange headache and something telling her that she must go with the group. ¡°You¡¯re off to see the wizard, then. I have a few words for him myself,¡± Sarah said. ¡°You want to go with them?¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°Oh believe me Adra''molech might have been vanquished, but she is not the only thing holding us back.¡± She says as she struggled against the haze. ¡°Besides, someone has to keep an eye on them. The gilded path is very treacherous.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°Well, I can¡¯t deter you if that is your wish.¡± Lily is a little relieved to know Sarah would join them. ¡°Before you set off,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°I¡¯ve a gift for you.¡± She presents a bottle of small capsules to Lily. ¡°If you ever feel tired, please take these pills.¡± Scarlett takes the drugs. ¡°Thank you,¡± she examines the tablets. She knows that there is something off about these pills, not that she was considering letting Elisa or Lily consume them. ¡°I must be off, with Adra''molech slain, her sister Tophet will surely be enraged. Please be careful dear travelers.¡± The quartet set off on their travels. Lily wonders if the Wizard is the Strega¡¯s core, the entity that held them and their friend hostage. Sarah grabs a hammer as she follows the other three down the Gilded Path. ??? Lily, Elisa, Scarlett, and Sarah travel along the Gilded Path. Elisa and Lily whisper among themselves about the film they are seemingly in. ¡°So we are supposed to meet three other people along the way?¡± The centauride said. The porcine nodded. ¡°That was how it event in Scarlett¡¯s version at least.¡± They looked at Sarah and her changed appearance. Her mechanical brass-and-tin-coated arms and body indicated that she might have replaced one of the fellows the party was meant to meet. Their conversation was interrupted when they heard dialog from a nearby cornfield. ¡°¡­to wander around this field for hours. At least the plants are willing to lend an ear.¡± Lily spotted Azalea and galloped to her. ¡°There you are! Do you recognize me?¡± The clionid looked at the smiling girl and made a quizzical expression. ¡°You look kinda familiar,¡± Azalea said. ¡°I knew someone like you,¡± she said teasingly. ¡°She had blond hair, however?¡± ¡°Blonde?¡± Lily said. She knew her hair was blond, but the way Azalea spoke implied it no longer wasn¡¯t. Eliza walked toward her and noticed something in Lily had changed. ¡°Now that you mentioned it¡­¡± she took out a mirror and presented it to Lily. Lily was surprised to find that her natural locks and fur had changed colors from blonde-yellow to a chartreuse green hue. ¡°When did that happen?¡± Azalea shrugged. ¡°I¡¯d say I¡¯m green with envy, but¡­¡± she giggled. Lily turned her attention back to the matter at hand. She observed that Azalea resembled less a merfolk and more a life-sized doll of one made in its image. Seams sewn with yarn were visible on their sides, and straw jutted out from them. Her eyes resembled buttons and her hair seemed like it was glued onto a sack. ¡°I¡¯m not winning any arguments looking like this,¡± Azalea said. ¡°Who are you, kind stranger?¡± Sarah said. ¡°Never saw a talking scarecrow before?¡± Azalea swam towards Sarah. ¡°My name is Azalea, apparently mindless, apparently meant to scare off birds and critters while waiting for some friends. You wouldn¡¯t happen to know anything about a few girls my age?¡± ¡°Such as?¡± Sarah asked. ¡°Like a pink-haired snake girl? Or a minotaur and winged fawn? O-oh how about red-headed winged girl?¡± ¡°We haven¡¯t seen them yet,¡± Lily lamented. ¡°We haven¡¯t found Emily, Anemone or Hydrangea either.¡± ¡°What about a feisty little arachne, a starry-eyed plant girl or a slight older purple-haired adventurer?¡± ¡°We haven¡¯t seen them either,¡± Elisa said. ¡°Spear-wilding martial artist?¡± Lily shook her head. ¡°We found Elizabeth, but she was also¡­¡± ¡°I see,¡± Azalea said. ¡°Well let¡¯s go then?¡± ¡°You want to come with us?¡± Sarah said. ¡°I want to ask that ¡®Wizard¡¯ something,¡± Azalea said while giving a wink to Lily, a clear sign to her that she wasn¡¯t mentally affected by the Strega. ¡°Besides I wouldn¡¯t mind having someone to hear my new material. I¡¯m certain it is less corny than this field.¡± Lily giggled at Azalea¡¯s joke. The group of now-five traveled further down the Gilded Path. ??? Later, Lily¡¯s group traveled down the gilded path. There they find it ends on an elevator. ¡°This must lead to the higher floors,¡± Azalea said. Sarah offered to operate the elevator. ¡°Did a lot of tinkering in my day,¡± she said. Her addled memory was still affected by the Strega¡¯s curse. Azalea and Lily try to find a method to snap her out of it. Lily then noticed Scarlett look at the twisted cityscape with a sense of nostalgia. She approached her and Elisa. ¡°You knew a lot about ¡®Metropolitica Esmeralda,¡¯ huh?¡± the centauride observed. Scarlett turned toward her ally. ¡°Yes, I do.¡± She knew that ¡°Elisa¡± had hidden her true identity from her new friend. She had in some way encouraged it. Both feared the potential problems that would be caused by a celebrity as young as her daughter being known as such among her peers. ¡°I watched the movie a lot with my daughter.¡± Elisa meanwhile remained transformed. Still clad in a Valkyrie-like armor. She wondered if she could trust Lily with the truth. For now, she decided to tell Lily more about the end. She looked at her friend whose hair and fur changed hue again, becoming a dark navy blue now. ¡°The film is about a young girl finding herself in a heavily industrialized city,¡± Elisa said. ¡°She gathered several companions as she ascended from its depths to the luxurious surface. A walking scarecrow, a cyborg, and a timid beast. They were tasked to find the Wizard to receive that which they quested for.¡± ¡°The girl sought a way home, the scarecrow, intelligence, the cyborg, a heart, and the beast, courage,¡± Scarlett said. ¡°Throughout the way, they learned about the plagues of the metropolitica and incidentally resolved them little by little. Gaining the notice and rancor both of the witch Tophet. She wanted to defeat the girl, assailing them with winged minions and traps. Their forces collided when the Wizard tasked them with ending Tophet¡¯s life and stealing the boomstick she wields.¡± Elisa continued the explanation of the plot. ¡°Though they prevailed, three of the four were revealed to have that what they sought most. But the girl was still without a way home. They soon found out the Wizard was naught more than a mere mortal, one with skill in magic and technology both, but still mortal all the same. He acquiesced to the girl¡¯s request and with the fairy¡¯s help told them the shoes were the key.¡± Scarlett finished. ¡°With the magic words, the girl found her way home, but then the ending yielded a cruel twist. The girl fell asleep and was left unable to move, and Wizard had strapped her to a chair and replaced her flesh with metal. She was a Messenger, but there was no way back to the old world, and she was instead thrust into the throne, to take the place of the Wizard, with the Wizard changing into one suitable for the role. The hero-queen of Esmeralda, granted the throne against her will.¡± Lily is shocked to hear that, she recalled vague details from the few times she watched the film, but hearing such vivid detail from those two caused her to tremble a little. ¡°That is horrible,¡± she said. ¡°Indeed,¡± Scarlett said. ¡°The director was inspired by two tales she said came from Messengers themselves, but rather than a happy ending where the girl was able to be sent home, they chose to reflect reality, Messengers, for all their fable power were unable to return from whence they came. The director and screenwriters had debated a lot over the ending.¡± Lily then recalled a specific detail. ¡°Adra''molech and Tophet were Witches right?¡± Elisa nodded. ¡°That was deliberate, the screenwriter had conflated people like you, like me, with the Strega we fight regularly, and cast the two sisters as tyrants of the horizon. In contrast with the Wizard that rules above and the kindhearted fairy that sent the girl on her quest from below.¡± Lily stayed silent for a bit, she had little idea of the subtext there. She just assumed the film¡¯s ending was happy for all involved, and that the girl had accepted the city as her new home. Elisa and Scarlett silently suspected the reason why that reel housed the Strega. After a few moments, Azalea swam towards the group. ¡°We¡¯ve elevated the lift, it¡¯s ready to go.¡± ¡°Is Sarah back to normal?¡± Lily asked. The mermaid scarecrow shook her head. ¡°That thing really messed with her mind.¡± The party entered the elevator and ascended to the higher levels of the city, the top of the green copper roof that separated the underground from the above ground. As the elevator ascended, they saw a large constrict at the other end of the city¡¯s depths. Fire belched out its maw as they saw groups of people marching towards it. Sarah looked at the construct with disdain. ¡°Even in death, Adra''molech stills¡­¡± she said. Lily recalled the explanation of the plot and that the cyborg both longed for a heart and possessed one all along. ¡°Sarah?¡± Though she did not acknowledge the name as hers, she responded to it all the same, she had gotten used to them insisting on calling her by that she no longer minded. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Why did you want to see the Wizard?¡± Lily asked. ¡°Well,¡± Sarah said. ¡°You saw all these people living down there?¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± Lily said. ¡°They are our brothers, our sisters. They toiled underground, powering the machinery that makes the surface functional, and despite all these surface dwellers saw us with only disdain. Like we¡¯re just cogs in the machine. Adra''molech claimed to offer salvation, but she simply had many of us killed. I want to ask why the Wizard stood idly by and let it happen.¡± Lily looked at the dwarven cyborg with understanding. She wondered if she had sought a heart like the character or already knew she had one to start with. The elevator soon entered the layer of copper, and the view of the underground was blocked by steel and brass pipes. Colors unusually in hues of violet, then indigo, then blue and green and yellow before taking on the natural orange color of brass. The elevator began to decellerate as it ascended through a layer of red-colored pipes, steam hissed loudly form them as a new city came into view. The red pipes contrasted with the green-tinged buildings around them, buildings that looked shiny and new and well maintained. Those gleaming buildings were interspersed with raised railways and hovering vehicles. Lily noticed she changed color again as they existed the elevator. Her now-violet hair fluttered as tey saw the facsimile of sunlight shining down on them. They knew they were in the upper layer of Metropolitica Esmeralda, a place where skies are blue. ¡°So this is¡­¡± Sarah said in awe. The Gilded Path was in front of the elevator, much like it was on the surface. The group traveled down it to the place where the Wizard resided. ??? Lily¡¯s group soon came across a densely wooded area, a park with dense trees, there they saw several winged beings perched on the canopies. They glared at the travelers. Everyone looked back at the winged beings. Sarah brandished her hammer. ¡°Oh great, jet-servants.¡± The mechanical beings looked down from the canopies. Their robotic appearance was accentuated with both metallic wings and jets at the end. They ascended to the sky. ¡°DEFILERS, MURDERERS, ELIMINATE!¡± one of them said in an electronic monotone voice. The machines then swooped down towards them. Sarah swung at one of them with her hammer, the collision knocked it towards a tree. The now-pink-colored Lily bucked at another and forced it to clip a wing of a third off and send it crashing toward Azalea who dodged it. Scarlet used her rifle as a wand. ¡°Oh Anesidora, grant me the power to smite these heathens!¡± Spires of rock and stone pieced the metallic ground and soil and skewered some of the machines, but the rest of them dodged them. ¡°ADVERSARIES, OBSTACLES, REINFORCE!¡± a machine said. Soon more emerged from the nearby trees to assist them. They were left surrounded. They tried to fight off the machines, but they were overpowered. Suddenly an arrow pierced one of the machines and sent to spiraling down. Another arrow collided with the head of another machine and caused it to collide with more. A shadow leaped from the canopy of a tree and slashed at another before nocking an arrow from her bow that hit another machine with near-perfect accuracy. The purple-haired girl landed on the ground near the group. Lily and Azalea recognized her immediately. ¡°Anemone?¡± Lily asked the lycanthrope girl didn¡¯t respond as she fired arrows at the machine, taking down several more. ¡°COWARD, WRETCHED, RETREAT!¡± the machines soon fled the area. Anemone blinked and was suddenly confused. She saw Lily whose normally yellow fur and hair had become orange, and Azalea who looked like she was made of straw. ¡°Lily, Azalea?¡± Anemone said before she grasped her head in pain. ¡°My head,¡± she said before collapsing. The other two Coloraturas rushed to Anemone and noticed she was heavily wounded by the machines¡¯ attacks. ??? Later, Anemone woke up in front of Lily. ¡°Oh thank goodness, I knew you would be okay!¡± she said. Anemone noticed her head stilt throbbed. The Strega attempted to assert its will over her mind. ¡°Ugh, barely,¡± Anemone said. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Do you remember ¡®Metropolitica Esmerelda¡¯?¡± Lily asked. Anemone nodded. ¡°I watched it a few weeks back, why?¡± she suddenly looked around and noticed the golden path beside them and the green building all around them. She then recalled what she saw before the Strega had brought them within its domain. The title of the film on the reel. ¡°Oh.¡± She took a look around. ¡°If I¡¯m the timid beast,¡± Anemone said, ¡°and azalea¡¯s the scarecrow¡­¡± ¡°I prefer laughcrow myself,¡± Azalea quipped. ¡°Right,¡± Anemone said. She looked at Sarah. ¡°Is Sarah the cyborg?¡± ¡°As far as we knew,¡± Elisa said. ¡°But we got her to come along before the elevator.¡± Anemone mused on it. ¡°I heard that the original cut had moved some scenes around and that the cyborg was repositioned to be the first companion. The final cut had decided to move her to the elevator instead,¡± Anemone said. ¡°Actually, who was slotted into he role of the girl?¡± Lily and Elise realized that they didn¡¯t know. ¡°Me I guess? Scarlett and I entered the domain near a crumbling building.¡± ¡°I was trapped in the rubble before they saved me!¡± Lily said. ¡°I see,¡± Anemone said. She looked at the porcine child and deduced she was here to investigate the Strega as well. With everyone acquainted and assembled by now, the group traveled down the gilded path. ??? As they traveled down the Glided Path, Lily and her party found themselves in an ornate garden. Various flowers adorned the hedges, most prominently poppies. Scarlett took a look at the scenery and recognized it. A look of shock and fear washed over her. ¡°Something wrong?¡± Lily asked. ¡°This place, it is the Garden of Eternal Sleep,¡± Scarlett said. ¡°What?¡± Lily said with a yawn. ¡°It was placed as a trap¡­¡± Anemone said with a little tiredness in her voice. ¡°By Tophet, the first¡­¡± she yawned. ¡°Attack against the girl and her party.¡± Azalea stretched her arms. ¡°Well, it¡¯s clearly¡­working. Does anyone need a pillow? I¡¯m sure I could¡­suffice,¡± the altered mermaid fell asleep. Lily galloped to Azalea. ¡°C¡¯mon, we can¡¯t be asleep at a¡­ a time like this!¡± She struggled to keep herself awake as she shook Azalea. A loosened piece of straw fell off the mermaid¡¯s sack-like form. ¡°Wake up!¡± ¡°We had been at¡­¡± Elisa said. ¡°...for a while.¡± Her speech slurred a little as her consciousness waned. ¡°Maybe we could take some..¡± She fell asleep and collapsed onto the ground before she could finish her sentence. Sarah was already knocked out by the garden¡¯s effects. Lily pleaded with Scarlett. ¡°We need to wake them up!¡± she said. Her once eternal smile gave way to a rare look of panic. Scarlett looked at the bottle of pills Elizabeth gave them. She didn¡¯t even know what they did, but evidently, they had a purpose. Her grasp on consciousness grew more tenuous as she saw Lily struggle to keep herself awake and to wake the others. Lily summoned a bright light to try to wake everyone up, but their eyes didn¡¯t respond. Then she tried clanking her hooves on the metallic floor of the gilded path, to equal lack of avail. ¡°Come on, Lily,¡± She said. ¡°Keep yourself awake.¡± Scarlett looked back at the pills. She recalled that she was not the first who played the role of the girl in the film, and also some of the rumors about her predecessor. ¡°Perhaps¡­¡± she used much of her remaining strength to take one of the drugs and swallow it. She suddenly felt more energized and alert. She then looked at Lily, now too tired to move her hooves. She handed a pill to her. ¡°Swallow, don¡¯t chew,¡± Scarlett said. She doesn''t trust the drub, but she knows there is nothing else that could be done to keep them awake. The centauride obliged Scarlett¡¯s request and swallowed the pill. Her tiredness gave way to a shot of energy. Scarlett then fed a pill to Elesa. The younger porcine girl slowly woke up and groggily looked around for a few moments. ¡°Mommy?¡± she said. Scarlett helped her up. ¡°We need to carry them out of here,¡± she doesn''t want them all to suffer the side effects of whatever drugs the fairy gave them. Lily took Azalea and Sarah on her back, positioning them so that Sarah rested on Azalea¡¯s body. Elisa carried Anemone¡¯s body on her own as Scarlett led them through the garden. ¡°How does that garden work?¡± Lily said as she galloped after Elisa and Scarlett. ¡°Tophet had enchanted it to place people in a comatose state for eternity,¡± Elisa said. ¡°The fairy had awakened them up by dispelling the effects, but¡­¡± They weren¡¯t sure if that salvation would come this time. Scarlett led them through the garden, the three tried to avoid slumbering bodies on the floor and dislocating the unconscious Sarah, Azalea, and Anemone from their backs. They rushed through the garden for two hours before escaping its clutches. Lily and Elisa panted heavily. They ran for two hours while carrying twice their weight in other people. Were it not for the effects of the pill, exhaustion would have knocked them out. On Lily¡¯s back Sarah began to wake up. ¡°Man that was a nice nap,¡± she said. Azalea and Anemone the woke up next. Lily struggled to keep herself awake. ¡°Sorry guys¡­but I have to¡­¡± her head was hung as her hooves locked in place. Lily had fell asleep. The SleepShell encased her and made it impossible for her to be fed another pill. ??? Lily woke up in the middle of the night. There Scarlett, Elisa, Sarah, Anemone, and Azalea were setting up camp. Far away from the Garden of Eternal Sleep. ¡°Evening, sleepyhead!¡± Azalea said. Lily rubbed her eyes. She saw that her hair and fur had changed color once again. ¡°I guess cyan is a good color for this morning,¡± she said with a feigned smile. Elisa and Anemone approached her. ¡°We¡¯re almost at the Wizard¡¯s palace,¡± Anemone said. ¡°If they are the Strega¡¯s core then we simply battle it.¡± ¡°And if they¡¯re not?¡± ¡°Well that would mean Tophet is the other likely candidate,¡± Elisa said. ¡°Well, what are we waiting for?¡± Lily said. ¡°Hold your horses, Lily,¡± Azalea said with her usual puns. ¡°Elisa and I want to tell you something first.¡± Elisa turned her head. ¡°Scarlett had taken Sarah out to arrange the meeting,¡± she said. ¡°Can you keep a few secrets?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Lily said cheerfully. The porcine girl whispered into Lily¡¯s ear. Her eyes widened in shock. ¡°No way,¡± Lily said. ¡°That can¡¯t be true.¡± To prove it, ¡°Elisa¡± detransformed. A starry black cocoon formed over her. A minute later out came a shorter girl, she wore a simple dress and her pigtails were gone, her hair being done in six simple ringlets in their place. Her voice was also slightly higher pitched. ¡°Hello, My name is Pearl Templeton. I¡¯m sorry for lying to you.¡± Lily, was surprised to hear that Pearly was her new friend all this time. She nearly squealed in fangirlish delight before Azalea covered her mouth shut. Pearl transformed back into her Witch form. ¡°Can you please keep it a secret? People tend to be weird around me.¡± ¡°The nature of celebrity, and fandom,¡± Anemone said. Lily nodded and calmed down. ¡°But..It¡¯s just¡­I¡¯m sorry. I need some time to process this.¡± She cantered around muttering to herself how awesome it is to have befriended one of her favorite movie stars. She then rushed to Anemone and spoke hyperactively about the opportunity to ask her what it is like working in show business. To Pearl¡¯s quiet discomfort. ¡°Maybe this is a mistake,¡± Pearl said. Lily turned to her new friend and realized she was behaving poorly. ¡°Sorry, sorry, shutting up now.¡± ¡°Now that she¡¯d done being starstruck,¡± Azalea said. ¡°Gather round I have a tale to tell¡­¡± ??? At the same time, Scarlett and Sarah walked inside the palace of the Wizard. Scarlett looked around and saw various people going about their business. ¡°Finally we¡¯re here,¡± Sarah said. The two women approached the reception. ¡°We¡¯re here to see the wizard,¡± Scarlett said. ¡°The wonderful Wizard of¡ª¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Sarah interrupted. ¡°Wonderful my ass,¡± she uttered under her breath. ¡°O...kay,¡± the receptionist said. He took a look at his book. ¡°The Wonderful Wizard of¡­Yes, will see you in a few hours.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Scarlett said. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°No problem, and your names are?¡± the receptionist said. Scarlett gave her name and turned to the dwarf. ¡°Your turn.¡± ¡°Well that is quite obvious,¡± Sarah boasted proudly. ¡°I¡¯m¡­I¡¯m¡­¡± She tried to recall her name but was having trouble. Her head clouds up as she struggles to recall her name. Memories that are familiar and strange both. A blond dwarf, a pair of silver-haired spiders, a purple-haired young girl, a giant spider, a strange starlit maze. Memories that she was certain she didn¡¯t have, and yet they had felt familiar. ¡°Miss!¡± the receptionist said ¡°Are you all right?¡± Scarlett rushed to her aid. Sarah began hyperventilating for a bit. ¡°I-I¡¯m fine, just a migraine is all. You still want my name?¡± ¡°Well,¡± the receptionist said. ¡°We can¡¯t finish the anointment without it.¡± ¡°Very well,¡± the dwarf said. ¡°I¡¯m Sarah, Sarah Ebony Smith.¡± Later the two left the palace to gather their party before returning. ¡°Sarah Ebony Smith huh?¡± Scarlett said. ¡°That¡¯s my name, please, wear it out,¡± Sarah said. ¡°I¡¯m going to need all the reminders I could get.¡± Scarlett laughed. ¡°I don¡¯t think I know you that well.¡± ¡°Still want to give whoever did this to me a piece of my mind,¡± Sarah said. ¡°So tell me about the ¡®wonderful¡¯ Wizard of ¡®Yes¡¯,¡± ¡°The Wizard was a simple charlatan,¡± Scarlet said. ¡°He hid behind smoke and mirrors to project himself as an almighty being, even though he struggled to repel Tophet and let Adra''molech run rampant in the lower depths. He was a fraud, but he still had power.¡± ¡°How responsible was he for the pain and suffering of the lower depths?¡± ¡°Even before Adra''moloch came along, the script mentioned that he had built the city in its entirety. It was he who made the system that approached the people and it was he who made laws to ensure there were people positioned to run the machines, regardless of their health or well-being. Yet he was the victor in the end as he used the Messenger as a vessel for his ambitions.¡± ¡°That tracks,¡± Sarah said. ¡°I¡¯ve been traveling with my daughter for quite a while,¡± Scarlett said. ¡°Helping her take case of monsters like these, as such I know that this place isn¡¯t truly real. It is an illusionary Dungeon created by malevolent entities only her and people like her could truly slay.¡± ¡°But is still reeks of Noir,¡± Sarah said. ¡°Same rot, greener coat of paint. Guess I couldn''t help but think of that a bit.¡± She looked at her brass coated arms. ¡°Film ended with the Messenger turned into a robot right?¡± Scarlett nodded. ¡°The other three were similarly altered, made into metals statues so that they wouldn''t impede the Wizard¡¯s plan. The cyborg had their heart ripped from them. The scarecrow rendered mindless and the beast paralyzed by fear.¡± ¡°That sounds like a horror story,¡± Sarah said. ¡°The director wanted it that way,¡± Scarlett said. ¡°I¡¯m sure the same is true for this iteration¡¯s ¡®director¡¯ as well. ¡°Here¡¯s hoping our witch friends can give them the boot.¡± Sarah said. They left the palace¡¯s premises. ??? ¡°¡­and That is how I became a sad sack, and then not a sad sack, and then well just a sack I guess,¡± Azalea said. Despite Azalea¡¯s humorous interjections, Anemone and Lily were shocked by her story. Pearl was less so, after all, she was already aware of things of a similar nature long ago. ¡°Does that mean you were¡­¡± Lily said. ¡°I had no idea.¡± Anemone mused on certain things. ¡°That would explain a lot of things,¡± she said. ¡°I heard that Whisper mentioned there was a terrible risk when we asked them about it,¡± Lily said. ¡°Funny how it didn¡¯t come into mind until now.¡± ¡°You said Rose was the only one who doesn''t know this besides us?¡± Anemone said. Azalea nodded. Scarlett and Sarah arrived. ¡°We got the ¡®appointment¡¯ set up. Ready to go.¡± ¡°Ready,¡± Pearl said. ¡°Um-mm,¡± Anemone said. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Azalea said. ¡°Wait,¡± Lily said. ¡°Do you think the Strega¡­¡± Scarlett noticed that Lily had become aware of a hidden truth. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Pearl said. ¡°We haven¡¯t encountered any fragments so far. They may be¡­¡± ¡°¡­oh,¡± Lily said. ¡°I¡¯m sure it will all work out in the end. It always does.¡± ¡°You¡¯re forgetting what happened at the end of that story,¡± Sarah said. ¡°Well, we¡¯ll just make a new ending then!¡± Lily said with unfaltering cheer. ¡°We¡¯ll save them, I¡¯m sure of it!¡± Her determined smile touched Pearl. ¡°You think so?¡± Pearl said. ¡°We can¡¯t write them off until we know for sure!¡± Lily said. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go!¡± Lily lead them back to the palace. ??? Lily and the others arrived in the place where the Wizard resided. ¡°FOOLS!¡± bellowed a voice. ¡°WHO DARES DISTURB MY SLUMBER!¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Sarah said. ¡°Time to pull back the curtain!¡± Sarah saw a large rope and jumped at it. At that point, The group heard a commotion outside. ¡°Stop, you¡¯re not supposed to be¡ª¡± a voice said before a tempestuous storm blew him away. The group found Emily, Tim, Nina, Charlotte, Rose, Raine, Hydrangea, Strelitzia and Clover rush in after them ¡°There you are!¡± Emily said. ¡°Emmy!¡± Lily said. Sans Elizabeth, The group was reunited, and she also saw Evelyn with them as well. Sarah jumped again. ¡°Heave, ho!¡± she grabbed the rope and with gravity¡¯s assistance pulled it down. The large curtain had opened to reveal a large metallic thrown on it. Sitting on it was not a man, but a certain Arachne. ¡°M-mommy?¡± Nina said. The ¡°Wizard¡± was in fact a brainwashed Minerva. Chapter XXXVIIIS: Where Dreams Came True Meanwhile, Emily found herself in a place resembling a film studio complex. Tim and Nina were beside her, unconscious. Emily woke the martial artist and spiderling up. Nina rubbed her head. ¡°Where are we?¡± Tim surveyed the surroundings. ¡°Looks like a studio backlot.¡± Emily noticed that they were the only ones there. ¡°We must have gotten separated when we fell.¡± Tim brushed off some dirt from his shoulders. He felt like they were being watched. ¡°She should find the others. At the very least we will need the Coloraturas with us if their theory is correct. And given the strange entrance¡­¡± ¡°Look, over there!¡± Nina said. She saw one of the entrances glow with an eerie light. Emily saw that the door was slightly open. She and Tim pushed it the rest of the way and before they knew it they found themselves in front of a pet store-like building. ¡°And there we go,¡± a familiar voice said. At the other side of the room is Clover, handing a silhouetted customer a small pet. The ears of the critter had been cropped off. ¡°Nex¡ª oh!¡± Emily approached Clover. ¡°Hello,¡± she greeted. ¡°Emily! Long time no see,¡± Clover said. ¡°Want me to take care of Nina?¡± Emily and Nina needed clarification. ¡°Clover, are you okay?¡± ¡°She is not okay!¡± Stretlizia had arrived behind them. Her hooves and tail are decorated in usually frilly bows. ¡°Stre! How have you been.¡± Clover said. ¡°Clover, please snap out of it. This isn¡¯t you!¡± ¡°What is going on?¡± Nina said. ¡°It¡¯s the Strega!¡± Streltizia said. ¡°Strega?¡± Clover said. She then guffawed for ten seconds. ¡°Stre, you and your tall tales.¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t a joke!¡± Strelitzia said with desperation. ¡°Emily, can you help me? She has been stuck in this set for hours, thinking she is some pet beautician.¡± Emily looked at Clover, the young fawn remained obvious to her friend¡¯s plea. ¡°Pet beautician?¡± Nina then looked around and saw various images of dressed-up critters. Dogs, cats, mice, rabbits. She realized something and furiously approached Clover. ¡°Hey! I am not a pet Clover!¡± ¡°Emily,¡± Clover said. ¡°Nina seems feisty today. Has she been eating well?¡± ¡°My mommy is missing, stuck inside some film reel and instead of helping me look for her you mistook me for Emily¡¯s pet?¡± Nina glared at Clover, her eyes began to glow a reddish hue. Her Bardsong gaze brought Clover into a small gaze while Nina ranted to her that she wasn¡¯t a pet. The entranced Clover began to argue back at her, strangely proclaiming that she also isn¡¯t a pet. ¡°Nina, your eyes!¡± Emily yelled. ¡°What do you mean, my eyes?¡± Nina asked before looking back at the peryton fawn. ¡°Can¡¯t you see I¡¯m¡ª¡± The spiderling saw that Clover had dozed off, her eyes half-lidded and blank and her jaw slacked and drooling. Nina had realized that she had lulled her into a trance and screamed in panic. ¡°Clover?¡± Nina said while gazing into her eyes. ¡°Wake up, Clover!¡± she yelled, Strelitzia tried to help Nina wake up the girl through several means. Eventually, Clover was knocked from her daze. ¡°Huh, what? Is this a pet store?¡± she said, seemingly unaware of what happened. ¡°You¡¯re back!¡± Strelizia said. ¡°Back?¡± Clover said, she then suddenly remembered how she had gotten here. ¡°In any case,¡± Tim said. ¡°We should leave,¡± Tim said, sensing a growling malevolence in the air. The group of five left the entrance and found not an outside street, but another store interior. The bright colors became more muted as several pets approached them. Blackened sludge was secreted from their skin as the animals drew closer to the group. Everyone had sensed a hostile aura from them, and so they prepared to fight off the creatures. ??? Later, Emily, Tim, Clover, Streltizia, and Nina were fighting against Small vicious animals. Strelitizia used her labrys to swat away several small dogs, while Clover sliced at a larger cat with her fan. Tim repulsed some toothy rabbits with knee strikes and kicks. Emily meanwhile slashed at the red-eyed pets with her swords. ¡°Why are they attacking us!¡± she said. ¡°These were supposed to be cute furry little critters.¡± ¡°They¡¯re part of the Strega!¡± Clover said as she sliced at the increasingly grotesque housepets. Emily combines her weapons into a chakram and throws a Photon Ring towards them. Clover stumbled backward a bit. She felt something clouding her mind again. She accidentally bumped into Nina, who was trapping the hostile creatures in her silken web. ¡°Hey,¡± Nina said, still irate from Clover mistaking her for a pet. ¡°Sorry,¡± the fawn said. The group found their way to another door and rushed through it, they found yet another room filled with mangier pets. Clover heard more rolling thunder and developed an idea. ¡°Emily!¡± she said, making a cyclone with her fan. ¡°The lightning!¡± The avatara heard the thunder outside and took her swords. She charged the weapons with lightning mana and then them into the gust. The cyclone gathered up the critters as the lightning-charged weapon glided around it. The thunderclap attack and Clover¡¯s cyclone combined into a powerful storm-aspected spell that turned the hostile creature into black sludge and ripped off the roof of the building. Tim lifted himself up to the broken roof and skewered pursuing stragglers while Strelitiza created a jagged rock that pierced the floor and allowed the others to ascent to the open room. The storm¡¯s power soon left the hostile pets unable to chase them as they rushed into the street and outside the studio building. Everyone panted as they closed the doors leading into the set. After gathering their breath. Emily took a look at those who were present. ¡°Everyone okay?¡± She asked. ¡°I¡¯m..fine,¡± Nina said after collapsing from exhaustion. ¡°Just need¡­to breathe.¡± Clover used oxygenation spells to help everyone catch their breath faster. After some time, the group wandered the eldritch studio complex. In the distance, they saw a large, almost monolithic building with large green lettering. Despite the size of the sign, the inscription is indecipherable. Nina skittered ahead. ¡°Mommy! Mom! Where are you?¡± Strelitzia looked at the tall building on the horizon. She wondered if that is where the Strega¡¯s core lies. Along the way, they saw another lot¡¯s doors were open and they heard someone muttering inside. ¡°A little blush here, some lipstick there¡­¡± Sensing something familiar about it. The decided to enter and investigate. ??? There the group saw Rose slithering around a damp room. ¡°Just a few more touches of eyeshadow and you¡¯ll be pretty in no time,¡± the pink-haired lamia said. Strelitzia approached her and saw her applying makeup to an unconscious body. ¡°Rose, we¡¯re here!¡± The magical girl ignored them as she slithered around to a makeup box. Rose gathered a mascara wand. Strelitzia looked at the body and noticed a bluish-green complexion. She saw some skin on the right cheek sag and was immediately repulsed. Nina approached Rose and tried to wake her up with her, eyes, but Rose was moving too face for her to maintain eye contact. Emily noticed a peculiar odor in the cold air and looked around. It resembled a makeup parlor, but the walls were undecorated and grey, and the only things there besides them were several cabinets, a salon chair for hairdressing, a gurney, and the mirror and desk Rose got her makeup from. Clover grew deeply uncomfortable with the place. ¡°Maybe we can pull her out?¡± she suggested. Tim took a look at the lamia child, her tail was long enough for him and Emily to grab. He poked the tail with his Qiang to see her response. ¡°Ow,¡± Rose said as she looked toward her tail. She failed to notice Tim or his weapon. ¡°Must¡¯ve been a bug,¡± she said. She took the unconscious woman on the gurney and placed her on a conveyor belt. She then slithered towards one of the cabinets. She bumped into Emily, but remained unaware of her presence, merely slithering past her and towards a different conveyor belt. She took the gurney and loaded another torpid woman onto it before carting it back to the desk. ¡°She doesn¡¯t even notice us,¡± Nina said. Tim and Emily decide to try to pull Nina out, they grip the serpentine tail. Rose noticed the tug and looked back. She assumed the tail was having a spasm and electrified it. The two were forced to release the tail after taking a small amount of voltage from it. Nina attempted to use her webs to pull Rose out, but Rose noticed the tug again and sent lighting through the webs. ¡°Maybe I should get a check-up later today. Tail is acting weird.¡± She verbally mused. The group knew that had to do something to snap Rose back to reality, but were at a loss for what to do. Emily glanced over Rose¡¯s shoulder while she applied makeup to her current body. She saw the woman open her eyes and revealed the lack of eyeballs. Rose noticed this and gently closed the eyelids, as if unfazed by the absence of eyes. The air grew eerie around them as the group tried to find a way to wake Rose up. Eventually, Clover looked at her minotauride friend and developed an idea. ¡°What?¡± Stretlizia said. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s time we gave her a bit of a shock?¡± Clover said. ¡°Did Azalea rub off on you, Clo?¡± The peryton whispered into the minotaur¡¯s ears. Her eyes widen in shock. ¡°No, absolutely not. I¡¯d rather be caught dead than wear makeup.¡± Clover pleaded with Stretlizia, her quivering expression was accentuated with a pleading puppy-like expression. Strelitzia still refused, but would eventually relent a few moments later. ¡°Fine, but you owe me for this,¡± Stretlizia said. Clover shared the rest of the plan with the others. Rose soon finished applying makeup to the corpse and placed it on the conveyor belt. She then let out a yawn. ¡°Can¡¯t got o sleep yet,¡± she said. The child took out a pill from a jar and swallowed it alongside some water. Feeling energized, she took the gurney and slithered to the other end. Clover, Emily, Tim, and Nina poked Rose¡¯s tail to distract her while Streltizia got into position. She took the new body and placed it on the floor before climbing up the gurney. Per Clover¡¯s plan, she closed her eyes and waited for her signal. The others stopped distracting Rose. ¡°That¡¯s it, I¡¯m going to the clinic after this,¡± she said as she took the gurney and moved it to the table. She took a look a the serene face and noticed it reminded her of someone she knew. She touched Streltizia¡¯s arm. ¡°Huh, warmer than usual. Must¡¯ve been a fresh one. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll make sure you are extra beauteous today!¡± She took some lipstick from the desk and looked back to the minotauride. Clover gave the signal and Strelitiza opened her eyes. ¡°Boo!¡± Rose recoiled in fear. ¡°What the¡­? You¡¯re¡­¡± she began trembling and the earth trembled with her. The other end of the mourge room suddenly receded from everyone and Emily and Tim noticed a being emerging from the floor. It was a zombie-like entity made up of several unattended bodies merged together. Nina nearly vomited upon seeing the creature. Tim, Emily, and Clover prepared to fight the beast while Strelitzia continued to scare Rose awake. ¡°You¡ªyou¡¯re alive?¡± Rose said as she seemingly recognized her friend. ¡°Of corpse I¡¯m alive, dummy!¡± Streltizia said. She realized her tongue slipped and she made an accidental pun, but ignored the slip for now. ¡°Wake up!¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t happening,¡± Rose said. ¡°You were dead! I saw them kill you!¡± The phantasm¡¯s amalgamated fist attacked Tim, but he dodged it and thrust toward the exposed blue sphere that was its ethereal core. Clover sliced off several chunks of the phantasm with her fan and winds, but the animate pieces reconverged near the bottom. Emily and Nina tried binding it via ice spells and webs respectably, but the silk was unable to bind it and the monster simply broke off the frozen flesh. Rose trembled in front of her supposedly dead friend as Streltizia tried to reason with Rose. ¡°But they took your life? How could you still be standing here? This has to be a nightmare.¡± ¡°Rose, I¡¯m clearly alive. You¡¯ve been brainwashed by the Strega, wake up!¡± Streltizia said. The phantasm continued to fight the party. Everyone noticed certain features had emerged on the entity as it attacked the party. Red and green wings, a cyan snow-pattered hat, antlers, horns, a purple tail, an orange sphere in a translucent tail¡­ Emily used a thunderclap attack to strike the phantasmal amalgamation. Tim made a charging leap to slice at the monster with his weapon. Emily attacked the amalgamation with a photon ring. The phantasm barreled past them and grabbed Clover. It leaped over Rose and slammed into the wall behind the desk and gurney before grabbing Rose and Streltizia. Rose squirmed as she struggled to break free from what she saw as an amalgamation of the other Coloraturas. Strelitzia and Clover attempted to break themselves free from its grasp. Emily, Tim, and Nina tried to fight it, but its wounds faded as the phantasm¡¯s parts regenerated from the extant corpses stored at the morgue. ¡°Rose!¡± Clover cried out. ¡°This isn¡¯t them! This isn¡¯t us!¡± Strelitzia used earth magic to conjure boulders from within the zombified phantasm, but the increased mass only further empowered it and tightened its hold on them. Rose tried to use lightning magic, but every time she shocked the monster, her head was clouded with false memories. She grabbed her pained head as the mass of necrotic flesh levitated over the floor and into a dark red sky. Black sludge seeped from every orifice on the mass. Clover and Strelitzia eventually loosened themselves from its grip enough to approach Rose. They grabbed her hands and tried to pull her and themselves out from the ball of flesh. ¡°Please¡­I don¡¯t want to go,¡± Rose said. ¡°We¡¯re not letting you go, not on my watch!¡± Stretlizia said. ¡°We¡¯re make it though!¡± Clover said. Rose¡¯s head began to clear up. She began to realize what exactly happening and her fear gave way to lucidity. She began to see the flesh for what it truly is. A trick of the Strega meant to trap her. She, Strelitzia, and Clover began to draw Rose¡¯s rapier from its sheath. Rose channeling mana through it. ¡°Lucid Lightning!¡± she yelled. Her head was clear enough to focus. A tremendous power attacks the phantasm from within, as lightning bolts erupt throughout its curst and from it. Emily, Tim, and Nina dodge the wayward strikes as the fleshy mass expands from the attacks. The three witches fall from their captor¡¯s grasp and land on the floor before it explodes, and takes the studio set with with. The group of six now find themselves back at the lot¡¯s streets. Hundreds of corpses and body parts transformed into puddles of black ink around the ruins, they stained the adjacent lots upon collusion with their roofs. Rose breathed heavily as she tried to compose herself. She knew this was not the first time a Strega had messed with her mind. That¡¯s how they operated after all, befuddling and brainwashing their victims to neutralize threats and consume prey. Yet this time felt viscerally difference to the lamia girl. She looked back at Strelitzia and Clover then to Emily and Tim and finally to little Nina. She saw that the rest of her friends weren¡¯t with them, nor were those they had came here to save. She remembered that as a Sentinel she and the other Coloraturas were able to be resurrected should they perish, but she would still rather it not come to this point. The group gathered their bearings, they saw the skyscraper in the horizon and moved toward it the black asphalt soon gave way to golden-hue brick roads and they drew deeper toward the building, certain they would find their wayward companions there. ??? Meanwhile, Emily¡¯s group had entered the monolithic building. They found themselves in a large emerald city beneath a dark blue sky. Rose was still mad about what had happened to her back there. ¡°Making me think my friends, my sisters, were dead, ¡°she grumbled. ¡°When I meet that damned Strega, she is going to get a lightning bolt so shocking it¡¯ll make the one that Stratios sued to strike the Cyclops look like mere static.¡± Emily chastised Rose for her somewhat foul language. Nina called for her mother again, trying to find Minerva. The others tried to call for the rest of their friends. They found several artifices of set design in the building. Props, cardboard backgrounds, cameras, and spotlights dotted the large room. ¡°This looks more like a movie studio than usual, ¡°Emily noted. They soon heard someone crying. They headed to the source and found a familiar phoenixian girl in front of shadowed figures. ¡°I¡¯m sorry!¡± Raine cried. ¡°I just¡ª¡± ¡°Just what?¡± one of the figures said. A drip of black sludge got on Raine¡¯s face as he swatted her with a scrip. ¡°That was the seventy-third take! How could you fuck up seventy-three takes?¡± There was a furor in the specter¡¯s voice. Another voice, more gentle, but equally mad lashed out at the man, ¡°You had her work all night, after an already long day and you expected her to perform perfectly after that?¡± ¡°Of course I do!¡± the man said. ¡°I¡¯d paid good money for the alchemists to supply her with pep pills so that we could get this film finished. The premiere is due in a month and we¡¯re way behind schedule!¡± The man shouted the last two words before storming off in a huff. Raine was left inconsolable. Emily and her friend glared at the man. ¡°He sure looks cheery,¡± Strelitzia said sardonically. Rose looked at Raine, still bawling on the floor. ¡°Why am I such a failure?¡± the red-haired girl said. ¡°I thought I was the studio favorite.¡± Rose slithered to Raine. ¡°Hello?¡± Raine was startled. ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry! I''ll do better next time!¡± she had expected the director but instead saw someone else. ¡°O-oh. Are you a fan?¡± ¡°Not really,¡± Rose said. ¡°Want to talk? I don¡¯t bite.¡± Raine noticed the pink-haired lamia was familiar to her somehow. She looked younger than her, more cheerful, but she could see a hidden feisty side in her eyes. She felt like she could trust her. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t like Raine,¡± Rose thought. ¡°It¡¯s clearly the Strega¡¯s influencing her, but¡­¡± Rose wonder if she could snap her friend to reality by hearing her confide in her. Raine began to tell her tale, interspersed with bouts of sniffling and tears. She claimed to have been part of a dance troupe when she was younger, and that her parents had landed her a contract with Leonis. ¡°Leonis?¡± Rose said. ¡°That sounds like a big deal,¡± ¡°It is,¡± Raine said. Rose noticed the phoenixian girl¡¯s eyes quivering with tears. A look that didn¡¯t suit the fiery girl at all. ¡°I sang a song for them, the director liked it so they put it in¡­I was asked to play a role in ¡®The Sailors of the Starry Seas,¡¯ my mother said they loved it¡­they always pushed me to do better. Said my voice was too nasally, my steps too uncoordinated, my tummy too round.¡± Emily looked at Clover. ¡°Do you think we should help?¡± ¡°I think Rose has got it handled,¡± Clover said. ¡°If nothing else, she is good at getting Raine to confide in her,¡± Streltizia said. Tim looked around and noticed a room nearby, he beckoned Emily toward the room. Rose continued to hear Rain out she she continued her tear-laden rant, snot dripped from her nostrils as she continued. ¡°It¡¯s not fair! Why is he always so mad at me? I thought I was his favorite!¡± ¡°That¡¯s show business for you,¡± Rose said. ¡°I hadn¡¯t even slept in the last week!¡± Raine said. ¡°They had me taking ¡®special medications¡¯ to help me perform my scenes, but I always feel tired right afterward¡­¡± Meanwhile, Tim and Emily looked around the room and saw various illegible documents, as well as pill bottles. ¡°Is this¡­¡± Emily said. Tim looked at the orange container. A tinge of disgust warmed over him. ¡°What were these for?¡± Tim thought. He was certain that the Hollyland studios were forced to ensure the sick weren¡¯t on set, and Leonis never struck Tim as harboring secret cultivators. Raine continued to confide in Rose. ¡°It¡¯s just not fair! It¡¯s not!¡± She then Rose hugged and confided the poor girl. ¡°There there, let it all out.¡± Raine cried on Rose¡¯s shoulder for several minutes. After she was done She looked at Rose again. ¡°All better,¡± Rose said. ¡°Un-huh,¡± Raine said. ¡°Tha¡ª¡° She suddenly grasped her head in pain. ¡°My head.¡± ¡°Raine?¡± Rose said. ¡°Whose¡­Raine,¡± the winged girl said. ¡°I¡¯m Bett¡­¡± She collapsed on Rose¡¯s arms again, unconscious. Rose beckoned Stretlitzia, Clover, and Lily to her. Meanwhile, Tim and Emily exited the room, with more questions than answers. There they saw two girls rush towards them. ¡°There you are!¡± They were Hydrangea and Charlotte, with little Evelyn in tow. They saw Rose trying to rouse Raine from her sudden torpor. ¡°What do we do?¡± Rose asked. ¡°Wait are you still¡­you?¡± ¡°Of course, we¡¯re still us!¡± Charlotte said. Hydrangea took a look at Raine and placed her arm on her forehead. ¡°Raine¡¯s a little feverish, but she¡¯ll be fine. She just needs some rest.¡± She took a bag conjured ice within it and placed it on Raine¡¯s forehead. ¡°Do you guys know where Mommy is?¡± Nina asked. ¡°We found Minerva, yea,¡± Hydrangea said. ¡°But¡­ there is a problem. She and the children were thoroughly enthralled by the Strega.¡± Rosed placed the unconscious Raine on her back and tail, she was ready to carry her. She then thought about what Raine said before she collapsed. ¡°Bett¡­Bett. Do you guys know who this ¡®Bett¡¯ is?¡± ??? Emily, Tim, Nina, Rose, Raine, Clover, Strelitiza, Hydrangea, Charlotte, and Evelyn ventured deeper into the set, they passed through several rooms, set pieces, and props. Rose still carried Raine on her tail. Rose and Emily pondered on the mystery of this ¡°Bett,¡± person. Evelyn and Charlotte looked around for other people. Charlotte is concerned for her two friends, and fears for their safety. Nina continues to cry for her mother. The movement of Rose¡¯s tail as she slithered roused Raine from her slumber. ¡°Ugh, my head,¡± Raine said groggily. ¡°Mornin¡¯ sleepyhead!¡± Rose cheerfully said. Raine realized her body was being carried on Rose¡¯s tail. She rapidly stood up, but was still too tired to maintain her balance and stumbled. Hydrangea noticed Raine trying to keep herself upright. ¡°How was your rest?¡± she asked. Raine Carnation Cadenza managed to keep her feathered legs and wings straight. ¡°Terrible, what did the Strega do to me?¡± Rose made a mischievous grin. ¡°It had you thinking you were someone named ¡®Bett¡¯.¡± She continued to explain the state they found her in, including her bawling and ranting like a petulant child. ¡°I-I would never do something like that!¡± Raine said. ¡°Not even if a Strega forced me to!¡± ¡°Right,¡± Streltizia said. Raine simply humphed. The group soon arrived in an emerald-colored city. The buildings were more realistic than the sets they walked past. Emily took a look at the green skyscrapers. It reminded her of what she saw in Noir. Tim placed his palm on one of the walls. He felt an actual wall instead of cardboard or parchment. ¡°This is within that building? It feels like we¡¯re in another world.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve given up on trying to make sense of Strega long ago.¡± Tim¡¯s description caused Emily to remember something. ¡°Another world?¡± she recalled the Network once more and the dream. And that Elizabeth told her Messengers and Divine Dungeons were originally from different worlds. Yet she couldn¡¯t recall anything about from whence she came. Only what was gleaned from her trip to Memoria Medica, the microdungeon of her swords, and she isn¡¯t even sure how accurate that is. Emily saw Evelyn take out a sketchpad and a small palette, she painted some of the scenery and buildings. She recalled she painted a scenery similar to the microdugneon. ¡°Hey, Evelyn?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± the young Cell said. ¡°Could I take a look at your painting?¡± Emily said. ¡°Sure!¡± Evelyn said. She was always eager to please Emily. The avatara observed her continue to paint several scenes. A large green spire, a castle on a jagged rooftop, and the lot outside were all depicted. ¡°What do you think, Emmy?¡± Evelyn said. ¡°It¡¯s perfect,¡± Emily said. ¡°May I take a closer look?¡± Evelyn excitedly handed her the sketchpad. Emily looked around for anything comparable to the spire and the castle. She eventually saw a giant mountainous tower that seemed to be in the city¡¯s center. ¡°Everyone!¡± she beckoned them to follow her as she rushed toward the green spire. ??? As Emily¡¯s group ran closer to the emerald spire they saw winged automata swoop from the skies to accost them. ¡°INTRUDERS, INTERLOPERS, EXECUTE!¡± their leader shouted. ¡°Execute this!¡± Rose said as she drew her sword and summoned lightning to hit one of them. Tim leaped onto another of them and pierced it with his Qiang. Clover gathered a giant tornado to gather up most of the machines. Raine then ignited the winds with her rings to create a supercell of smoke. Those that weren¡¯t sucked into the ashen vortex were instead frozen by Hydrangea, or pelted by conjured Boudlers from Streltizia. Several machines hovered closer to the ground, where Nina tangled them up with webs. Charlotte used her gravity spells to make it easier for Nina to swing at the others, using the capture winged mech as a bludgeon. Emily saw a machine rise from the spire. Its helm had a rim and a pointed tip on it, resembling Anemone¡¯s hat. The machine allowed the stragglers around it before locking blades with Emily. The mech used a fire-enchanted sword, which Emily countered by coating the weapon with water mana. Mist emerges from the clash and surrounds them. Emily used the mist to her advantage by walking beside the machine and kicking it in the back. The magical android tried to slash at Emily, but she parried its weapon and caused more mist to envelop her, before using a Thunderclap attack on it. The machine¡¯s wing is clipped by the bolt of lightning from her sword. ¡°INSOLENT WORM,¡± the elite mech uttered. ¡°TOPHET WILL HAVE YOUR BLOOD!¡± The enchanted automaton suddenly vanished. ¡°Tophet?¡± Emily said, confusingly. With no more obstacles, the group ran towards the spire. There they got a glimpse of some familiar faces as the front door closed. ¡°Is that anemone?¡± Raine asked. ¡°Azalea¡¯s there too!¡± Evelyn said. ¡°She looks kinda different.¡± ¡°We¡¯re on the right track,¡± Emily thought. Upon ascending the steps, Hydrangea and Raine combined their powers to induce thermoshock onto the doors. This effect caused the emerald doors to break open. The reception is shocked to see Emily¡¯s group barge in. ¡°Sorry,¡± Emily said as she and her party rushed the stairwell to the right. Several guards came after them. ¡°Stop, you¡¯re not supposed to be¡ª¡± Clover summoned a cycle to push the guards away, they dissolved into black sludge upon collusion with the wall. They soon came across an ostentatiously decorated door and pushed it open. Beyond it, they saw Lily, oddly with green hair and fur, Azalea, who looked like she was merged with a sack of straw, Anemone, and Sarah, the latter having prosthetics. They also saw Elisa and Scarlett with them as well, but not Elizabeth. ¡°There you are!¡± Emily said to Lily and her group. ¡°Emmy!¡± Lily said as she saw her party run towards them. They then saw Sarah pulling down a large rope. ¡°Heave, ho!¡± the dwarfette leaped and tugged the rope with all her strength. A large green curtain had received to the walls and revealed a silver-haired arachne woman in front of a mechanical throne. Everyone recognized who that person was. Most of all Nina. ¡°M-mommy?¡± Nina said. The regal-looking Wizardess glared at them. ¡°I am nobody¡¯s mother, insolent brat!¡± Minerva¡¯s tone was domineering. ¡°For what reason have you intruded on my domain and defiled my dignity with your presence?¡± ¡°Yep,¡± Rose said. ¡°The Strega really did a number on her.¡± Nina pleaded with Minerva. ¡°Please, Mommy. It¡¯s me, Nina, remember?¡± Minerva remained displeased. ¡°We¡¯re here in search of some friends of ours,¡± Lily said. ¡°Can you help us find them?¡± ¡°And why should I¡ªWait¡­¡± Minerva looked at Lily and Elisa and took notice of the shoes the younger porcine wore. ¡°Are you the ones that had slain Adra¡¯molech?¡± ¡°Well,¡± Lily said nervously. Her hair and fur were now more crimson. ¡°¡®Slain¡¯ is¡ª¡± ¡°Yep,¡± Azalea said. ¡°That¡¯s us! We brought the whole house down on that show of hers!¡± Minerva sized up the large group. ¡°So I see, you claim to have destroyed the witch that placed the subterranean in her iron grasp?¡± ¡°I was there where it happened!¡± Sarah said. ¡°I can vouch that did more than you had done. Where were you when she arrived and offered ¡®protection,¡¯ to them huh?¡± Sarah grew closer to being lost in character as she made her impassioned speech. ¡°Tell me why they should look to your leadership when all you had¡ª¡± ¡°Silence!¡± Minerva pointed her scepter and struck Sarah with a spell. She had turned into a brass statue before everyone¡¯s eyes. ¡°You dare question my authority? Heh, maybe you have the will to slay that harlot of the West. Bring me her broomstick or else¡­¡± She cast another spell, this time encompassing the whole room. ¡°Fail and you will stand as reminders of what happens to those who dare to defy me.¡± Everyone noticed a small piece of brass on their skin. Emily looked at Sarah, ¡°Will you free her if we bring the broomstick?¡± ¡°I shall free the underdweller if, and only if you bring proof of the demise of Tophet.¡± ¡°Very well,¡± Emily said. ¡°We¡¯ll do it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like we weren¡¯t planning on going there anyway,¡± Stretlizia said. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! ¡°We¡¯ll take care of Tophet,¡± Lily said. Nina looked at Minerva, she wasn¡¯t sure if there was anything she could do to break the Strega¡¯s should on her mother¡¯s mind. Minerva smirked, ¡°Then go ye heroes!¡± The group, sans a now ferrofied Sarah, leaves the palace of the Wizard and sets off to find Tophet. As Nina left, she turned ehr head back on her mother. Her eyes quivered with tears. The door closes and beneath Minerva¡¯s notice, a single tear dripped from her face. ??? The party leaves the verdant palace. Nina fuming over what happened with her mother. Emily and Evelyn try to use the latter¡¯s painting to locate Tophet¡¯s castle. Lily looks at the brass patch on her arm. Rose slithered towards her. They talked about what they encountered after being separated. Pearl joined in, reintroducing herself to Rose. ¡°¡­So we have a strawman witch¡ª¡± ¡°Did somebody say ¡®strawman witch¡¯?¡± Azalea chimed in, exploiting her altered form for as many jokes as possible. ¡°Someone named ¡®Bett¡¯¡­¡± Lily and Pearl mused on the name. Lily¡¯s hair and fur were now a dark blue hue. ¡°And the Strega, of course,¡± Rose finished. Nina skittered to Rose. ¡°And my mother being brainwashed!¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Lily said. ¡°That happens a lot.¡± She smiled. The silver-haired spiderling glared at the centaur. ¡°Why are you so happy? What if Mommy is stuck thinking she¡¯s for tyrannical wizard-queen for the rest of her life?¡± ¡°We just need to find the Strega and beat it. Problem solved.¡± Nina said with her usual cheerful demeanor. ¡°It¡¯ll be perfectly fine!¡± ¡°But what if we can¡¯t?¡± Nina said. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Nina said, innocently. ¡°My friends and I have plenty of experience finding and slaying Strega,¡± Lily said. Nina grew more irritated with Lily brushing off her concerns. The other children try to calm down their youngest, but the arachne girl grew more furious with each attempt. ¡°I nearly lost my mommy once!¡± Nina said with tears welling in her eyes. ¡°D-don¡¯t you know what it¡¯s like to l-lose someone you loved?¡± Pearl aside, all of the children in the party had lost at least one parent. And the Coloraturas especially lost them both. Each of the eight witches had lost their parents to various and diverse circumstances. Nina¡¯s question shocked Lily. ¡°Of course we do!¡± She said. ¡°It¡¯s just.¡± An inconsolable Nina skittered away. Tim noticed the arachne girl flee in sorrow and turned his gaze towards the children. ¡°What happened?¡± he said with a sigh. Everyone¡¯s eyes turned to Lily, who wondered why her attempts to console her had the opposite effect on Nina. ¡°Lily,¡± Raine asked. ¡°Have you ever considered that the ¡®little miss sunshine¡¯ thing isn¡¯t the solution to everything?¡± Lily turned to Raine. ¡°Huh? What are you talking about, Raine?¡± ¡°With how younger Nina is than us,¡± Hydrangea opined, ¡°a little more empathy would have gone further there.¡± ¡°She needs a shoulder to cry on,¡± Rose said. ¡°Just like Raine did.¡± Raine blushed upon recalling the hazy memory of her crying on Rose¡¯s shoulder earlier. ¡°Can we please stop talking about that?¡± Anemone and Pearl looked at the color-changing centauride with a curious question. ¡°It isn¡¯t healthy for you to keep your emotions bottled up either,¡± Anemone said. ¡°Huh?¡± Lily is shocked by her friends¡¯ responses. ¡°B-but I¡­¡± she sighed. ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± She knew she had to at least apologize to Nina. Pearl approached Lily. ¡°I¡¯ll help you find Nina,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯m going too,¡± Charlotte said. ¡°Euryale and Stheno being Astra-knows-where is more than enough worry for me.¡± The centaur, porcine actress, and alraune searched for Nina in the nearby woods. Emily and the others stayed here so that they could locate Tophet¡¯s lair. ??? Nina skittered to a large forest at the eastern edge of the green metropolis. She moved over a rock and slumped around. In her solitude, betwixt the urban and the natural, she thought about her desire to be an adventurer, to be a hero. She turned her gaze to the emerald spire to the west. ¡°This stinks,¡± she said with a frustrated tone. Her mother has been brainwashed, and she isn¡¯t certain if that would be undone. They haven¡¯t found the Strega, and she doesn¡¯t even have a clue what exactly it is. She then looked at the patch of brass on her arm. She saw that it grew a little larger. She looked back on how Sarah was turned into a brass statue and how the same fate could await her if they did not find Tophet or the Strega in time. A while later, Nina heard a rustling noise from the nearby bushes. She glared at the topiary and prepared to fight whatever monster that would emerge. ¡°Show yourself!¡± she demanded. Lily emerged from the bush. Her hair, tail, and fur are a reddish hue now. ¡°Hey,¡± she said. The younger spiderling glared at the centaur child. ¡°What do you want?¡± she said. Lily approached Nina and bent her four legs to meet Nina eye to eye. Pearl and Charlotte watched from near the bush. ¡°My friends and I,¡± Lily said, referring to the other seven coloraturas. ¡°We all lost our parents when we were younger.¡± The filly continued as magenta streaks creeper on her hair. ¡°I lost mine when I was about your age.¡± Nina looked at the centaur incredulously. ¡°What happened?¡± Nina tried to recall the details, but she couldn''t piece everything together. ¡°One night I walked into the kitchen and saw them on the table. I thought they were just sleeping and tried to wake them up but they never woke up.¡± ¡°But why?¡± Nina asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Lily said. ¡°Soon other adults came in and said they had passed on. But they never told me why or how. Following that I was declared Exsecratii and placed in the Underground, where I wandered before meeting the others.¡± Nina ruminated on these words, she started to regret acting the way she did back then. ¡°Why are you telling me this?¡± ¡°I wanted to say I¡¯m sorry,¡± Lily said. ¡°And also because I felt you should know that I didn¡¯t mean to brush aside your concerns.¡± ¡°Tell me one thing,¡± the other child asked. ¡°Even if you had¡­that happened to you, why are you always so smiley all the time?¡± ¡°Because it¡¯s fun!¡± Lily said. Nina was unamused by the response. Lily¡¯s fur and hair were now completely pink as she let out a sigh. ¡°Okay, it¡¯s because I don¡¯t want to fret over what couldn''t be changed, alright? My parents taught me to never feel burdened by the things you can¡¯t change. That was¡­that was the best way I could honor their memory.¡± Nina hanged her head in regret. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for not considering your feelings,¡± Lily said. ¡°I really am.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, ¡°Nina said. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for acting out like that.¡± She then looked at Lily¡¯s eyes. ¡°Do you think we can save Mommy and the others?¡± ¡°Of course we can!¡± Lily said with a smile. ¡°Just have faith in us.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Nina said. From near the bush, Charlotte and Pearl heard some noise. They turned around and saw the shadow of a plump monster in the distance. Its neck was as long as its body wide. It slowly approached Lily and Nina. The porcine witch and the alraune moved from their hiding spot to warn the two. ¡°Guys!¡± Charlotte said, there¡¯s a monster coming this way!¡± Before Nina and Lily could react, the monster rushed past them. Its large body and neck held both several spots and wings. The head was beaked and had orange feathers on it. Its long neck also had feathers that transitioned into its spotted fur. ¡°What in the Admsitrator¡¯s name is that?¡± Lily asked in shock. ¡°It¡¯s a Hip-po-gy-ra-phon!¡± Pearl yelled. ¡°It was a monster created specifically for the film!¡± The Hip-po-gy-ra-phon moved with a speed higher than what its rotund build would suggest. The four girls barely dodged its rush. Lily used her wand to shine a bright light to blind the long-necked beast, but its blinding light only enraged it further. It let out a squawking noise as it lashed at them with its neck and head. The girls try to run away from the beast and try to get help from the rest of the party. ??? Meanwhile, Emily and Evelyn are still looking for a landmark resembling the domain of Tophet. ¡°Are you sure my painting could help us find this ¡®Tophet¡¯ person?¡± Evelyn said. ¡°I¡¯m certain of it,¡± Emily said. ¡°If I recalled correctly,¡± Scarlett said. ¡°The witch¡¯s domain was to the west of here but...¡± ¡°But what?¡± Emily asked. ¡°The changes made between the final cut and the original one included changing the locations,¡± Anemone said. ¡°The first cut had the elevator be to the west of the Wizard¡¯s palace and Tophet¡¯s land be to the east. That was reversed in the final cut.¡± ¡°How do you know all that?¡± Rose asked. ¡°You¡¯d be surprised what you can learn from film magazines,¡± Anemone said. Just then they heard a loud thud to their left. They saw Nina, Charlotte, and Lily rushing toward them with Pearl riding on Lily¡¯s equine body. Emily noticed the strange beast chasing them. Scarlett recognized the beast as a Hip-po-gy-raf-phon and took out her boomstick. Anemone nocked arrows from her bow. The arrow grazed the beast¡¯s long neck and landed in its shadow. The berserk animal tried to grab its prey, but Anemone¡¯s magic forbade it from moving beyond where its shadow touched the arrow. ¡°What is that?¡± Clover said as she took her fan out. ¡°A Hip-po-gy-raf-phon,¡± Anemone said. ¡°It was said to guard the elevator leading to the underground. ¡°So if it came from there¡­¡± Tim said. The beast noticed the arrow binding its shadow and tried to remove it. The arrow embedded itself between two brass slabs on the sidewalk of the Gilded Path. ¡°Then that means¡­¡± Emily looked in the opposite direction from where Lily ran from. Her eyes spotted a strange mountain with several smaller peaks around its core. She noticed the silhouette was similar to what Evelyn painted on her sketchpad. ¡°There!¡± While the Hip-po-gy-raf-phon was occupied with freeing itself, the party ran as far away from it as possible. The beak of the beast gripped the arrow and pulled on it with all of its might. The arrow was soon broken from the ground and the shadow and the Hip-po-gy-raf-phon glared at the party as they ran away from the monster. The beast gave chase to the party. Rose saw that the monster rapidly grew closer to them and tried to stun it with lightning spells. ¡°Electro-elegy!¡± she yelled as she drew her sword and made several thrusting motions with it. Lightning struck the beast. Azalea drew moisture from the air and used it to trap the beast in an orb of water before Rose¡¯s spell struck it. The discharge stunned the beast enough for the party to get more distance between them, but the Hip-po-gy-raf-phon unfolded its wings and took to the skies. ¡°It could fly?¡± Raine asked with disbelief. ¡°It did have wings after all,¡± Pearl said. The Hip-po-gy-raf-phon flew into its shadow enveloping the group before it swooped down from above. Raine intercepted it in midair and exchanged blows with it. Her rings against its talons and beak. The red-headed phoenixian girl slashed at the strange beast with weapons and used them to parry strikes from its blinded head and its front talons. The chimeric entity pecked at Raine¡¯s arms with its beast. With wind magic, Clover propelled herself into the air to save Raine. She took her folded fan behind her and slammed it down onto the large chimera. The peryton fawn then used her wings to glide near Raine. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°I think¡ª¡± Raine suddenly realized that she couldn¡¯t feel her right arm and wing. Clover grabbed her before she could fall and saw that Raine¡¯s elbow was entirely coated in brass. The Hip-po-gy-raf-phon recovered from Clover¡¯s strike and ambushed them. It swatted them into the ground by using its neck like a whip. Strelitizia attacked the beast by conjuring a jagged rock formation and pinned its wings to it. Azalea and Hydrangea created a gelatinous cushion to protect Clover and Raine as they fell to the ground. ¡°You guys okay?¡± Azalea asked. ¡°We¡ªwe¡¯re fine,¡± Clover said. Rained looked at her elbow in horror, she tried to bend it, but it wouldn''t budge. Her crimson right wing was likely partially turned into solid immovable brass as well. The Hip-po-gy-raf-phon tried to move, but Nina climbed to the rock rotation and created webs to further bind its webs. Tim struck the neck with kicks, punches, and conjured boulders. Emily saw that the beast was still able to free itself from both Streltizia¡¯s jagged rocks and Nina¡¯s web and asked Hydrnages to help her freeze the beast. The two channeled ice mana into a frozen coffer surrounding the Hip-po-gy-raf-phon as Tim, Lily, and Nina retreated. With the Hip-po-gy-raf-phon frozen solid, Pearl made several tap dances. Her mo seismically broke both the rocks and the frozen beast. Finally ensuring it was unable to chase them anymore. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Raine looked at her elbow again. ¡°How long will it take to get there?¡± Raine asked. Scarlett looked at the mountain. ¡°If we could find a way up there.¡± She then remembered something. ¡°Follow me, I have a plan.¡± The group continued their quest and followed Scarlett to where they could find some machines to commandeer. They soon arrived at a junkyard where several of Tophet¡¯s downed machines were sent to rust. They rummaged through the various mechanical bodies there to find enough parts to construct a flying machine. ¡°If only Sarah was here,¡± Lily said. Raine used all that she learned from Sarah to try to piece together a flying machine. After an hour they managed to create something that could carry them towards the mountain. They boarded the flying platform and activated it, ascending to the skies and setting off towards Tophet¡¯s lair. ??? The party used their contraption to travel the skies to reach Tophet¡¯s Peak, where the vengeful sister of Adra¡¯molech is supposed to reside. Emily kept her eye out for anything that could block their path. Raine used her fire magic to create thrust for the machine, supplemented by Clover¡¯s occasional use of her fan to create gusts. The others kept their distance from those two both to avoid being singed by the flames and also to keep weight distribution equal. Scarlett looked around the area for any notable landmarks. She remembered that when she filmed for her cut of the movie, the party of four traveled by land, and that most of the trip to the peak was cut. Leaving a gap in her knowledge of how to navigate the land. Lily looked down at the scenery beneath her. Instead of the green buildings and trees of Esmeralda, there was instead a beige wasteland littered with the charred remains of dead trees. Any lakes or rivers were replaced by tar-like black sludge. It reminded her of the night she saw her parents¡¯ lifeless bodies. She had always wondered who killed them, but such inquires were banished to the back of her mind as she struggled with other concerns, even after meeting and joining the Coloraturas she was unable to learn more about them. Azalea broke her train of thought. ¡°Hey there,¡± the straw-filled mermaid said. ¡°Hello,¡± Lily said. ¡°Why are you so blue, Lily?¡± Azalea said. Lily turned her head to look at her hind legs and saw that her tail was a cerulean hue, along with her hair and fur. She then shrugged at her clionid-shaped sack friend. Azalea giggled a little. ¡°That isn¡¯t quite what I meant, silly.¡± Anemone carefully walked towards Lily, being careful not to jeopardize the stability of the aircraft. ¡°Is it about Nina?¡± Lily shook her head. Come to think of it, this was the first time she had ever opened up to anyone about her past like that. All her friends knew of Lily¡¯s parents was that they were deceased. Nina, Lily, and Pearl were the first to know some of the details beyond that. ¡°Is it about your¡­¡± Pearl approached Lily as well. But she is hesitant to finish her question. ¡°My parents?¡± Lily finished it. The look in her eyes made it abundantly clear that it was indeed about that. Her locks changed to an azure hue as she looked down beneath the craft. ¡°It¡¯s just that,¡± she sighed. ¡°I don¡¯t know why they perished, or how. And ever since I talked to Nina earlier, that has just been bugging me for some reason.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Anemone said. ¡°You want to know what happened to them?¡± Lily nodded. ¡°I know Hydrangea and Clover felt similarly about theirs, but¡ª¡± The conversation was uninterrupted by turbulence attacking the craft. The flat base slanted towards the back where Raine and Clover were pushing it with their magic and everyone slid close to that edge. Anemone reflexively used a spell to magnetize everyone to the metal floor with her dark gravity magic. ¡°What is going on?¡± Strelitzia said. Evelyn looked to her right and saw a fleet of machines in the distance. With those winged mechs were three gigantic turbines. ¡°INTRUDERS, TRESPASSERS, DEFENESTRATE!¡± the leader of the mechs said. Evelyn noticed its helm resembled a pointed hat. Emily looked toward the machines. She sang a chord of Bardsong to create a veil of darkness around the machines. Scarlett aimed her rifle at them and fired an enchanted bullet. The bullet erupted in a red aurora within the darkness that forced the machines to fly off in random directions. Some of the winged robots avoided both attacks and rapidly flew toward the party¡¯s craft. One of them caused the device to turn around and cause a part to break off. ¡°Stupid robots!¡± Raine said, she tried to grip the ring on her right hip, but she noticed it remained hosted there. She looked at the right arm and saw that it had fully turned to solid brass. Clover noticed her left wing and arm was also nearly coated in brass as well from Minerva¡¯s curse. Another one attacked the machine and broke the fragile propulsion systems keeping it in the air. The craft is not fated to crash. Clover tried to use her magic to create wind, while Hydrangea used her magic to create an icy path to allow it to land gently, but as they did the patches of brass on them began creeping more on their bodies. ¡°Hold on tight!¡± Hydrangea said. The cyan-bobbed girl continued to channel her mana into cushioning the craft¡¯s crash landing. Frigid air coalesced into solid ice that the clipped machine slid on before stopping at the foot of the mountain. Winged machines now surrounded the party, Rose drew her sword and wand and used both to conduct lightning spells to attack the machines. One of them avoided the lightning bolt and engaged the lamia in melee combat. Its mechanical fist against Rose¡¯s rapier. Rose eventually used slicing and thrusting motions in tandem with her spells to defeat the machine. The pointy-headed machine also engaged with the party, this time attacking Lilt and Pearl. The centauride had deftly dodged its spells and retaliated with light magics, barriers, and her spearwork. Pearl assisted by using bardsong channeled through her tap dances to smash adversarial mech with the earth itself. Strelitzia and Tim meanwhile sued earth magic to wipe out several of the machines. The minotauride then slammed her labrys onto the downed mechs. Time used bajiquan techniques to repel the melee strikes of the mechanical opponents and dismember them. Rose managed to defeat her opponent, short-circuiting it with her attacks, as the machine fell she tried to slither to assist her allies, only to find out that her tail had been coated entirely in brass. Failing to slink around, she tried to crawl with her arms, only to find they were insufficient to move her now brass tail. ¡°Great,¡± the pink-haired child said. ¡°Just great.¡± She saw that her friends were still being assaulted by the machines and focused on the one attacking Pearl and Lily. She decided to channel a spell. ¡°Andante Discahrge!¡± Rose summoned successive bolts of lighting between her and her target. One strike followed by another in front of it. The pointed-helmed machine, too busy trying to defeat Lilt and PEarl, became blindsided by the attack. ¡°SYSTEM ERROR! SYSTEM ERROR!¡± The leader of the machine was neutralized and it fell in front of Lily. The now purple-haired centaur looked at Rose, her body nearly turned to brass. ¡°Guess this is it,¡± Rose said as brass crept up on her torso. She smiled at Lily. ¡°Rosie!¡± Lily galloped towards her serpentine friend. The machines scrambled, bereft of a commander, and retreated to the tip of the mountain. ¡°I might fall,¡± Rose said with a smile. ¡°But I know the spirit of justice will persist. Lily, everyone, go on with me. It will be okay in the end, right?¡± Rose succumbed to the curse, becoming a brass statue. Lily looked around and saw that Raine and Hydrangea were also turned into brass statues. Pearl, Scarlett, Emily, Tim, Nina, Evelyn, Charlotte, Clover, Strelitzia, Azalea, and Anemone were otherwise unharmed, but they and Lily herself noticed the patches of brass covered more of their bodies than they did before. The party, now with three less than before, looked at the mountian. There they saw a pitch-black castle with several spires, the place where Tophet lives. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Scarlett said. ¡°We have little time to waste.¡± Lily looked back at her fallen friends before following the party in their uphold climb. ??? The party made their way to the top of the mountain and arrived at the entrance of the lair. Pearl looked at her shoes, the slippers that she knew the film¡¯s antagonist wanted. They enter the castle and are immediately accosted by animate furniture. Tim dispatched them with his knees and arms. Nina moved around the walls and ceiling trying to find Tophet¡¯s broom first. Pearl and what remained of the Coloraturas followed the spiderling. Lily and Anemone helped Nina try to locate Tophet¡¯s room. Azalea also tried to lighten the mood with her jokes. Meanwhile, Emily, Tim, Scarlett, Charlotte, and Evelyn, searched another part of the castle for both Tophet and the missing children. ¡°Eury?¡± Charlotte shouted out. ¡°Stheno?¡± Where are you? As they searched the castle. Emily noticed something unusual about herself. She can still move the parts of herself that were turned to brass. She turned to Tim. ¡°Um, Timmy?¡± Emily said. Tim turned and saw her move her ¡°brassified¡± body parts around. ¡°What happened there,¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t Elizabeth say that your body, both as a Dungeon and your avatara body were made of nanomachines?¡± Tim said. He was aware of his lack of knowledge of technology that advanced. ¡°Perhaps that has something to do with it?¡± Emily had forgotten that little fact. ¡°¡­oh.¡± Tim sighed. Emily¡¯s mind looked toward another topic. ¡°Scarlett, do you know any person named ¡®Bett¡¯?¡± ¡°Bett?¡± the woman in red said. ¡°We found the name on the way to this place,¡± Charlotte said. ¡°But it was incomplete.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Scarlett said. ¡°There is one person that springs to mind.¡± Meanwhile, Nina asked the same question to her party while they were looking for Topheth. Anemone and Pearl have an inkling of a possible hint. ¡°Do you remember Betty Gale?¡± Pearl said. ¡°Not a clue,¡± Nina said. ¡°Doesn''t ring a bell,¡± Stretlizia said. ¡°Nothing but straw here,¡± Azalea said in reference to her head. Anemone sighed. ¡°Betty Gale was a child actress, she was hired by Leonis to preform several roles. She had made a name for herself for how many films she had starred in.¡± ¡°But then she vanished during filming of ¡®Metropolitica Esmeralda¡¯,¡± Pearl said. ¡°I remember that,¡± Lily said. ¡°You said your mommy took her place in that film?¡± The porcine child nodded. With Emily¡¯s party, Scarlett explained Betty Gale some more. ¡°Following ehr disappearance, the studio had cast me out of several prospective young girls to play the role of the Messenger child to the city.¡± ¡°I heard rumors about her disappearance,¡± Charlotte said. ¡°The Rosenkreuz guild was abuzz with gossip when it came to light that Pearl was coming to the quiet town. ¡°Those rumors propagated very heavily, ¡°Scarlett said. ¡°It was enough to lead into an investigation that resulted in the lead of Leonis resigning. Though I didn¡¯t knew it at the time it had led to the studio treating me a little more leniently during filming, but¡­¡± ¡°You retried from show business right?¡± Tim asked. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Childbirth for starters,¡± Scarlett said. ¡°Little Pearly was rather tough to raise.¡± ¡°She seemed like a sweet kid,¡± Emily said. ¡°I¡¯d hope so,¡± Scarlett said. ¡°I had never wanted her to turn out with Betty, went to great lengths to ensure she remained as innocent as she was. I fought with the producers and forbade her from interacting with other children off set, all so that she wouldn''t fall victim to the studios like Betty was.¡± Emily had two other questions. ¡°Can you tell me more about these rumors?¡± At the same time, Clover asked Pearl more about Betty. ¡°Mommy didn¡¯t tell me much,¡± Pearl said. ¡°I thinks he wanted to shelter me from the other kids. She had express concerned about me turning out competitive and spoiled.¡± ¡°The rumors mentioned that Betty had been taking special alchemical concoctions,¡± Anemone said. ¡°So that she could stay away during filming. It would explain why her films finished production earlier than most.¡± ¡°What happened to her sleep cycle?¡± Azalea said. ¡°Did she get any rest?¡± ¡°That I couldn''t say,¡± Anemone said. ¡°There were some anecdotes about her arriving with work with bags under her eyes, and some complaints form anonymous makeup artists about it, but that hasn¡¯t been substantiated.¡± ¡°Do you think she is¡­¡± Lily asked. ¡°With what we knew so far,¡± Anemone said. ¡°The possibility shouldn''t be discarded.¡± Clover asked Nina something. ¡°What other films did Betty work on?¡± ¡°She worked on ¡®Pet Shop of 9th¡¯, ¡®The Diner¡¯s Daughter¡¯, ¡®Princess of the Sword,¡¯ and ¡®On the Eve of Still Winds¡¯,¡± Anemone said. Back with Emily¡¯s party. ¡°Did you two head to Rosenkreuz because¡­¡± Emily asked ¡°I¡¯m aware that my efforts had left her rather lonely as a result,¡± Scarlett said. ¡°Pearl at least deserved some semblance of normality. She is a dedicated hardworking girl.¡± ¡°Did you push her into this?¡± Tim asked. ¡°Only Astra knows,¡± Scarlet said with regret. ¡°She had expressed a desire to take to the stage and entertain her, and it reached a fervor whens he found out I was an actress at a young age. She had the taken for it too, dancing like a sprite-child as she played around the lot. I¡¯m not sure how much I influenced those decisions.¡± At the same time, Stretlizia asked Pearl one last question. ¡°We you lonely when you were on set?¡± ¡°I was at first, ¡°Pearl said. ¡°The adults were kind to me, and I eventually met Lucia.¡± ¡°Did someone call my name?¡± Lucia emerges form Pearl¡¯s bag as if she had just woke up. She noticed that everyone here were halfways covered in brass, but before she could comment on it she sensed a dangerous presence. ¡°Get down, something dangerous is coming!¡± The girls hid in a closet, they noticed several walking porcelain figures walked past them. Clad in armor that seemed to be made of the same material as the dolls. ??? Meanwhile, Emily and her party followed similar entities around the castle. ¡°Living porcelain dolls?¡± Tim asked. ¡°They were props made for the film,¡± Scarlett said. ¡°We had artisans in Nu-Wa make them.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± Tim said. ¡°Something wrong, Tim?¡± Emily asked. ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Tim said. The group followed the dolls on their patrol, being careful to avoid being noticed by the life-sized constructs. At the same time, the other party trailed a different group of patrollers. They reconvened at the foyer of the castle, in front of a large door reminiscent of what Lily saw during the elevator to the surface. A giant demonic maw. Lucia sensed familiar energy was emitted from beyond the doors. The porcelain soldiers left the foyer, and the two groups regrouped and approached the door. Pearl¡¯s glass familiar touched the door and a shiver was sent down her spine. ¡°The Strega is behind it, I can tell.¡± ¡°So Tophet is the Strega,¡± Lily asked. ¡°But does that mean that Tophet is Betty?¡± Pearl asked. ¡°Who cares!¡± Lily petulantly said. ¡°I want my mommy back and if we have to destroy that Tophet, then¡­¡± The group steeled themselves as they opened the door. They were enveloped in darkness for several moments. Lily conjured a brilliant light and saw themselves surrounded by several bronze statues. Several of which bore familial forms. Charlotte noticed a pair of mouse-eared ones and ran towards them. ¡°Euryale! Stheno!¡± she saw that they resembled two of her wayward friends. Anemone noticed several of the statues looked like arachne children, including classmates Rico and Cassie. Lily saw among them Sarah, Rose, Raine, and Hydrangea. All of whom she saw transmogrified into brass statues outside the castle. Pearl looked at a statue of an Arahcne adult, the manager of the theater, as well as several various statues of people besides, including a deerlet with a name tag reading ¡°Jebadissa¡± ¡°Cut!¡± A voice was heard from the other end of the room. The party turned towards the source, a director¡¯s chair placed before a giant organ. Sitting on it was a short and irate young lady. Her form resembled a porcelain doll fitted with several brass accessories and patches. A large gear jutted out from the right of her head. A large broomstick was beside her, but given the circumstances that detail became irrelevant. ¡°So, you think you can go all off-script,¡± a voice echoes towards them. ¡°Do you have any idea how many takes were ruined because of your actions?¡± Not a word was uttered from the doll¡¯s mouth. ¡°Never seen a Strega this¡­chatty,¡± Azalea said. An incensed Nina glared at the doll. ¡°Who cares about your stupid scripts? Do you know how many people you¡¯ve hurt?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not my fault Betty was so inconvenient to work with. Better befitting of a villain than a hero.¡± A tear dripped from the doll¡¯s eyes. Scarlett took her gun. ¡°Alright ¡®Tophet,¡¯ Show yourself!¡± The group heard a leonine growl around them. Lily brandished her spear and channeled her mana through it. The radiance of the glowing weapon revealed mirrors, decrepit spotlights, and cameras hovering over the statues. But more importantly, it revealed a large leonid creature made of dark ink among the statues. The Strega. ¡°Lights¡­camera¡­¡± the monster uttered venomously. ¡°Action!¡± it lunged towards the group. Strelitzia slammed at the lion-like Strega with her labrys. ¡°You need new material!¡± the minotauride said. Clover followed up on her friend¡¯s attack by whacking the beast with her iron fan. Nina then pinned the beast down using a net-like web. With Tophet down for now, the party uses several attacks on the Strega to weaken it, the most effective being those that came from Pearl, Lily, Clover, Streltizia, Anemone, and Azalea. Emily, Tim, Evelyn, and Scarlett meanwhile tried to break the strings connecting the porcelain doll to the room. ¡°Come on,¡± Emily said. ¡°It¡¯s time to go.¡± The doll whispered to them. ¡°Please, leave me be.¡± The lion roared. ¡°Take two!¡± Tophet growled as a shock wave repelled Nina, Charlotte, and the magical girls from it. Anemone tried to use gravity magic to keep the leonine beast down, but Tophet leaped before the arrow could pin in shadow. Charlotte¡¯s more direct application of gravity spells proved similarly ineffective. The lion¡¯s claws gleamed as it slashed at the alraune. Her chartreuse flesh immediately turned to brass, as did her indigo petals. The curse had turned her body into a brass statue. ¡°Lotte!¡± Anemone cried out. The violet-haired lycanthrope fired another arrow at it, their item aiming to use other dark magic to deter the beast. Azalea helped by attacking Tophet with water orbs and her knife. ¡°You¡¯re a real pain in the brass!¡± Azalea said. ¡°And you are a wretched distraction,¡± the lion-like Strega said before slashing at the mermaid with his claws. Azalea swam deftly to dodge the attacks as Lily charged toward it with her spear. ¡°Lumiere Avant!¡± She charged at Tophet with a blinding light and pushed it into the air. The Strega landed on its claws and growled at them. Clover and Strelitzia grappled with her claws while Pearl performed a tap dance that caused an inferno to follow her steps. Emily attempted to convince the porcelain porcine doll to come with them, but the despondent fragment rejected her plea. ¡°It¡¯s pointless, they would never be happy.¡± Tophet tried to slash at Lily, but she parried its claws with her spear. The fires from Pearl¡¯s dance engulfed the lion, but it only made its inky pelt more dangerous. It lunged behind a mirror and rushed to the party with several slashes. Everyone dodged those attacks, but the fire left in its wake made it more difficult to find places to avoid its subsequent attacks. Azalea began to quench the fire with her water magic, but Tophet lunged at her while she was distracted. ¡°Look out!¡± Clover cried out. Before the Lion could land a blow, it was stopped. ¡°Who dates!¡± it cried out. ¡°I dare!¡± Strelitzia said while grabbing the Strega. Brass crept further on her body. ¡°Azalea, now!¡± Azalea channels an orb of water around them both to quell the flame-wreathed Strega. Pearl and Clover then worked on snuffing out the blazes caused by the former¡¯s dance. By the time the flame was put out, Stretliza, still holding the Strega, was transformed into a brass statue. With the lion incapacitated for now, Lily rushed to Emily and her group, still trying to convince the fragment of Betty to break free. She noticed the porcine doll¡¯s despondency and tried to cheer her up, but despite her warm smiles, Betty refused to go. ¡°You think that¡¯s supposed to work?¡± Betty said. ¡°Those fake smiles of yours?¡± ¡°These smiles aren¡¯t fake!¡± Lily said as she tried to plead with Betty to break free. ¡°Come with us, I¡¯m sure it will work out!¡± ¡°She¡¯s right, Evelyn said. ¡°I¡¯m sure there are many people who miss you.¡± ¡°Oh really?¡± Betty said. ¡°They ¡®miss¡¯ me huh and not the mask I wore on set?¡± Azalea tried to contain the Strega within the orb of water. ¡°I know cats hate water, but you¡¯re rather overdue for a bath,¡± she said. The lion began to melt, slipping from Stretlitzia¡¯s stilled grasp as it turned into an inky blob. Azalea saw the black mass emerged with the orb and grew into a larger beast. Before should could react, the empowered Strega slashed at her and sent her scarecrow-like form flying towards Lily. ¡°That¡¯s all folks,¡± the mermaid said as her body turned into brass. Tophet looked at Lily with a smirk and an evil cackle. ¡°Try all you want, she is far too gone,¡± the monster said. ??? Clover engaged with Tophet, but the Strega easily swatted her aside and transformed the peryton fawn into a brass statue. Scarlett checked her coat for more bullets but found she was all out and instead changed her rifle into a wand. ¡°O Astra, mistress of the heavens above, hear my plea!¡± Scarlett said. ¡°Contain this nightmare in your starlit embrace!¡± The Strega was contained in an orb of darkness. They clawed at the obsidian sphere, each blow creating a crack in the prison. Scarlett used as much mana as she could to maintain the barrier, her body slowly turning to brass in the process. Anemone then tried to attack the Strega, but she too was turned into a statue by the monster¡¯s attacks. ¡°Pearly, please,¡± Scarlett said. ¡°Stay safe, my daughter.¡± The red-clad woman had become another brass statue, unable to maintain the barrister for long. Pearl looked at her mother in shock as she succumbed to the curse. ¡°Lily,¡± Emily said. ¡°I¡¯ll try to hold the Strega off, can you break through to Betty?¡± ¡°I-I¡¯ll try, Emmy,¡± Lily said. With that said Emily rushed toward the Strega. ¡°Hey!¡± she called out to the monster. Tophet engaged Emily in battle while Tim looked around for any potential weaknesses and Lily, Nina and Pearl tried to get through to Betty. The Strega attacked Emily, but despite much of the Dugneon avatara¡¯s body turning into brass, she was still able to move. To the ire and confusion of the lionine beast. ¡°How are you still moving!¡± Tophet said in furor. ¡°Trade secret,¡± Emily cheekily said before using lightning-enchanted weapons to fight the beast. The three children tried to get Betty to break free. ¡°Why are you even trying?¡± Betty said. ¡°It¡¯s all hopeless.¡± ¡°It isn¡¯t hopeless!¡± Lily said. ¡°As long as we¡¯re still here,¡± Pearl said. ¡°There is still a light at the end of the tunnel!¡± ¡°Please,¡± Evelyn said. ¡°You don¡¯t deserve this!¡± ¡°And you think Hollyland is better than this?¡± Betty said. ¡°I worked my but off day in, day out, haven¡¯t slept for months, and was only alive because the director suggested necromantic ingredients to go along with the potions! For what, just for the people who called me their ¡®favorite¡¯ to work me to the bone again?¡± ¡°And you think this is any better?¡± Lily said. ¡°Being a captive to a monster of your walking, who treated you as poorly as those directors?¡± Emily continued her clash with Tophet. ¡°Insolent fool!¡± the Strega said ¡°You may still move, but you will not be able to best me!¡± Pearl had an idea and turned to Lily ¡°I have an idea, think you can help?¡± Lily¡¯s eyes sparked with determination. ¡°What¡¯s the plan, Pearly?¡± Pearl whispered into Lily¡¯s ear. The two girls then moved a little back from the others.¡± ¡°Two taps left, two taps right,¡± Pearl said she she manifested a cane. Lily used her spear as a substitute as they began their impromptu routine. They began to sing a duet together. Using Bardsong to help break Betty from her shell of solitude. They began to sing about the joy of life in a musical-style routine. Emily managed to bring Tophet to a wall, though her attacks were unable to defeat the beast she was able to ensure it wouldn''t attack anyone else as its rage kept it focused squarely on herself. Pearl and Lily sang about the light at the tunnel¡¯s end and a world beyond where skies are blue and where dreams come true. They sang that even though there were times when they felt down, where there was nothing but darkness hovering over them, there was still a light to grasp, and how it would dispel the darkness. They have sung of joy, of anger, of fear, and how their faith in a bright tomorrow can banshees the fears of today. With each lyric, Betty grew more incredulous and irate, yet as Lily and Pearl continued singing, cracks in her porcelain shell began to form. As they sang, Betty noticed something well up inside of her. Tophet began to feel weaker as Lily and Pearl continued their song. ¡°What is this¡­¡± Light emerges from cracks that form in its dark leonine shell. ¡°This can¡¯t be! I am absolute! I am the director of this melancholic studio. You cannot defeat me! You shan¡¯t!¡± Emily interrupted its panicked monologue with a Thunderclap. ¡°Seems to be we just did, ehe,¡± she said. The accumulated mana of the Strega coalesce into a sphere. Lily and Pearl continued singing to Betty as her original form began to manifest in place of the porcelain doll-like form of the fragment. Emily stuck her arm out and began to absorb the mana. The Strega began to fade and everyone was engulfed in light. Lily looked at Betty and saw that she smiled before all was washed in a blinding radiance. ??? Everyone soon woke up in a forest close to Rosenkreuz, many of them with headaches. ¡°Ugh, what happened,¡± Jebadissa said. ¡°My head.¡± Emily saw Elizabeth nearby and helped her fairy companion up. ¡°Do you remember anything, Lizzie?¡± The pink-haired fairy groggily tried to remember. ¡°We found out a [Strega] was in the theater, but after that¡­it¡¯s all a blur.¡± Lily saw her reflection on a nearby lake and saw that her hair and tail were no longer changing colors. Instead, they were fixed at her original blonde hue. Rose slithered toward her. ¡°I knew you were able to do it, Lily.¡± ¡°Boo!¡± Azalea sprung up from the lake and splashed the two, like Lily, she had returned to her usual clinoid form. Raine approached them. ¡°That was the worst movie I ever lived,¡± she said. Lily¡¯s gaze then turned to Pearl and Scarlett as they looked over a third porcine girl. ¡°She hasn¡¯t aged a bit,¡± Pearl said. ¡°Lucia can you¡­¡± ¡°On it, Pearly,¡± the familiar said. She fluttered around the unconscious girl. ¡°Pearl!¡± Lily galloped to her recent friend, passing by Charlotte waking Euryale and Stheno up, Nina tearfully hugging her mother, and Strelitzia and Rico arguing with Clover and Cassie watching. ¡°It worked, our song worked.¡± ¡°Yeah, it did huh?¡± Pearl said with a chuckle. Lily turned to the unconscious girl as the glass familiar roused her. ¡°Ugh, where am I?¡± She confusingly looked around her and saw she was in a forest. Lucia returned to Pearl. ¡°Seems like she had forgotten everything,¡± she said. Anemone approached Lily. ¡°It seemed like we prevailed.¡± ¡°Who are you?¡± Betty said while rubbing her head. Scarlett looked at the glassy familiar. ¡°When you say ¡®everything¡¯¡­¡± ¡°I mean ¡®everything,¡¯ Lucia said. ¡°She could barely remember her name, but not much else. She doesn''t even know she was a magical girl or a child actress.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Scarlett looked at the confused little girl. ¡°Lily, do you want to accompany Pearl and I as we take this child to the guild hall?¡± Lily nodded and followed the three porcines to the guildhall. Anemone followed her as well to ensure nothing else happened. Emily and the others likewise gathered the recovered victims together and took them to the guildhall to ensure their safety, with the built in hospital checking them for wounds. By the time Stella touched the horizin everyone was safe and sound and back where they belonged. ??? That night, Emily, Elizabeth, Tim, Sarah, Minerva, and the children returned to the Black Box. Pearl also followed them home with Scarlett¡¯s permission, she arrived as her untransformed self. ¡°Bonjour,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°Seems like you had a long day, Emily.¡± ¡°We did, Heathcliff,¡± Emily said as she dissolved her avatara. ¡°So did anything happen while we were gone?¡± her voice echoed to the knight. ¡°Besides Atsuko, Carla and I getting a crash course in consoling the folk here?¡± He joked. ¡°Not much.¡± Meanwhile, Pearl talked with Lily and Anemone about Betty. ¡°Pauline had found someone willing to adopt her,¡± Pearl said. ¡°It was good timing too,¡± Lily said. ¡°She said she was just looking for someone to keep her company¡± ¡°Did Betty recover her memory?¡± Anemone said. Evelyn was painting a painting while the others were talking. ¡°Didn¡¯t seem like it,¡± Lily said. ¡°Had this ever happened before?¡± Pearl said. ¡°While I¡¯ve rescued several fragments from Strega. This is the first time I saw something like this happen.¡± Anemone glanced at the young painter. ¡°Well¡­¡± ¡°I hope Betty would be able to, well you know,¡± Lily said. ¡°At the very least, being so far away from Hollyland and it being so long means that the studios would think her dead and wouldn''t try to find her.¡± ¡°That reminds me,¡± Lily said. ¡°What are you planning to do after filming¡¯s finished?¡± ¡°Well actually,¡± Pearl said. ¡°I wanted to take a break from acting for a while. Once the film¡¯s done Scarlett and I are looking into a more permanent residence in Rosenkreuz.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Lily beamed a precious smile. ¡°You mean it?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve talked it over,¡± Pearl said. ¡°Scarlett agreed that it is good to distance ourselves from show business for a while. Vulpecula was also accommodating to the resignation. There is the matter of schooling though.¡± ¡°Emily can help with that!¡± Lily said eagerly. ¡°We just got a school in the Dungeon!¡± ¡°A school in a¡­Dungeon?¡± Pearl said. ¡°That sounds¡­novel.¡± ¡°It¡¯s rather barebones right now,¡± Anemone said. ¡°But maybe it would have more classes by the time filming¡¯s finished?¡± ¡°I¡¯d hope so,¡± Pearl said. ¡°It would be nice to have some quiet for a change. Aside from the Sterga attacks of course.¡± She politely said her farewells to her friends and left the Black Box. ¡°See you later! Pe¡ªElisa!¡± Lily said. ¡°Please, call me Pearl!¡± the visitor said. ¡°My number one fan deserves that much at least.¡± She said. ¡°See you later, Lily!¡± She exited the Dungeon. Evelyn finished her painting, a depiction of a firestorm in a blue forest¡­ ??? Meanwhile, Maurice walked into a laboratory. ¡°How is the analysis of the rabbit statue.¡± ¡°We pinpointed the source of this item,¡± a researcher from the Fallow Institution. ¡°It is traced to a Dungeon that sprang up in Rosenkreuz. It seemed to have developed rapidly and recently.¡± ¡°Really?¡± the baby blue-suited man said. ¡°That is interesting.¡± ¡°Are you planning to check out the Dungeon?¡± the researcher said. ¡°Of course,¡± Maurice said. ¡°I''d like to see for myself. If that place is what I think it is, it could revolution several forms of science, arcane or otherwise.¡± The researched laughed. ¡°Ever the steadfast man Maurice. I take it you¡¯ll be setting off tomorrow?¡± ¡°You know it,¡± Maurice said. ¡°I¡¯m gonna try to gather an expedition party after arriving in Rosenkreuz. The locals might know more about this place than our men could.¡± ¡°It¡¯s going to be a while before you arrive there.¡± ¡°I know. May you be blessed in the starlight,¡± Maurice said. ¡°May you be blessed in the starlight,¡± the researcher said. Maurice left the room to prepare for his imminent trip to Rosenkreuz. Chapter XXXIX: Ex cineribus, exsurgo. One day, Emily and several of her friends were fighting in a burning forest. Ash and smoke clouded the skies as fires blazed around them. Emily, Tim, Rose, Azalea, Charlotte, and Nina fought against entities wreathed in fire. ¡°Emily, can you hear me?¡± Emily heard Elizabeth¡¯s voice ringing in her ears, interspersed with static. Emily saw one of the enemies clash with her. ¡°Barely,¡± Emily said as she coated her swords in water and doused the opponent. ¡°Where are you?¡± ¡°That is¡­where¡­¡± Elizabeth, from the Black Box itself, struggled to maintain contact with its core. She soon lost contact with Emily. ¡°Great,¡± Emily said as she saw more living fires approaching her. Tim meanwhile performed a series of moves to channel the wind towards quelling the fires around them. Rose carried Nina to safety, slashing her way through several walking burning trees. Azalea used water magic to douse several of the fires in her way as she and Charlotte tried to find Emily. From the smoke-filled skies, Halcyon cried. The rain fell from the heavens, her tears beginning to weaken the burning entities. Emily managed to regroup with the other five and escape the inferno. ¡°What is going on here?¡± Emily said. The last thing she knew she was meditating on igniting the furnace within her, and the next thing that happened they ended up here. Tim has an inkling of what is going on, while Charlotte suspects the involvement of the demon Pruflas. It is already evident that they were somehow thrust into the middle of an area that is currently undergoing a cataclysm. The group of six rushed along a familiar patch, they saw fire blaze on the horizon in all directions, only being quelled by Halcyon¡¯s tears. They saw burning treants and spirits of flame recede into the inferno, repelled by the storm of water that poured down on them. Eventually, they arrived at the end of their path, and Emily saw something that shook her to the core of her core. ¡°Oh no,¡± she said. In front of her was the charred remains of a village. Rosenkreuz. ??? Earlier in the week. Emily and Tim looked over the furnace-like device in the Core Room of the Black Box. ¡°The end of Nigredo, right?¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoed to Tim. ¡°Seems like,¡± Tim said. ¡°I can tell you are on the cusp of Albedo, Emily.¡± ¡°Do you know what it¡¯s like, Tim?¡± Emily asked. ¡°¡­not really,¡± Tim said. ¡°I know Master Wu had taught Elizabeth about Alkahestry, but I¡¯m uncertain if that contained more concrete tells. Even if it did, I suspect that those differed by the person, especially in your case.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t remind me, Tim,¡± Emily said. Elizabeth fluttered in a panic. ¡°Guys I have some news!¡± ¡°What is it, Lizzie?¡± Emily¡¯s voice calmly echoed to the fairy. ¡°Paulina told me that we¡¯re getting a visitor from the Fallow Institute!¡± The pink-haired fairy said. ¡°Fallow?¡± Emily is confused. ¡°I heard about them,¡± Tim said. ¡°They are rumored to be the leading experts in researching Dungeons.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true!¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°She told me that one of them is currently forming a party to visit the Black Box in a few days!¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Emily thought about it before realizing something. ¡°Do they know about cultivation?¡± ¡°I¡¯m¡­not sure,¡± Elizabeth said. She began panicking upon remembering that while the Admsitrators had sanctified Emily¡¯s practice of the art, few outside the Black Box itself knew of it. ¡°Calm down,¡± Tim said. ¡°Cultivation and Alkahestry remained a lost art in the minds of most. I don¡¯t think the researchers would notice any tells of a cultivating Dungeon.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know that!¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°The Fallow Institute is one of [Libert¨¦]¡¯s foremost centers of Dungeon and arcane research.¡± ¡°And yet they have yet to publicize any instance of Cultivation,¡± Tim said. Emily looked at her collection of Elementalist¡¯s Spheres. The magenta Electrosphere, the purple Umbrasphere, the blue, Aquasphere, the cyan Cryosphere, the green Aerosphere, the yellow Photosphere the orange Geosphere¡­ Her eyes and mind then lingered on the red Pyrosphere. While she possessed it, she consciously chose not to draw mana from it or use its abilities, how could she, knowing the reason she got the sphere is also the reason why several children remain trapped within and bonded to her? Her mind then turned to the incident in Hamlin. ¡°Perhaps they could help me free them?¡± she mused. ??? Later, Azalea and Rose are in the Bleumaw. Rose is helping Azalea with her new routine. ¡°Alright, Lea. I¡¯m here,¡± Rose said to the Mermaid. ¡°There really is no place like home,¡± Azalea said. ¡°After defeating that Strega, that is. Anyway, I have a great idea for a routine!¡± Rose slithered to a nearby rock in the nanomachine-coated forest and climbed it. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s hear it. Is Emily listening too?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoed to Rose. ¡°Why me?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t be the only one that has to¡­er, listen to Azalea¡¯s experimental routines,¡± Rose said. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that,¡± Azalea said. ¡°Emmy already heard the routine.¡± ¡°I did?¡± Emily asked, she thought about things and realized the actual reason Azalea wanted to be alone with Rose. ¡°Oh, right. I did!¡± ¡°Terrific,¡± Rose said flatly. The dungeon focuses her attention elsewhere within her halls, leaving Azalea and Rose alone. Azalea turned to Rose ¡°Don¡¯t worry Rosie, you¡¯re gonna enjoy this.¡± She began her tale. ¡°Now one upon a time there was a young lass. She wanted to make others smile and laugh, but no matter how much she tried, she¡­¡± Azalea continued through her story. ¡°¡­one day she met a fairy who wanted to help her reach the hearts of people, everyone. The girl accepted their help and grew more determined to make others laugh¡­¡± ??? Meanwhile, Charlotte continued to learn gravity magic under Anemone. Euryale, Stheno, Lily, Nina, and Pearl were watching. ¡°Gravity spells?¡± Pearl asked. ¡°A rather rare school of magic,¡± Lily said. ¡°Lotte has a surprisingly high proficiency with them,¡± Euryale said. ¡°Ah,¡± Pearl said. ¡°And you are?¡± ¡°Wait I haven¡¯t introduced myself,¡± the nezumi-like Cell said. ¡°Oh sister,¡± her sister said. ¡°My name is Stheno, and this is Euryale.¡± Charlotte focused on lifting a small log. Anemone coached her on the use of apurgy to levitate objects. Tim arrived at Carla¡¯s home and opened the door. Charlotte was so spoked she lost focus and the log ended up attached to the ceiling. ¡°Got a moment,¡± the young man said. ¡°Oh,¡± Charlotte said. ¡°What brings you here?¡± Tim observed the log on the ceiling. The wooden cylinder rolled toward the wall. He turned his gaze back at Charlotte and Anemone. ¡°At least it wasn¡¯t us this time,¡± Euryale said. ¡°I heard there was someone using Gravity magic here,¡± Tim said sternly. Charlotte was startled. ¡°Oh, um were we not supposed to?¡± Tim looked at the young alraune and then to the lilac-haired wolf-eared girl. The girls feared some punishment from Tim, but he laughed. ¡°How long have you been at it?¡± ¡°Um, since we returned from the Feywood, I think?¡± Charlotte said. ¡°It might¡¯ve been longer,¡± Anemone said. ¡°I see,¡± Tim said. ¡°Um,¡± Charlotte said, ¡°Are we in trouble?¡± ¡°No,¡± Tim said. ¡°I just wanted to confirm something is all. I apologize if I scared you.¡± ¡°What did you want to confirm?¡± Anemone said. ¡°I had Esteban and Julia search for fellow alkahestic sects the other day,¡± Tim said. ¡°They found leads to several and the Rouges also mentioned that some of them used gravity manipulation for training.¡± ¡°Oh right,¡± Anemone realized something. ¡°There were some studies on the effect of increased gravity for strength training and endurance.¡± Tim nodded. ¡°I also talked with Master Wu, he collaborated that there were some sects that believed that such training helped in cultivation efforts. With Emily at least approaching Albedo, I took it upon myself to see if we could incorporate gravity training.¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t that be Heathcliff or Elizabeth¡¯s job?¡± Lily asked. ¡°Heathcliff wanted me to help him run the dungeon,¡± Tim said. ¡°Namely for if the Golden Spear school is to be revived here. I already talked with Elizabeth and Emily about it, that¡¯s how I learned about your lessons.¡± Charlotte and Anemone stayed silent. Tim sighed. ¡°Look, you¡¯re not in trouble. You¡¯re free to refuse if you want,¡± he said cordially. ¡°No one is forcing you to do this if you don¡¯t want to.¡± ¡°Are there any complex spells involved?¡± Charlotte asked. ¡°There shouldn''t,¡± Tim said. ¡°It¡¯s just increasing the gravity for a specific room and maintaining it for a few hours.¡± ¡°Wait,¡± Euryale said. ¡°Why can¡¯t Emily do it herself? She has an Umbrasphere right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the thing,¡± Anemone said. ¡°While it is true that this school of spells is associated with the Umbrasphere. It is complicated to master compared to other darkness spells. Some had taken to positing that the school might be the result of an elemental reaction. Others had since used theory as evidence for the existence of Elementalist¡¯s Spheres beyond the known eight.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re saying Emily can¡¯t just do something to make things heavier then?¡± Stheno said. ¡°Not by magic at least,¡± Anemone said. ¡°She could theoretically make Cells heavier if she wanted to.¡± The Arion twins gulped. They didn¡¯t want to be rendered sessile or take on extra weight. Anemone chuckled. ¡°You know she wouldn''t do that.¡± Charlotte mulled over the decision. ¡°Can I talk with Mommy about it first?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Tim said. ¡°Take your time, there is no need to rush something like this.¡± Tim left. ¡°I have to go soon,¡± Pearl said. ¡°The director will have a fit if I arrive on set late. Farewell!¡± the porcine left Carla¡¯s home, and the Black Box. After Pearl left, Charlotte practiced more with her gravity spells, starting with bringing the log back down to the floor. With a few motions with her hand, the wooden cylinder fell with a thud. ??? Azalea continued her tale. ¡°¡­the girl was shattered in a myriad pieces¡­¡± Rose was confused. ¡°Hold up,¡± Rose said. She noticed a lack of comedy in the story so far. ¡°This isn¡¯t like your usual material, Azalea.¡± ¡°We¡¯re just getting to the good part,¡± the blue-haired clionid said. A small ripple formed in the orb of water surrounding her head as she swam toward Rose. ¡°Trust me.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Rose thought. ¡°She seems more serious today,¡± the pink-pigtialed lamia thought. ¡°Now where was I? Oh yeah,¡± Azalea continued. ¡°The girl was shattered into a myriad pieces. Some of them were merged into a new entity, a monster that lurked the waterways beneath a dark city, beyond even the lowest residential areas. Others reformed into mirror images of the girl, each lacking most of what made her her. Over time they had regained parts of the original girl as they floated in the damp and dark waters, and as they avoided both the gross sludge and the monster.¡± Rose suddenly felt a shiver going down her spine and into her coral pink tale. ¡°Lea, this isn¡¯t October, quit trying to scare me!¡± ¡°We¡¯re not done yet,¡± Azalea said. ¡°The punchline¡¯s worth it. I promise!¡± She continued her tale. ¡°The monster consumed all but one of the girl¡¯s pieces. Each of them is similar to but not quite the original girl. It is eventually found and captured the last girl. Poised to assimilate her as it did the other pieces until¡­¡± ¡°Until what?¡± Rose said, gripped by suspended. ¡°The fairy from before had rallied some help. A stalwart maiden thrush forth in a bolt of lightning, joined by another with a will that burned like fire. Together these two had slayed the monster and saved the girl from its clutches.¡± Rose found this part oddly familiar, but she waited until Azalea finished to ask questions. ¡°The young girl followed them, the duo couldn¡¯t bear to leave her alone in the waterways, who knew what she had to swim through. It gives me nightmares just thinking about it. She followed them to the place they called home and helped her clean herself up, and they spent the rest of their days together. And that was how they brought color to the dark city. How things took a turn-ra for the better for the girl and her new friends.¡± Realization dawned on Rose. ¡°What is the girl¡ª¡± ¡°Swimming right before you?¡± Azalea said. ¡°Yep.¡± ¡°That can¡¯t be right, that would mean you were¡ª¡± She thought about it for a few moments. She noticed how similar the monster was to a Strega, and the girl was one of the fragments seen in their domains. ¡°Does this mean that¡ª¡± Azalea nodded cheerfully. Rose was left speechless. ¡°I know it¡¯s a lot to take in,¡± Azalea said. Thoughts raced through Rose¡¯s head. Now aware that Azalea is or rather was a fragment. ¡°But Whisper said Fragments were born from Strega.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Azalea said. ¡°And?¡± Rose began to piece things together and made a realization that shook her to the core. Azalea calmed her down before she suffered a panic attack. ¡°Calm down, Rosie. Breathe,¡± Azalea said. Rose remained in shock for several moments before regaining composure. She had just learned a truth about Azalea and about herself in the process. ¡°Is there any way to¡­¡± ¡°There is a reason why Whisper wanted to ensure we have mana, and why they worked overtime to ensure we got adopted, remember?¡± Azalea said. ¡°Right, right,¡± Rose said, trying to keep calm. ¡°So does that mean¡ª¡± ¡°The transformation is reversible, technically, but Strega will try to consume the fragments to ensure their own existence and even if people were restored, they still lost a part of themselves.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Rose said with a little dread. ¡°You did say you forgot everything that¡ª Wait you lied to us! You said you forgot everything before we met!¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Azalea said. ¡°But it is true that I had forgotten some of my memories, it was that those were up to before I¡­¡± ¡°Why did you keep it from us?¡± Rose said a little hurt that Azalea withheld a secret that dire from her friends. ¡°I wanted to make sure you were ready?¡± Azalea said. ¡°Merely telling you risks that kind of transformation, especially since¡ª¡± ¡°You thought I couldn¡¯t have handled it back then?¡± Rose said. A black sludge is secreted from her scaly tail and a similar liquid streamed down her face. She realized what was happening and tried to calm herself down. The black fluid stopped. ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s okay. I¡¯m fine. Even though someone I thought I could trust just dumped a life-changing secret on me. I¡¯m totally fine!¡± Azalea is stunned by Rose¡¯s outburst. She silently wondered if she should¡¯ve waited a little longer. Rose slithered away silently, leaving behind a trail of gunk in her wake for a minute. Azalea hoped that she hadn¡¯t made things worse for Rose. ??? The next day, Rose slithered around in a small room in the Black Box. Mostly alone. The lamia sulked around for several moments. Emily was alerted to what had recently occurred. ¡°Rose,¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoed to the lamia, ¡°are you okay.¡± ¡°What does it look like?¡± Rose said with a sigh. ¡°How long did you knew?¡± Emily did respond. Rose sighed again. ¡°I guess it doesn¡¯t matter.¡± A few people walked into the room. Sarah, Raine¡­and Azalea. The former was carrying a large box of armaments. ¡°Heard you needed these?¡± the tanned dwarf said. Rose looked at Azalea who sheepishly tried to think of something to cheer up her friend. Rose moodily slithered to Sarah¡¯s crate and examined several weapons, armor, and instruments. The ebon ooze was secreted from her hand and moved to engulf the various objects, redundant them into mana and ¡°digesting¡± them. ¡°Thanks,¡± she said. Raine approached Rose. ¡°Mind, telling us what happened here?¡± her voice was calm. ¡°Did she tell you?¡± Rose said. ¡°That maze near the Eitri meadows,¡± Raine answered. She knew it was about the true relationship between Strega and Witches. ¡°Of course she did,¡± Rose said with a humph. ¡°I ¡­also told the others as well,¡± the mermaid nervously said. ¡°What!¡± Rose asked. ¡°Them too? Azalea, why did you keep this from me so long? Why did you tell me last?¡± Rose said with a tone that bared both hurt and a bit of rage. ¡°I wanted to tell you,¡± Azalea said. ¡°Eventually. But¡­¡± ¡°But what?¡± Rose said. Azalea was startled. ¡°I wasn¡¯t sure if you¡¯d take it well if I did.¡± Rose puffed her cheeks. ¡°What do you mean? I think I¡¯m taking ¡®learning I could eventually transform into a dangerous monster¡¯ quite swimmingly, thank you.¡± Raine gave a skeptical look at her. ¡°It¡¯s a lot to take in, I know,¡± Azalea said. Rose stayed silent. ¡°Are you mad, Rosie?¡± Azalea said. Rose sighed. ¡°Of course I¡¯m mad!¡± she then took a deep breath. ¡°It¡¯s just, what, I¡¯m.¡± Rose grew too frustrated to get the words out. Sarah looked at the ceiling. ¡°I think you might want to get here ¡®in person¡¯, Em.¡± Emily took Sarah¡¯s hint and manifested an avatara in the room. She then approached the lamia. ¡°Take it slow, Rose. Deep breaths.¡± She said calmly. ¡°R-right,¡± Rose said. ¡°Deep breaths.¡± He inhaled and exhaled for a few moments. After she was calmed down she looked at her clionid friend. ¡°Lea, I have a few more questions.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± Azalea said. ¡°Did Whisper also know?¡± Azalea and Emily nodded. After all, Whisper and Elizabeth were why Emily knew how Magical Children become Strega. ¡°Whisper told me after you and Raine saved me,¡± Azalea said. ¡°I see,¡± the serpentine child said. She signed once more. ¡°How many?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Azalea said. ¡°How many of them did we send to the Pathfinder?¡± Rose asked. ¡°Oh,¡± Azalea said. ¡°That is¡­complicated.¡± ¡°Complicated?¡± Rose said. ¡°Rose,¡± Raine said. ¡°While it is true that those that contracted with familiars can become a Strega and that they can be restored, that is only if it was defeated while one of their fragments remained.¡± Rose looked down. She had expected an answer like that take. If not because of Azalea¡¯s story then because of what she knew became of Evelyn and Betty. They were among the lucky ones. But not all the Strega they had slain in their time as Witches were so lucky. For those that the Coloraturas had failed to find any fragments, Rose had little choice but to assume the Strega couldn¡¯t be saved and that there were several innocent lives forced to be destroyed before they could harm people in their madness. Rose turned to Raine. ¡°How well did you take it?¡± she asked. ¡°Honestly I was shocked to have heard that,¡± Raine said. ¡°Really?¡± Rose said, with a little relief. Azalea giggled a little. ¡°You should¡¯ve seen the look on her face!¡± before trying to approximate it. Rose giggled at Azalea¡¯s attempt to mimic Raine¡¯s look of shock, while Raine became mortified at the mermaid bringing it up. ¡°S-stop that!¡± Raine said. ¡°It seems she¡¯s calmed down a bit,¡± Sarah said. ¡°Good thing too, I wasn¡¯t sure if that crate was enough to feed her.¡± Sarah left Emily and the three young girls alone. Emily demanifested her avatara. Rose looked at her two oldest friends. She had calmed down enough. ¡°Know that whatever happens, we¡¯ll be there for you, Rosie,¡± Raine said. ¡°I won¡¯t let you or the others fall on my watch!¡± Azalea said. ¡°Thanks,¡± Rose said. ¡°I promise that if it came to that as well. I¡¯ll save you as well! I will not abandon the Coloraturas!¡± The other two laughed. Rose¡¯s spirits were a little lifted from that. Rose stretched her arms and slithered towards the door. ¡°Come on, we have to practice for our imminent guests!¡± she said, referring to the Fallow party. Raine and Azalea followed Rose to the other five Coloraturas. ??? Later that week, a storm brew over the wilderness near Rosenkreuz, including the Black Box. Tim looked out at the sky and saw a vortex above him. The lightning flashed. He sensed something unusual about the weather. Emily approached him, using her avatara vessel. ¡°Is something wrong?¡± she asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Tim said. ¡°I have a hunch but¡ª¡± ¡°Noting is wrong dear. Your is first trial is nigh.¡± A familiar woman emerged from thin air. Claudia. Administrator, Trickster goddess, and the only divinity that saw fit to greet them in person. Tim gripped his Qiang. Claudia chuckled. ¡°It seems you already knew who I am?¡± ¡°You exude a divine aura,¡± Tim said. ¡°And a dangerous one.¡± Claudia chuckled. ¡°Rest assured I come in peace. I come on behalf of [Astra, the Cosmos] herself and her many children. You obtained a special furnace yes?¡± ¡°Furnace?¡± Emily asked. She recalled the ashened one that recently materialized in her core one. ¡°But that means that¡ª¡± A sudden explosion was heard. ¡°Oh my, seems like te test has already begun,¡± Claudia said. ¡°Time to see if you are worty of that first step. Know tyself, know ty fears and overcome them. Tat is how you will ignite the furnace. Toodles!¡± Claudia faded in a flash of thunder. Before they knew Emily and Tim found themselves in a scorched wasteland. Smoke rose in the distance as the storm clouds remained over them. Emily tried to move, but she became more unbalanced than usual. Some of her senses had dulled. ¡°What is, happening?¡± ¡°Emily!¡± Rose slithered to the pair with Nina in tow. ¡°Soemthing¡¯s wrong!¡± the lamia said. ¡°Everything just vanished!¡± Tim started to intuit what is happening. ¡°So this is the first trial,¡± he mused. He turned to Rose. ¡°Did you see anyone else?¡± ¡°Mommy went missing,¡± Nina said, tears welled up in her eyes. ¡°She had disappeared again!¡± Azalea swam towards the group and saw Emily¡¯s avatara with Tim, Rose and Nina. ¡°Seems we washed up somewhere else,¡± Azalea chuckled. Rose turned away from the clionid. Azalea sensed that despite the earlier meeting, she still wasn¡¯t in the mood for jokes. ¡°I found Lily, Clover and Stre on the way here, they went to the source of the fire.¡± ¡°Fire?¡± Rose turned her head towards the plume of smoke over the horizon. She saw a blaze burning in the distance. A faint whispers of screams, cries for help were heard. Emily looked at the fire and felt a profound dread, something telling her that this was more dangerous than anything she had ever faced before. They saw several figures rushing towards them, among them were Lily, Clover, Streltiiza, Anemone, Hydrangea, Raine, Charlotte and Carla. They noticed the ground behind them burned as if they were being chased by living flame. Once they were at a sufficient distance, Hydrangea conjured a barrier of ice to impede the heated flames. Emily and her group regrouped with them. ¡°Emily,¡± Charlotte said. ¡°What happened? Everything¡¯s on fire!¡± ¡°I-I don¡¯t know,¡± Emily said. The group shared their bearings and learn that they were teleported elsewhen. They took a look at Hydrnagea¡¯s frozen barrier and saw it melt. Realizing they can¡¯t stay here, they ran away from the flames. ??? Meanwhile, Elizabeth fluttered around the Black Box. Her distraught expression was bare for all to see. She flew around the dungeon. ¡°Emily?¡± She called out, but she received no response from the core. She tried calling to her, but the dungeon remained silent. She fluttered to another room where she bumped into Heathcliff. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, cher?¡± the knight asked. ¡°You look like you¡ª¡± ¡°It¡¯s the kids,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°Something¡¯s wrong with them and Emily isn¡¯t responding to me!¡± Heathcliff looked at the fairy¡¯s face. Her expression made it clear that something had gone very wrong. A while later, the knight and fairy arrived at the core room, there they found that Nina, Charlotte, and the Coloraturas¡¯ Sleepshells were activated and that they were encased in metallic cocoons. Carla and Minerva looked over their daughters with concern. Sarah and Richard examined the Cyberworks armor that changed into the sleepshells. ¡°I thought that spell was supposed to work when they aren¡¯t near any beds!¡± Sarah said with frustration. ¡°Elizabeth,¡± Richard said. ¡°Did you alter the runes?¡± ¡°The runes weren¡¯t altered,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°I checked when I found them.¡± Esteban and Julia entered the core room, rolling a black and orange sphere in with them. ¡°We found another one,¡± Esteban said. Heathcliff looked at the sphere and knew who slept inside. ¡°This is rather strange.¡± The Black Box was oddly silent, the air was a slow breeze. The walls and floors moved at a glacial pace. The Cells acted on autopilot, except for those like the Hamlin children and Evelyn. Atsuko and Hoshikage entered the core room. ¡°No luck, huh?¡± Atsuko said. Her ears were pinned back. Elizabeth shook her head in dismay. ¡°Has anything like this happened before?¡± Hoshikage asked. ¡°Usually, [Somnic Fields] would¡®ve affected everything in a specific radius,¡± the fairy said to the blond and tanned kunoichi. She mused on things a bit. ¡°Emily is also irresponsible. It is technically possible for a [Somnic Field] to affect [Dungeon cores] but even then it would mean it placed everyone in a comatose state.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s out,¡± Esteban said. ¡°Maybe they had eaten something poisonous?¡± Carla asked. ¡°It¡¯s one thing to fall unconscious,¡± Minerva said. ¡°But to do it in a way that activated the spell¡­¡± Atsuko looked at the eleven spheres on the floors. The teal-haired nekomata looked at the eight Elementalist¡¯s Spheres on the wall. She noticed something was amiss. She looked at the Geosphere and Umbralspheres, they radiated light at normal levels. She then looked at the Pyropshere and noted it shimmered slightly more than the other seven. Her tails stiffened in shock. ¡°The Pyrosphere,¡± Atsuko said. ¡°Emily hadn¡¯t drawn from it!¡± Elizabeth fluttered to the spheres and noticed the same abnormal glow of the Pyrosphere. Her heart sank as she realized the risk. ¡°Oh no.¡± ??? Meanwhile, Emily, Tim, and the girls had found shelter from the wildfire they were suddenly thrust into, arriving at a glass landscape. The smooth transparent surface revealed various parts of the subterrane; fossils, coal, and rock. The overcast sky prevented sunlight from seeping though, the only light came from the blaze on the horizon. The wildfire that for some reason hasn¡¯t come after them. ¡°Well, we have an inferno on one end and ¡­ whatever this is on the other,¡± Rose said. ¡°Lovely.¡± ¡°At least the fire can¡¯t be ashed to come here,¡± Azalea said. Emily looked around and felt this place eerily familiar but couldn¡¯t place her finger on it. She looked around as the dark sky dimmed visibility. Charlotte saw a glint at a distance and looked toward a spire. ¡°Look!¡± Emily turned towards the direction the alraune lass pointed and gasped. She recognized the shape of the tower. ¡°Is that¡­¡± Tim looked at the tower. ¡°The Arcane Tower? But that would mean we are in la Prairie Inconnue.¡± ¡°What?¡± Lily said. ¡°That can¡¯t be right, we stopped the Strega there!¡± Rose looked back at the encounter in the desert. She remembered that they were only able to save one person from there, the sandworm was defeated, and it was destroyed. She wondered who had become the Strega that turned the desert into glass, and if they could¡¯ve been saved. Azalea looked at her glum serpentine friend. ¡°Someone¡¯s taking it real hard,¡± Clover said. ¡°In fairness,¡± Hydrangea said. ¡°There were other things on the mind when Azalea told us.¡± ¡°Do you think she¡¯s okay?¡± Anemone said. ¡°I can hear you, you know?¡± Rose said. ¡°¡­sorry,¡± Anemone said sincerely. Raine approached her friend. ¡°You wanna talk about it?¡± ¡°Talk about what?¡± Rose said. ¡°How we could turn into monsters if we¡¯re not careful? How those things we¡¯ve been fighting were once like us? You know they had families and friends. People that cared for them and might never know what happened to them.¡± ¡°Rose¡­¡± Lily said. While the Coloraturas were busy consoling their leader. Emily and Tim looked closer at the now glass-like Arcane Tower. ¡°This doesn¡¯t make sense,¡± Emily said. ¡°The desert wasn¡¯t like this yesterday.¡± Charlotte meanwhile looked at the wildfire. Her gaze extended beyond the flames towards a far-off point. She recalled the events in Hamlin. How her mother was immolated alive in a self-sacrificial plan to ensure the village received a form of closure. ¡°Lotte?¡± Nina asked. Charlotte snapped back to reality. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°You and Rose seem out of it lately,¡± the spiderling said. ¡°Oh, that.¡± The indigo-haired alraune said. ¡°It¡¯s just. You remember Hamlin?¡± ¡°Sure do!¡± Nina said cheerfully. ¡°How could I¡ª Oh.¡± They looked at the wildfire in the distance. ¡°You think it¡¯s that demon¡¯s fault?¡± Nina said. As she heard Nina¡¯s question, Emily remembered something. She turned towards the fire and recalled the encounter with the mysterious entity. She looked at the fire and felt like something was pulling her to it. ¡°We need to go,¡± Emily said. ¡°Emily?¡± Nina said. ¡°Go where,¡± Rose asked with confusion. ¡°That blaze,¡± Emily said. ¡°It¡¯s hiding something?¡± ¡°You want to go back into the fire?¡± Charlotte said. ¡°That place is like a cataclysm,¡± Tim said. ¡°It is a cataclysm,¡± Anemone said. ¡°Or at least it has all the hallmarks of one.¡± ¡°I¡¯m certain,¡± Emily. ¡°That woman mentioned a trial, didn¡¯t she?¡± ¡°She did, yes,¡± Tim said. Charlotte was hesitant to follow Emily. The wildfire frightened her so much, it reminded her of the near loss of her mother and the total loss of a quiet life in Hamlin. Rose slithered to the alraune, feigning confidence. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we can keep you safe from the fires.¡± ¡°We can¡¯t really leave you here anyway,¡± Hydrangea said. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Charlotte noticed they had a point. There is no way to find food in eh grass desert, and the clouds prevent Stella from shining down on them, there is no water nearby if there is any way to find out where they are and to escape it, it has to be together. She looked at Nina, the younger girl gave her a confident smirk. ¡°Leave it to us!¡± she said. Charlotte was a little assured by that and silently agreed to go with them. The group prepares to return to the burning forest. ??? Emily¡¯s group approached the wildfire. The scent of burnt wood and ash linger in the air. Emily, Tim, Clover, Azalea and Hydrangea used wind, ice and water spells to protect the group from the heat, quelling the fire around them and Rained used her skill in flame magic to repel the fires that creep closer to them. They eventually found a part of the forest that was too burned out to ignite. ¡°We need to be careful,¡± Tim said. ¡°There are other dangers beyond the fires.¡± Clover prepared a spell to ensure ash won¡¯t get into their lungs as they ventures deeper into the forest. They discovered various charred unidentifiable bodies around them as they ventured deeper in the burning forest. The errie bodies sent shiver down¡¯s everyone¡¯s spines. Lily cantered a little ahead of the group and bumped into something. ¡°Ow!¡± the centauride yelled. She looked at the object in front of her and recoield in horror. It was a ashen statue of a young centaur child. Anemone rushed to Lily. ¡°What happened?¡± Lily trembled as she pointed to the corpse. Anemone noticed that the statue bore an uncanny reassembling to Lily. Azalea swam toward Rose, wanting to make sure she is okay. Rose feigned a confident look towards the mermaid. Azalea noticed that she was still sullen benath the masked and tried to cheer her up with some jokes. Streltizia and Hydrangia took up the rear, trying to erect barriers to ward off the cinders behind them. The orange haired minotaur heard a spark flicker to her side and saw a shadow move in the ash trees. Charlotte looked at the various coalblack remains around hem. Her stomach churned as the pungent scent of ash and rot filled her nostrils. She tried to use the aroma of her own petals to counteract the noxious odor. Raine and Clover noticed several ruins in the forests; crumbled walls and collapsed buildings surrounded them. As they drew closer to the structures they noticed that they felt like they had been here before. Nina noticed a strange strcture, a slope that looked out of placed amongst the charred trees. She climbed up it and ascended its peak. What she saw there caused her to to open her eyes in shock. She skittered down the sloped. ¡°Emmy!¡± she called. Emily heard Nina and came over. ¡°Did you find something, Nina?¡± she said. Nina led the others up the slope and until its peak. Emily placed her hand over her mouth. She saw seven other slopes, each leading towards a disk-shaped object. A familiar form, one she recalled from Tarantuopolis, yet it was more so because it was also the basis of the first Constrict. The Sentinel she inadvertently created after she absorbed the core of Tarantlopolis. The group realized something. These ruins, they were of the Black Box. ??? Emily collapsed on her knees, confused and distraught. ¡°Why? How?¡± she is certain she is still alive, yet they know they walked in the course of her dungeon body. ¡°Tat which liet before you is a possibility,¡± a voice echoed in her mind. ¡°What tis is yet to be.¡± She recognized the voice. ¡°Who are you!¡± Emily shouted. No one responded. The voice giggles. ¡°Just someone in the mood to give you one hint, darling.¡± Claudia¡¯s voice faded away. Emily stood up, and saw the rest of her group were just as confused as she is. And were more so by her outburst. ¡°Emily?¡± Charlotte said. Emily assured the others that she is ¡­stable. She looked around the ruins of herself and wondered what had happened here. The group of twelve suddenly heard voices. Wailing, cries for help, memories of the last moments before they knew it the wood and metal around them ignited around them and they are suddenly surrounded by shadowy phantoms. Similar to those they encountered while exploring Spearhead¡¯s Peak. Tim took out his Qiang and used it to channel a cyclone to repell the shadowy figures. ¡°We need to go, now!¡± The group fought their way though the shadows to escape the wildfire that crawled up behind them. They eventually arrived in another dried out place the blaze stopping short of them. They were safe¡­for now. ??? Emily and her group wandered the wasteland for hours. Trying to learn what had happened dot the Black Box Dungeon and avoiding both the flames and the shadowy monsters. They eventually came across a strange structure, a wooden house built from the burned-out trees that surrounded it. ¡°That wasn¡¯t there before,¡± Tim mused. The group noticed that the home was seemingly empty. No signs marking ownership were present. With little recourse, they entered the abode, hoping to find clues as to what happened. Over a few hours, they had rummaged through the items in the house and found that despite the burnt and ashed exterior it was functional; there was enough food for a month, hunting supplies to gather more, a garden, a runic system for making potable water from the rainfall. Most interesting of all were the few books on the shelf. All seemed to be red-bound memoirs written anonymously. Emily took one of the tombs and read an entry. The date was smudged out. ¡°¡­The other New Virginia guilds had attempted to contain the cataclysm. No dice, the elementals had claimed them all. I took a look at their corpses, seems like they got Cerburean folk in their ranks. Poor fools, don¡¯t they know that cataclysms like that can¡¯t be contained in this way?¡± Emily¡¯s mind is confused. ¡°Cataclysm?¡± she asked herself. She recalled that one of the others had mentioned the term. She turned around to the others. ¡°Did you find something?¡± Anemone asked. ¡°I think so?¡± Emily said. She showed Anemone the book. Anemone read the entry. Her eyes moved knowingly as if the suspicions she held were confirmed. ¡°Did Elizabeth tell you about elemental mana buildup?¡± ¡°No,¡± Emily said. ¡°She did say that I should try to balance and regulate the man that flowed through me.¡± ¡°That is right,¡± Anemone said. ¡°A Dungeon that fails to maintain proper balance risks inciting a calamitous event known as a ¡®cataclysms¡¯. The mana continued through the Dungeon growing rampant and wild, consuming the core and those that resided in the area around it. These are localized apocalypses.¡± ¡°Localized apocalypses?¡± Rose slithered toward the purple-haired girls. ¡°You¡¯d known this if you paid attention in class, Rose,¡± Anemone said. ¡°Does this have anything to do with those things we¡¯ve encountered?¡± Emily asked, curiously. ¡°Hmm,¡± Anemone said. ¡°Judging from the state of the forest, this is a fire-aspected cataclysm. Cataclysms tend to spawn entities known as ¡®Elementals¡¯ living afterimages of the victim¡¯s last moments, twisted by the mana. It is possible that we''ve encountered them, but¡­¡± ¡°The historical evidence points against it,¡± Hydrangea said, after overhearing the conversation. ¡°The fire elementals tend to be less shadow and more fire.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Anemone said. ¡°These feel like they could belong to a dark-aspected cataclysm instead.¡± Tim approached Emily. ¡°I have a theory on what those beings are.¡± Emily¡¯s interest is piqued. ¡°When I trained at the Golden Spear before it was attacked, Master Wu mentioned that there would come a time when the students would encounter Shadows,¡± Tim said. ¡°You remembered the entities we found in my Qiang?¡± ¡°The shades right?¡± Emily said. Tim nodded. ¡°I think those are the ones we¡¯ve encountered here thus far.¡± Rose groaned. ¡°Does that tell us anything about getting out of this place?¡± Emily began to piece together what had happened. ¡°So I fell victim to a cataclysm?¡± she asked. ¡°That seemed like the case,¡± Anemone said. ¡°Except for one problem, you¡¯re still conscious. A cataclysm with a dungeon core at the epicenter would have subsumed the dungeon core within it.¡± ¡°Besides,¡± Hydrangea said while wiping ash and dust from her glasses. ¡°There is no way a cataclysm would be that fast.¡± ¡°Then what does¡ª¡± Rose was interrupted by the sound of footsteps. The group realized that they were not alone and hid among the furniture and walls of the house. As she tried to find a place to hide, Emily dropped the memoir onto the floor. There they saw a haggard old man walk around his home. ¡°J''ai d? le laisser ouvert,¡± he said. His grey hair and wrinkled skin indicated he had been here a long time. His musculature implies that he kept himself in shape even in his twilight years and his black and maroon attire clearly showed signs of involvement in various battles. The most striking objects son him were a peculiar red-bladed sword and shield. The group noticed that the elderly man reminded them of someone but couldn''t figure out who. The man picked up the book. A nostalgic look waxed on his face as she took a pen out from his satchel and turned to a blank page. ¡°Duodecemebr 4th,¡± he said as he wrote down the date. ¡°Elementals were repelled from Ashwood. The fires seemed to have received a little bit. The Inferno guild had come to me this morning, wanting me to assist them in locating the Elemental at the epicenter. I told them ¡®That is a fool¡¯s errand.¡¯ Only a Divine Dungeon could be able to handle that, and as far as I can see, there weren¡¯t any in that guild that seemed willing to do it.¡± The elder turned to the next page. ¡°Went to the graveyard the other day, heh I already wrote about, but still. Thinking about those that were lost that day got me. I have to wonder what happened to those other two. I hope they are okay, Noir is probably after them for their alleged connection. Those two were innocent I tell you, but good luck getting that through the thick skulls of the Ebony Guards.¡± ¡°The shipment from Grandriver should be coming tomorrow, along with the news. Word is that Sigurdtein had managed to encroach on ol¡¯ Charlie. Libert¨¦ is still doing nothing about it. That isn¡¯t their problem the Citizen Primus said.¡± He sighed before continuing writing. ¡°Maybe I should head to Erebus, try to fight the good fight there at least. Might be better than sitting on my ass at least. Yet I know this cataclysm has to be addressed first. Besides, If I am to to stop Sigurdtein, I need to practice some more. Sword arm has gotten pretty rusty lately. At least the gear is holding up good. If only the artisans were still around.¡± He sighed again. Emily used telepathy to read the man¡¯s mind, every word he placed on parchment was heard by her through her ability. She saw the elderly man look at his sword and walk around a bit, eventually stopping I front of the window. He kept a watch out for possible encroachment of the fires. He returned to his desk and checked the candle. Half of the candlestick has melted now. He took his pen and continued writing. ¡°Magic still left a lot to be desire. Never was one for the arcane, but at least I was able to finagle the runes together for the water. Shame Hacylon rarely saw fit to cry these days. Anesidora and Obsidian might also be too busy. Maybe I should find a church? Bah, that can wait until later. I can only pray that Astra and her kids will eventually stop this.¡± ¡°She¡¯s still wandering the forest, trying to find her friends. I don¡¯t think she is even aware that she burned them all away. Or herself for that matter. Administrators only know how much of her is left in there now.¡± Emily is left confused. ¡°Her?¡± she thought. ¡°Whose ¡®her¡¯?¡± The elderly man looked around, as if he had heard something. Emily caught a glimpse of look of comfort on the elder¡¯s face as he walked around. ¡°It seems I got some friends over tonight. Not sure who would ever visit this shack, but I cna hazard a guess.¡± He thought as he walked around. ??? The elder searched for possible guests. As he approached a table, Streltizia and Clover ran outside behind him. Clover stumbled and nearly tripped but made it out before the man turned. As the elderly man moved to the kitchen, Azalea silently swam out an open window. Raine helped Rose move from behind a bookshelf to the front door. The elderly man then returned to his story, and Anemone, Lily, and Hydrangea left through the backdoor. Nina climbed to the ceiling and helped Charlotte sneak past him. The elderly man snickered. Tim quietly moved to the back door. Only Emily remained in the house with him. ¡°Something is not right,¡± she thought. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I had company over. Most of my days were spent trying to protect wanders from her. It¡¯s for the best that they left now. These ashened woods are dangerous.¡± ¡°To any still here, or any that find this book. I must warn you again. Steer clear of the ruins. The elemental that wandered it is too much for the average adventurer, even a Dungeon core is going to have a hard time subduing her. The only person that is capable of defeating her¡­¡± the elderly man stops his thoughts and approaches a cabinet. Emily held her breath in a futile attempt to not get caught. ¡°Is hiding in this here cabinet,¡± he said. Opening the cabinet door. Emily¡¯s revealed face bore a look of fear. Heathcliff loosed a wry cackle at his remaining guest. ¡°Welcome back, cher.¡± ??? A while later, Emily, Tim, and the children sat in the living room and kitchen of an elderly Heathcliff¡¯s home. Heathcliff himself started cooking some gumbo over a pot and a burning pile of wood. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, chers?¡± the elderly Heathcliff said. ¡°I should be the one acting like I¡¯ve seen a ghost,¡± he said with a laugh. ¡°Heathcliff,¡± Emily said. ¡°What happened here? What caused the cataclysm?¡± The campfire burns, a microcosm, and a reminder of the wildfire that scorched the land. Heathcliff gazed at the flame before turning his attention back to Emily. His face had a tinge of nostalgia and also regret. ¡°There was an incident?¡± ¡°What incident?¡± Rose said. ¡°It had been so long ago,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°Yet that damned day is burned into my mind. The Black Box glowed with an incandescent orange. A fire had broken out in the core room and spread through the entire Dungeon.¡± ¡°I¡­a fire burned behind me?¡± Emily asked. Heathcliff nodded. ¡°It wasn¡¯t your usual case of heartburn, Em,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°I was in Rozencruz when it happened, making groceries with Esteban and Julia. Little did I know that some spark ignited you like a candle.¡± ¡°Did anyone else survive?¡± Tim said. ¡°The three of us and Chiron had tried to find y¡¯all,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°But all we could find were ashen statues and Elementals. Lingering memories of you and the other. I stuck around and this forest of course and you''re the only ¡­you that I saw since. Elizabeth, Atsuko, Minerva, Richard, Sarah¡­¡± he paused for a bit. A tear dropped from his eyes. ¡°Carla¡­ they. Well, you can guess what happened to them.¡± The others were heartbroken. Charlotte and Nina mourned their mothers. Emily and Tim mourned their friends. Yet they also needed clarification. ¡°How long ago was this?¡± Anemone said. ¡°It couldn''t have been recent.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Tim said. ¡°It¡¯s clear that a considerable amount of time has passed given you¡­¡± ¡°Heh,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°You¡¯ve noticed? Well, it had been quite a few decades since the cataclysm began.¡± ¡°A few decades?¡± Streltizia asked. ¡°More than a few,¡± Heathcliff clarified. ¡°Though I forgot the exact numbers, the papers might help.¡± He pointed to a stack of old newspapers. ¡°How did you survive for so long?¡± Clover said. ¡°This is a cataclysmic area, it would destroy most people.¡± ¡°You¡¯d think a little wildfire could fell the Crimson Hound?¡± Heathcliff smirked. ¡°Tim and I had seen worse.¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± Tim said. ¡°We¡¯ve encountered and trekked through several cataclysmic areas in our travels,¡± he then thought about something. He wondered why his counterpart had perished in this one. Hydrangea looked over the stack of old newspapers for the dates of publications. Her eyes widened in shock. ¡°This, these is at least half a century old!¡± ¡°What!¡± Lily said. ¡°But that means.¡± Azalea looked at Heathcliff. ¡°You¡¯ve been smoldering in this place for more than fifty years?¡± ¡°And still alive and kicking,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°There were some close calls, but I pulled through.¡± ¡°Did the cataclysm affect the desert as well?¡± Emily asked. ¡°Oui,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°Turned the whole thing into glass.¡± ¡°Wait,¡± Nina said. ¡°Why are you so¡­jovial?¡± ¡°Excusez moi?¡± Heathcliff said. Charlotte realized something. ¡°That¡¯s right, if half a century, at least, had elapsed since the cataclysm happened, and we¡¯ve been dead for that time, then why did you not suspect us of being Elementals?¡± ¡°Good question,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°I¡¯ve been around these parts for quite a while, long enough to know what these ashened memories looked like. And to be frank, you haven¡¯t screamed in pain or displayed signs of immolation.¡± ¡°There could be other reasons,¡± Tim said. ¡°Are you certain we are not as illusions?¡± ¡°Not entirely no,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°I¡¯ve been long in the tooth for quite a while now, can¡¯t rule out the possibility of hallucinations, or maybe the Reaper himself deciding to use your visage. Granted in the latter case, he seemed to be a little understaffed here.¡± Emily mulled over the worlds of her Dungeon Master. She wondered about something. ¡°Is it normal for a cataclysm to last this long?¡± ¡°It¡¯s possible,¡± Anemone said. Raine helped Hydrangea look through the newspapers to find the most recent dates. ¡°For a catastrophe to last this long means that it found and consumed several mana sources. You¡¯d have to destroy several Divine Dugneons¡¯ worth.¡± ¡°And yet the cinders still smolder,¡± Heathcliff said. Hydrangea noticed among the papers one issue of the Apogee telling of an alliance of Divine Dungeons trying to quell the cataclysm and being consumed, retreating the Sisyphean process until they couldn''t sustain their avataras or their true bodies and becoming inert. Raine then saw a Bugleblitz issue about how the cataclysm had scorched through half of New Virginia and the areas were quarantined. Websdale and Eastshire were among the towns that had fallen. Heathcliff looked at Emily¡¯s eyes. He saw that the displaced avatara was confused. Yet he also saw something peculiar about her as well. ¡°Emily, I think you gots to go.¡± ¡°Go where?¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°Rosenkreuz,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°I think these mysteries¡¯ answers are there.¡± His expression was as stern and fatherly as ever, let Emily saw regret in it as well. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I couldn''t save y¡¯all from what happened that day, but if there is a chance to make it up to you, I¡¯ll take it. I do not have long for this world. And if you are Revotos¡¯ envoys then it¡¯s clear that I have less than I thought. I¡ª¡± A loud sizzle was heard. Heathcliff stopped talking and looked outside the window. The wildfire now crept closer towards his house and several figures could be seen marching in the flames. ¡°Damn! They¡¯re here!¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°Who¡¯s here?¡± Emily asked with concern. ¡°Fire Elementals,¡± Heathcliff said with a grimace. The group headed outside the house and saw the ashened army march toward them. The burning Elementals moaned in agony and utter pleas for help repeatedly, like records stuck on a loop. Embers fly out from their scorched, fire-weathed forms. The group could recognize several people in the fire, including Carla, Sarah, Richard, and the children of Hamlin. ¡°Emily¡­why?¡± the approaching force moaned in unison. The sight of Carla coated in fire again paralyzed Charlotte with fear. Nina and Anemone shook the alraune and brought her to reality. ¡°Go!¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°I¡¯ll try to hold them off. He pointed his sword in a certain direction. ¡°Rosenkreuz is that way, now go.¡± ¡°But Heathcliff!¡± Emily said. ¡°There are too many, you can¡¯t hold them off alone!¡± Time cried. ¡°I said ¡®If there is a chance to make it up to you, I¡¯ll take it¡¯!¡± he said. ¡°This is my chance, and this is also your chance to finally put these spirits to rest. Go, and see to it that their souls, and ours, are a peace.¡± Emily noticed the fire in Heathlciff¡¯s eyes, not a blaze of the cataclysm, but a spark of determination. Emily responded to it with a determined nod. ¡°May we be blessed in the starlight! And may we meet again, in the Sea of Souls. Now go!¡± Emily and Tim took the ten children and ran in the direction the elderly knight pointed. Heathcliff then turned to the mob of Elementals. A lurid scent of ash grows as the torched ones drew closer. ¡°Alright then,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°To the last, I grapple with you. Allons!¡± He charged toward the mob, sword and shield at hand, and made his bid to keep them as far away from Emily as possible for as long as possible. ??? Meanwhile, with Elizabeth. She moved the eleven spheres over to the room where Atsuko¡¯s instruments were working, Heathcliff, Esteban, Julia, Atsuko, Richard, Sarah, Carla, and Minerva were also present. Saizo, Suzume, Kei, Aika, Noboru, and Kasumi are helping Elizabeth and Atsuko calibrate the Kaguya Parallel Mirror. ¡°So what is the plan here?¡± Heathcliff asked curiously. ¡°The Kaguya Mirror,¡± Atsuko says. ¡°Is designed to view through the eyes of a Dungeon¡¯s Core Avatara¡¯ this is in part why Emily¡¯s presence is necessary for the microdungeon expeditions. It was primarily calibrated to her avatara.¡± ¡°If we can somehow find its signal,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°We could try to figure out what is going on.¡± ¡°And you are certain that locating her is possible because?¡± Richard said. ¡°I dabble in pataphysics,¡± the teal-haired nekomata said. ¡°Comes up surprisingly often in my research. The point is the Mirror is keyed to Emily¡¯s avatara specifiably and the evidence showed that her avatara is active.¡± ¡°The [Avatara] need I remind you, houses Emily¡¯s consciousness,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°And it hadn¡¯t indicated any signals of being disassembled, it just vanished. That the Dungeon remains numb to attempts to contact her, combined with the perpendicular activation of the Sleepshells indicates their minds are somehow somewhere else.¡± ¡°Are we able to travel to her if we find the avatara?¡± Minerva asked. ¡°That I don¡¯t know,¡± Atsuko said. ¡°We¡¯re dealing with the fringes of applied metaphysics here. We could tweak the celebrations, after all the use of the Femtonauts requires that everyone but Emily is unconscious as their minds are streamed to the nanoscopic construct, but at the same time their location is also known.¡± ¡°Can you elaborate on that?¡± Esteban said. ¡°What do you mean by ¡®known¡¯?¡± ¡°I mean that even if we could establish contact with Emily¡¯s avatara,¡± Atsuko said. ¡°That doesn¡¯t help us find out where exactly she is. When we enter a microdugneon, the Takurabune with Emily¡¯s avatara and the Femtonauts are placed at a point in hyperbolic space, that we can track and observe. This isn¡¯t the case here. Emily, Tim, and the children ended up in Astra-knows-where and we need access to metaphysical data to find out. I¡¯m sorry, but for now, there is nothing we can do beyond trying to communicate with her.¡± ¡°Is it possible to wake them up?¡± Sarah asked. ¡°There are risks to that,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°Trying to rouse the bodies in this state might end up severing the connection and strand their minds wherever they are.¡± ¡°And how do you know that?¡± Julia curiously asked. ¡°I asked Atsuko to help me analyze the [Sleepshells],¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°This is but a hypothesis, but I think trying to wake them in this state might yield dire consequences.¡± ¡°Je vous,¡± Heathcliff solemnly said. The screen on the Kaguya Parallel Mirror eventually showed an image veiled behind a layer of static. Atsuko picked up on that. ¡°We got something!¡± Atsuko said. ¡°Kei, Noboru, can we hone in on that signal?¡± The two shinobi helped Atsuko locate the frequencies. The image grows a little clearer. The group saw an ashened landscape. A forest that looked like it had burned into charcoal. Carla is reminded of the time the Piper Pruflas visited the Black Box and the illusion he weaved while there. ¡°Is that¡­?¡± The image grew a little sharper, they saw a wildfire gleam on the horizon. Atsuko made one last calculation, the image became as clear as a crystal. ¡°We found her!¡± Atsuko said. Elizabeth tried to establish contact. ¡°Emily, can you hear me?¡± she said into a microphone hooked up to the Mirror. ??? Meanwhile, Emily¡¯s group rushed in a single direction, trying to find the source of the cataclysm. On the way, they encountered large burning treants. The Elementals merged with the charcoaled wood. The trees intercepted and began to fight the group. Hydrangea tried to freeze the entities in ice using her grimoire, Azalea used what little humidity in the air to conjure up enough water to help her bespectacled friend. The ice and water spells slowed them down but did not stop them, their flames melted the ice and evaporated the water. Emily drew her swords and clashed with the burning trees. She chopped off an arm from one of them, but the ashen dryad reattached it. The arboreal enemies wailed, and the group heard more cries of pain, several of them were from their own voices. The eerie wails unnerved the group, Charlotte most of all. Azalea and Clover used their powers to create a barrier of silence to protect them from the cries. ¡°This is getting us nowhere!¡± Rose said as she sliced at the roots of the trees. ¡°We need to¡ª¡± She is suddenly pinned to the ground by another one. Her tail burned by the attack and she gazed at her pursuer. The effect of Azalea¡¯s and Clover¡¯s spell faded and the tree uttered, ¡°Mommy...Daddy¡­¡± In Rose¡¯s voice. Rose squirmed to escape the blazing monster. The tree¡¯s sound caused a memory to flash before her eyes like lightning. A scene of a bolt of lighting setting a building ablaze lingered in her mind, a younger Rose gazed in horror at the burning burning, her parents trapped inside as smoke rose. She tried to slink toward the building but was prevented, she knew her parents were dead. Rose¡¯s flashback ended as quickly as it began. ¡°That!¡± she placed her rapier back in its sheath. ¡°Is!¡± the weapon became charged by lightning mana, ¡°Enough!¡± she drew the blade again and an electrified arc followed the tip of the sword with enough force to push back the tree that pinned her down. Separated from the treant, she slithered to her allies, Azalea used water to help soothe the burn on her tail and the armor that coated it. Emily saw one of the fire-wreathed treants rush toward her. She used her blade to block its punch, but the infernal armor leaned forward and tried to push on her. ¡°Emily, can you hear me?¡± Emily heard a staticky voice ring in her head. She could barely make out the source. She moved her two blades and carved through the arm of the treant. ¡°Barely,¡± Emily responded. ¡°Breathing heavily. ¡°Elizabeth, is that¡­ you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s me,¡± The fairy responded from what seemed to be dimensions apart. The treant attempted to slam down on Emily, but she reacted quickly and enchanted her sword with water mana. She used the enchanted blades to slice at the carve she made with her prior attack and cut her way through the treant. Water and fire evaporated into steam as the flames animating the charcoal treant were doused. ¡°Where are you?¡± She said to the fairy. ¡°That is¡­where¡­¡± Elizabeth struggled to maintain contact with Emily, eventually losing contact. ¡°Elizabeth? Elizabeth!¡± Emily called out, but she couldn¡¯t get a response. Nina tried to use her webbing to tie the wooden wraiths, but her silken strings burned up from their flames. One of them soon loomed over her. Nina gave a defiant glare at them as the treant drew closer. Her determination wanes as she hears the sound of her and Mienrva¡¯s voices echoing from the treant. Nina tried to scurry away, but behind her were two other trees she began to lose hope until she saw a bold of lightning strike the first treant and stun it enough for Rose to pierce it and retrieve Nina, before the spiderling knew it she was suddenly rising on Rose¡¯s tail. Rose herself looked back on her first encounter with Whisper. A hazy memory but it was clear enough for her to know she made her wish with purpose. She slithered around to regroup with the others. Tim used his Qiang to channel a typhoon from the clouds above, she spun the weapon clockwise as the wind swirls around in the same direction. The storm winds began to weaken the charcoal treants enough for an opening to be made. ¡°We need to go!¡± Tim said. ¡°This windstorm will not last for long!¡± The group of twelve seized the opportunity to escape the treants. The flames of the Elementals were too weak for them to follow the group. ??? Emily and her group soon stopped at a point where they were certain the treants wouldn¡¯t follow them, in what was once the Bleumaw. Emily looked back at the direction they came from. She was concerned about Heathcliff. Tim also looked toward where his adventuring mentor was. His face hid it better than Emily¡¯s but he also showed fear for the Crimson Hound. ¡°What is going on here?¡± Nina said. ¡°Did we end up in the future?¡± ¡°It sure looks like it,¡± Charlotte said. Her tone betrayed a slight shock at what had happened around them. ¡°But how did we end up there?¡± Clover said. ¡°What did that weird lady do?¡± ¡°Weird lady?¡± Emily thought. She then remembered the encounter that occurred before then. The encounter with the Administrator. Rose slinked around, a fair distance away from the others. She saw the charred remains of several trees. Those that were burned to charcoal and ash by the cataclysm. The sight had reminded her of something she didn¡¯t want to dwell on. Azalia swam to the lamia child, she noticed her pink-haired friend still holding an uncharacteristically forlorn expression. Rose looked at the clionid. ¡°Can I tell you something?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Azalea said with perked ears. ¡°Do you know how my parents died?¡± ¡°Of course I do,¡± Azalea said. ¡°Whisper told me they perished in a lightning storm.¡± ¡°That is right,¡± Rose said. ¡°What they didn¡¯t tell you was the day that happened. My parents were helping me hone my lightning magic. Said I had a rare talent and a dangerous one.¡± ¡°That is¡­shocking,¡± Azalea quipped to raise Rose¡¯s spirits. Raine approached them and learned that Rose was explaining her parent¡¯s fates to the clionid. ¡°I had a difficult time controlling my powers when I was younger,¡± Rose said. ¡°My parents said they had to put rubber on everything just so that my mana didn¡¯t accidentally tear a hole. And they¡¯ve feared that I would end up paralyzing myself if I wasn¡¯t able to get a grip on it. It was normal for things like that to happen they said. How many people didn¡¯t struggle with their natural affinity during infancy they asked. Yet they wanted to make sure I didn¡¯t end up short-circuiting the dishwasher or wake up to find my body had been paralyzed. They saw my magic as dangerous, and one day I began to see why.¡± Raine stood silent, she already heard this story from her before. Azalea listened curiously. ¡°On a clear blue day,¡± Rose continued. ¡°They took me outside to try to hone my abilities. Things were going well. I thought I was able to control my powers for the first time. But then¡­¡± ¡°Then what?¡± Azalea said. ¡°Halcyon wept,¡± Rose said. ¡°Rain began to pour, and lightning followed in its wake. A bolt of lightning struck me, and it caused¡­it caused.¡± ¡°Let it out, Rose,¡± Raine said. Tears rolled down Rose¡¯s cheeks as she tried to say what happened next. ¡°There was a discharge. I tried to contain it, I really did, but lightning had erupted from my body and arced all around¡ªdestructive lightning at that. Trees were burning, dirt turned to mud from the rain, and my parents. They¡­they were caught within the lightning. By the time it was over, I was the only one left standing, they...they were gone, and it¡¯s all my fault.¡± Raine tried to comfort her. ¡°It wasn¡¯t your fault, Rose. It was a freak accident.¡± She said it the last time she heard that story. ¡°But what if it wasn¡¯t?¡± Rose said. ¡°The weatherman said that day was sunny. There was no way a storm would¡¯ve happened so suddenly. What if I caused that storm? What if I¡­¡± She became unintelligible as she wept. Azalea swam toward the lamia and hugged her. ¡°It¡¯s okay, let it all out,¡± Azalea said. She then turned to Raine. ¡°C¡¯mon Raine, I know you wanted to help her too.¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Raine stammered. ¡°I do not!¡± she soon relented and helped Azalea soothe Rose. After Rose was calmed down. Azalea asked her a question. ¡°Was this before you met Whisper?¡± The lamia nodded. ¡°A week after I was discharged by the hospital. They came to me and heard my plight. That was when I made my wish. I wanted to try to control this power. To save people, not harm them.¡± ¡°You had gotten better at harnessing it, Rose,¡± Raine said. ¡°Now I don¡¯t think you can hurt people by accident anymore.¡± ¡°But what if I changed into a Strega?¡± Rose said. ¡°What happens then? How many people would be harmed as I lashed out?¡± She looked around at the destroyed Blewmaw. She wonder if she would one day be the cause of destruction on such a scale. Azalea began to see why she took her story, her explanation of how Strega and Witches were connected, poorly. ¡°Rose¡­I¡­¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t your fault, Lea,¡± Rose said. ¡°But¡­I¡­¡± Black muck began to seep from her eyes. Azalea and Raine knew they had to do something. Raine was the first to speak up. ¡°Rose, get a grip.¡± ¡°H-huh?¡± Rose said. ¡°We¡¯ve been together all these years,¡± Raine said with a stern yet warm voice. ¡°I¡¯ve seen you try to help others. It was you who suggested we use our abilities to help the Underground. It was you who cheered up that kid when we found them separated from their parents. It was you who appealed to a robber¡¯s heart and convinced him to seek a new path in life. It was you who helped Hydrangea back at the manor. It was you who helped Emily save Evelyn. All this time you wanted to help others. Please, let us help you.¡± ¡°She¡¯s right,¡± Azalea said. ¡°Whatever burdens you had, you shouldn¡¯t have to bear them alone. We can help you make sure your powers won¡¯t harm an innocent. I said wouldn¡¯t let you fall, Rosie, remember?¡± Rose was touched by the concern her two closest friends had for her. ¡°You guys.¡± ¡°Once we head back to the present,¡± Azalea said. ¡°We can help you master those powers. Don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll have plenty of time to wallow later if you must,¡± Raine said. ¡°But right now we still need to escape this cataclysm. Can I count on you, as I always have?¡± Rose¡¯s tears turned transparent. Her eyes gain a spark of determination in them. ¡°Of course. I am Rose Rhapsodia! Heroine of justice, defender of the downtrodden,¡± She said with bravery. ¡°I will not let this fear consume me. With the Coloraturas, my sisters by my side, I will not fail!¡± ¡°Attagirl!¡± Raine said. ¡°That¡¯s our Rosie!¡± Azalea said. Rose thanked her two friends. The three soon regrouped with the rest of the party and they continued to where Rosenkreuz was. ??? Emily and her group finally reached the site where the town of Rosenkreuz was. They gasped as they saw what became of the town. ¡°Oh no,¡± Emily said. Only blackened skeletons and charred remains of the buildings remained of Rosenkreuz. The Guildhall, the theater, the various apartments and stores, all reduced to cinders. And in the center of the ruins was a very familiar visage. A woman wandered the ruins. Her form cloaked in an immortal flame. Her purple hair, kindling for an equally violet blaze. Her arms were molded in the form of blades that glowed with the crimson and orange hues of smelted iron. Her size was twice that of Emily and Tim, and roughly three times that of the Coloraturas. Her form twisted almost beyond recognition. Almost. ¡°Is that¡­¡± Charlotte asked. Emily trembled at the sight of the entity, she saw too much of herself in it for her comfort. The bladed woman¡¯s gait was like those of the dead. Dazed, confused, furious. She moved throughout the ruins in a near catatonic state, slashing at the remains of the village she once called home. ¡°Why?¡­why?¡± she cried out as she smashed a lamppost, coated in black dust. Her slash sent out a wave of heat that ignited the lingering wood and metal in its path. Emily saw a crystalline bulge in the back of the woman¡¯s shoulder. Changing position as the entity grasped her head in pain. Rose looked at the woman in horror. She resembled Emily too much to not remind her of her fears of becoming a monster. Charlotte is left speechless at the sight of Emily being reduced to such a state. Emily herself looked at her twisted reflection. Hurt, traumatized, and broken. A clear victim of the cataclysm, yet the evidence made it clear she was also the cause. Thoughts raced through her head. What could have happened to make her into this monster? How did she transform into an inferno that destroyed her friends, her family? Tim observed the entity¡¯s movements. He could tell that whoever she was, she was no longer Emily, yet he also wondered how this came to be. The time for pondering came and went. The entity took a gaze in the group¡¯s direction and saw them. And saw a reflection of a past life among them. The two Emilys gazed at each other for a few moments. Emily drew closer to her bladed counterpart. Hoping to try to find some way to ease her pain, but the reflection assumed a primal stance and howled. She plunged toward Emily. ¡°Emily!¡± Tim cried out. Emily drew her swords on reflex and locked the blades with her reflection. Sweat dripped from her pores as Emily looked into the elemental¡¯s eyes and saw nothing but a void. Whatever happened to her counterpart, it was cleared that she was burned away, reduced to a husk filled only with regrets of the damned. An elemental. Tim made a charging step and elbowed the larger monster from the bind, following up with a palm strike that displaced one of her legs enough for Emily to escape the stalemate. Emily tried to charge her swords with water and ice, but found the intense fire mana emanating from her doppelganger had neutralized the mana. She attempted to use wind to quell the fire, but her spells only intensified them. Rose slithered towards the monster with the speed of lightning and drew her rapier. The force of the draw pushed the fire elemental back while the lightning jolted her. Rose turned back and pointed her sword, only to find that her attack had made the monster stronger. The lamia dodged the elemental¡¯s riposte and tried to counter with several thrusts, but the fiery opponent either avoided Rose¡¯s sword with ease or grew more powerful with her spells. The Elemental tried to engulf Rose in a ring of fire, but Raine swooped in and grabbed Rose. The phoenixan girl flew away from the circle with Rose before the spell could incinerate her. ¡°Rose,¡± Raine said. ¡°Can¡¯t you see your attacks have energized her?¡± Rose looked back at the elemental. The monster that resembled Emily is now faster, stronger, and more dangerous thanks to the lightning mana she had fed her. The entity fired a barrage of fireballs at Raine and Rose, but Raine dodged them with sharp turns and pivots. Rose, still carried by her friend, had grazed some of the conflagratious projectiles. Lily rushed forward with a Lumiere Avant. Her and Tim¡¯s polearms parry the elemental¡¯s red-hot blades as she tried to burn them to cinders. Anemone and Nita tried to assist them, but the lycanthrope¡¯s arrows were able to root the elemental in place and the webs ignited as soon as they were extruded from the spiderling¡¯s spinerretes. Nina decided to charge forward and attack the elemental directly. ¡°No one hurts Emmy on my watch!¡± Nian said. ¡°Not even Emmy herself!¡± Nina slashed at the firey being with her bladed legs, but her slashes phased through the elemental, as if she was not a solid force. The elemental responded by slashing at Nina, but Tim intercepted with his Qiang and deflected the sword before it could hit the arachne child. Clover tried to use her fan to quell the blade, but no matter what she tired, the wind only accelerated the ignition of the nearby ruins. Streltizia joined the fray, swinging her labrys at the elemental. Rose used her magic to empowered Raine, energizing the red-winged girl as she used her fire spells to intercept the elemental¡¯s equally blazing attacks. The fires canceled each other out as they touch while Azalea and Hydrangrea tried to offer their assistance. ¡°What is going on?¡± Azalea said as she struggled to channel water. Even the orb of water encasing her head is boiling from the intense heat. ¡°Why is¡ª¡± her attempt at punnery is thwarted by a sudden fever induced by the boiling water. Hydrangea used a spell to chill the water and create a small layer of ice over it. ¡°That is a fire elemental!¡± Hydrangea said. ¡°Our spells are no good up close to her!¡± They are forced to retreat and try to use their powers to beckon rain and snow form the heavens. Emily clashed again with her reflection. She parried a slash with a small turn and tried to counter with an earth enchanted sword slash. The attack struck the elemental, but bounced off her body. She then attempted to slash again, but the sword moved through the elemental as if she was made of a plasmic mist. The group are left to fend for themselves against the shadow of Emily¡¯s fears. ??? Meanwhile, Elizabeth and Atsuko look at the screen on the Kaguya Parallel Mirror in horror. They saw Emily and those with her fighting an elemental in her image. ¡°What the hell is that?¡± Heathcliff asked with shock. ¡°A [Fire Elemental],¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°Spawn of a cataclysm of fire.¡± She looked at the Pyrosphere. Richard and Sarah are trying to find a way to offload its excess energy. Saizo and Kei were also assisting. Kasumi had the idea to use her mists to lower the temperature, but Hoshikage pointed out that it wouldn¡¯t work, the heat is a symptom of the overloaded Pyropshere. Esteban, Julia, Minerva, and Carla had evacuated the residents to the entrance, with Carla looking over the Cells that were once the Hamlin children. Suzume left to alert the guild of the Pyrosphere and request assistance. Atsuko looked at the visual data and tried to find a way to reestablish communication with Emily. ¡°Ugh, there is too much fire mana there!¡± she said with frustration. Her pinned-back ears and tense tails indicated worry buried beneath that. Elizabeth noticed her replica of the Lifetree had glowed subtly. She picked it up and saw she had a message from someone on the device. ¡°Intervention is impossible here,¡± the message read. ¡°Tey have to surpass tis on teir own. She needs to overcome her fears to reach [Albedo]. To ignite that furnace.¡± Elizabeth reasoned with the message. ¡°[Administrator], is this your doing?¡± Her device received a new message. ¡°Of course. We bot knew such trials were inevitable when Emily decided to cultivate.¡± Elizabeth began to realize what was going on. This is the first test for Emily. The first trial ordained to test her worth. She realized that it was not an act of malice, but a gauging of Emily¡¯s character. Elizabeth typed a follow-up question. ¡°When did you send them?¡± A new message emerged a few seconds later. ¡°¡®When?¡¯ Hmm, I could see why you would tink tat they were whisked to the future. While it is true tey are in a future, it is better to say it is less of te future and more a world of possibility. It is not what would happen, but what could happen, dear. A branch molded by [Shadow]. A kind of [Dungeon] if you would.¡± Elizabeth sent a response but received no more messages. The Administrator had left the conversation. She told Heathcliff and Atsuko what she had found out. The three turned their attention back to the screen and expressed their hopes that Emily would prevail in this trial. ??? Emily and her group are still locked in combat with the fire elemental. Emily, Tim, Streltizia, Nina, and Lily engage with the twisted reflection of Emily in close melee. Clover, Anemone, and Raine used their abilities to support them from range. Rose, Hydrangea, Azalea, and Charlotte meanwhile are trying to find a way to weaken the shadow by quelling the fries around the ruins of Rozenkreuz. Azalea swam around the area, trying to perform a ritual that summons a torrent of rain and avoiding the burning projectiles of the elemental. Hydrangea attempted to chill the air and snuff out the fire. Rose ends up battling several smaller elementals and trying to stop them from hindering her friends. Meanwhile, Charlotte stood and looked in horror at the pyre, as memories of Pruflas we dredged up. So shocked is she, that she hadn''t noticed a fireball had grazed the petals on her waist. Rose intercepted an elemental and slashed at it with her sword. She dispelled the lesser elemental¡¯s presence with a well-timed thrust and saw a second one plunging towards Charlotte. One that resembled Carla. As the lamia pointed her sword at the facsimile of the Alraune, the latter uttered the phrase¡­ ¡°Charlotte¡­where is Charlotte?¡± The indigo-petaled alraune turned to the sound of her mother, her eyes looked at the elemental that took her form and it called her her daughter. Charlotte¡¯s mind was still trapped on the last day she was in Hamlin, and the sight of her mother burned to ash as her fellow villagers cheered for her demise. The apparition clashed with Rose. The alraune looked at the battle and something within her began to stir. Halcyon¡¯s tears fell from the sky. Azalea¡¯s attempt at a rain-summoning ritual had worked. ¡°Phew,¡± the clionid said. ¡°We¡¯re over-deluge for some relief.¡± Raindrops fell onto the inferno, and several plumes of steam formed on the burning ruin as Rose continued to fight the apparition of Carla. Charlotte saw what looked like her mother harming one of her friends. She knew that her mother would never do that, she knew that she had to do something. She looked at the core elemental. The twisted reflection of Emily was undeterred by the rain, her flames smoldering still. She saw Nina struggling to land a hit on the entity. Azalea swam toward Charlotte. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± Charlotte said. The first word she uttered upon arrival at the ruins of Rosenkreuz. ¡°You might want to get out of here,¡± the mermaid said gently and without a hint of punnery. ¡°There¡¯s a safe path to the gateway.¡± Charlotte looked at the drops of rain, she then looked at Rose and her opponent. She heard Carla¡¯s voice calling for her in agony. She realized that the elemental was using the memories of the fallen as a lure to beckon others to their deaths. She remembered that was why the rest of Hamlin¡¯s children became how they were. An otherly force had lured them to their fates. She clenched her fist and looked at the blaze. ¡°Um, Lotte?¡± Azalea said. ¡°Didn¡¯t you¡ª¡± ¡°This rain isn¡¯t enough,¡± the alraune said. ¡°It¡¯s too slow.¡± She began to channel mana. Azalea felt a little pressure as gravity increased. The rain fell faster and faster as Charlotte used all she knew of Gravity magic to accelerate the torrent. She then turned to the elemental that dared mimicked her mother. She pointed her arm in it and lifted her hand. The elemental suddenly found itself higher than before, held aloft by Apurgy spells. Rose noticed that much of the lesser elemental¡¯s fire had been snuffed by the rain, She pointed her rapier in the air. A bolt of lightning struck the sword, charging it for her. The lamia then pointed the thin blade at her enemy. ¡°For using the memories of the deceased, for trying to reduce us to ash,¡± Rose said. ¡°I shall punish you. Electric Thorns!¡± The lightning from her sword and the storm had struck the lesser elemental and turned the already ashen entity into an inert pile. Rose and Charlotte turned towards the elemental. With resolve, they, Azalea, and Hydrangea rushed to help their friends. ??? While the rain slowly puts out the fires of the burning ruins, and a veil of steam envelops them. The elemental remains unaffected by it. Her fires evaporate the drops of water that touch her. Her fires burn with the last memories of her victims. Even with Charlotte¡¯s increasing the gravity to ensure more water fell on the ground, the deluge did little to wash away the fire, smoke, and ash that took the shape of Emily. Strelizia and Lily tried to attack the elemental, but she repelled them with a swing of her bladed arms. They are pushed into the remains of a building several meters away. Nina tried her bardsong eyes, and her silk to stop them, but even with the rain, her thread was still unable to touch the creature without being set on fire, her spinnerets were too singed to function. Tim and Emily fared the best against the latter¡¯s twisted reflection, but even they do not know what its weaknesses were. Voices echoed through the increasingly wet and flooded ruins of Rosenkreuz. Each echo a pained memory of fire consuming their bodies and incineration. Pauline, Euryale, Stheno, Pearl, Kaitlyn, and the other residents were heard among them. Rose¡¯s prior attack on the elemental she fought had caused the clods above to thunder. Lightning bolts struck the ruins and made new fires from them. Hydrangea, Clover, and Raine try to put out these fires before they can empower the elemental. Strelitzia and Azalea used their powers to create mud to further quell the fires. Anemone and Lily tried to bind the monster. Lily by creating a light that could cast a shadow, and Anemone by firing an arrow into it to bind it. That proved fruitless as the seemingly immaterial entity remained unbounded. Anemone knew this was the first time she faced an elemental and the first time she had found herself within a cataclysm, she struggled to find out what to do against this ethereal foe. The battle rages for hours, and everyone is becoming exhausted, yet the elemental still stands in this war of attrition. The monster sees her counterpart has grown tired and concentrates a larger amount of fire mana above it, aimed squarely at Emily. Emily tried to move, but the mud beneath her had captured her legs, and she barely had the energy to pull them out. Tim tried to rush to her, but he too was tired and able to reach her in time. Nina couldn¡¯t pull her out with her threads because of her signed abdomen, Charlotte couldn¡¯t conjure an Apurgy glyph to allow Emily to float out of the mud and the Coloraturas were similarly unable to reach her in time. Rose looked at the storm clouds. The bolts of lightning danced above her as charged particles erupted from the sky. She recalled how she and Raine first fought the Strega, using their affinities in tandem to enhance each other¡¯s strength and speed. That was all they knew about elemental reactions. The lamia looked at the fire elemental and its project. She had an idea, a risky idea. ¡°Emily!¡± Rose called out as she drew her rapier. A bolt of lightning struck the ground in front of Emily. The raindrops carried the current to her avatara body. The elemental¡¯s projectile was blocked by the current and Emily was washed in fire and lightning mana at once. Thoughts raced through the young girl¡¯s mind. Memories of the life she leads in Titania up to this point. Memories that were both hers and her counterpart¡¯s. In the ash and smoke, she saw herself fight the core of Tarantuopolis, then the demonic piper that bound Hamlin¡¯s children to her, then the Strega that was once Kaitlyn, then the Baron Roberts. She then heard the sounds of an explosion, a noise she thought came from the point where the cataclysm happened. She wondered how she had destroyed herself and the surrounding era, and what had led to it. Her mind turns back to the Piper and the Pyrosphere she obtained from it. For some reason that red orb had lingered on her mind. A second bolt struck Emily¡¯s directly, becoming the first one called by Rose. She pointed one of her swords up reflexively and had it absorb all the mana from it. The elemental charged another attack, aiming to take down Emily once and for all. The others were unable to intercept or save Emily from it. The project engulfed Emily. Tim cried out for her as she was engulfed in fiery conflagration. Emily then thought about the elemental. She wondered why was it fire specifically. She had never used any fire mana since she obtained the Pyrosphere, and couldn¡¯t use it beforehand. She had avoided it out of fear of reminding Charlotte and Carla of what happened, right? She then looked back to her memories of what happened after Pruflas was repelled. Where she absorbed both the Pyrosphere and the pipe. She realized that it was through that that the children of Hamlin became bound to her even though she tried to find a way to undo that, she became aware that there was a part of her that didn¡¯t want to think it was her fault. That was the real reason she drew not from flame. She then realized something. What if the cataclysm happened because she avoided using the powers of the Pyrosphere? What if her desire to avoid being confronted by her mistakes led to one so dire it destroyed everything? The sword that had absorbed the lightning mana became enchanted and shone with a magenta glow, her other sword remained unaspected. Yet there was a large amount of fire mana around her. At that moment, Emily had an idea. With her other sword in hand, she absorbed the fire magic around her. ??? The conflagration had faded, and Emily emerged unseated but changed. Her purple eyes gazed at her counterpart. Her equally purple hair flicked like a flame. Her left sword gleamed with the magenta hue of lightning, her right, ignited by a searing crimson shimmer. She made a lunge toward the elemental and made a flurry of slashes almost too fast to see. Lightning and Fire arced in her wake. The elemental recoiled after the initial barrage of attacks. The first time since near the battle began that she was fazed. Emily drew more power from the Electrosphere and Pyrosphere within her and danced toward the elemental. Blades clashed, and swords clanged against each other. The energized avatara flights with the elemental in her image. The warped entity was pushed back by a combination of Emily¡¯s fire and lightning slashes, her bardsong and attacks made faster than her opponent could see. Halcyon¡¯s heavenly weeping finally had an effect on the elemental. Buts of charred metal crack off as Emily made elaborated and swift movements on the elemental, finishing with Thudnerclaps in tandem with Rings of Fire. The entity was eventually left on its last legs, and Emily was still standing. The tables were turned and Emily combined her swords into a chakram and spun it as she ran towards the elemental. ¡°Celestial Flames!¡± she cried as put all her strength into throwing the chakram. The ring landed on the elemental and stayed in place. Lightning struck the elemental from above, while fire erupted from the chakram beneath it. The elemental tried to break out of the conflagration, but her attempts only backfired on it. Her attempts to break out only cause her to burn out faster. The chakram returned to Emily who saw that the elemental took on a new shape. One that bore a closer resemblance to Emily than before, only charred and signed, and turning into ash in the wind. Emily hugged what was left of her doppelganger and said ¡°Be at peace, me. It¡¯s all over now.¡± The elemental looked at Emily¡¯s face and felt something she had never felt in a long time. Warmth. The shadow smiled for the first time in decades as she disintegrated into ash. The storm clouds began to clear. Stella¡¯s rays once against showed what was left of Rosenkreuz and the surrounding forest. The cataclysm had been stopped. The group of twelve then saw a woman, clad in red and black, clap slowly as she walked towards them. ¡°Well done. Tat was an impressive feat,¡± the Administrator said. ¡°Who are you?¡± Emily said. ¡°She is an [Administrator], [Claudia, the Trickster].¡± Emily heard Elizabeth speak in her head again. ¡°Claudia?¡± she asked. ¡°My, she certainly caught on quick,¡± Claudia said. Tim pointed his Qiang at the entity. ¡°What is your game, Trickster?¡± ¡°Now is tat any way to treat the woman that helped get your little cultivating journey authorized? I have you know it wasn¡¯t easy getting [Obsidian]¡¯s blessing here,¡± Claudia said in a somewhat jovial tone. Azalea swam toward Claudia in a mix of confusion and awe. ¡°You sure look different from what the scriptures depicted. Are you sure you¡¯re really the Trickster?¡± ¡°Tat¡¯s the fun part,¡± Claudia said. ¡°You can¡¯t, my little disciple.¡± Emily sensed a divine aura coming from Claudia, similar to what she felt in their last encounter. She is certain that she is at least an Administrator. ¡°I can assure you of one ting at least,¡± Claudia said. ¡°You have awakened to [Albeido]. But I understand if you find tat hard to believe. You will wake up in your world of monumentality and leave this one behind. None here shall know of what had occurred on tat day. Tis world will be the first of many you will travel to on your journey.¡± ¡°Before we leave,¡± Tim said sternly. ¡°I must ask, is this the future?¡± ¡°It is a future,¡± Claudia said. ¡°Weter it is yours will depend on you and you alone.¡± Emily turned and saw a figure in the distance. She recognized his sword and shield and was relieved that Heathcliff survived. She turned back to Claudia. ¡°We will meet again,¡± Claudia said. ¡°You won¡¯t know where, but you will know when. When te stage of [Cirtinas] is here, you will find out ten. Toodles.¡± The elderly Heathcliff saw Emily and her group. She smiled as she knew their presence here and the sky clearing up meant that they had stopped the cataclysm. She saw them vanish in a flash of light and returned to the remands of his house to prepare to move on to new things in life. Just as he did when he decided to become a Dungeon Master. ??? Within the Black Box, Elizabeth observed the Pyrosphere. Its mana radiation had been reduced to manageable levels. She breathed a sigh of relief. The eleven Sleepshells began to open and Tim and the children emerged, tied from the experience. ¡°Man, why do I feel so burned out,¡± Azalea said as she rubbed her eyes. Before she remembered what had happened. ¡°Was that¡­a dream?¡± Charlotte said. ¡°If it was, then that would be quite a breakthrough in scrying,¡± Atsuko cheekily said. ¡°I¡¯m going to go,¡± Tim said. ¡°I have a lot to meditate¡ª¡± He suddenly noticed that Emily¡¯s furnace had changed. It now gleamed with a silver glow. A small flame is lit at its center. ¡°Huh?¡± Emily also noticed her furnace had changed. ¡°Did you clean the furnace?¡± ¡°No,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°We were too busy trying to contact you. The [Furnace] had changed when you defeated the [Elemental].¡± Tim looked at the silver furnace. And noticed a similar power welled up inside of him. ¡°I have more to meditate on as I was saying,¡± Tim said. ¡°The Foundation still needs to be established.¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you try to get some rest first, cher?¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°From the looks of things, we might¡¯ve had enough for now, ¡°Tim said. ¡°Besides, there is a lot for us to reflect on.¡± Emily learned from Atsuko and Elizabeth that they were able to use the Kaguya Parallel Mirror to contact them and that Emily, Tim, and the children were seemingly thrust into a parallel universe. Later in the day, after the rest of the Black Box were alerted about the Pyrosphere buildup being neutralized and the awakening of Emily and the others, Carla went to her home to relax. She eventually went into the kitchen and saw Charlotte operating an oven to steam some vegetables. ¡°Charlotte?¡± Carla said with shock. ¡°You¡¯re using the stove?¡± The younger alraune nodded, before looking at the fire again. Steam had come out from the pan as she moved the sliced carrots around. She used a gravity glyph to ensure the carrots did not fly off the pan as she moved it. Meanwhile Rose gathered the other seven Coloraturas around as she declared a renewed resolve. Knowing that the eight Witches could become Strega, they become committed to both avoiding that and to trying to save the Strega from themselves when they encounter them. Later Emily was reminded of the Farrow visitors. She worked with Richard to create a suitable disguise. ¡°You want to raid yourself?¡± Elizabeth asked with apprehension. Emily nodded. ¡°I want to see how much we grew in such a time, and maybe that is a good way to find out.¡± ¡°Heh,¡± Sarah said. ¡°I¡¯m going with you! Got around to finishing this bad girl.¡± She said as she displayed a new hammer. ¡°Might make for some excellent loot if things go well,¡± she said with a chuckle. Richard sighed at his sister before turning back to the avatara. Emily had used her shapeshifting powers to assume several forms while Richard offered ideas on how she should look to ensure people do not connect her to her normal avatara form. ¡°Did you get any new upgrades? ¡°Sarah said. ¡°Sure did!¡± Emily said. ¡°I wanted to try to keep up nowadays.¡± Emily eventually settled on a certain look and thanked the Smiths for everything they had done for her. ¡°Here¡¯s to the next endeavor,¡± Sarah said. Meanwhile, Heathcliff decided to take a blank book and pen down his thoughts. He asked Elizabeth and Emily to help him remember their earlier adventures. ¡°Gotta keep some records,¡± he thought. ¡°Ya never know when they¡¯ll come in handy¡­¡± Chapter XL: Full Circle The day of the expedition by the Fallow¡¯s Technomancer¡¯s Institute arrives. Disguised as Amelia, Emily went to the Guild with Sarah to meet her teammates for the day. ¡°Technomancer¡¯s Institute?¡± Atsuko said with perks perked with curiosity. ¡°Looks like,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°That is the official name at least.¡± ¡°Seems like they would make good allies,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°Or dangerous enemies,¡± Tim said. ¡°We must be on our guard with them.¡± ¡°What exactly do they do again?¡± Rose asked. ¡°Well,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°As I mentioned before, they are said to be the foremost authorities on [Dungeon] research. They are primarily a guild of scientists, researchers, and [Artificers] that is to say those that use mechanical means to fight and support others. They mostly operate in Pacifica, but also have outreach in the rest of [Libert¨¦].¡± ¡°That reminds me,¡± Richard said. ¡°Sarah told me she and you had worked on the giant spider thing?¡± ¡°The [Construct]?¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°We did. Minerva is accessing the modifications we¡¯ve made right now.¡± Saizo arrives. ¡°We¡¯ve updated the poison traps Lady Atsuko.¡± ¡°Glad to hear it,¡± Atsuko said. The nekomata turned to the red-clad knight. ¡°You wanted Tatzulwurm venom, right?¡± ¡°Oui,¡± Heathcliff said. He then turned to her retainer. ¡°I heard that you wanted to help out for today?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± the ninja asked. ¡°We figured it an opportune moment to practice our combat. Suzume and Richard already prepared the uniforms.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll be sure to give them a show too!¡± Rose said. ¡°What will everyone else be doing today?¡± Atsuko said. ¡°Right now,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°Esteban and Julia are planning on sightseeing near Rosenkreuz. Carla and Charlotte are still looking into freeing the kids from Emily and as for me? I have to meet with Pauline later and make some groceries. ¡°We do have a habit of burning the food supply, lately,¡± Tim said. ¡°We¡¯ve plenty to do today it seems,¡± Atsuko said. Everyone begins preparing for their day and the Black Box¡¯s upcoming guests. ??? A while later. ¡°Amelia¡± and her party have prevailed over the Tarantula construct. They had just received a suit of armor, a longsword and a clerical staff. The elf among they had claimed the latter weapon. Sarah offered to keep a hold of the rest of the loot for now. After the party leaves the room. The core saucer of the mechanical spiders opens. Minerva craws out as Elizabeth flutters into the room. ¡°How was piloting the [Construct]?¡± the fairy asked. ¡°It¡¯s¡­¡± Minerva clearly wasn¡¯t used to piloting a machine. ¡°It¡¯s going to take a while to acclimate to. The psionic runes in particular were troublesome.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°And the reinforcements?¡± ¡°The volunteers fought valiantly, although¡­¡± Minerva turned toward Nina, who was among them. ¡°Did we make it clear that you weren¡¯t to meet our guests today, Nina.¡± The spiderling meekly twiddled her fingers meekly. ¡°Sorry, Mommy.¡± Minerva approached her daughter. ¡°I understand you are eager to meet them, but you need to understand that you could¡¯ve risked yourself, and maybe Sarah and Emily as well. Please, try to be careful next time, dear.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Nina said. ??? Later, Clara and Charlotte are tending to the monsters in their care. The Tatzelwurms, the chimera, and the Cordyceps deer. The younger Charlotte makes sure the zombified ibex doesn¡¯t munch on her petals, as she tries to check its flesh for abnormalities. She noticed several metallic patches on the deer¡¯s hide. ¡°Mommy?¡± Charlotte called out. Clara walked to her daughter and the deer. Charlotte gestured to the metallic flesh. ¡°Oh my,¡± Carla said. While the two were looking over the deer, ¡°Amelia¡± and her party were venturing through the dungeon. The disguised Emily glanced over in their direction before moving forward. Elizabeth arrived, with Flowena and Ulric in tow. ¡°Is something the matter?¡± ¡°I think the mutations are finally happening,¡± Clara said. Elizabeth accessed the Corcyceps Deer and saw the metal patch. ¡°Hmm, it has been here a while,¡± she said. ¡°Do you know what the effects are?¡± Charlotte said. ¡°I heard that the denizens of a Dungeon take on traits of the dungeon itself.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°Emily¡¯s resources and aesthetics are rare even for [Divine Dungeons] and the [Mutations] are influenced by several variables. With what is known, it is possible that the inhabitants would be closer to what the [Cells] are like. But even that differs.¡± ¡°How so?¡± The blue-haired sprite asked. ¡°Well,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°Did the [Mirage Feywood] ever have anyone stay there?¡± ¡°Lots,¡± the pink-haired sprite said. ¡°Many of them lost souls that had remained had developed features like us. They came to be more jovial as well. Until¡­¡± Flowena recalled the attack on the Feywood from Baron Roberts and Carnigie. Ulrich shot a look at Elizabeth. Elizabeth realized that she had reminded the sprites of a traumatic event. ¡°Um, sorry about that. My point is that the longer organisms remained in the [Dungeons] the more they changed to reflect it. Be they [Cell], [Sentinel] or even [Dungeon Master].¡± ¡°So you¡¯re saying we could be like Emily one day?¡± Charlotte asked. ¡°To an extent,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°Those with will would not completely change, though they will notice biological and subtle shifts. I think several groups and guilds were looking specifically into how the mutations affect them and the subtle changes and subspecies in these communities.¡± Flowena had a question. ¡°What does that mean for those like us?¡± ¡°There will likely be some changes, but since you were already altered by lingering in a Dungeon, even if you were born with those changes, they will take precedence. Though successive generations will likely develop more pronounced changes. It is [Evolution] to simplify, though with a slight difference. [Mutations] will pop up more frequently in youth even if they were born outside the [Dungeon]¡± Carla looked at the deer. ¡°We¡¯ll need to be careful with this one. We don¡¯t know how the mutation will affect the parasite that animates that corpse.¡± The deer shot a look of surprise at the alraune tamer. ¡°We¡¯re lucky that the nanomachines in Emily kept it at bay so far, but we should still try to take precautions.¡± Charlotte searched her body for metallic patches, but she had yet to find them. Elizabeth left the alraunes alone. She has to meet with the Coloratura to remind them to prepare for the party. ??? Later, the Coloraturas were recently unfrozen following their encounter with ¡°Amelia¡± and the Fallow party. Raine thawed the fastest owing to her increased body heat. ¡°By H-halcyon,¡± Rose shuddered. ¡°D-did they h-h-have to be so c-c-c-cold with the magic?¡± Lily sneezed after being freed from the ice. Hydrangea helped her up. ¡°I hoped you gave them the ¡®show¡¯ you wanted to give, Rose,¡± Streltizia said.¡± Clover took out her fan. ¡°Is there any reason why Elizabeth didn¡¯t want us using these?¡± she asked. ¡°She said that she didn¡¯t want to risk hurting Emily and Sarah,¡± Anemone said. ¡°Out of us, all, Streltizia was the most experienced with hers.¡± The minotauride displayed her labrys. ¡°Heh, you guys still have a long way to go?¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t it your idea to get us weapons, Stre?¡± Azalea said. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s a sharp idea to teach us how to use them?¡± The horned girl looked at the clionid. ¡°I think experience is the best teacher here. At least in my case.¡± Lily perked up a little. ¡°Those Fallow guys were tough! Do you think they were Sentinels as well?¡± ¡°Hardly,¡± Raine said. ¡°The elf at least frequented Rozenkreuz a lot. Seemed rather timid.¡± ¡°I think I¡¯ve seen that swordsman at the guildhall before too,¡± Rose said. Elizabeth arrived at the arena to help dry off the Coloraturas. They then followed the family to hidden spectator seats where they could watch Tim¡¯s fight with the Fallow party. ??? A while later, after Maurice and his party left the Black Box. Tim meditates on his recent fight with the Fallow party. Unlike his previous battles, this one was rather close. He had given it his all¡­ ..but Emily still defeated him. He noticed a peculiar feeling inside of him. He felt¡­ proud. He felt proud of Emily¡¯s progress. Yet a part of him wonders if there were still any missteps. His calm was broken by him hearing battle cries nearby. He stood up from his meditative stance, a little irritated, and walked to the source of the sound. He saw Elizabeth, practicing by using her wand as a lance. Time let a wry chuckle at the fairy. ¡°You¡¯re a little too loud you know that?¡¯ The pink-haired guide was started by Tim¡¯s presence. ¡°Did I disturb you?¡± she said with a sheepishness that reminded him of Emily. ¡°Quite,¡± Tim said. ¡°Why are you practicing? Master Wu had alread¡ª¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m practicing,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°Jingyu had uploaded the data, yes, but that is only theory. If I am to help you and Emily with reviving the Golden Spear, I also need to know how theory plays out in practice.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± Tim said. ¡°Not an adherent of ¡®those that can¡¯t do, teach¡¯, huh? Do you mind if I observe your practice then, maybe I can help.¡± Elizabeth remembered Tim¡¯s skill in the art. ¡°Wasn¡¯t your training incomplete?¡± ¡°In the sense that it was interrupted, yes,¡± Tim said. ¡°But I still know enough about its execution to be of assistance if you¡¯d like.¡± Elizabeth had nothing to lose, so she agreed to let Tim observe her movements. She started with a single horse stance, followed by an elbow bump and then a thrust with both palms. She used her staff as a polearm to guide her moments. ¡°Not bad,¡± Tim said. ¡°Your form is good, but your motions are slow.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°It is adequate for demonstrations, but in actual matches or an actual battle, anyone would see your attacks and counter them.¡± ¡°Right,¡± the fairy asked. ¡°I¡¯m certain reaction speed will improve with time.¡± Tim nodded. ¡°Maybe a sparring partner can help?¡± Time politely asked. Elizabeth agreed to the match. The two practice for an hour. Elizabeth used the data she obtained from Tim¡¯s former teacher and observation of Tim¡¯s own movements to mimic them. Her execution was still too sluggish to land a blow, and Tim countered her movements with ease. By the time the match was over, Elizabeth had managed to throw her punches and kicks a little faster than before. ¡°Thank you, Tim,¡± Elizabeth said. She then noticed that Emily should be back by now and went to the entrance to greet her. ??? A new day dawned, and Emily finished recollecting her past. She noticed Heathcliff was writing in a journal. She was reminded of the older Heathcliff from her trial and grew curious. ¡°What are you writing?¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoed to the knight. ¡°Ah, mornin¡¯ cher,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°Decided to get our adventures down in print.¡± Emily was recently aware that the red-headed man learned about what she had encountered during her trial, including his elder counterpart. ¡°Before you ask, this wasn¡¯t purely because of that trial, Emily,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°I think it wise to help keep a record of things. Time¡¯s always a¡¯changing, you know.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Emily asked curiously. Heathcliff chuckles. ¡°If my time as a paladin of ol¡¯ Charlie taught me anything, it¡¯s that everything is always in flux. One day things seem peaceful, the next everyone is at the other¡¯s throats. The more things seem to stay the same, the more everything changes, and I smell a great change coming in the future.¡± ¡°You do?¡± Emily asked. ¡°Call it a hunch,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°I¡¯m a knight, not a prophet, but experience has always said to expect the unexpected.¡± Emily could see why Heathcliff would think that way. Alongside herself, he is in charge of her maintenance as a Dungeon. And she knew he had many years under his belt as an adventurer and a knight. ¡°Come to think of it, so you have anything to say, Emily?¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°You seemed nostalgic lately.¡± Emily is startled by the request. She did have a few words for posterity. She told Heathcliff about several things about herself and their friends. Like Rose¡¯s sweet tooth, Atsuko and her retainer Noboru¡¯s philosophical discussions and Nina¡¯s ever-present attempts to practice becoming an adventurer. She also told him that she found out Elizabeth is trying to practice Bajiquan from Tim recently. ¡°Heh, so that¡¯s why she asked me about borrowing a spear,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°There are still so many threads,¡± Emily said. ¡°Not that long ago that we knew that Sarah and Richard had a legendary figure in their ancestry.¡± ¡°There is also the whole ¡®Network¡¯ thing you got hung up on since you visited your swords,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°And the restoration of the Golden Spear,¡± Tim said as he walked in. ¡°Itself a long and arduous journey in part because we need to find the other three relics.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°Esteban offered to look into any leads at Noir.¡± ¡°Good morning Tim!¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoed to the lad. ¡°How is Lizzie¡¯s practice?¡± ¡°Things are going well¡­ish. At the very lease, she can fight future students when needed.¡± ¡°We¡¯re spinning a lot of plates it seems,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°How are the Coloraturas?¡± Emily asked. ¡°Are their mana leastlevels still okay?¡± ¡°Surprisingly, yes,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°Despite some close calls, they seemed stable. Carla, Minerva, and their kids are also doing alright so far.¡± Emily realized she was supposed to run some errands in Rosenkreuz today. She hostile manefested an avatara. ¡°Hold your horses, cher,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°I still gots to make some breakfast first. Little Stella just got up. We got enough time to make the groceries.¡± The knight left the room to begin his usual culinary duties. Emily and Tim were left alone in an awkward silence. ¡°A little excited about today, huh,¡± Tim asked. Emily blushed from embarrassment. ¡°Y-yeah.¡± ¡°Maybe we can go somewhere after your errands are finished?¡± Tim said. ¡°Any future visits are unlikely to happen until tomorrow anyway.¡± Emily has noticed that adventures rarely go out on a specific day of the week. She learned from Chiron that it is because the scriptures told of the necessity of a day of respite and observance. ¡°Are you¡­sure about that, Timmy?¡± Emily bashfully said. ¡°I don¡¯t know how long those errands might take.¡± ¡°I can come with you,¡± Tim said. ¡°You can get a lot more done with an extra set of hands.¡± ¡°You will?¡± Emily said. ¡°Um, I mean thanks.¡± The pair left the room and headed to the dining area for breakfast. ??? Later, Emily, Heathcliff, and Tim arrived in Rosenkreuz again. Their first stop was the guildhall. Emily and Tim looked at the familiar rustic village and paved roads with a mix of comfort and uncertainty. It was a few days ago that they had traveled to a version of it turned to ashed and cinders. The sight of the town as it currently is, felt a little alien to them. The trio entered the guildhall and approached Benoit and Pauline. ¡°Howdy, guys!¡± Benoit greeted. ¡°Hey, Benny!¡± Heathcliff said with a wide smile. Pauline noticed Emily¡¯s disturbed face. ¡°Something wrong, dear?¡± the blue-haired elf said. ¡°You looked like you saw a ghost. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just lost in thought is all,¡± Emily said. ¡°Did the Fallow party return here by any chance?¡± ¡°Actually,¡± Pauline said. ¡°Maurice returned to the Institute, taking Joe with him. Going to miss him, to be honest. He was a dab hand with his sword.¡± ¡°What about the other one?¡± Tim asked. ¡°The elf girl?¡± ¡°Felicity?¡± Pauline said. ¡°She said he had to return to her community in nearby Birchwood. Maurice had offered her a permanent position on his party, but she refused. He also asked me if Sarah and ¡®Amelia¡¯ here wanted to join as well.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Emily said with surprise. Pauline laughed. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I let him know neither of you was ready to move out just yet.¡± Emily let out a sigh of relief. She then glanced at Tim and blushed momentarily. Heathcliff looked at Benoit. ¡°You saw it too?¡± he whispered. ¡°Yeah,¡± Benoit whispered back. ¡°How long before they find out?¡± ¡°Give it a few years,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°Let the chers find out on their own.¡± He said with a wry chuckle. Pauline saw an adventurer angrily storm the guildhall. He brandished a firearm as he rowdily demanded to see the guild¡¯s leader. Several other adventures used the tables to protect themselves and civilians from the belligerent shots. Pauline sighed as she invoked Halcyon to encase the shooter in a bubble. ¡°Now tell me, dear,¡± Pauline said in a stern voice. ¡°Why reason do you have to terrorize the people here?¡± The man, blinded in rage tried to shoot at the elf, but she took out a wooden wand and retaliated with a slight motion, the firearm vanished from the man¡¯s arm and reappeared in her arms. Pauline glared at the intruder. ¡°And why cause do you have to tuning a gun on a Guildmaster?¡± The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. The man angrily accused the Rosenkreuz guild of the disappearance of the Whisperwind Valley. A Dungeon that Benoit explained as supplying a specific type of enchanted wood to the nearby village. Pauline let out a sympathetic sigh before requesting the nearby adventures to take him to a cell to be tried in court for attempted murder. ¡°Another one bites the dust, huh?¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°And another one thinking the best way to redress it is to harm others.¡± Pauline rubbed her forehead. ¡°Sorry, you had to see that.¡± Emily had forgotten about the vanishing Dungeons. ¡°Why would they be angry at the Guild?¡± ¡°I assume you knew of Rouge Dungeons from your first trip to Noir?¡± Pauline asked. Emily nodded. ¡°Well, while several of them are indeed harmful to nearby settlements. Others were more peaceful in nature. They preferred not to align themselves with a guild for various reasons. This meant that there were fewer barriers to people angling for their Cores than there would be under normal circumstances. That man likely thought we had slain the Dungeon and absconded with their Core.¡± ¡°Whisperwind Valley huh? That is close to Cerberus if I recall. Maybe that was one of the Dungeons the Engines decided to ¡®visit¡¯ on the way to us,¡± Heathcliff mused. ¡°It could also be related to the Syndicate and whatever Project Stronghold is,¡± Tim said. ¡°Aren¡¯t they supposed to be in Noir? ¡°Emily asked. ¡°Their head honchos are,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°But they have their tendrils all over Libert¨¦, remember? Even Gemini, one of the Hollyland studios, is said to be a front for these guys.¡± Emily was reminded of the death Julia saw at Chiron¡¯s chapel. The trio eventually finished their business at the Guildhall. Heathcliff decided to bring Emily and Tim to the theater on the way back. ??? Emily, Tim, and Heathcliff had arrived at the theater. They noticed Pearl in her ¡°Elisa¡± disguised as well as Scarlett among the patrons. They also saw Jebidissa and Delia talk with Minerva, with Nina and Lily in tow. The centaur child among them noticed Emily¡¯s group and waved to her. ¡°I¡¯m going to go make sure there ain¡¯t any trouble here,¡± Heathcliff said. He gave Tim some silvers. ¡°You kids have fun now.¡± Emily and Tim were confused. But Heathcliff already left them before she could respond. Tim counted the coins. ¡°Why did he leave us alone?¡± Emily said in confusion. Tim looked at the coinage. ¡°Doesn¡¯t seem like he¡¯ll be back for a few hours. There¡¯s enough here for two tickets and snacks. Interested in a movie?¡± Emily was flustered. ¡°Huh, of course! But¡ª¡± ¡°No buts,¡± Tim said with a smirk. ¡°The counter¡¯s over there.¡± The two approved an empty stall. They saw a porcine man looking over here. ¡°Howdy fellers, came to see a show?¡± ¡°Two students,¡± Tim said as he displayed the silvers. The pig-eared man looked at the coins and gave him a list of the currently showing films by genre. Emily is amazed at the variety of titles. Romantic Comedies, Adventure Stories, Horror, Pulp, and Crime Drama, among others. She and Tim looked over the various titles. One that caught Tim¡¯s eye was an installment in a series of films about pirates and sailors. Emily eyed La Libertad, among other ¡°Fairy Princess¡± tales. Soon the avatara came across one she thought they¡¯d both enjoy. ¡°How about that one?¡± she pointed to a specific title. ¡°Britomartis,¡± Tim asked. Emily nodded. ¡°I heard from Anemone that it was about a romance between a knightly princess and her quest to find her long-lost love.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll guess it¡¯s worth a shot at least,¡± Tim said. The two returned to the counter and requested the earliest showing for Britomartis. ¡°Theater 33,¡± the porcine ticket man said. ¡°Next¡¯s showing is in ten.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± Emily said. She and Tim walked to the concessions stand of the theater and get their popcorn and sods before moving to the 33rd theater. ??? ¡°Oh Artigall, in the name of the Passionate, I will find you.¡± Emily and Tim saw a winged and armored woman prepare to leave her place with a winged steed. If not for the iridescent wings on the actress, the character of Britomartis could¡¯ve been mistaken for a Valkyrie. Tim noticed the depiction as a lingering effect of the cultural influence Sigurtein and its neighbors had on Albionian folklore. They later witness a scene of Britomartis fighting a hydra in what seems to be a Natural Dungeon. Emily wondered about the prominence of Dungeons in film, both on and off the screen. Emily then moved her hand closer to Tim¡¯s, but retracted in embarrassment. ¡°Radigund! You vile woman! I swear that I will free my fellow knights from your thrall!¡± The two saw the beginning of the climax, where the heroine comes face to face with a controlling hag in a blackened spire. The villainess had enthralled many of her allies and several other knights including the love interest Artigall. Emily is impressed by Britomaris¡¯ valor in the face of such overwhelming odds. She identified with the fairy knight throughout the course of the film. Tim likely saw some comparison to Emily when Briotmartis is not in combat. Often in the scenes where the eponymous heroine awkwardly tries to communicate with strangers and flashbacks to when she first saw Artigall. Despite the bravery of the fairy knight, the film began depicting her being nearly defeated by Radigund. The hag used the opportunity to gloat over her assumed victory as she had the brainwashed Artigall approach the fallen Britomartis. The fairy tried to appeal to her love interest while parrying his strikes. Only succeeding by a sudden plot twist. The amulet that the knightly fairy carried on her all this time was enchanted to act in the name of true love and had broken the spell. The protagonist and love interest then defeated the villain together. Tim is a little jarred by the amulet¡¯s sudden importation. ¡°And so Britomartis and Artigall lived happily ever after.¡± The narrator said as the film reached its final scene, depicting a wedding between the fairy and human. Emily noticed that Tim¡¯s eyes had shared several tears during the scene and offered him a napkin. The two left the 33rd theater and sat at a table at the concession stand. ¡°The ending was too sappy for my taste,¡± Tim lied. Emily chuckled. ¡°Didn¡¯t stop you from sobbing,¡± she cheekily said. ¡°It was the dust,¡± Tim said. ¡°Still, you¡¯d think they could¡¯ve mentioned the enchanted amulet sooner,¡± Emily said. ¡°There was that offhand mention about how it was blessed by the Queene of Amorette and that she learned sacred arts from Hausos, the Passionate.¡± ¡°Come to think of it, ¡°Emily said. ¡°I noticed how many of these films seem to invoke the Administrators often.¡± ¡°How was the film, chers?¡± Heathcliff had arrived, as well as Minerva, Nina, and Lily. ¡°Tim loved it, clearly,¡± Emily said. Tim blushed with embarrassment. ¡°It was alright.¡± ¡°You just watched Britomartis?¡± Lily asked with glee. ¡°Yeah,¡± Emily answered. ¡°How did you know?¡± ¡°They saw you enter the theater,¡± Minerva said before pointing to the 33rd, besides its entrance was a sign that said ¡°NOW PLAYING¡± with the film¡¯s poster beneath it. ¡°That fairy was so cool, wasn¡¯t she?¡± Nina said in admiration. Tim and Emily talked about the film with the younger spiderling and centaur while Heathcliff and Minerva looked at several film titles. ¡°Are you certain it was wise to leave them alone like that?¡± Minerva asked in a whisper. ¡°Sometimes you gotta give them a li¡¯l nudge,¡± Heathcliff whispered back. The six left the theater and embarked back to the Black Box. ??? Later, The Coloraturas are busy helping Azalea rehearse her routine. ¡°And so, the dwarf had learn the secret of the Nauctflugel,¡± the clionid said. ¡°What was the secret?¡± Lily asked with eager curiosity. ¡°It¡¯s flugels¡­ at nauct!¡± There was silence for three minutes. ¡°Um, I get it, but,¡± Anemone said. ¡°I¡¯m not sure how many of us knows enough Sigurteinian to understand the joke.¡± ¡°Aw,¡± Azalea said. ¡°We¡¯re kinda on the right track, at least,¡± Rose said. Azalea tries another story. ¡°¡­They found the punchline. It punches limes.¡± Lily and Clover chuckled a little bit. ¡°That is¡­a pun all right,¡± Streltizia said. ¡°It¡¯s a bit too on the nose,¡± Raine added. Azalea cleared her throat and tried a third idea. ¡°¡­and she found out what the lightway is.¡± ¡°What''s lightway?¡± Rose asked. ¡°Balloons of course,¡± Azalea said. It dawned on rose that the punchline was a play on ¡°lightweight¡±. ¡°Oh¡­¡± Raine and Hydrangea snickered a little. Azalea took that as a success. Nina arrived with Charlotte and the Arion twins. ¡°Hey guys, what¡¯s up?¡± Nina asked ¡°The ceiling,¡± Azalea answered. ¡°We¡¯re helping Azalea with her routine,¡± Hydrangea said. Azalea tried some of her verbal pranks on the twins, the spidelring and the alraune. Evelyn later arrived and brought her latest painting into ask for opinions. Anemone looked at the image and saw what seemed to be a cityscape on a mountain. ¡°Is that supposed to be Gardenia?¡± ¡°What¡¯s Gardenia?¡± Charlotte asked. ¡°Some faraway mountain city,¡± Strelitizia said. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that a lot of people are moving into the city for some reason,¡± Euryale said. ¡°Though there seems to be no explanation why,¡± Stheno said. Azalea tries one last tale. ¡°Once upon a time there was a man from high Grab Rib Tee. He set out to find low Grab Rib Tee.¡± ¡°What¡¯s Grab Rib Tee?¡± Charlotte asked. ¡°The thing Anemone is tutoring you to use of course,¡± Azelia said, to a few guffaws from several of the children, including Charlotte herself. Lydia arrived to let them kids know that dinner is ready. The children prepare to eat for the night. ??? Meanwhile, Atsuko talks with Saizo, Hoshikage and Noboru about further plans with the microdungeons. ¡°So, we have enough of a body of a proof of concept,¡± Atsuko said. ¡°I¡¯m wondering where to go from here.¡± ¡°Well, my lady,¡± Saizo said. ¡°The Dungeon was recently visited by the Fallow Technomancer¡¯s Institute,¡± ¡°I have though about that,¡± Atsuko said as she walked toward her bow. ¡°But I¡¯m not sure how to approach them here. This is potentially dangerous knowledge.¡± ¡°Aye,¡± Noboru said. The tanuki stroked his beard. ¡°You have to considered this is sued to augment arms and armaments. The military applications are already apparent.¡± ¡°Especially given how things are back home in Yae,¡± Hoshikage said while applying some tanning lotion on her skin. ¡°Also,¡± Saizo said. ¡°We need to figure out what to do with gear not in use, and to get weapons to test with.¡± ¡°I talked to Heathcliff about that,¡± Atsuko said. ¡°He said that he can talk to the Guild about loaning discarded weapons to us. They think there might be a way to use it to restore them to some semblance of their former glory at least.¡± ¡°That¡¯s going to be a breakthrough. Turning a broken cheap sword into a legendary weapon,¡± Hoshikage said. ¡°Even thought it would need several hundred platinums work of instruments to even attempt,¡± Atsuko said. Her ears were slumped over. Saizo understood his employer well. He exchanged a knowing look with her. Atsuko slightly smiled. Kasumi arrived and in a somewhat belligerent mood. ¡°Does anyone know where Suzume went?¡± she asked. ¡°Aika wants to talk to her.¡± ¡°I can see someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed today,¡± Hoshikage playfully said to her orange-twintailed protege. ¡°She is with Esteban and Julia, wanted to learn from them a little,¡± the teal-haired nekomata said. ¡°Is something wrong Kasumi?¡± Kasumi humped impudently. Atsuko chucked. ¡°Kasumi,¡± Saizo said. ¡°You should pay lady Atsuko more respect.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Kasumi said. ¡°I¡¯m a year older than her!¡± ¡°You know why,¡± Saizo said. Atsuko grew exacerbated. ¡°Here they go again,¡± she said. She could do without the constant reminders of that she left behind in Libert¨¦. Noboru diffused the tension. Hoshikage noted that Kasumi grew more tense ever since she saw Tim leave with Emily. ¡°Someone got a little crush I see?¡± ¡°Do not!¡± Kasumi brattily answered. Hoshikage chucked a bit, as if she saw the denial as confirmation. ¡°Knock it off!¡± Kasumi said. Saizo sighed. ¡°Have you ever tried approaching him, Kasumi?¡± Kasumi ignored Saizo and stormed off with some grumbles. ¡°Ah young love,¡± Noboru mused. Atsuko and her closest retainers continued their discussion how to progress with the microdungeon project. ??? Meanwhile in Noir, Esteban, Julia and Suzume stalked out a bar affiliated with the Syndicate. ¡°So,¡± the roniness asked. ¡°You think they had lead on those weapons?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what Mr Sorpano¡¯s intelligence said,¡± The cyan-clad rouge said. They saw a suspicious man leave the bar with a object wrapped in dark green linen. Julia motioned the trio to follow the man to his destination. The suspicious man eventually stopped at an alleyway where a black suited man arrived. ¡°So,¡± the other man said. ¡°Did you find out anything?¡± ¡°Yes, sir,¡± he said as he presented the object to him. ¡°This is a weapon obtained from a martial art dojo.¡± He unwrapped the weapon and reveal the gleaming bronze frame. ¡°A replica, rather ornate for a training weapon.¡± The other man took a look at the weapon. A singled curved blade. The saber had an elegant, yet brutish appearance. ¡°This confirms the capo¡¯s suspensions about an upstart on our turn. Where did you find this?¡± ¡°The dojo was established near Palimpsest Boulevard,¡± the courier said. ¡°Around 56th and Henway.¡± ¡°I see,¡± the suited man said. ¡°Guess they took advance of the Tombraider¡¯s recent setbacks there.¡± ¡°I wonder why?¡± the courier said. ¡°As far as is know the dojo was just another establishment to teach adventurers a combat style.¡± ¡°I see you were not aware about certain rumors?¡± The man said, aware that there are eyes on them. ¡°What rumors?¡± ¡°That need not concern you,¡± the black-suited man said. ¡°You¡¯re dismissed.¡± He turned around and left with the saber. The courier left the alleyway and passed by a hidden Esteban, Julia and Suzume. ¡°Well guess we have a lead for Tim,¡± Julia said. Esteban dusted off his cyan hat. ¡°56th and Henway, he said.¡± Suzume sensed something was amiss. She drew her katana and slashed at a nearby trash bin. The wastbasket is split in half and revealed an assassin. The malfioso tried to attack the trio, but Esteban grabbed with and disarmed the man. The assailent, disarmed simple fled. Esteban sighed and thanked Suzume. ¡°My pleasure,¡± Suzume said. ¡°Lady Atsuko¡¯s allies are my allies.¡± The three headed into a different part of the city Noir, to find out more about this new dojo. ??? Unseen, unheard, the Piper Pruflas lurks. He watches little Emily hard at work. The demon plays his pipe a normal tune. For he shall not confront her oh so soon. ¡°What¡¯s past is prologue,¡± he says. ¡°What¡¯s left through this fog,¡± he muses. As he continues watching her and friends. As they prepare to reach their new ends. The bard knows too well, those that reign in hell Opposed by heroes, arising from zero. The Archfiends here stand, opposed to the stars To take back the Fallen¡¯s Birthright, severed far. ¡°Sing muse,¡± Pruflas said. ¡°Sing of my enemies.¡± ¡°Bring to me their weaknesses, their knowledge.¡± Through song demonic, inspiration struck. To know more of them, a stroke of good luck. Pruflas knows Emily, his opposite. A hero to rise in tandem with him. If he is to become an Archfiend, Contend with her he must, lest his star dims. Yet he knows she is not alone. Her friends besides. The Crimson Hound, among stalwart allies. From a land in turmoil he hailed, To escape those that to him had failed. And then there is the Spearman, alkahest young. The survivor of a massacre from lands beyond. A half-blooded prince. Unfit for the throne. Could he revive the Golden Spear? An unknown. And then there is her, the Fairy who guides. For a goal she may call her own, she flies. Perhaps she can be of use to the Piper, To betray the Core, poisoned by the viper. Those are the four, that he should watch out for. Yet sixteen more he cannot dare ignore. The dwarves of Silver and Gold, Heirs both, To a celestial destiny they forge. The Piper watches the younger Nina. Who wants to weave a web of adventure. The demon sensed, Mana in her high, Perhaps she could be charmed, and captured. Pruflas¡¯ vision is turned, to two plants burned. The Mother, framed for his deeds, exiled. And the little one, a desire to free, The Daughter, with potential in gravity. For even if the fragile roses bloom, They are guarded by the pinprick of thorns. And with those pinpricks they yet to wield, They will become thorns in his side, he feels. Eleven left to assess, mused he. To the Piper Pruflas, threats to be seen. Azure Rouge, driven by injustice, He fights the Dons, in Noir¡¯s service. And then there is his wife. Assassin no more. Redeemed by faith, the sins she bore. Haunted by a past in service to crime, She will find her atonement in due time. The most interesting, to Pruflas he sees, Eight children, each a spark of divinity. He cannot parse what in them he perceived, But he is sure of it, they are fragmentary. The Leader of this wyrd band of sisters, Her heart is filled with both love and justice. With the force of levin she strikes her foes true, Her enigma, to the demon is no ruse. At the serpent¡¯s side, an Orphan, ablaze. No memory of parents, obscured by heat haze. She burns with endless fire, Ignited, With a desire for belonging, relighted. Among their ranks is Little Miss Sunshine, Her powers as radiant as her smile. Yet even Pruflas knows beneath the facade lies A troubled heart, and the cracks belied. From there the demon finds two entwined. A Deerlet and Guardian, side by side. The Piper could sense that their fates were shaped, By actions taken, for sake of escape. But escape from whom, one would dare to ask. The bard curious, for her troubled past. A past that scarred her to this very day. Her parents vices, she resists their sway. The deerlet meanwhile, driven to find, Parentage she think lost, severed in time. Though odds of survival are low, she thinks, That reunion is possible, and nigh. Opposites attracted, they would dare say, And there is cause to think so in this case. One holds the storming tempests in her sway, The other, resolved to be earthen shield. Among this group of orphans remained three, A Bookworm, a Comedian, a Princess. They too hold a formidable power. This too, he did not let go unnoticed. A frozen manor, the cyan one hailed. Her heart unfrozen, could she prevail, To find out why her parents had failed, To return, or to even send mail? The mermaid swims through air like water. Her desire to bring joy is dauntless. Her merriment undeterred by setback. Or so it may seem. She¡¯d yet to recall¡­ The lupine one commands shadow itself, And holds the vast wisdom to match. Expert on the arcane, a dark lineage, That she is not aware, as it lingers. Pruflas observed these girls, and he senses, Something is amiss amongst the witches. Could it be? Is it so? Has she returned? Regardless, he must keep an eye on them. Yet among Emily¡¯s allies, one more. One last member for him to account for. A different princess, from a different land. The two-tailed Foreigner, secrets locked. She who unlocked power exponential, And brought forth an era of potential. Yet she¡¯s aware of her homeland¡¯s troubles, And her breakthroughs¡¯ dangers, a myriad. ¡°Sing muse, sing once more!¡± Pruflas has sung. But the well of wisdom has ran dried this time. His song left at an end, ritual complete. ¡°Curses,¡± the Piper says. Disappointed. The bard looked to the sky. Glimmering bright. The stars of the Administrators mock him. The spirits of places. Genius Loci. The respite has ended, it is now past. Pruflas smirked, it was no failure. He now knew more then he had known before. ¡°What¡¯s past is prologue,¡± demon said again. He soon sets off, to guide his adversaries. Chapter XLI: Harvest Moon Months passed, and it is now near the end of October. The autumnal leaves flutter through the land of Libert¨¦ as everyone prepares for Hallowstide. The Black Box is already making their own plans for the holiday and the accompanying harvest festival. Emily, Heathcliff, Elizabeth, and Tim headed to the Rosenkreuz guildhall to inquire about the year¡¯s plans. There Chiron told them about the various festivities. ¡°Let¡¯s see,¡± the centaur priest said. ¡°The guild at Vajra Falls reported the results of that region¡¯s harvest. The Convention at Eastshire had already tallied the number of children in the New Virginia region¡­¡± He continued telling the assembled adventures about the status of the festival preparations. ¡°Vajra Falls?¡± Emily asked. ¡°A settlement to the north of la Praire Incontinue, cher,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°Founded by Karuvan immigrants. They surprisingly took to the festival here.¡± Chiron eventually finished the reports. Pauline had taken Emily¡¯s group to discuss what the dungeon would do to prepare for the festival. Meanwhile, Carla and Charlotte remained in the Black Box. They saw the young Dungeon Cells talk with excitement about the upcoming festivals. While they themselves had no clue what it was about. Richard approached the Alraunes. ¡°Is something the matter, dears?¡± the tanned dwarf asked. The beast tamer was the first to respond. ¡°Richard, forgive me, but what are the children chattering about here?¡± Richard looked at the cells that were the Hamlin children and realized the date. ¡°The Hallowstide festivals?¡± Carla nodded. Her skin was green with confusion and her chartreuse petals bore a share reflecting her confusion. ¡°Right, I don¡¯t think that village was connected enough to the wider world to even know about it.¡± The dwarf said. He clears his throat. ¡°You are aware of harvest festivals right?¡± Charlotte turned to Richard. The child¡¯s violet petals showed her curiosity. ¡°They are supposed to celebrate the land¡¯s bounty, right?¡± Richard nodded. ¡°Hallowstide evolved from these celebrations. It is meant to pay tribute to Anesidora, the Giver. To thank her for both the agricultural boons and any fruitful endeavors adventurers had gotten from Dungeons.¡± ¡°But why are the kids so excited about this?¡± Carla said with concern. Left unsaid is how she and her daughter wondered why they didn¡¯t know about this until now. ¡°A common feature of Hallowstide celebrations involves treats in some way,¡± Richard said. ¡°Several folks take their kids through neighborhoods to get them from houses. Others instead use it to train budding adventurers with the help of nearby dungeons.¡± Carla realized that is why Heathcliff mentioned the guild had a special business for the Black Box in a few days. ¡°So that is why they wanted me to make sure the beasts do not harm anyone throughout the week.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Richard said. ¡°Emily is going to be tasked to make a safer environment for this week. The goal is to help the young adventurers hone their skills and prepare them for the real stuff later in life.¡± A thought crossed his mind. ¡°Costumes! I forgot the costumes!¡± he rushed back to his atelier. Carla was left confused as he sees the tailor run off. ¡°Costumes?¡± ??? Among the children excited for the coming Hallowstide, are the Coloraturas and the Nina. The nine girls talk about what they plan to do. ¡°I¡¯m going to get a lot of treats!¡± Nina said with an eager desire. She had awaited this day ever since her mother Minerva told her about it. Her silvery high radiated with excitement. Rose Rhapsodia, however, was less than enthused. She had learned from Emily that as a Sentinel she would have to be the one to help her give away treats when she would rather be the one receiving and easing them. The pink-pigtailed lamia sighed. ¡°This is our first Hallowstide since Emily took us in right?¡± Raine Carnation Cadenza said. The red-haired girl looked and saw various other children. Her red-feathered wings glowed with a small warmth. Azalea Adagio is busy thinking about a comedy routine to help entertain her younger guests. Clover Capriccio is helping her with it. The blued-haired mermaid and the green-haired deerlet brainstormed several ideas around the topic. Stretlizia Sonato polished her labrys, well aware that even if they were to hold back this week, they still must fight their guests. Lily Borea Legato meanwhile cantered around asking the other children about the upcoming festivities. There she saw Hydrangea Harmony and Anemone Aria. The latter acting very unusual today. The lilac-haired lycanthropic girl sat on the floor, avoiding the nearby chairs. Her tail wagged exuberantly. She sometimes scratches the back of her ears with her bare feet. And she sometimes panted. ¡°Anemeone,¡± the blond centaouride said. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Anemone said. ¡°I¡¯m fine, what do you ask?¡± she lied through her teeth. She was well aware of her impulses and tried vainly to conceal them. The cyan-bobbed girl next to her showed Lily a book on lunar cycles. A realization suddenly dawned on Lily that it was that time of year again for Anemone. Anemone whimpered like a lost puppy, trying to maintain her slightly more refined aura in the spire of Tranqualitas¡¯ not-very-tranquil influence on her. Hydrangea wiped her glasses. ¡°Had you re-cast your charm, Anemone?¡± the cyan-haired girl said. ¡°I tried,¡± Anemone said. Her pointed ears drooped as she said this. ¡°But I can¡¯t seem to focus on it. This season¡¯s full moon is stronger than I thought!¡± She said with a whimper. Lily offered to her friend to remake her charm. The three set off for the guildhall to ask Emily and Elizabeth for help. ??? Minerva met with Atsuko and Hoshikage about their own Hallowstide preparations. The white-haired Arachne, the teal-haired nekomata, and her tanned and blond kunoichi retainer talked about how the traditions differ between Libert¨¦ and Yae Shoto. While they were discussing the cultural differences, the three saw a pair of Archane enter the room looking for Minerva. One was a Selinopida, an Arachne with adept poisonous abilities and who could make sharp turns with her legs. The other is a Salticida, an eager and excitable spiderling that zipped around the room. Minerva is a little exasperated by these two as they rush to ward her. Starry-eyed and eager to please. ¡°Annie, William, what is it?¡± Minerva asked. The spiderling boy answered first, his hair slicked by the wind from months of high-speed running. ¡°Mommy wanted us to tell you that we need to get more Webcakes!¡± The Saliticida¡¯s torso bobbed in place as she made his declaration. ¡°Webcakes?¡± Hoshiguma asked. Her blond hair furrowed with confusion. ¡°They are a type of cupcake, made with edible silk,¡± Minerva said. ¡°The threads used are obtained from specific rituals.¡± She then turned to Annie. The Seinopida¡¯s face shied away from Minerva. A finger from each of her two hands touched each other and retracted anxiously. ¡°Did you accidentally poison the treats, Annie?¡± Minerva said. Annie¡¯s continued silence was enough confirmation for her. Minerva sighed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry!¡± Annie said. Her blue and green hair framed her worried face. ¡°It was¡­I don¡¯t know how.¡± Minerva comforted her. She knows that young Selinopidae have trouble controlling their venomous sacks and that leaking poison is a common occurrence. With a calm smile, she turned to her and William. ¡°Come on,¡± she said. ¡°Seems our chat will have to wait,¡± Atsuko said. The teal-haired and cat-eared girl left. Hoshikage meanwhile was intrigued by these Webcakes. ¡°Maybe I can help?¡± the kunoichi said. Minerva held an incredulous expression. ¡°What?¡± Hoshikage said. ¡°I know a thing or two about making snacks.¡± ¡°I suppose,¡± Minerva said with a little trepidation. ¡°But please refrain from eating them, they¡¯re for the children.¡± ¡°Gotcha!¡± Hoshikage said. ¡°Have fun then,¡± Atsuko said as she left the room. A while later, Atsuko finds Noboru in the Blew maw. The elder Tanuki practices with a wooden sword. Unsheathing and resheathing it in rapid succession. ¡°Iaido again?¡± Atsuko said. The philosopher chuckled as he placed the wooden blade back in its sheath again. ¡°I needed the exercise.¡± Atsuko looked around and saw cut marks in some of the foliage. The two talked about traditions. Both those they encountered in their travels in Libert¨¦ and those they were raised in their homes in the kingdoms of the islands of Yae. Noboru¡¯s raccoon-like tail swayed and swished in the gentle breeze. The topics included honor and duty. Atsuko is reminded of various settlements on the archipelago that included Universalists. Noboru then reminded Atsuko of a certain legend. ¡°You recall the tale of the Okami-no-Yami?¡± ¡°The dark wolf?¡± Atsuko said. ¡°Slain by three warriors? Plunged the islands into darkness for a millennium? Yeah, I remember that story. Mom had it read to me when I was younger.¡± Noboru chuckled. He had expected as much from his liege. ¡°Why did you ask that, Noboru-san?¡± Atsuko said. ¡°Is it because of that sword of yours?¡± Atsuko referred not to the wooden practice sword the Tanuki wilded earlier, but instead a relic he brought with him. A wakizushi with an ebon blade. A sword that he swore not to wield. ¡°The Muramasa had been on my mind lately,¡± Noboru said. He had chanced upon the sword early in his career as a monk and a samurai. ¡°It is said to be wilded by one of the three heroes that slain Okami-No-Yami, but in spite of the divine lineage, it thirsts for blood.¡± ¡°Ah yeah,¡± Atsuko said. ¡°The rumors of it forcing its welders to cut someone when drawn were pretty common.¡± A though occurred in Atsuko¡¯s mind. The nekomata made a wicked grin. ¡°Maybe we can try exploring the sword. See how it works?¡± ¡°My lady,¡± Noboru said in a polite tone. ¡°I must ask if that is truly wise. Who knows what profane spirits lurked in the Muramasa? Your microdugneon technology had improved since we were hired by Emily, but I fear there are still risks involved with items like that cursed sword.¡± Atsuko pouted. It was clear that Noboru was against exploration of the sword. The two talked about other things for a while and then they left the Bleumaw. ??? Later, Lily, Anemone, and Hydrangea searched for someone to help the lycanthrope. They soon ran into Elizabeth, having returned from Rosenkreuz. The pink-haired fairy greeted the three girls. She noticed Anemone was moving on all fours. ¡°We have a problem,¡± Hydrangea said. ¡°I see,¡± Elizabeth said as she saw a tearful Anemone trying to dig on the floor. ¡°Help me,¡± Anemone said with a whimper. The fairy asked the girls to follow her as she fluttered towards a room in the Dungeon. ¡°Is something wrong?¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoed to Elizabeth. ¡°Ah, Emily!¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°Well well¡­there is¡ª¡± ¡°Anemone is acting like a dog!¡± Lily blurted out. ¡°What? How?¡± Emily said. ¡°Well, you see,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°[Lycanthropes] tend to be sensitive to the moon. The Influence of [Tranquilitas, the Moonshadow] forced them to behave a lot like their [Dormarch] distant cousins.¡± ¡°We use special charms¡­ to help ward it off,¡± Anemone said, struggling to get the words off. ¡°But getting mine recast is¡­ Is¡­¡± she suddenly noticed Rose slither nearby and rand to lick her face. ¡°She needs specific items to recharge her charm,¡± Hydrangea said. Lily galloped to her lycanthrope and Lamia friends. ¡°What the heck is going on?¡± Rose said while Anemone sniffed her tail with a look of embarrassment. ¡°The full moon is near,¡± Lily said. Elizabeth and Emily discussed the issues Anemone might cause the Hallowstide guest in her current state. ¡°What do we need?¡± Emily said. ¡°[Moonstorm Argentum] for starters,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°Silver melted to a liquid state and electrified.¡± Emily decided to ask Sarah for help. Meanwhile, Sarah was inside a kitchen with Minerva and Hoshikage. Giving them ingredients to help bake their Webcakes. ¡°Okay,¡± the platinum-haired dwarf said. ¡°Got a gallon of milk, a case of eggs, and some bags of baker¡¯s chocolate. Anything else?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve managed to secure the silk from some of our friends in the brood here,¡± Minerva said. ¡°Thank you, Sarah.¡± ¡°No problem,¡± Sarah said. ¡°You sure you don¡¯t want my help?¡± ¡°The recipe is rather delicate and well¡­¡± Minerva said. ¡°I fear that having two gluttons bake would yield¡­ disastrous results.¡± ¡°Fine,¡± Sarah said. ¡°I can control myself, but I can¡¯t say much with the other one.¡± ¡°I can hear you you know!¡± Hoshikage said. Emily¡¯s voice echoes to Sarah. ¡°Sarah? Can you help us get some silver?¡± ¡°Got to go. Something came up with Emily,¡± Sarah said. ¡°Good luck with the cupcakes!¡± She rushed past her brother Richard who carted around various costuming materials. The blond dwarf was perplexed by why Sarah was running so fast. ??? Esteban and Julia meanwhile are helping Lydia with the spiderlings. ¡°Thank you for helping me out,¡± Lydia said. The Arachne broodmother had needed extra hands. ¡°We¡¯re happy to help,¡± Esteban said. ¡°We have experience with kids.¡± He straighted out his azure coat. Julia twirls a lock of violet-blue hair as she sees some of the Arachne children. Including an Argyronetida swimming in a nearby lake. Her head encased in one of their signature webbing. The young Arachne splashed some of the other Argyonetidae close by, giggling as the others tried to chase her. ¡°Melissa is always a fast swimmer,¡± Lydia mused. Esteban looked out at a Lycosida boy hiding behind one of the webbed pillars in the room, near the lake¡¯s edge. Melissa swam toward the edge unaware of the boy lurking nearby. ¡°Got you!¡± the male spiderling leaped from the pillar and tackled Melissa, ticking her and distracting her long enough for the other Argyonetidae to catch up. ¡°I take it Melissa used webs to keep the water from her mouth and lungs?¡± Julia asked. ¡°Of course,¡± Lydia said. ¡°Argyonetidae webs are very water proof. How did you know?¡± ¡°Call it a hunch,¡± Julia said. Esteban gathers several of the broodlings around and tells them several stories, tales of thieves stealing legendary items and unearthing vast conspiracies. Lydia is impressed by Esteban¡¯s word craft. ¡°He¡¯d make a good bard,¡± Julia said. ¡°If he could carry a tune that is.¡± Esteban chuckled. Still certain thoguths ahd crossed his mind. In the months since Tim had asked him to find Alkahestic factions in Noir, he had unearthed some leads. However even with the help of the Rouges Guild following up on them had proved difficult. They were too opaque, too esoteric and as verse in the art of stealth as he is. His own push into finding out more about the Voorhes Gang proved similarly fruitless. Still he is not going to let these setbacks keep him from entertaining the children. Julia meanwhile brought some art supplies and paper for the Arcahne children. The first to make use of them were the Araneidae, who held a vibrant image in their heads and desired to bring it to life. Kaitlyn had arrived, with a paining of an eerie meadow in tow. The bipedal girl asked the artistic Araneidae about her work. Several of them complimented the amount of detail in the picture, and the use of reds and greys. The married rouges continued to help Lydia with the children, who expressed their excitement for the coming holiday and festival. ??? Heathcliff gazed upon a garden of vibrant flowers. He had spent a good chunk of the morning tending to the flowerbeds. The red-haired knight looked proudly upon his recent work. He noticed Carla approaching him. She is taken aback at the array of flowers in front of her. The rainbow roses, the dianthas and the Lunar Drops arranged in a harmonious formation. ¡°Never took you as a gardener,¡± Carla remarked. ¡°Heh, There¡¯s a lot of things ya don¡¯t know about me. What¡¯s up?¡± Heathcliff¡¯s tone was cordial. ¡°I want to learn more about Hallowstide,¡± Carla said. ¡°I figured one as traveled as yourself might know a fair bit about it.¡± Heathcliff stroked his chin. ¡°Hallowstide huh? It¡¯s actually pretty recent as far as traditions go. With roots in similar festivals all around the world. Right near the equator, there is a tradition focused on remembering the dead. In Albion and Eturia, it stemmed from a day of prayer for Anesidora. And in the rest of Eberus, it is said to be when spooky things happened. The Wild Hunt, Phantom Horsemen, et cetera.¡± ¡°Oh my,¡± Clara said. ¡°Any other details about it?¡± ¡°Right now, historians claim that Libert¨¦ is where the current traditions, and the name emerged. Some think that it was related to the formation of a more localized shindig in November, which itself is said to be another harvest celebration before becoming more known for celebrating the Albionian settlers there.¡± ¡°Interesting,¡± Carla said. ¡°I think Hamlin celebrated that, but I wasn¡¯t too sure. The villagers had invited me several times, but I had turned them down. Was too busy tending to the animals. Samuel¡­¡± Carla sighed. ¡°He told me a fair bit about those gatherings and lamented how I was never able to go.¡± Silence filled the room where the garden rested. A light breeze flew through the blue and back walls where sunlight peaked through. Carla lingered on the demise of her husband, the beginning of her misfortunes that ending with her shunned by her original village. The silence was broken when the two noticed Anemone barging and digging a hole in a mount of dirt, to the knight¡¯s surprise. ¡°Qu''est-ce que?¡± he asked. The wolf-eared girl barked as she continued building her mound on the flower bead, uprooting several of the dianthas nearby. Hydrangea and Lily entered the garden. ¡°Anemone! No!, bad girl!¡± Lily said. Anemone whimper at the centauride¡¯s command. Carla noticed something is off about her. A while later, Anemone regained enough lucidity to feel embarrassment for her recent actions, and apologize to Heathcliff about his garden. ¡°It¡¯s fine, Anemone,¡± Heathcliff said to Anemone. He turned to Clara. ¡°Seems like the moon is causing trouble for her,¡± he said to Clara before moving to a different flowerbed. ¡°Hey Em,¡± Heathcliff said as he took some Lunar Drops from a flowerbed. There was no response, but Heathcliff did see Emily¡¯s avatara materialize in the garden and in front of the the girls. ¡°Seems she already knew of this,¡± the knight thought. He approached the avatara and handed her several of the anemone flowers. ¡°Think these will come in handy.¡± Emily realized that Heathcliff knew what was going on and thanked her. ¡°Heathcliff,¡± Emily said to her Dungeon Master. ¡°Sarah told me about a nearby dungeon with enchanted Silver ore¡ª¡± ¡°I gots you,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°Unfortunately I can¡¯t go with you this time. Pauline wants me to make some extra treats for the kids.¡± It was a rare moment for him, what he was unable to accompany Emily. Anemone struggled against her urges while Lily tried to keep her calm. Heathcliff looked at Emily. ¡°You go ahead. I¡¯ll tell Pauline about the trip.¡± Emily took the three Coloraturas and left the gardens. Clara¡¯s shock over Anemone¡¯s current state gave way to confusion. She had dealt with wild animals before, but temporarily wild people was beyond her ken. She then turned to the knight. ¡°You said you had to help the Guild supply treats?¡± ¡°Oui,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°The guild wanted to make sure a repeat of the Honey Disaster doesn''t happen again.¡± ¡°Maybe I can come with you?¡± Clara said. She wanted to get more perspectives on Hallowstide. ¡°Huh?¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°I don¡¯t mind, but what about what you said about laying low?¡± ¡°I do not believe that anyone from Hamlin would be in Rosencruz, not with how far it is.¡± Despite this, she considered donning a disguise just in case. She also wondered how her sister Geraldine was doing back at Hamlin. Heathcliff agreed to let Clara accompany him. Clara helped him repair the flowerbed Anemone had ruined before they left the garden. ??? Emily, Elizabeth, Tim, Sarah, Anemone, Lily, Hydrangea, and Rose arrived at the Dungeon Sarah mentioned. The Silvervale Crags. Gleaming grisaille cliffs and valleys were visible for miles on end. Anemone howled at a nearby hilltop for a few moments. Her friends grew more worried about her condition. ¡°So what should we expect here?¡± Tim asked. ¡°It¡¯s Autumn, so we might see Dormarches and other Lycanthropes here,¡± Sarah said. ¡°Dormarches?¡± Emily asked. ¡°The [Dormarches] are distant cousins of the [Lycanthropes],¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°While they have nomadic lifestyles and migrate frequently, it isn¡¯t unheard of for a few to settle in a given place.¡± A large serpentine beast emerged from the one of the cliff faces. The creature swims in the air as it bore into the glistering silver rock at the other side of the valley. ¡°And those are¡­¡± Rose asked. ¡°[Rock Morays],¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°They are¡­¡± Anemone had recovered a few moments of lucidity. ¡°They feed off the rock and metal embedded into the ground.¡± Her sentence was punctuated with some barking. Her tail was clenched. ¡°Are you doing okay?¡± Lily asked Anemone. The purple-haired wolf-eared girl still struggled with the amplified impulses wrought from the nearly full moon. ¡°I¡¯m sorry you had to¡ª¡± ¡°Don¡¯t apologize!¡± Rose interrupted. ¡°That¡¯s what friends do, right?¡± Lily cantered to Anemone. ¡°We¡¯ll help you with your charm, promise!¡± Emily¡¯s group ventured forth into the Silvervale Crags. ??? Emily¡¯s group traveled down the Silvervale Crags. Rose noticed that the dungeon held several festive decorations. Pumpkins with faces carved onto them. Fake cobwebs and skeletons dot the cliff¡¯s faces. ¡°Do Dungeons celebrate holidays?¡± Rose innocently asked. Emily is confused by the lamia¡¯s question. She asked Elizabeth for answers. ¡°It depends,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°Some are not willing to engine with festivities, but others do want to engage with the holidays when possible. Some even go as far as to change their challenges around them, even beyond making sure younger adventurers are unharmed.¡± Anemone noticed the bony remains among the Allowstide decorations. She tried to resist the urge to pounce on the bones and chew on them with her teeth. Lily meanwhile approached a different pile of bones. She was certain they were just decorations. Tim meanwhile surveyed the area. He noticed mana surging from the ground. A Rock Moray flew above the party, seemingly ignorant of their presence. A silvery powder is secreted from the eel and coats the ground and the bones. As Lily curiously tried to touch one, Her arm grazed an arrow that hit the pile of bones. Lily turned back and saw Anemone had fired the shot. ¡°Stay back!¡± the purple ringleted girl said. ¡°Those bones are¡­¡± she couldn''t finish her sentence before her speech turned to barking. Lily was perplexed. ¡°They¡¯re just decorations, right?¡± she thought. They looked like plastic bones at a distance as she held that train of thought she noticed something grab her hind leg. The blond centaur turned her head and saw that it was a skeleton. ¡°Welcome to the Silvervale Crags!¡± the undead said. Lily screamed and galloped away from the skeleton. Their arm still grabbed her hind hoof. The skeletons surrounded the group of eight. Sarah already took her hammer out and got to smashing. Emily used bardsong to sing a gusty tune. Tim uses his bajiquan techniques to dispatch several of the skeletons. Rose and Elizabeth used lightning spells, and Anemone tried to assist with her magic as much as possible. The lycanthrope tried to focus as she aimed her bow and arrow, but the lupine and canine instinct overwhelmed her again and she accidentally nocked an arrow at Emily¡¯s shadow. The arrows pinned Emily in place instead of their opponents. Emily, rooted to the ground is ambushed by more skeletal cells of the cliffs, her swords clashing with their femurs. Lily eventually regained enough composure to take out her spear and come to Emily¡¯s aid. She charged towards the ambushers and uprooted Anemone¡¯s arrow from the shadow, allowing Emily to move again. Anemone tried to attack the Cells, but her aim was impeded again and she instead grazed Rose. The lamia nearly dodged the projectile and saw Anemone struggling to steady her aim. Hydrangea meanwhile was channeling an ice spell to freeze the skeletal mob. Her glasses coldly stared at the battle as she continued her casts. Several of the undead were entombed in icy coffins. Her spells in tandem with everyone else¡¯s attacks had thinned out all but a few skeleton warriors. Those last stragglers were eventually defeated by Anemone, who had caved into her impulses and leaped at a tibia from one of them and chewed on them. The remainder realized Anemone was a lycanthrope and fled the battle. Lily, Rose, and Hydrangea looked at the hatted girl, who had an embarrassed expression. Hydrangea and Lily begin to wonder about the extent of the moon¡¯s effect on Anemone. The group ventured deeper into the cliffs. ??? Meanwhile, Raine helped Richard with the costuming. The dwarf asked the phoenixian girl to help him prepare the costumes. While they gathered the various materials, Raine thought about what was happening with Anemone. Richard noticed the young girl¡¯s mood. ¡°I thank you for taking the time to help me with this, but¡­¡± ¡°But?¡± Raine asked. ¡°Is something on your mind, Miss Cadenza?¡± Richard asked. Raine stayed silent for a few moments, as she took some sheets of fabric from the basket. ¡°You wanted the cloth here, right?¡± she answered, ignoring Richard¡¯s question. Richard walked to the table where the cloth was placed and took out some sheets. The colors of the sheets were black and purple, colors that reminded Raine of her lycanthropic friend. Azalea swam into the atelier, curious about the costumes Richard decided to work on. ¡°Howdy!¡± the clionid said. ¡°What is it Azalea?¡± Raine asked. ¡°Just wrapped out my practice,¡± the blue-haired mermaid said. ¡°Wanted to see if the wrappings were also wrapped up.¡± ¡°We just started,¡± Ricard said while he sewed patches of black cloth together. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°What are the costumes for anyway?¡± Raine asked. ¡°I thought most new adventures just wore normal armor and robes?¡± ¡°There are some traditions that necessitate costumes,¡± Richard said. ¡°Some were created by Messengers. Others emerged by happenstance.¡± Azalea noticed Raine¡¯s long face. ¡°Thinking about Anemone, huh?¡± ¡°W-what? No!¡± Raine lied. ¡°The moon has thrown her loopy multiple times now. I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll be fine.¡± Richard is perplexed by Raine¡¯s answer. To him, it seemed like the Coloraturas were very close-knit. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you go with them?¡± the blond dwarf curiously asked. Raine didn¡¯t think of a response. ¡°I wanted to entertain the other kids,¡± Azalea said. ¡°There are few opportunities in the year for me to tickle their funny bones with Allowstide jokes.¡± ¡°Clover and Strelitizia wanted to check things out at Noir,¡± Raine added. ¡°They heard Gatsby Tower is having a shindig on Allowstide.¡± ¡°That is true,¡± Richard said. He then realized that Raine still hadn¡¯t answered his question. ¡°Look, I just wanted some time to myself, okay?¡± Raine said. ¡°She¡¯s always like this,¡± Azalea whispered to Richard. ¡°Look can we get these costumes done already?¡± Raine said impatiently. Azelia giggled a bit and offered to help Richard. The three spent the next hour finishing several sets of costumes. Raine left to get more cloth from outside. Richard looked to the clionid. ¡°So why is she so¡­?¡± Azalea pondered for a bit. ¡°Don¡¯t really know. She tried to deny it, but she often went to great lengths to help us when we were in the Underground. Rosie thinks it might have to do with her missing parents.¡± Richard was aware of the girls¡¯ lives before being adopted by Emily. Eight orphans who had lost their parents in myriad ways. Though the Coloratura¡¯s time as Emily¡¯s sentinels, they had divulged some details about their old families, but Raine was unusual in that she had recollected nothing of hers at all. She had not the faintest of memory about them. Raine returned with white and indigo fabrics, as well as a separate basket of fake horns and pumpkin-shaped buttons. Her mood was somewhat calmer now. Richard took the items and the three continued work on the costumes. ??? Emily¡¯s group arrived at the maw of a vast expanse in the Silvervale Crags. There they found no one else. Furthermore, the path reached a dead end. ¡°That¡¯s strange,¡± Tim said. He noticed that such a place would be appropriate for a fight against a Sentinel. Elizabeth fluttered around the arena but found no trace of anything there. Emily uses bardsong to detect any invisible presence, but so far her music had no echoes. While Emily, Tim, and Elizabeth search for any boss encounters, Lily, Hydrangea, Rose, and Sarah looked at the silver and rock walls around them. Anemone was nearby, trying once again to keep the moon¡¯s hold over her at bay. The wolf-eared girl looked at the moon, a desire to just howl at it began overwhelming her. ¡°I can¡¯t, I mustn¡¯t!¡± Anemone thought. She recalled the sense of manners her parents had instilled in her. ¡°Ramona,¡± her father said. ¡°You mustn¡¯t bark at the kind strangers, dear.¡± ¡°Ramona,¡± her mother scolded. ¡°It is uncouth to bite the guests!¡± She was instilled with both the means and a desire to act prim and proper. Almost as if she was raised as an Empyrean. Anemone¡¯s train of thought was interrupted when she heard Lily yell in shock. Her gaze was turned toward a pair of two figures that were not beside the group. The shorter of which had a canid tail that wagged excitably, and the ears to match. ¡°Wow!¡± the stranger said. ¡°I never thought that there would be other guests here!¡± Her tone and the cadence of her voice reminded both Lily and Anemone of Clover. ¡°It¡¯s so exciting! It¡¯s usually me and my pack that goes to these parts. Say, can you tell me your names? We haven¡¯t gotten around to¡ª¡± ¡°Cassie,¡± the other Dormarch said. Her ears were cropped in a triangular shape. Her tail slowly swayed as she approached the group. Her hair was styled with a pink mohawk and her attire was black leather overlaid upon armor. Both of them also notably had masks around their mouths. ¡°Oh, right, sorry,¡± Cassie said. Sarah noticed the Dormarch pair. She found their sudden presence strange. Emily returned to the group and saw the strangers. ¡°Hello?¡± she awkwardly asked. ¡°Hello!¡± Cassie said with a great big wave and a smile. She then introduced herself. Her neck-length bob was half blue and half blond, trailing off into two braids alternating in both colors. Her canine ears were the opposite colors. A faint whiff of hair dye emerged from the blue parts of her hair. ¡°Sid,¡± the punk-dressed woman said curtly. ¡°So, what brings you guys to a place like this?¡± Cassie asked. ¡°One of our friends is in trouble,¡± Hydrangea said. ¡°We¡¯re trying to get some silver for her.¡± Cassie turned around and saw a purple-ringleted girl among them. Anemone¡¯s hit obscured her ears, but her lupine tail was still visible enough, to make matters worse for her, Cassie¡¯s nose picked up her scent. ¡°You have a lycanthrope with you?¡± Cassie said with glee. She pounced on Anemone and hugged her. To Sid¡¯s annoyance. The leather-clad girl pinched her nose as her friend made rapid-fire questions about the increasingly uncomfortable Anemone. ¡°Please,¡± Anemone whimpered. ¡°You¡¯re¡­too close.¡± Cassie didn¡¯t hear Anemone¡¯s pleas over her exuberant string of questions. Sid gave her a tap on the shoulder and glared. Cassie rubbed the back of her head. ¡°Hehe, oops.¡± She backed away from Anemone. ¡°Sorry about that.¡± ¡°Why are you guys here?¡± Emily asked. ¡°Our pack asked us to scout out potential dungeons around Nova Virginia,¡± Sid said. ¡°They heard a promising new one popped up here recently.¡± ¡°We wanted to check up on Silvervale too,¡± Cassie said. ¡°After finding out some mean old Divine Dungeon had absorbed several nearby ones¡­¡± Emily guessed they were talking about the Engines. ¡°I take it you¡¯re trying to make a charm for the cub here?¡± Sid asked. ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Lily answered. ¡°I see,¡± Sid said. ¡°I think we can help you get the Argentum, then.¡± Cassie made a sad expression. It seemed to them that she wasn¡¯t keen on the idea of repressing her instincts like that. Before she could respond, the ground rumbled. ??? The Rock Moray arced over the party again. It secreted the same silvery powder. ¡°Looks like it¡¯s showtime!¡± Cassie said eagerly. The powder coalesced into the center of the room. Emily prepared her weapons as she and her fairy sensed the emerging Sentinel. ¡°HELLO GUESTS!¡± a mechanical voice said. ¡°¡®TIS TIME FOR TRICKS AND TREATS.¡± A silver golem was formed by the dust. Gleaming with the moonbeams shining down on it. It had eight mechanical arms and a holster on its hip. ¡°STARDECK PROTOCOLS ACTIVATED,¡± the machine bellowed. It took the front card from the deck in the holster and swiped out. The motion caused a wave of water to follow its momentum. The wave was directed at the party, but the wave was too small to flood the arena and was absorbed into the ground. ¡°TODAY¡¯S HOROSCOPE CONFIRMED. MAIMARIO ARSENAL ACTIVATED.¡± The robot said. ¡°Maiamrio?¡± Anemone said. She knew it as the deck of water. The machine revealed the card. ¡°ASTRAL CARD CONFIRMED: LEO WEAPON ENGAGED.¡± The arm that held the card transformed into a sonic weapon. ¡°BOW TO THE KING OF BEASTS.¡± The weapon created a high-pitched sonic wave that caused the ground to rupture, and Anemone, Cassie, and Sid to cover their ears. ¡°It hurts!¡± Anemone yelled before letting out a pained howl. Hydrangea cursed herself as she conjured a wall of ice to try to dampen the noise. Neither Azalea nor Clover were here to use their combined magic to mute the machine. Lily galloped to Anemone¡¯s aid and took the werewolf on her back. Sid manifested a guitar and made three riffs. The music channeled the wind to create a whirlwind. around them. Cassie meanwhile took out her own Stardeck and drew the Aquarius card. ¡°Time for the high tide!¡± Cassie said as she presented the card. A gigantic jug manifested above them and water powered from it, Cassie used the card, and the windy powers of its native Maimario deck, to direct the water around the direction of the Sid¡¯s whirlwind. Dampening the noise enough for Anemone to move. The lycanthope¡¯s ears still rung from the vibrations of the argent golem¡¯s sonic pulse. She looked at the two Dormarches and wondered why they didn¡¯t succumb to the high-pitched sounds from the golem¡¯s weapon. Hydrangea combined her ice with Cassie¡¯s water to create an orb of gelatin and launched it into the arm of the golem. Its sonic blaster was coated in sticky gel. She then used her wand to conjure a path of ice for her to slide on as she took her grimoire and looked through her pre-inscribed spells. Rose and Tim used lightning and earth attacks respectively to attack the silver boss. Emily meanwhile channeled fire and lightning through her twin swords as she and Sarah engaged it head-on. Sarah managed to topple the golem enough for everyone to land some good hits. Sid, in a mood to give the boss a taste of its own medicine, used her Jonguler abilities to hinder the golem. Her guitar¡¯s bard song enfeebled it to the magic attacks Emily, Rose, and Hydrangea used while Sarah and Tim assaulted it with heavy hammer strikes and Tim¡¯s bajiquan attacks, respectively. The sonic weapon faded along with the influence of the Leo card. ¡°PREPARING REPULSION PULSE!¡± the silver golem launched a range of attacks that threw Emily, Tim, Sarah, and Rose back as it prepared to draw another card. Sarah leaped forward after she was repelled and knocked the arm away from the holster with her hammer. ¡°Don¡¯t let it draw any more cards!¡± she yelled. Lily charged forward and used her spear to intercept the machine¡¯s eight limbs, Tim likewise did the same with his Qiang. Rose and Emily tried to use their lightning-enhanced swords to stun the silver machine, but their attacks were to no avail. ¡°Sorry, that silver makes it both heatproof and shockproof, ehe,¡± Cassie said enthusiastically. Anemone, still struggling with the lunacy of the nearly full moon, tried to steady her aim as she pointed her bow at one of the arms of eh silver-coated golem. She nocked an arrow and it landed on the arm of the machine. With that secured, she aimed to use gravity spells to make the arm too heavy to move. Her stomach growled and thoughts of eating meat began to flood her mind. The distracted lycanthrope¡¯s magic ended up increasing its apurgy instead of its gravity and made the arm easier to move instead. The machine seized their opportunity and drew with the impaled armed. As it drew the card another wave emerged from around it and repelled nearly everyone. Hydrangea froze the wave in a bid to immobilize the golem. But it broke through the icy confines and presented its card. ¡°ANDormEDA, BIND THESE FOOLS IN YOUR CHAINS!¡± The engineered construct said. Its eight arms transformed into spheres where silver chains emerged. Everyone tried to avoid these chains. The machine drew another card. ¡°MICROSCOPIUM, MINIMIZE THEIR CHANCE SOF VICTORY!¡± the silver golem¡¯s arms begin to glow as a linear ray was launched from them. Lily was hit by the blast and shrank down to half her normal size. She gasped as the already large machine loomed larger over her. Anemone tried to fend off her feeling of hunger and her other instinct as she fired another arrow. Another arm of the golem is impaled. Another beam is fired again, alongside more chains, but Cassie draws a card on reflex. Unlike the green cards of the Maimario deck, this one was cyan with ice. The sigil on it resembled a W. The Dormarch used her card to summon a reflective surface that bounced the beam back at the golem, and it shrunk down to a quarter of its size. Though weaker now, the Sentinel is also faster and more nimble. However so was the shrunken Lily, who used her increased speed to slam into the golem. Sarah followed up with a mighty hammer swing and lobbed the golem high into the air. Anemone aimed at the aerial machine and struck it with an arrow, breaking out half of its silver armor. ¡°ALERT! ALERT! ARGENT ARMOR PENETRATED! UNSTABLE AERIAL MOVEMENT PREVENTING STABILIZED LANDING!¡± the machine bellowed as it crashed onto the ground near one of the crags. Emily attacked with a flurry of slashes for her fire and lightning-enchanted swords. The machine¡¯s exposed circuitry was melted by the attacks. ¡°THANK YOU FOR THE BATTLE. ENJOY FOR ALLOWS¡ª¡± The silver golem¡¯s last words before shutting down. It soon vanished into a cloud of silver powder that subsequently concentrated into the shape of a silver chest in front of the avatara. Emily opened the chest and found jars filled with enchanted silver powder and silver coinage, as well as several silver bladed broadswords. Elizabeth and Sid looked at the coffer¡¯s contents. ¡°That is not going to be enough for the charm,¡± Sid said. Anemone hung her head in disappointment as she sat on the ground. Her leg impulsively scratched an itched on her cheek. ¡°Guess we have to go deeper,¡± Rose said as she slithered to an emerging path in the cliffs. Sid smirked. Her pink mohawk fluttered in the wind. ¡°I¡¯d bet Cassie would love to get to know y¡¯all better.¡± ¡°Hey!¡± Cassie said. ¡°I wanted to say that!¡± she puffed her cheeks. ¡°I¡¯d like that, at least,¡± Anemone said. ¡°Truth be told, this si the first time I¡¯ve ever met Dormarches.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Cassie said. ¡°Nomads are not exactly common in the city Noir,¡± Hydrangea said. ¡°You guys from Noir?¡± Sid asked incredulously. ¡°Well,¡± Rose said. ¡°We were from Noir, but Em and her friends here weren¡¯t.¡± The lamia then gestured to Emily, Tim, Sarah, and Elizabeth. Cassie then noticed something about Emily. Her eyes glowed with excitement. Her mind was intrigued by Emily and her friend¡¯s strange armor and attire. The group of eight turned ten ventured deeper into the Silvervale Crags. ??? Meanwhile, Streltizia and Clover were at Noir. Accompanied by Pearl, who heard they were going to the city, as well as Scarlett, Kei, and Aika as chaperoned. The porcine girl was sad to learn that Lily was away that day, but she decided to take the opportunity to learn more about some of her friends now that filming was completed. Clover was all but happy to indulge the starlet. ¡°The eight of you lived in the underground for how long?¡± Pearl asked. ¡°Several years now,¡± Streltizia said. The orange-haired minotaur looked at the diner they were in. It was a far cry from the one they once called home. She wondered how Jacquelyn was doing. ¡°We had been through a lot as the Coloraturas,¡± Clover said with a cheerful expression. Her green hair was tied in their usual pigtails, right beneath her antlers. ¡°Like the time Rose and I stopped a Manticore from breaking a shopping center down!¡± Kei held a discontented look on his face. The hustle and bustle of the city was not conducive to his usual sources of inspiration. The noise of traffic and cars was unbearable to him at best and reminded him of his days as a salaryman at worst. Aika at least was there to help him focus. Scarlett meanwhile asked the Yanese pair about their own lives. ¡°Well,¡± Aika said with a flustered face. ¡°I wanted to be a songstress.¡± Scarlett was intrigued, she had heard a fair bit about Yae Shoto¡¯s idol culture. Largely because of how it bled over into Hollyland. ¡°As for me,¡± Kei Iyashi said. ¡°I find writing to be my passion.¡± Neither of them knew that Pearl or Scarlett were movie stars yet, and neither of the porcines wanted them to know yet. All they knew of Pearl and Scarlett was that they were friends with Lily and acquaintances with Emily. ¡°You¡¯ve been to Noir before?¡± Streltizia asked pearl. ¡°A few times,¡± Pearl responded to the minotauride¡¯s question. She looked around at the various Allowstides decor at the diner. Bats, pumpkins, and figures in pointed hats decorated the walls of the restaurant. ¡°You think Amenone would be peeved seeing these witch decorations?¡± Clover asked. ¡°She has other concerns, remember?¡± Streltizia said. ¡°Oh, right,¡± Clover said after being reminded about her recent plight. ¡°I hope she got that charm made.¡± ¡°Does she usually have issues with her instincts?¡± Pearl asked. ¡°I don¡¯t think so,¡± Clover said. ¡°She is usually more composed than that. More¡­dignified I guess?¡± Scarlett had something on her mind. Kei noticed the red-clad woman¡¯s expression changed. ¡°Is something the matter?¡± Kai asked. Scarlett looked at the Yanese writer and said, ¡°No.¡± Aika saw a waiter bring their food over as well as a copy of the Bugileblitz. The headline mentioned that tomorrow is the anniversary of the ¡°Allowstide massacre.¡± ¡°Allowstide massacre?¡± Aika asked curiously. She read through the newspaper and learned about how a prominent lycanthropic power couple was murdered several years ago, alongside several members of the Greytails gang. And also the decline of that faction following the event. Aika was confused when she read that investigations into the murders yielded nothing conclusive about the killers. The group of six soon had their lunch. Scarlett paid the check and they soon left to see what else Noir was doing to celebrate Allowstide. ??? Emily¡¯s party continued down the Silvervale Crags. Along the way Cassie eagerly told them about her hobbies. ¡°You¡¯re an artificer? ¡°Sarah said. The tanned dwarf had a surprised expression as she said that question. Cassie nodded. Her tail wagged with excitement. ¡°I loved tinkering with gadgets. Some of the stuff in the Crags was my handiwork!¡± ¡°Did that include the [Golem] we¡¯ve faced?¡± Elizabeth said. Cassie nodded again. She took out her Stardeck. The sapphire hues of the Maimario deck shimmered in the sunbeams. ¡°Programmed this bad boy here with the ability to use the powers of the Stardeck.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­impressive,¡± Sarah was surprised she hadn¡¯t considered that sooner. Hydrangea used her powers to try to keep everyone cool in the warm air of the canyons. Sweat dripped from her cyan bobbed hair as she maintained a passive cooling spell. ¡°So,¡± the bespectacled girl said. ¡°Why did you create a Sentinel for this place?¡± Cassie thought about the young girl¡¯s question.¡± I just felt like it I guess!¡± Sid sighed, ¡°You¡¯ll have to excuse my friend here.¡± The punkish Jonguler said. ¡°She¡¯s rather off beat at times.¡± ¡°Am not!¡± Cassie said with puffed cheeks. ¡°Kinda reminds me of Rose at times,¡± Lily said. ¡°Hey!¡± the pink-pigtailed lamia puffed her own cheeks in defiance of Lily¡¯s remark. Her friends chuckled at the display. ¡°I can see the resemblance,¡± Elizabeth said with a suppressed chuckle. Anemone meanwhile couldn''t enjoy the conversation as much as the others. Largely due to her attempts to keep her id under control. Lily cantered to the lycnathrope. ¡°Still hanging in there?¡± she asked. Anemone nodded. ¡°Barely,¡± she asked. She looked at their party¡¯s guests. The two Dormarches get along well with Emily and the others. Cassie particularly has an affable aura around her. Yet something about her rubbed Anemone the wrong way. She doesn''t know why. Cassie noticed the purple-haired child starting at her and approached her. ¡°Hey maybe we can go play on the way back!¡± she took out a plastic ball from her pocket. The sight of the red toy caused Anemone¡¯s face to visible contort in repulsion. ¡°What is with this girl?¡± she thought. ¡°Maybe later,¡± Anemone said. She is not in the mood for Cassie¡¯s antics. Sid sicned the young girls distress and rubbed her nose. ¡°Cassie!¡± she barked. ¡°This isn¡¯t the time.¡± ¡°Aw,¡± Cassie said as she left. Sid approached the centaur and lycanthrope. ¡°I have to apologize. Cass doesn''t quite grasp how¡­different werewolves are from us.¡± Anemone is not sure why, but the response didn¡¯t help her mood one bit. Still she was raised to be polite. ¡°It¡¯s no problem,¡± she said. ¡°Did you come across other werewolves in your travels?¡± The Dormarch bard strummed her guitar a bit. ¡°A few times, though most of them were not quite on friendly terms.¡± ¡°Do you plan on going anywhere after this trip?¡± Lily asked. ¡°Yeah actually,¡± Sid said. ¡°Some of my pack is looking for a place to settle down.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Anemone said. ¡°Yeah!¡± Cassie butted in. ¡°A few of us grew weary of the nomadic lifestyle, others physically were no longer able to continue anymore. So out pack is looking for a new home.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Anemone said. A thought came to her mind, but she didn¡¯t want to entertain the notion right now. The party saw the giant Rock Moray again, as wella s its shining silver powder. ¡°Is that the source?¡± Emily asked. ¡°It¡¯s possible,¡± Tim said. ¡°[Rock Morays] are known for shedding metallic particles,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°Especially in the autumn.¡± The group decided to follow the serpentine eel, in the hopes of finding a larger source of the powder for Anemone¡¯s charm. ??? After scaling a tall cliff, Emily¡¯s group sees themselves atop a large, round plateau. There they saw the giant Rock Moray circling it. Silver powder emanated from its pores as it flew around the flatland. Sid looked around and saw something rushing towards them. ¡°Lovely,¡± the Dormarch bard said as she took her guitar out again. ¡°Is that a [Lithroc]?¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°Yeah,¡± Sid said with a sigh. Cassie however is more enthusiastic. Hydrangea recalled her and her friend¡¯s encounter with a similar creature when they explored Cocytus Manor. She knew there was a family of elementally attuned birds. The large avian zoomed toward the cliff and hovered over the party. Its wings were various shades of black and brown. The edges of its feathers resembled stone, and its talons were long and narrow. Its beak was also long and sharp. Sarah smirked as she brandished her heavy hammer. ¡°Time to clip some wings!¡± she said as she leaped into the air. Her weapon clashed with the claws of the Lithroc. The stone-like bird repelled the blunt attack but was distracted by the parry to notice Tim also striking at it with his Qiang. He used his weapon to piece the rock-solid feathers coating the bird and caused it to screech out in pain and fly around the arena. It directed its wings at the others and threw fletches at them. Hydrangea froze the feathers with her grimoire and Emily and Sarah used them as stepping stones to reach the avian. Soon four smaller Lithroc fledglings arrived at the plateau. Anemone tried to snipe at them, but her focus wanned and her arrows missed the birds, falling down into the valley below. The smaller birds fired stones at the group. Lily galloped around and blocked them with her spear. Rose slithered past them and struck with her rapier. Her lightning-fast strikes channel actual lightning and paralyzed one of the fledglings. The larger Lithroc eventually shook its ¡°passengers¡± off of it, they landed on the plateau as it conjured large boulders from the blue. Cassie drew a card from her Stardeck, The blue card bore the sigil of Pegasus. Cassie saw Lily galloping around and had an idea, she took out a specialized ranged weapon and loaded the card, then fired the card onto the centauride. The blond-haired centaur began sprouting wings of water from her sides. The power of these liquid wings enabled her to fly towards one of the fledglings and strike it with her signature Lumi¨¨re Avant attacks. Anemone tried to avoid the boulders as she aimed her bow at the larger Sentinel. But a slip had caused her to be repelled to the edge of the plateau. She hung onto the edge of the cliff with her free arm. She desummoned her bow and tried to reach the edge with her other arm, but it was unable to touch the cliffside. Rose and Hydrangea tried to slither to their lupine friend¡¯s aid, but they were intercepted by the fledglings. Emily, Elizabeth, and Tim tried to each Anemone, but the larger Lithroc impeded them. Lily was too far from Anemone and the effects of the Pegasus card began to fade. Anemone¡¯s grip was slipping, she looked at the expanse below and was gripped by fear. She struggled to grab the edge with her other arm and to make matters worse, black ooze emanated from her pores making the arm slippery. She was certain she would be taken out of the Dungeon. Before the ringleted girl could slip. Cassie managed to grab her arm. Anemone looked in surprise at the peppy Dormarch as she used all her strength to try to lift her up. Anemone, fearful for her life tried to grab onto the dog-eared girl. The larger Lithroc saw Cassie and Anenome and let out a loud shriek. It then flapped its wings to pelt Cassie with conjured stones. The continuous assault of rocks placed the Dormarch close over the edge. With both the rocks and Anemone¡¯s slippery arm, the purple-haired child ended up plummeting down. Cassie fell over soon after, the two girls were in freefall towards the ground below. Lily flew as fast as she could with her ephemeral wings. And barely reached them in time, With anemone landing on her equine half and Cassie clinging to her forehooves. Lily used the rest of her bequeathed powers to fly them to the plateau before the Pegasus card¡¯s power faded from her. Anemone looked her her old friend and her new guest then thanked them. At the same time, Sarah managed to defeat two of the fledglings with her hammer, leaving only the large Lithroc and one of its smaller kin. The two sentinels were outraged and attacked with both their feathers and their powers over rock. Anemone summoned her bow again and aimed at the larger of two targets, yet fear still overcame her. She whimpered as her hand trembled. Lily grabbed her arms and helped her steady her hands. Even though she had used the weapon for around a year by now, her skill had much room to grow even when her mind was calm and not assailed by enhanced canid urges. ¡°Ready?¡± Lily said. Anemone was calmed by her friend¡¯s presence. She nodded and pulled the string on her bow. A bold of black and purple mist emerged from the bow, with a white center of energy as its arrowhead. ¡°L¡¯Ombra Adante!¡± Amenone shouted as she and Lily let go of the bowstring. The dark arrow left the bow and was followed by a volley launched from the lycanthrope and centaur¡¯s shadows, aimed at the Lithroc. The avian tried to dodge the volley, but several pierced its wing. The remaining fledging tried to intercept them but the dark projectiles were too much. Worse still, its shadow overlapped Anemone and she used it to pin the smaller bird in place. She fired another bolt at it, causing more arrows to launch from her and nearby shadows again. The Lithroc couldn''t fly anymore with its wings impaled like that and crashed into the depths of the valley surrounding the elevated plateau. The group of ten looked on and saw the avians dissolve into silver powder. A treasure chest emerged at the center of the plateau. Sid opened it this time and found more vials of silver powder, as well as a silver ingot and several pieces of gear, including shields and a silver bass. Sid took the instrument and a shield and handed it to Anemone. ¡°Seems you could use some mana.¡± Anemone absorbed the shield with the ooze on her arm. Afterward, most of it had receded. Both she and the other three witches with her understood the ramifications of the black slime on her arm. Even with Emily stabilizing their mana, they knew there were still certain risks individually. A path of light appeared at the other edge of the plateau, the Rock Moray swam towards another part of the Silvervale Crags. The group delved further into the cliffs. A sense of urgency washed over them. ??? Meanwhile, at the Black Box, Flowena and Ulric are helping the other sprites prepare for Allowstide. The small fey gathered several of their Mirage Staves. Though they were generally cheerful, several remained wistful about the affair. One of them tearfully gazed upon the memorial for their previous dungeon, especially Puck and Maeve. It would be the first Allowstide outside of the now-erased Mirage Feywood. Another bittersweetly mused on how they adjusted to their new surrounding and lamented the loss of the friends that weren¡¯t able to escape the Baron Roberts¡¯ siege. A third is telling the younger sprites tales about what they had lost. Stories that framed the Baron as a wicked invader, Puck and Maeve as valiant defenders, and Emily as the one who avenged them. Ulric looked at the repressions. His once innocent eyes dimmed the day the Baron attacked, and he saw the trauma of him and his fellows manifest in the illusions they weaved. Flowena tried to make sure these memories did not appear through these illusions. After all, it may be a time for scaring children, but also a time for ensuring they have fun. They do not want the terrors of their past to scar their little minds. They ended up talking about the preparations. ¡°There is still disquiet in our hearts,¡± Flowena said forlornly. She wondered how long would they be haunted by the losses they had suffered back in Cerberus. ¡°Better an unsilent heart over a still one,¡± the blue-hared sprite said to his pink-haired companion. They both knew they were lucky that Emily and her friends stumble into the feywood. If that weren¡¯t the case then Mister Puck wouldn¡¯t have any idea on how to save his people and they would¡¯ve all been destroyed by the wicked Baron of the Engines. ¡°Still,¡± Flowena said. ¡°There is some solace here.¡± She knew that Emily had absorbed the Baron and all of the mana accumulated with the Engines. Preventing him from rendering terror onto anyone ever again. Ulrich held Flowena¡¯s hand. ¡°Chin up, dear. It fell to us to lead the sprites now.¡± A blond sprite approached them. Clad in an equally yellow tunic and pointed hat. ¡°There you are!¡± she said. She seemed younger than Ulrich and Flowena. Her eyes possessed a naivete that slowly waned from the other sprites. ¡°Salliandra?¡± Flowena said. ¡°What¡¯s the problem?¡± ¡°Gnobby is causing trouble again,¡± Salliandra said. Ulrich sighed as he and her fellow sprite leader followed her to the source of the trouble. There they find a more slobbish sprite ranting about their troubles. While most of the sprites had adjusted to life in the Black Box, others were more maladjusted. They were unable to let go of the Feywood that no longer exists, of the joy that used to be found there. None were more unable to move on than Gnobby, whose brothers, sisters, and parents were lost to the might of the Engines. The sole survivor often acted jealously, belittling the few joys his fellows had in the fact that their loved ones at least survived, and sparking conflicts with them as a result. When he isn¡¯t doing that, he often ends up having nightmares among the other sprites. The two leaders had tried to get him to cut it out, to no avail. They saw two other sprites nearby. their faces left in tears. They intuited that Gnobby had verbally assaulted the poor twins with insults and lamentations. Flowena scolded Gnobby again while Ulrich comforted the fey twins. After they escorted the twins away from Gnobby. They saw a purple-clad sprite practicing darkness magic. One of two vital elements for their mirages. ¡°Still at it again, Philliam?¡± Flowena said. The purple sprite sheepishly nodded. He had occasionally asked Anemone among other experts in dark magic for guidance on his spellcraft and took their lessons to heart. His glasses shined as he tried to conjure shadows and dark mist. Philliam then reported that his sister Molly was finishing up with their decorations. As if on cue, a green-covered sprite fluttered around the others. Her hair was done in brads adorned with a big bow. She smiled a big grin as she used her staff to create phantasmal images of bats and people raising broomsticks above. ¡°What do you think?¡± Molly said with a great big smile on her face. Flowena, Ulric, and Salliandra were impressed by the young sprite¡¯s improvements. The group of five sprites soon noticed some more normal-sized people approaching them. They were Saizo, Kasumi and Suzune. The three shinobi were surprised at the strange illusions on display here. The one with the prosthetics greeted the sprites. ¡°Hello there,¡± he said. Emily and Atsuko decided to have Saizo represent the rest of the Black Box when the former was unable to. ¡°Hello there Sir Saizo,¡± Ulrich said. ¡°What brings you here?¡± ¡°Just checking up on things,¡± Saizo said. Kasumi looked at the smaller beings. ¡°Huh, Thought you were a bit bigger.¡± Molly greeted Kasumi and used an illusion spell to make her appear larger. The two were surprisingly close friends since they met a few months ago. Philliam scolded her sister for using her mirages to make herself appear larger. Suzune looked at the other sprites. ¡°They¡¯re certainly more willing to show themselves the the korpokkur at least,¡± the swordsmistress said. ¡°How is Hoshikage doing?¡± Molly asked cheerfully. ¡°She is doing alright,¡± Kasumi said. She had an idea and asked Flowena and Ulrich if she could help them for a bit. The two sprites agreed. With their permission, Kasumi took a bauble from her dress and used it to create a veil of fog. Molly understood what she was planning to do and prodded her brother to make illusory shadows in the fog, then used her own spells to create reflections in the mist. The spectacle surprised Saizo, Flowena, Ulrich, and Salliandra. Suzune was nonplussed and Phillaim was outright shown at the quality of the illusions in the fog. Saizo and Suzune let Kasumi play with the sprites. The orange-haired girl then continued helping Molly and her brother by mixing their illusions with her mists. Ulrich and Flowena then took Salliandra to other parts of the Black Box to look at other aspects of their preparations. ??? Emily, Anemone, Lily, Tim, Rose, Hydrangea, Elizabeth, Sarah, Sid, and Cassie followed the Rock Moray through the decorated canyons of the Silvervale Crags. They fought their way through the sun-bleached skeletons and several giant scorpions as they followed the eel through the dungeons. The eel soon stops and circles a gigantic tree as Stella receded over the horizon. The tree leaves were not green with the vernal tones, nor did they brown with the autumntide. They were instead gleaming silver. Like moonlight made manifest. Anemone felt at ease for the first time since she entered the Crags. The Rock Moray circled the party, aware of why they were here. Though it is the first thing Emily and her friends saw upon arrival, it is in truth the third Sentinel, bearer of the will of the Silvervale Crags, tasked by the dungeon itself to test their worth for the argent scales it held, the powder it shed and above all, the enchanted silver of the tree. Emily senses that deep within the canopy of the silver tree behind the arena was the Dugneon¡¯s core. But she was not here for that. She had a friend to help. She took out her twin blades and gazed at the Rock Moray. Elizabeth fluttered around the eel, trying to find its weaknesses while Sarah engaged with the last Sentinel. Sid used her new instrument and skills as Jonguler to enfeeble the eel. It was an easy task for her, having faced it so many times. She knew the right notes to play. The eel circled around the party and the open arena was suddenly washed in fragrant mists. Anemone¡¯s nose was assaulted by the potpourri of aromas. She saw the Rock Moray vanish into the ground. ¡°What do we do?¡± Lily said with worry. ¡°We can¡¯t see it.¡± Cassie drew the Hydrus. A card that was unable to help in their current fight and held on to it for now. ¡°The [Rock Moray] prefers to dig into the ground,¡± Elizabeth said. Anemone tried to control herself, but among the fragrances were those of grilled meat. Her tongue salivated as hunger overcame her. She rushed around the arena, trying to dig for the source despite herself. For her impulsive act, she, and the party were punished by the sight of silver skeletal piles unearthing and assembling themselves into undead monsters. Tim, unamused, performed a charging step toward the one facing anemone and used palm strikes on the joints to disassemble them. Anemone followed her nose to another scene and tried digging again. While her mind futilely tried to get her body to cease. Another skeleton emerged and Lily and Hydrangea combined their magic to create a refractive barrier that mitigated the skeletal mage¡¯s attacks. Anemone still not in control of her body, dug at a third sight and unearthed two Mages, Emily made quick work of both before they could harm the lycanthrope. The moray emerged from the ground, creating shockwaves as it dived again. A dull silver powder erupted from the monster¡¯s attacks. ¡°Be careful!¡± Cassie said. ¡°That powder is dangerous!¡± Hydrangea inhaled some of it and began feeling woozy. Her focus waned as she tried to freeze the reinforcements. Elizabeth and Tim blew much of the powder away from everyone, but it found their way into their lungs and began tiring them out. The poisonous powder also ended up in Anemone¡¯s lungs as a result of her digging. Only Emily, whose avatara body is unaffected, and the two Dormarches, whose face masks protected them, were unaffected by the powder. Anemone tried to keep herself away as the toxic silver sapped her energy and the moonlight continued to cause her beasteal instincts to to go wild. Before she knew it she collapsed on the ground, her mind drifted into unconsciousness. ??? Anemone soon found herself in a place that wasn¡¯t the Silvervale Crags. It instead was reminiscent of the skyscrapers of Noir. Red blotches stained every wall around her. In the distance, she could see a giant wolf, bound by silver chains. The wolf howled at the moon as if calling for her. Anemone felt a dreadful familiarity coming from it. The lupine beast set its sights on her and snarled. Anemone understood the creature¡¯s cries, but she dared not answer its plea. She knew nothing of why her parents died. Or who they were, she could not answer the wolf even if she wanted. The giant animal was angered by the response. It tried to lunge at her, but the fetter son it forbade it. Liquid obsidian oozed from the legs where the chains were attached and the savage beast cried out in pain. As if it was bleeding. Anemone dared not approach the beast and the strange city was soon clouded in fog. ??? Anemone woke back up, still tired. She saw that Cassie had tended to her. She growled at the Dormarch, as she helped her up. The young girl looked around and saw most of her friends were knocked out by the poisonous silver. She saw Lily and Hydrangea unconscious on the ground while Sarah, with her mouth covered as much as possible, tried to knock the scales off the Rock Moray. Sid had used her Bardsong to dislodge several of the scales while Sarah and Emily attacked it. While Rose dealt with the skeletal reinforcements. Anemone rubbed her eyes as Rose slithered towards her. ¡°Glad to see you¡¯re awake Mona,¡± she said in a surprisingly cheerful tone, given the circumstances. Anemone and Case can see the powder had gotten onto the Lamia. The Rock Moray was weakened, but it was not taken out yet. Anemone tried to focus, to silence her instincts as she took her bow at the beast. A thought had come to her that caused her to kick herself for not realizing it sooner. ¡°Rose, can you help me out here?¡± she said. The Lamia looked into her eyes and realized what her request was. ¡°Anemone, I can¡¯t¡­ do you know how dangerous that¡ª¡± ¡°Please!¡± Anemone interrupted, nearly growling. She clutched her head in agony as she felt her id trying to override her again. Rose looked at their allies and back at Anemone. ¡°Okay,¡± she said. ¡°Here goes.¡± Cassie didn¡¯t understand what was happening. Rose told the Dormarch to stay back as she took her wand and rapier out and used them to channel lightning. She tried to be as careful as she could as she heeded Anemone¡¯s silent request and zapped her with her spells. Anemone, in turn, took her darkness-enhanced bow and used it to draw the thunder to her. She let out a yelp as electricity coursed through her veins, but she had a plan. The lightning kept her lucid, but it did more than that, combined with darkness, it allowed her to channel mild psionic power. The energy of her and Rose¡¯s magic is channeled into an arrow that she immediately aimed at the Moray. The lightning and dark powered arrow pierced an exposed part oft he Rock Moray, and through that, Anemone found her opening, projecting her lupine id onto the Rock Moray¡¯s mind. The monster was overwhelmed by the same instincts she struggled to suppress throughout the whole day. These impulses and thoughts clashed with the consciousness of the eel¡¯s mind and caused it to flair around in distracted movements. Until to dive back into the ground and spread its near miasmic powder, Emily, Sarah, Cassie, Rose, and Anemone attacked the Sentinel with all they had, while Sid shredded her instrument to further distract and weaken the eel. The eel was soon vanquished. A brighter powder erupted from its body as its form vanquished. The powder covered the entire ground and counteracted the poison of its attacks. At the foot of the silver tree, a treasure chest dropped. Cassie cheerfully leaped toward it and opened it, reliving it of all its contents, inclining a gleaming set of armor and enchanted Argentum. Everyone took time to recover and gather their bearing. Anemone retained enough lucidity to assess that they had enough ore for the Moonstorm Argentum. ¡°We did it!¡± Cassie said. ¡°Wasn¡¯t that fun?¡± ¡°We beat the dungeon,¡± Elizabeth said, ¡°But we still have much work to do.¡± ¡°I know of a forge near here,¡± Sid said. ¡°Many of our pack set it up for our smiths.¡± ¡°How convenient,¡± Sarah said. ¡°Leave it to me.¡± Later, a short distance away from the tree, Sarah took the silver and placed it in the forge¡¯s furnace. There she, with guidance from Elizabeth, Sid, and Anemone, poured the livid silver into a crest-shaped mold. At the center of it was the Lunar Drops Heathcliff gave Emily. With the melted silver set. Rose used her lightning spells to electrify the mold. ¡°Alright,¡± she said. ¡°What¡¯s next?¡± The flower¡¯s petals were severed by the lightning and fell into the crest. The metal began to glow with a lavender light. Anemone saw the Moonstorm Argentum was readied and approached it. The typical ritual is for her forehead to be coated in it, but as a Magical Girl, she knew of more effective means. Black ooze emerges from her palm and covered the crest and silver before retracting back into her hand with it. Following the absorption of the silver, her clouded ming grew more lucid. The urges of her lupine instant had ceased. Cassie turned to the moon in the sky. Her tail wagged with anticipation. ¡°Allowstide is the day after tomorrow!¡± she said. She had an idea and left the party. ¡°Cassie?¡± Sid is shocked to see Cassie just leave them. ¡°W-wait!¡± the bard followed her friend. Emily meanwhile held someone from the treasure. A slab with a message from the Dungeon itself. Congratulating her and wishing the fall and winter are kind to her. A while passed and it was clear that the Dormarch pair wasn¡¯t returning. Emily and her group turned and noticed a path to the entrance had opened up, illuminated by light. They followed this illuminated path through the caverns and canyons until they returned to its maw and headed back to Rosenkreuz. ??? Meanwhile, Heathcliff and Clara were still at the guildhall. Pauline and Benoit looked over the various treats the two made. ¡°Thank you both for your help today,¡± the blue-hared elf said. ¡°Now the guild is well prepared for Allowstide!¡± Benoit said. ¡°Pleasure is all mine, cher,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°It certainly was¡­an experience,¡± Carla said. The alruane wondered if her baked goods were good enough for the guild. She also wondered about Orpheus Arion over at Noir. The knight and the Alraune left the guildhall to return to the Black Box. There they found a strange pair of Dormarches. ¡°So this is Rosenkreuz, huh?¡± The younger one said. Her two-toned hair and her friend¡¯s punkish attire were very distinctive. ¡°Dormarches?¡± Heathcliff said with a little surprise. ¡°You know of them?¡± Clara said. The knight nodded. ¡°They don¡¯t usually come across these parts.¡± The two dormarches, including a Bhargest, noticed the knight and Alraune. The Bhargest bard approached them. ¡°Welcome to Rosenkruz,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°Guild¡¯s right behind me if you¡¯re interested.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± the blond and blue-haired girl said as the pair walked past them. Shortly after Emily and her party arrived to pick up Heathcliff and Clara. ¡°Have you obtained the silver?¡± Clara asked. She learned from Heathcliff that Emily had ventured to a dungeon for it. Anemone nodded. ¡°Getting that silver is a real doozy,¡± Rose said. ¡°How was the baking,¡± Emily said to Heathcliff. ¡°Went really well!¡± Heathcliff said with pride. ¡°My cookies will put a real smile on the younger adventurers.¡± The group then saw Cassie and Sid leave the guild hall, their presence surprised Emily and Anemone. Cassie in turn recognized them from earlier and greeted them. ¡°Hey there!¡± Cassie said. ¡°Seems someone made some new friends at the cliffs,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°It¡¯s a long story,¡± Emily said. They learned that the Dormarches had decided to check out the town and its Allowstide festivals. Sid also explained that the guildhall is offering them a room to stay in for the week. With that Cassie asked if Emily wanted to give them a tour of the town tomorrow. Emily agreed and the Dormaches left the group again. The others headed back to their homes in the Black Box. By this time, Strelitizia and her group had also returned from Noir. After a long day and with Allowstide on the horizon, Emily and her friends took a well-earned rest. Chapter XLII: Allowstide The day of Allowstide has come at last. The Rosenkreuz Guild had assigned several parties to the Black Box. Heathcliff looked over one of the specialized obstacles set up for the occasion. The room was filled with cubs of various sizes and heights. The shortest of them was half as tall as the knight. ¡°Seems like the block puzzle is readied,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°I¡¯ve checked the ring target room,¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoed to Heathcliff. ¡°Minerva said it¡¯s ready as well.¡± ¡°Excellent, cher! And the poison?¡± ¡°They made sure that none of the toxins would leak into the rooms,¡± Emily said. ¡°Sarah said that she and Carla have also found blunted arms for use.¡± ¡°That will come in handy,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°Don¡¯t want the young ones to need stitches after all.¡± Although the guild aims to ensure adventurers in affiliated dungeons are at least somewhat safe without sacrificing challenge. For Allowstide they aim to make sure they are extra safe, for this tradition is used as a means of training the more inexperienced and green adventurers. ¡°What about the Sentinels?¡± Emily asked Heathcliff. Heathcliff realized that he had forgotten that the usual ones cannot be used today. The Tarantula Construct is too dangerous for the likes of the day¡¯s guests, the Coloraturas wanted to participate as guides, Carla had yet to trans the beasts to be careful around small opponents, and Tim? Tim didn¡¯t want to harm the children, even for training exercises. However, she had another concern besides¡­ ¡°I¡¯ll have to get back to you on that, Emily,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°You forgot about the temporary Sentinels didn¡¯t you?¡± Emily said. She should have expected this. After all, it¡¯s not like some of her preparations haven¡¯t slipped her mind. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Azalea said as she arrived in the room. ¡°There are some options we could use.¡± Her mischievous smile belied an interesting option as the clionid swam into the room. Behind her was the moth construct. Emily dreaded Azalea¡¯s suggestion as she looked at these cells, whose pollen was capable of reducing one¡¯s vision to squares. Atsuko followed the young clionid, donning a mask to avoid the pollen. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Emily said to Atsuko. ¡°You¡¯re doing an Allowstide thing?¡± Atsuko said. ¡°Yeah,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°We told you at breakfast, remember?¡± ¡°I remember,¡± Atsuko said with a cheeky grin. ¡°I have an idea for the other boss,¡± she said as she brandished a bow. Unlike her usual one, it was smaller, and the arrows were tipped with soft spheres. ¡°You want to be a Sentinel?¡± Heathcliff incredulously asked. ¡°Just this once,¡± Atsuko said. Heathcliff expressed uncertainty. Though the times when she had used her bow were few and few between, especially outside the microdungeons, what they had seen of her archery was marred with deadly accuracy. ¡°Maybe we should test the arrows first?¡± Emily said. Atsuko giddily lifted her ankles. ¡°Thanks!¡± Heathcliff sighed. ¡°We¡¯re gonna need someone to take those shots.¡± He then turned his gaze at Azalea. The mermaid¡¯s realized what Heathcliff had in mind. She knew that the visitors would be around her age and her height. And her proximity means that she is the most available one at the moment. ¡°Um, I have to go¡­¡± she floated away. ¡°Got to, um reel in some treats! Yeah, that¡¯s it! That¡¯s all folks!¡± she swam away before the suggestion to ensure her as Target practice for Atsuko¡¯s archer could be made. ¡°What¡¯s her problem?¡± Atsuko said. ??? A few minutes later, Strelitizia offered to test the safety of the arrows Atsuko planned on using. She was the toughest of the Coloraturas. ¡°Alright, Miss Atsuko,¡± the minotauride said. ¡°Bring it on!¡± She took a defensive stance. Atsuko took her safety bow and arrows and began to aim one. Azalea and Anemone watched the nekomata begin to aim. Azalea was relieved that she didn¡¯t have to put up with the cat-eared archer¡¯s whim. Saizo was also watching with a mix of concern and exasperation. Atsuko nocked an arrow. The ball collided with Streltizia¡¯s gauntlet and bounced off. Yet the impact caused the horned girl¡¯s arm to recoil a little bit. ¡°That seems¡­safe enough,¡± Heathcliff hesitantly said. Atsuko fired another arrow, and Streltizia blocked it with her labrys. The teal-ringleted girl smirked before firing another volley of arrows. Heathcliff turned to the shinobi with the prosthetic. ¡°Do you know why Atsuko wanted to be a Sentinel for today?¡± Saizo sighed. ¡°Forgive me, my lady had an intense interest in learning about foreign cultures, even before she left Yamatai and Yae Shoto. This is the first time we were able to linger long enough to experience this tradition.¡± ¡°How do you guys train rookie adventurers?¡± Anemone asked. ¡°I can¡¯t speak for the other kingdoms of Yae, but Yamatai used academia to a higher extent than here for training the young in adventuring. They practice swordsmanship, archery, and riding from a young age. Upon completing these lessons they would then be scouted by warriors for tutelage as they become squires.¡± ¡°Minus the schooling bit,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°That seems similar to how ol¡¯ Charlie does things.¡± ¡°Though, that doesn''t preclude all squires being uneducated or untrained, as your own can attest,¡± Saizo said. Heathcliff chortled. ¡°Even that was due to unusual circumstances. Astra only knows how Tim¡¯s life could''ve gone if he stayed at Jiang-hu, or if his school wasn¡¯t razed to the ground.¡± Strelitzia blocked and deflected Atsuko¡¯s arrows. Before she knew it, the archer ran out. She cheerfully looked at the spectators. ¡°How did I do?¡± she said with a wink. ¡°Excellent, milady,¡± Saizo said. ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°Akko. You might,¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoed to Atsuko with a bit of trepidation and hesitancy. ¡°Uh¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m gonna have to talk it over with Chiron,¡± Heathcliff said. Azalea swam to Streltizia. She noticed the tired orange-haired girl had no kinks in her armor. ¡°You okay, Streltizia?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Streltizia said. ¡°Didn¡¯t hurt me one bit.¡± Emily suddenly has an idea. ¡°Maybe I can fight them, as a boss?¡± Heathcliff mused on the idea. ¡°That might work.¡± He knows Emily is capable of holding back when needed, though she will still need more appropriate weapons for the fight. Heathcliff left to contact Chiron about the ideas. ??? Later, Heathcliff and Emily floated the idea with Chiron in the entrance hall of the Dungeon. The mirages and Allowstide decoration had changed the atmosphere, with illusory bats, webs, and fake trees around the room. The priest mused over the idea. ¡°There is a certain risk to having a Dungeon Core avatara also be a Sentinel,¡± the centaur said. ¡°Yet, given how inexperienced the young ones are, that might be of no concern.¡± ¡°As for Akko?¡± Emily asked. ¡°From what you told me of her sill, there is some cause for concern,¡± Chiron said. ¡°But it¡¯s ultimately your choice, Emily. If it matters, Pauline had told me that several of the young ones ended up with sturdier than usual armor lately.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Emily said. The priest recounted how some parents had feared for their children¡¯s safety. He then gestured to a group in particular. The elf among them wore a helmet, pauldrons, and kneepads, all made of metal. He came off as a knight¡¯s squire. ¡°That doesn''t seem that unusual?¡± Emily said. ¡°And if I told you he was supposed to be a mage?¡± Chiron asked. Emily began to realize what he meant. She turned her attention to a young Antarian girl. Her pincer arms and tail were more heavily armored. It looked like she struggled to even walk. Her helmet was adorned with a bow. ¡°Seem like they had gone overboard,¡± Heathcliff muttered. The third of this group was a little clionid merman. The only one of the trio clad in leather. And for good reason, as his bow denoted him an archer. His leather attire allowed for flexibility. The archer laughed at his armored friend¡¯s cumbersome movements. The sight of how¡­well protected these children were had relived Emily of her concerns about Atsuko, but in their place were questions if the puzzles they currently had were suited to the lack of mobility. Elizabeth fluttered to them. ¡°We made the last of the preparations. All that is left is assigning the temporary [Sentinels]. I heard Atsuko volunteered for one of them.¡± Emily nodded and explained that she also wanted the other slot. ¡°Guess it¡¯s settled, cher,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°Good luck.¡± The three left Chiron to look over the puzzles before the runs could begin. More parties of fresh and budding adventures entered the Black Box. ??? Meanwhile, The Coloraturas were among the various young adventurers in the Black Box. All of whom were dressed for their role as guides for groups that lacked them. And all of whom were dressed for the occasion. Anemone¡¯s costume was the least change, retaining her usual pointed hat, and donning a black robe with different purple accents. Rose meanwhile wore a regal but tattered black cape with pink lining. Her fangs were sharpened for the occasion. ¡°You two look like you¡¯re out for blood,¡± Raine said while wearing a leather chestplate. Her red wings were covered only by the feathers on them as per usual. ¡°Emily said we can get extra treats for dressing up!¡± Rose said with a cheerful smile. While they were talking Rose felt a shiver down her spine as someone touched her hand. She turned around and saw someone dressed in a white dress. She yelped as she felt the clammy hand touch her before she saw the face of the white-clad girl. ¡°Not funny, Hydra!¡± Rose said with puffed cheeks. Azalea was near the cyan-bobbed girl, dressed like a fisherman. ¡°How¡¯s my costume? I had to reel in waterproof cloth for the hat.¡± ¡°There¡¯s irony, and then there¡¯s this,¡± Streltiiza said as she and Colver walked in. The minotauride wore a bloodstained dress that made her look like a doll. Clover¡¯s costume instead evoked the image of an armored princess. Anemone is shocked to see the resemblance to a specific princess. ¡°You¡¯re going as the heroine of Britomaris?¡± ¡°Yep!¡± Clover said. ¡°Lily and Pearl had helped me out with that!¡± Strelitzia looked at her costume with some discomfort. ¡°Was the bloodstain necessary?¡± she asked. She didn¡¯t mind the lace in comparison. Rose saw Lily approach them while dressed in a stetson hat, and denim attire, including a vest jacket and four-legged short jeans. ¡°Hello there, partners!¡± she said in imitation of a midwestern drawl. ¡°That¡¯s certainly not going to ruffle some feathers,¡± Raine said. Azalea giggled at the pun. Clover preened her wings to make sure they weren¡¯t in the way of her costume. ¡°Alight, gang,¡± Rose said. ¡°Nina and Carla are going with their mothers, and Emily had tasked us to help with the parties. Are you ready?¡± As she said this she took out a list of groups handed to her by Chiron. The other girls cheered with affirmation. The eight witches set off to the first group on the list. ??? Also among the participants of the Allowstide traditions is Nina. The spiderling had recently found a party with several other kids. The silver-hired Arachne easily showed off the gear she obtained from Revotos¡¯ Valley and modified by Sarah. One of them, an elven kid, was dressed like a pirate captain. Complete with a tricorne hat, an eyepatch, and a petticoat-looking suit. ¡°So you¡¯re the one we¡¯re a group with?¡± He carried a blunted cutlass sword. ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Nina said excitedly. A young girl stood next to the pirate-looking kid. ¡°Name¡¯s Aly,¡± she said. ¡°Captian pointy-ears here is Evan.¡± ¡°Captain Evan, to you!¡± Evan said. ¡°Scourge of the Seven Seas. Plunderer of the Flood. Despoiler of the land of Y¡¯s!¡± Kasumi, Hoshikage, and Salliandra looked at the elf as he boasted about his supposed feats. ¡°I thought the eyepatch was just part of the costume,¡± the braided kunoichi started. ¡°Lighten up, Kasumi,¡± Hoshikage said. ¡°It¡¯s the perfect time for imagination to run free. Besides weren¡¯t you like this when you were his age?¡± The sprite with the two ninjas wondered how Kasumi acted half a decade ago. Her mind was bemused at the possibilities. Meanwhile, Nina looked at Aly¡¯s attire. Rather than wearing a costume, she instead donned heavy, nearly stifling gunmetal grey armor. She held a shield and a sword with her. ¡°Has anyone seen Sally and Gale?¡± ¡°Coming!¡± A meek boy said. He approached the group, carrying a bow with multiple strings. His tattered cloak and green tunic evoked a legendary Albanian figure. Beside him was a mermaid guppy. A clionid like Azalea. She was dressed in a white long coat, with a stethoscope attached to her ears. The headpiece was wet from its presence in the orb of water around her face. Nina looked over her comrades for the night. ¡°If I lead this team to victory, Emily¡¯ll have to take me with them more!¡± she thought to herself. Minerva talked with the parents and guardians of the other children. She assured them that she would take care of them as she guided them through the Black Box. Nina looked at her with impatience. ¡°So, what are you supposed to be?¡± Evan said. ¡°Huh?¡± Nina said. ¡°That is armor,¡± Aly said, almost jealous of Nina¡¯s ability to move unencumbered by it. ¡°So, that¡¯s not a costume?¡± Gale said. He strummed his bow with an awareness that some adventures eschew the costumes for reasons of practicality at this time. Sally swam around Nina and noticed the blades on each of her legs. ¡°Isn¡¯t that a bit too¡­much?¡± A while later, Minerva approached the group. ¡°Are you ready, children?¡± she asked. Her daughter was naturally the most eager to respond. So much so that she nearly ran off ahead before Minerva stopped her. The Archane mother leads the party into the Black Box. ??? As the children and young greenhorns embark on the Black Box for Allowstide, Carla observed the festivities. She saw Charlotte with the Arion twins, mingling with the visitors. Among the adventurers came a familiar bard. A young man who is currently allied with the Ebony Guards of Noir. He held a lyre that transformed into a bow. He saw his sisters play with their friends as he approached the Alraune. Like her, he was a former resident of Hamlin. Orpheus approached Carla with an expression that did little to hide his frustrations. It has been more than a year since the Piper Pruflas had whisked the children away from their village. A year since Emily had accidentally absorbed their mana and made them a part of her. Carla, Emily, Charlotte, and even Orpheus had since endeavored to learn more about how to free them. Emily figured that she needed more mana to be capable of releasing them. The bard¡¯s black hair was ruffled. He clearly had worked day in and day out at Noir¡¯s guild. Carla shied away from him. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. The two watched the children frolic in costumes, robes, and armor. Among the children from Hamlin, only Euryale and Shteno were in attendance. Despite protests from the Cells, Emily and Clara refused to get them involved and sent them to rest for the night. Orpheus looked at the Alraune mother. Framed for a murder, framed for a kidnapping. He had spent many of the past few months looking for evidence between his missions for the guild. Proof that Clara didn¡¯t murder her husband Samuel. Yet every lead led to dead ends and red herrings. The awkward silence was between them, drowned out by the chatter of excitable children, eager budding adventurers, and the adults tasked with their supervision and safety. Eventually, Carla spoke up. ¡°How is Hamlin?¡± the alraune asked. ¡°They still think you dead,¡± Orpheus Arion answered. ¡°This year they are dedicating Allowstide to the kids.¡± Carla had committed an act that ensured the village had closure. The village was led to believe that she had burnt to ask, unaware that the Black Box had made her a Sentinel, or of its existence. As far as they were concerned. Emily and her friends were just travelers. ¡°Geraldine wanted me to give you her greetings,¡± Orpheus said as he took a drink. The two gradually talked about their progress and their lack thereof. The only thing of importance Carla had discovered was that the forms of the children-turned Cells reserved those of the Nezumi demi-humans, with their rodent-like ears and tails. Orpheus noted the poeticness of it all with a bitter lament. The children were the demon¡¯s prey. The Black Box an effective mouse trap. To this day, neither blamed Emily. Carla knew that it was not her fault and both knew that to try to destroy her in misplaced revengance would harm the children. Carla¡¯s trick was to protect Emily as well as the children, for she feared that the rest of the village, overwhelmed by grief and desperation, would attack the Black Box in futile hopes that destroying the Dungeon would also release the children. ¡°Any familiar faces in Rosenkreuz?¡± Orpheus said. ¡°Just yours,¡± Carla said with a sigh. Both were at a loss for what to do. Were their efforts doomed from the start? They spent the next few hours asking each other about how to restore the children to normal. ??? Nina and her party arrived at the first of three chambers. The group of five young adventurers and one mother saw three in front of them several treasure chests. Each of them silver with glowing blue patterns. ¡°Some possess treats,¡± Minerva said. ¡°Others tricks. It is your goal to find out which is which.¡± The puzzle is made to train adventures for encountering and dealing with mimics, creatures that disguise themselves as treasure chests. Nina eagerly ran toward the one right in front of her and rubbed her hands before opening it. A swarm of illusionary bats few from the coffer and scattered across the room. The phantoms frightened the spiderling as they circled around her before she realized they were part of the Sprite¡¯s illusions. She looked at the empty coffer with disappointment. Evan laughed at Nina¡¯s failure before Sally glared at her. The doctor-dressed clionid swam to another coffer and found a plate of two webcakes inside. She placed the wrapped treats in a large satchel that was provided by the guild. Even smirked as he approached a chest behind Nina¡¯s, certain that there was treasure for the pirate-clad elf to plunder. Sure enough, there were three bags of individually wrapped candies inside. The captain wannabe carefully took a bag out, before all three vanished and were replaced by the sudden emergence of a hand. Even stumbled backwards and fell down as he saw the hand grab him. He then drew his cutlass and slashed it to learn that it was another illusion. Twenty-one chests remained. Nina and Evan tried to open another, but they could not pry the coffer open. Minerva warned the two that they could only open one chest per room. Gale and Aly have yet to open their chests. The young knightess and the bard looked and examined each coffer carefully. To Evan¡¯s annoyance. ¡°Hurry up!¡± the elf said. ¡°We only have two hours!¡± ¡°Patience,¡± Aly said. ¡°Just because you whiffed doesn''t mean we have to.¡± The armored girl looked back towards the chest in front of her, comparing it to the other chests for signs of differences. The bard meanwhile took a look at the chests already opened by Nina and Even for similar reasons. At the bottom of those two chests, their patterns were missing their blue glow. Gale then turned to the chest Sally opened and saw that had a blue pattern instead of a merely embossed one. Aly found a similar observation as she stomped around the chests. Her sabatons making normal movement more difficult. She saw a chest with a blue pattern onto it and found five bags of candies. Gale meanwhile used what he had learned and found a chest with an equal amount of webcakes in its contents. After the bard opened his chest, the coffins vanished, and a door at the other end of the room opened. Evan and Nina were not amused at the tricks at their expense. Sally approached them. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, there are still some more rooms.¡± Evan humphed. ¡°Let¡¯s get going,¡± he said with an arrogant tone. Nina rolled her eyes. As the group exited the room, Minerva began to question how well she taught Nina to behave around others her age. ??? The next room was made to test a different skill. Minerva explained that it was a maze with patrolling Cells around. Treasures with only treats are scattered around, but so are the cells. If they sighted any of them, the dungeon would warp them to the start of the labyrinth. Armed with this knowledge, The children ventured into the labyrinth. Though Evan had a rough start as he made a wrong turn into the gaze of a cell after starting. Nina chortled a bit at his failure as she made a turn. She saw a chest and rushed for it, but in her haste, she too was caught by one of the machines patrolling the Black Box. The spiderling was warped back by Emily. Aly tried to survey the area, but as soon as she saw a patroller approaching her location, she tried to run. The encumbering armor prevented her from escaping it as it turned in her direction and she ended up back at the start. Gale had a plan and used it to secure himself two chests worth of treats. He used his bardsong to trick the cells into walking away from nearby chests and used his agility to avoid his gaze. Sally meanwhile exploited a loophole. The Cells have to see the children, but if they were attacked from behind¡­ The clionid girl swam around and kicked them with her translucent tail, knocking them off balance. Evan and Nina tried again. They both saw two chests side by side. They were guarded by two Cells standing still. From behind a corner, the elf and Arachne children conceived their own plots. Nina crawled up the walls and behind the sentinels. From her high point, she then tried to use a dragline to ensnare one of the chests and lift it. Evan meanwhile attempted to sneak behind them, but his plan was foiled when they started to turn in his direction. The elf uttered a mild curse under his breath and rushed back to the corner before they could see him. Nina is grateful that the pirate-dressed elfin lad served as an unintentional decoy as she tried to discreetly life the chest. Her webbing however snapped and gravity sent it crashing to the ground. The thud attracted one of the Cells and it looked back, but Nina impulsively skittered higher on the wall and far away from the line of sight. The cell returned to its post while the other one followed the sound of Evan¡¯s footsteps. ¡°Drat!¡± Nina said. The little arachne tried again, this time trying to just drag the chest. Evan managed to avoid the cell by hiding in another path and letting it walk past. Retracing his steps to the path with the two chests, she saw Nina trying to move one from high on the walls. The elf considered distracting the lone Cell and moving it away, but then she saw how Nina was struggling to move the chest and realized that it would take too long. He then considered other options until he heard footfalls behind him. With a fearful expression, he turned to find the dreaded source. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that it was Aly. The armored girl curiously peeked around the corner and saw Nina using her web to move a chest a few inches. Even then noticed her gauntlets and had an idea. Before Aly knew it, she saw the elf dressed like a pirate, making loud noises. The Cell turned to the source of the Noise, He gestured to Aly to stay back as he threw his cutlass. The clang was heard by the mechanical being and it slowly approached the sword, giving even enough time to get behind it and topple it. He sat on the head of the machine and Aly used the moment to walk towards the two chests. She pushed the other one with her gauntlets. With the second Cell still away from the chest and the first one incapacitated by Evan for now. The girls have managed to get the chests away from their place and to a point where they can open them safely. A satisfied and conceited Evan stands up to try to meet up with Nina and Aly and claim his share¡­but the Cell immediately rotated its head and laid its eyes on Evan, sending the boy back to the start of the maze. For their part, Aly and Nina obtained twelve bags from the two chests. A while later, the five kids saw the walls receded into the ceiling, The Cells and remaining chests vanished as a new path opened up. Minerva regrouped the children as they walked towards the next room. Evan fumed as he failed to get treats not once, but twice. Nina approached the boy and handed him two of the bags. ¡°I don¡¯t need your pity!¡± He said as he took the bags. Sarah, Aly, and Gale rolled their eyes at the faux-pirate¡¯s hypocritical gesture. ??? Atsuko had recently finished an encounter as a Sentinel. The Coloraturas and their charges managed to clear her trial. The nekomata congratulated them and directed the large group of children to a treasure chest as she picked up the ball-tipped arrows. As the children leave with a large amount of treats and the teal-haired girl gathered her arrows, she saw Saizo approach her. ¡°Did you give them any trouble milady?¡± the retainer asked. The young girl didn¡¯t turn to the shinobi. ¡°Not at all,¡± her teal ringlets were a bit frizzled by the constant moment. She was more used to sniping at them from a single spot, but her challenge entailed disarming her and therefore the need to move quickly. She soon picked up the last arrow. ¡°Why, was anyone harmed recently?¡± Saizo shook his head. The cat-eared teenager made a confident smirk. ¡°See?¡± ¡°Emily wanted me to tell you that the next group is on their way,¡± the ninja said. ¡°Already?¡± Her smirk faded into a look of slight fatigue. She had already tested a dozen groups of young and inexperienced adventurers by far. Saizo affirmed it to his liege. ¡°Get ready,¡± he said before leaving. The young girl sighed. ??? A few minutes later, Nina and her party had arrived for the third trial. There they found Atsuko. Her tiredness was hidden by a cheery smile. ¡°Welcome to your third trial!¡± she said with a slight yawn. ¡°Here we test your combat skills!¡± she she said as she directed the children¡¯s attention to their bow. Minerva explained to the group that the goal was to try to disarm Atsuko while avoiding her projectiles. Atsuko adds that being hit by three arrows will take them out. Sally asked why. Gale explained that to adventure means to encounter dangerous scenarios and foes. They must be prepared to fight. Minerva asked if the group was ready to face this trial. Evan and Nina expressed their readiness. Aly had her doubts, given the disadvantage that her heavy armor confers on her, but eventually agreed. Gale noticed Sally had a timid look on her. ¡°It¡¯ll be fine,¡± The hooded boy said before saying he was ready. Sally swallowed some water from the orb around her head and nodded. ¡°Glad to hear it,¡± Atsuko said. She then took her bow and similarly launched a volley of arrows. Nina, Gale, and Sally barely dodged them. Aly rolled to the side and let gravity her her encumbered body avoid them and Evan was hit by one of the arrows. The pirate-dressed elf was annoyed as the blunted projectile bounced off him. He took his cutlass and tried to attack Atsuko, but the nekomata nimbly dodged his slashes and fired another arrow at him at point-blank range. Nina launched a web at her arm and tugged at it to throw off her aim. Sally swam around the arena trying to find a way to remove Atsuko¡¯s heavy bow from her hands. Atsuko noticed the doctor-dressed clionid and turned her aim towards her. Sally dodged the projectiles by swimming through the air. While Atusko was distracted by Evan and Sally, Nina and Aly moved behind her. Nina attempted to use her webs to claim the bow, but all that did that lock her in a tub of war between herself and the nekomata archer. And open her up to two shots in the process. The spiderling¡¯s web was broken by those two arrows as they bounced off her body and pushed her back a foot. Atsuko then saw Evan charging toward her with his sword and fired several arrows. Even tried to parry them, but one of them still hit the elven lad. Atsuko tried to fire more third arrows to take him out of the fight, but Aly charged in and intercepted the volley. The armored girl told Evan to run as she took arrow after arrow after arrow. With three hits taken, her body became encased in a transparent cage and moved to the entrance, unable to help her friends. Sally and Gale were shocked to see Aly taken from the fight and the clionid girl took an arrow as a result of her distraction. Atsuko smirked as she wore down her opponents one by one. Gale used his agility to evade the projectiles while Nina climbed the walls, trying to take the bow from above. Unfortunately for the young Arachne, Atsuko spotted her and aimed at the young spiderling. Minerva watched her daughter avoid the arrows with a mix of concern and a little pride. Sally looked at the nekomata. ¡°What do we do?¡± she thought. She observed her as she fired another arrow at Nina, and reached out for her quiver, and found that there were no arrows left. Sally saw the blunted arrows strewn about the arena and had an idea. ¡°Nina! Evan! Gale! the arrows,¡± she yelled. Evan looked at the now arrowless boss and realized that she couldn¡¯t attack without them. The four kids ran across the arena trying to pick up the arrows before Atsuko could. Each projectile they claim is an arrow denied to the boss. But there were fifty arrows scattered on the floor, and Atsuko already reclaimed a few of them. From her box, Aly watched her partners try to deny the nekomata her arrows. The confines of her temporary cage prevented her voice from reaching them. She watched Atsuko fire an arrow at Evan barely missed him. She observed Gale being hit by an arrow as he carelessly ignored Atsuko, caught up in trying to steal the discarded projectiles. She saw Nina using her draglines to maneuver around the arena and take the arrows from range. Evan already taken two arrows so far, saw Nina plummet towards the ground. Atsuko used one of her recovered arrows to attack the dragline Nina was dangling from and sent her swinging to the wall before the line broke. Nina struggled to stand up at Atsuko aimed at her. He saw Sally and Gale rush to intercept her, but he remembered that Aly saving him that way took her out of the fight. He developed an idea and rushed toward Atsuko. As Atsuko tried to fire her arrow at the fallen Arachne. The pirate-dressed boy tackled her and threw off her arm enough for the arrows to miss. Nina stood on her eight legs again and saw that Evan had knocked Atsuko back. The nekomata was surprised the elf had done that, impressed even, but with a calm mind she fired the only arrow in her quiver at Evan before he could respond. The pirate-clad boy was now trapped in a case identical to Aly¡¯s, transparent and silent. There he will remain until either Atsuko or the remaining three children win this fight. The teal-ringletted girl, with an empty quiver again, tried to reclaim her arrows. Even had already taken ten before he was taken out. Nina thirteen, Sally three, and Gale two. There were twenty-two left strewn about. Sally swam around and recovered an arrow on the way as she tried to distract Atsuko. Gale gathered ten around the arena and Nina took three more. Atsuko eventually recovered two and immediately used them to take Sally out before taking them back and Sally was encased and transported to the arena. With only six left. Gale realized Nina was, between the two of them, the one more capable of getting the arrows without reprisal and instead focused on distracting and intercepting Atsuko. He dodged the few arrows the nekomata archer had fired and deprived her of one of her two arrows, but as fast as he was, Atsuko was faster and eventually recovered her remaining arrows and used them to fire a third shot at Gale. The green-cloaked boy was transported to where Evan, Sally, and Aly were. Atsuko now only had one target left, but before she could pick up her arrow, a web had suddenly dragged it away. Atsuko looked at a tired Nina, carrying the remainder of the fifty arrows. While Atsuko¡¯s own quiver was left empty. Nina breathed heavily, having worked at gathering the projectiles. Atsuko was impressed by the spiderling¡¯s progress. ¡°Not bad, Nina.¡± The battle was over, though Atsuko retrained her grip on her bow, the lack of arrows meant she was effectively disarmed, and Emily took notice. The other foul were released from their temporary cage and a chest materialized next to Atsuko. ¡°Have a happy Allowstide,¡± Atsuko said with shorted breath. Five webcakes and fifteen bags of treats were inside the coffer. Nina looked at Minerva with a triumphant smile, before her mother reminded her that there were still two more rooms left. The group left Atsuko behind as she graciously said, ¡°May you be blessed in the starlight.¡± ??? Along the way to the fourth Allowstide trial. Minerva and her daughter Nina were asked several questions from the other children. Gale learned that Minerva was one of the Sentinels of the Dungeon they were within and asked how that happened. Sally and Aly asked Nina about her desire to become an adventurer. Evan didn¡¯t have any questions and instead expressed his impatience. ¡°Can we move faster?¡± the elf arrogantly said. Nina understood his feelings, but there was something about that tone that annoyed her. ¡°What is your problem?¡± the young Arachne said. The moody lad turns his back and refuses to respond. Gale let out a sigh. ¡°Is this about your brother again,¡± Sally said. ¡°Brother?¡± Nina curiously asked. ¡°Like it even matters,¡± Evan said. ¡°We¡¯re not going to see each other after tonight.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Nina said. Aly explained that the quartet that paired up with Nina were staying in Eastshire for the month, they had traveled to the Black Box for Allowstide before their families returned to their homes in Alamo. Nina realized that meant that they would part after this run. Minerva saw sadness in her daughter¡¯s eyes, for it was the first time she knew that sometimes adventuring would entail parting from those they just met. A lesson that had recurred since they and other Arachne from Websdale moved to the Black Box. Neither she nor Nina were Ctenidae, they were not restless staying in one place for long. Minerva knew Nina¡¯s reasons were because she wanted to be seen as a hero, to help others in need. The group soon entered the fourth trial, it was a simple test of their minds. Find the shapes that fit in specific holes and they will succeed. It was a test that ended with ease, a brief respite from their prior fight with Atsuko. They only had one trial left. And Nina began to dread what would come afterward. ??? Nina and her party soon arrive at the final trial of the Black Box¡¯s Allowstide festival. The spiderling looked around the arena and saw nothing. ¡°That is¡­strange,¡± Sally said. ¡°There¡¯s no one there!¡± Evan said. Minerva knew that Emily, the core of the Black Box herself, was the final trail this time. The fight aimed to test how well the young and new adventurers would fare against a less easily disarmable opponent. Nina had some experience fighting alongside Emily, but not against her. The four kids with her have not even encountered her beyond setting foot in her dungeon body. ¡°Sorry to keep you guys waiting.¡± A voice echoed out to everyone¡ªeven the guests. Gale took notice of the voice and readied his instrument. A certain purple-haired avatara materialized in the center of the room, carrying foam swords. Emily greeted her guests, before telling them she would be their last obstacle. A large chest of treats materialized behind her. Nina is shocked to learn that she would be fighting Emily, even if she would be holding back. Evan brandished his cutlass. ¡°Bring it on!¡± he rushed towards Emily, who parried his cutlass with her mock weapons. The elf followed up with another slash and partly sliced through Emily¡¯s leg. A silvery substance was seen within the avatara body before rapidly healing. Emily simply made a gentle smile before slashing at Evan¡¯s sword. The two engage in swordplay but Emily¡¯s foam sword disarmed Evan¡¯s cutlass. Emily¡¯s goal here is to tire them out, not kill them. They¡¯re children after all and this is supposed to prepare them for adventures later in life. Fortunately for her, after four other trials, the pirate-clad elf had little energy to spare. He defiantly tried to fight Emily before he collapsed in front of her. Gale could only place his palm on his face. The green-cloaked lad simply signaled to Aly and Sally and tried to fight her three-on-one. Nina meanwhile skittered around, trying to find her purple-haired friend¡¯s weakness. The foam swords were designed to be soft to the point of harmlessness, but also invulnerable as a result of enchantments. With those Emily can avoid harming her opponents as they try to defeat her and claim their prize. Minerva meanwhile is unwilling to intervene but does carry the unconscious Evan away. Sally and Gale used Bardsong in an attempt to immobilize her. Aly tried to keep Emily¡¯s attention on her and Nina surveyed the arena for something to use against Emily. The spiderling tried to immobilize her with webs, but Emily simply ignited them with fire magic. She then got between Sally and Gale, who tried to launch ranged attacks at each other. Emily got out of the way and those attacks instead hit each other. Gale¡¯s costume ended up drenched by Sally¡¯s water blast. The clionid dressed as a doctor apologized to Gale and Emily was able to strike her with her form swords. ¡°You need to be more aware of your surroundings,¡± Emily said calmly. ¡°Your opponents won¡¯t hold back just because it¡¯s Allowstide.¡± Emily was surprised to say those words. Nina tried to charge her, but Emily dodged her attempt at a headbutt. Aly also tried to rush her, but the armor slowed her too much. The next few minutes involved Emily giving the children tips as she ¡°fought¡± them. Throughout which, Sally was the next to collapse, and Evan eventually woke up. Annoyed that Minerva or Emily herself won¡¯t let him reengage Emily. He tried to attack, but a wall suddenly emerged to block his advance. Aly was the next to fall. Her stamina sapped by having to move around in heavy armor for more than an hour. Emily carried her body to Minerva. Gale and Nina were the only ones still standing, as fatigue bore down on them. The two kids panicked as they wondered how they could defeat her. Nina observed that Emily¡¯s avatara body also had signs of fatigue. ¡°Wait, this is just some endurance match?¡± the spiderling blurted out. Minerva sighed at her daughter¡¯s impulsive question. ¡°Nina, wasn¡¯t that obvious?¡± ¡°No!¡± the daughter answered with panted breath. This gave Gale an idea, he took out his lyre-bow and strummed it. He attempted to use his Bardsong skills to create a melody that would energize the two for a few more minutes. Emily attempted to distract him with swings from her mock weapons. Gale dodged them and Nina used her webs to snare Emily¡¯s arm and pull it back. Nina tried to keep Emily away from Gale as he continued strumming and singing. Emily tried to sing a counter-melody, but Nina launched a web at her mouth and sealed it for a few moments before Emily spat out the webbing. Ten minutes later, fatigue had set in for Gale, who could barely keep himself awake. Emily also struggled to stave off her tiredness as Nina blocked her foam swords and retaliated with webs and slices from her bladed legs. Eventually, Emily collapsed. ¡°Con¡­gradu..lations,¡± she said as her body dissipated into the floor. Gale and Nina had managed to prevail in this trial. The large chest suddenly unlocked and opened. Minerva led the party to their prize. ??? Nina¡¯s companions had stuffed as many of the treats as they could into their bags as they embarked back for the entrance. Aly grew shy and embarrassed about her performance in the last fight. Emily¡¯s voice and Minerva helped guide the children through the spirits¡¯ illusions on the way back. Nina had a bittersweet mood throughout. She had not expected to fight a friend, let alone the one who saved her from certain doom. And she also knew that her party would disband and that there was a chance she wouldn¡¯t see them again. By now many of the visitors had thinned, and dusk gave way to evening. The parents of Evan and his fellow three friends greeted them as they picked them up. ¡°Thanks for the party!¡± Sally said. ¡°I had lots of fun!¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome!¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoed to her clionid guest. Speaking for which Minerva saw the Coloraturas looked over their own hoard of treats. The other children with them had a look of disappointment in their relatively small stash. Azalea had taken to humor to soothe them as per usual and Raine had to restrain Rose following an argument over who gets the fudge brownies and webcakes. ¡°Seems they had worse luck,¡± Gale said. Nina chuckled. She then turned to Evan. The elf rolled his eyes. ¡°What do you want?¡± Nina refused to answer the arrogant lad. This only annoyed him more. ¡°Humph,¡± Evan said. After a while, he boasted, ¡°One day, I¡¯ll be back and you will witness me conquer this dungeon.¡± His father chucked at his boast. ¡°Seems someone left an impression on him,¡± the parent said. ¡°A shame we can¡¯t stay here longer. Alamos awaits!¡± "May you be blessed int he Starlight!" Aly said to Nina. The parents took the guest away from the Black Box, leaving only Nina, Minerva, and the Coloraturas. Rose bore a triumphant smile after her opponent¡¯s parent intervened and told them to share. Raine stepping in to remind her to take an equal split didn¡¯t deter her mood one bit. Strelitzia and Clover approached a now sullen Nina, while Lily, Anemone, and Hydrangea checked in on Charlotte. ¡°Did you have fun tonight?¡± Clover asked. Nina timidly nodded. She was no stranger to bidding farewell to friends, least of all after having to move after being kidnapped and having her house burnt to the ground. But most of them at least moved with her to the Black Box. This time was different and Streltizia noticed. ¡°Didn¡¯t he say he¡¯ll be back¡­eventually?¡± the minotaruide tried to console Nina¡¯s loneliness. ¡°Yeah,¡± Nina said. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll meet them again,¡± Clover said. Minerva approached her daughter. ¡°It must be understood that should you adventure, there will be times when you must part with those you met. Cherish the few moments you have together.¡± Nina felt a little better. Minerva took her daughter to the daycare area, where the brood¡¯s young sleep. She then turned to the Peryton fawn and minotaur ¡°It¡¯s getting late, Lydia will tuck you in tonight, girls.¡± before leaving. Clover understood that and left to let the others know. Strelitizia followed her antlered and green-winged friend. The Black Box¡¯s first Allowstide festival was a success. Tomorrow Emily and Heathcliff will meet with Pauline to talk about the results, and the Dungeon will resume normal operations. Chapter XLIIS: Behind Closed Doors The night in Noir was calm and tranquil. Gatsby Tower had an Allowstide Monster Mash on the 66th floor, but on the floor right above where costumed Elegere and Empyrean gathered, there was a secretive meeting. Vladimir Draconis, head of the Vorhees Gang and the Syndicate, stood in attendance. Representing the Tombraiders is their Pharaoh, Ra. Several other gang leaders are also in attendance. ¡°I suppose you all know what the topic of the hour is, gentlemen?¡± Vladimir said. His white tresses and pallor. His black cloak. What a stark contrast. His piercing blue eyes looked at his fellow bosses. A woman dressed in a laced black outfit spoke up. ¡°It¡¯s Allowstide right?¡±. Her long black locks were locked by striped ribbons. Ra looked at the dolled-up woman. ¡°The costume party is on the floor below.¡± He was clad in gold from head to toe. A gilded mask, a gold-laced robe, and silver silk gloves and pants were all donned by the enigmatic Pharaoh. All are embroidered with solar and wing imagery. The black-haired woman rolled her eyes. Erezbert, who was also in attendance glared at Ra. She then turned back to the well-dressed woman. ¡°As you were saying, Barbara?¡± Erezbert said. ¡°Gladly,¡± Barbara said. ¡°On that day, around five years ago, as the Siegmamento War raged, one of the prominent firebrands, Maltheus Almeida Lobisomem, had perished alongside the entirety of his eponymous gang.¡± A man cad in a white coat stood up. ¡°Malthus was a good friend of my father. He and the Lobisomens were vital to our research into certain arcane arts. Were it not for him, those Mustache Petes would have likely won the war. And for that, they were massacred.¡± Ra looked at the coated man. His sunglasses obscured his eyes in pitched darkness. ¡°I see, forgive me, sirs,¡± the Pharaoh said. ¡°I had been so busy with managing my neck of the woods that it had slipped my mind.¡± The others could see that Ra¡¯s apology was false, but for the sake of keeping things civil, most were willing to let him be. ¡°Yeah, I bet cleaning up that mess at Palimpsest alone took a lot of yer time.¡± A man clad in a trenchcoat was the lone exception. His trilby and suit were grey with an iridescent sheen, refracting part of the light that lit this extravagant hall. ¡°Griff,¡± Vladimir said in a stern tone. The other familiga patriarchs saw that Ra tried to hold back his wrath. Barbara let loose an expressed giggle. ¡°Right, my apologies,¡± Griff said with a sarcastic tone. Ra and Griff never saw eye to eye. They are often in frequent conflict over the districts of Whitewater and Blackthorn, their men having to be restrained through informal treaties brokered by the syndicate. The Frankensteins, led by Vic, are usually the ones who enforced these treaties. ¡°There is more to the matter than just giving our annual respects,¡± Vladimir said. ¡°We also have to discuss the coming year. Though the year is more than halfway through, with five months to go before the cycle begins anew, the Syndicate¡¯s heads had marked Allowstide as the date of an annual meeting to discuss the state of their enterprises, as well as meetings with in-guys seeded through various organizations in Noir. Businesses, politics, and law all have spiders that weaved their webs¡­ ??? Where Rosenkreuz and the Black Box celebrate Allowstide, the City Noir has its festival for the harvest holiday. Yet that is not the reason why Tim, Esteban, Julia, or Sarah went to the city. Following the failure near Palimpsest, Tim and the Hermandezes investigated all the dojos in the area for a fellow remnant of the Golden Spear. They arrived near the dojo the rouges had found near Palimpsest Boulevard. The dwarfette noticed something odd about the place. ¡°It¡¯s emptier than the last time we went there!¡± Sarah said. Julia noticed that the buildings were all plastered with signs announcing their ownership under ¡°Mem-nefer Housing Association INC.¡± The exception was the dojo the rouge pair found earlier in the year. Tim noticed the dojo. ¡°You said that was a dead end, right?¡± he asked. Esteban nodded. ¡°The sword we found on them was a fabrication,¡± the blue-clothed man looked around the area. ¡°This dojo is a martial arts one, but it seems unconnected to Alkahestics.¡± ¡°Why did such a weapon end up in their hands?¡± Julia asked. ¡°I¡¯ve talked with Mr. Soprano,¡± Esteban said. ¡°He brought up the possibility that it was planted to hinder his investigations.¡± ¡°That would make sense,¡± Tim said. He knew little about other Alkahestic sects, but what he did know revealed to him that they would prefer secrecy. Through the last several months, Tim and the Hermandezes, as well as the rouges guild, had attempted to search for other Alkahestic sects to network with. Several of them had led to encounters that ended unsatisfactory for their goals. Tim knew that he needed more allies to help rebuild the Golden Spear school. Yet he was at a loss for why the few he encountered were hostile to him. The group left Palimpsest and headed to Veda Venue, a community of Karuvan immigrants, they had found no information there, though Sarah did take the opportunity to take some treats from their Allowstide festivals. They then headed towards the Raiju Complex, an electrical company, and Dungeon that sourced power from those born with the Electrosphere. Though they came through with some loot, including a dagger and shield that discharges electricity and magnetic ore for Sarah, they were unable to find any leads there. They eventually came across a grocery building in the Broadway Plaza. The place was open and large, yet there was a lack of people there. The fliers on the windows didn¡¯t mention any Allowstide sales. They drew closer and saw that not even an employee was present. The lights were on, but nobody was there. ¡°Hmm,¡± Tim noticed something was off about the market. The group investigates it further and finds a hidden passage. ¡°That is rather suspicious,¡± Julia said. The group traveled down the hidden passageway¡­ ??? The Familiga patriarchs of the Syndicate continued their discussion. Vladimir welcomed a guest into the hall. Noir¡¯s Minister of Real Estate. A man who remained in their pocket ever since the Vorhees gang made an anonymous ¡°donation¡± to his election campaign. ¡°What say you, Sir Greenspan?¡± Vladimir said to the guest. Greenspan was clad in a dark blue suit with trilby with a red tie. A standard uniform for men in his line of work. ¡°September has seen a large number of foreclosures. Thousands of Elegere homes were seized following, shall we say, certain incidences. The residents were subsequently stripped of their land and deemed Exsecratii.¡± ¡°As per usual,¡± Beatrice said with a pleased smile. ¡°I almost feel sorry for those chumps,¡± Griff said. ¡°But hey, we¡¯ll always need the men.¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± Ra said. ¡°My organization has been struggling with development in Whitewater.¡± The self-titled Pharaoh said. ¡°Though it would help if someone were to stay in their lane.¡± ¡°You keep to yours first,¡± Griff said. Erezebert and Vic sighed. ¡°As for screening,¡± Greenspan said. ¡°Well, the ball is in your court there.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± Vladimir said. ¡°Would be very scandalous if the public were to find your fingerprints here.¡± ¡°Good thing Gatsby here is too busy boozing it up below,¡± Beatrice. ¡°Walls may have ears, but that won¡¯t do any good if they drunk.¡± ¡°That wouldn''t be necessary, anyway dame,¡± Griff said. ¡°You really think Gatsby of all people would snitch after all we¡¯ve done for him?¡± ¡°That reminds me¡­¡± Erezbert said. ¡°Have there been any disturbances in the rivers?¡± ¡°None that I¡¯m aware of,¡± Greenspan said. ¡°The Temperance law is still technically in place, but there was no news about the Ebony Guards or other authorities locating them.¡± ¡°Excellent,¡± Ra said. ¡°Our Costa Nosa is our way of life, would be a shame if some flatties were to discover them.¡± ¡°At least your bull¡¯s little fiasco led the bulls away from the rivers,¡± Griff snarked. ¡°Leave Master Hathor out of this,¡± Ra said with a subtle furor. ¡°That will be all, Sir Greenspan,¡± Vladimir said. ¡°You¡¯re dismissed.¡± ¡°My pleasure, Lord Vladimir,¡± The corrupt minister tipped his hat and left the room. ¡°Speaking of Palimpsest¡­¡± Vic said. ¡°Are you willing to explain why you took a sudden interest in the territories of Jiang-hu?¡± ¡°Why would you need to know?¡± Ra said. ¡°Anything that benefits the Tombkeepers benefits the Syndicate.¡± His feigned loyalty fooled none among them. ¡°Trade relationships are helpful in ensuring my operations are successful.¡± ¡°Is that why you always go all around town?¡± Beatrice asked. ¡°Every hour on the hour?¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to see if you have any alternatives for managing a Familiga such as mine, Dame Beatrice,¡± The Pharaoh said. ¡°Careful,¡± Griff said. ¡°Remember she controls half the fixers here.¡± Erezbert wondered how she and Vladimir had kept those fools in line for so long. She silently asked herself if the Voorhes¡¯s influence was the sole factor in keeping them from each other¡¯s throats. ??? One floor beneath where the Syndicate meets, a lavish party takes place. Jay Gatsby uses his walls and halls to entertain a multitude of costume-clad partygoers. All donning masks that conceal only their eyes. Among the guests of the partying Dungeon, is an Elegere man. A lycanthrope. Ignoring the dances and jazz music around him he contemplated the scenes shown in five canvases In front of him. The leftmost painting depicted a scene of a natural landscape. A grassy meadow with a myriad of trees was shown beneath a clear blue sky. Several animals and primitive humans were seen throughout. A vernal atmosphere permeates the meadow. A tall peak is the focus of the piece. The plaque beneath it reads ¡°Dawn of Discovery. Thomas D. C.¡± ¡°So this is the Cycle of Civilization,¡± the werewolf mused as he saw the five-fold landscapes. Greenspan approached the werewolf. ¡°Having fun, Tobit?¡± Greenspan said. Tobit¡¯s brow furrowed, his ears perked up upon seeing Greenspan. He glared at the man. ¡°I¡¯m just enjoying the art, Mr. Greenspan,¡± he said. The werewolf was Greenspan¡¯s rival and opponent, the loser of an election for the seat of Minister of Real Estate. Greenspan looked at the five paintings. ¡°The Cycle of Civilization?¡± Greenspan asked. ¡°Interesting choice of art, Tobit.¡± ¡°Tis the season,¡± Tobit said. ¡°Tell me, do you know why people turn to the mob?¡± Greenspan knew all the answers, but he lied to his rival. ¡°I know nothing of the sort. Maybe they¡¯re just fools?¡± He said with a slight shrug. ¡°Of course,¡± Tobit said. He turned his direction to the second painting. The piece, titled Foundations and Fortunes, maintained the aura of spring but showed less of the arboreal tresses and several buildings. The people depicted in the painting did many things. A child drew on the ground, a hunter chased a deer, and a fisher lounged on the lakeside. The mountain from the last image was less obscured by the trees, and several clouds were in the once pristine sky. ¡°Tell me, Tobit,¡± Greenspan said. ¡°Why do the Exsecratii turn to the mob?¡± Tobit turned to his rival. The wolf-eared man noticed his phrasing. ¡°It is pretty simple, these men, women, and children were rendered desperate. Destitute. They lived in the squalor of the underground. While people like us luxuriate in the light, they toiled in darkness, unable to climb a way out.¡± ¡°Your answer is fascination,¡± Greenspan said. A d¨¦butante lady noticed the conversation and butted in. She was a mermaid, specifically a Naiad, and even more specifically a Skipper. Her spade-like fins propelled her to the pair. ¡°What are you gentlemen talking about?¡± ¡°We¡¯re discussing the Cycle of Civilization and the Exsecratii, Louisara,¡± Tobit said. ¡°Tell me, madam,¡± Greenspan said. ¡°Why do you think the poor ¡®suffer¡¯ underground?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious?¡± the finned woman said. Her costume was decorated with opulent pearls. The hem of her dress was held aloft by both her natural floating abilities and spells she cast with her native attunement to the Aerosphere. ¡°They were certainly unworthy of the city¡¯s succor.¡± ¡°I thought so,¡± Greenspan said with an awry smile. Tobit¡¯s expression was more annoyed if anything. ¡°Not all people were born shall we say, fit,¡± Greenspan said to Louisara. Louisara swam to the middle painting. She was awestruck by the summer splendor of Parade of Perfection. Depicting a marvelous city in place of the meadow of the previous two. Within this painting are a hundredfold people, showing and expressing their jubilations on the streets, in the river, and from the windows. While the Naiad looked at the painting with awe, Tobit instead saw sighs of ominous portent. A small drizzle from the cloudy sky above, a boy pushing another into the river. Golden statues shaped like warlords standing prominently in the background. ¡°The artist claimed to be a Messenger,¡± Tobit said, ¡°was said to be sent by the Administrators to learn from the land.¡± Greenspan chuckled. ¡°There is always someone claiming descent from the gods,¡± he said. ¡°We must not ignore the land,¡± Tobit said. ¡°Or the gods themselves, for they have ways of pushing back.¡± The lycanthrope turned to the mermaid. ¡°Louisara, this painting shows the peak. A pinnacle, a moment of glory, yes, but¡­¡± he gestured her to the fourth painting. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. Within the piece called simply Fall, Thunder rolled in the autumnal wind, and the once marvelous city is through into chaos. The image depicted a riot happening progress as red-clothed individuals battled green-clothed ones over the future of the city. Criminals, invaders, and warriors battled each other on bloodstained streets and crimson rivers. The most prominent details were a capital building on fire, the plume of ash billowing out, a headless and chipped statue, and the image of an old man, playing his lyre while sitting atop the corpse of a drowned man. ¡°We stand on the precipice of great change,¡± Tobit said. ¡°If we¡¯re not careful, Noir¡¯s future will mirror this painting.¡± Louisara is not convinced. ¡°That would never happen,¡± she scoffed as she made an exuberant grin. ¡°The Empyreans are wise, strong, natural leaders. They are the fittest to rule, why else would they have the riches they do if not because of merit?¡± ¡°Indubitably,¡± Greenspan said. ¡°Whether they be adventurer, businessmen, or Dungeon, all can prosper here, if they are willing to. Is it our fault that some people just aren¡¯t willing to apply themselves?¡± ¡°Perhaps not,¡± Tobit said to the Minister. ¡°But is it their fault that they had failed in spite of that? For all of their talents, they had failed to obtain themselves a home on the surface. Perhaps those we call Exsecratii were simply denied the chance to apply themselves?¡± ¡°I see you haven''t changed since the election, Tobit,¡± Greenspan tipped his hat. ¡°Still it¡¯s clear your opinion is a minority one. Happy Allowstide.¡± The man said this in a polite but subtly venomous tone. ¡°May you be blessed in the starlight,¡± Louisara said in blitheness before she swam away to dance. She swam past the final painting in the series. Dusk of Days. The painting depicted snow blanketing the ruins of the once proud city as the clouds cleared to reveal a starlit sky. Constellations depicting the Administrators peek through the fading clouds. The most prominent one, a representation of Astra, the Cosmos herself, looked at the ruins in what is both a mix of regret and relief. Sorrow that the city had fallen, yet calmness as the fall took the vices that plagued it down with it. A lone sapling sprouted from the white blanket. As Tobit looked into the last of these, he felt a sense of dread wash over him. He knew this painting was meant to represent the end of a cycle, or rather the point where it returns to the beginning. ¡°We stand on the precipice of great chance,¡± he repeated. He felt it in his bones. He knew a great change was coming, one that could shake the whole of Libert¨¦ to its core. The room¡¯s lights flashed and for a short while something appeared, hovering over the lycanthrope¡¯s head. A blue object, a ring, holding two cones together. The halo faded as quickly as it entered. ¡°Oh, Administrators,¡± he thought. ¡°May you deliver us from the rising storm,¡± he prayed. ??? During the party going on below, the Syndicate continued to discuss their plans and policy for the next year. During which Barbara had a question. ¡°What became of the guys responsible for the massacre?¡± ¡°The perpetrators of what the media dubbed the ¡®Silver Rain¡¯ massacre?¡± Vic said ¡°Surviving Lobisomem had retaliated following the attack, joining other games in response. Mine among them.¡± ¡°I forgot you were the newest patriarch, Beatrice,¡± Ra said with a sneer. ¡°Or mayhaps ¡®matriarch¡¯ is more fitting?¡± ¡°Cut the crap,¡± Beatrice said. ¡°As leader of the Dollkeepers, I want to be treated with the same respect as my father,¡± ¡°You¡¯ll have to earn it first,¡± Ra said. ¡°It is the way of life, princess,¡± Griff said. ¡°Still I¡¯d think the young dame has earned some. There were fewer mishaps following her ascendancy.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± the well-dressed girl said with a coy smile. ¡°Speaking of which,¡± Erezbert said. ¡°How did your little group of toy collectors fare?¡± The young girl made a cocky smile. ¡°Well Miss Erezbert, we have managed to induct more toy soldiers into the ranks. And we also found a suitable location regarding Project Stronghold.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good to hear,¡± Vic said while adjusting his glasses. ¡°My own made men had made some headway regarding the Dungeon Core trafficking operations. It turns out the Cerberus region had an upstart that attempted to raid a Dungeon in Nova Virginia.¡± ¡°Ah yes, a Divine Dungeon. The Engines was it?¡± Vladimir said. ¡°The House of Seshat,¡± the pompous pharaoh said, ¡°Had discovered that they were local providers of processed steel. A rarity among even Divine Dungeons. With their fall, the local industry had waned quite a bit.¡± ¡°More to the point,¡± Vic said. ¡°We have discovered that with the loss of the mirage Feywood in the same area, several smaller Dungeons were exposed to the horse of guilds and adventurers desperate to find something that could fill the void.¡± ¡°It sounds like a wonderful business opportunity,¡± Vladimir said. ¡°So how vulnerable are those Dungeons?¡± ¡°By my estimate, it might take only a small team of championes to get their Cores,¡± Vic said. ¡°Might not even need that much,¡± Griff said. ¡°If Cerberus be on the nut, we¡¯ll be able to gather some frontmen for our tasks.¡± ¡°You have a plan, Griff?¡± Vladimir said. Griff extended an invisible out to the table, holding a clipboard of possible operations. ¡°Oh, you bet I do,¡± he said with a wicked grin. ¡°He hasn¡¯t changed,¡± Erezbert said. ¡°You kill one guy in Hamlin,¡± Ra said, ¡°and suddenly you think yourself a master tactician.¡± ¡°Let us not forget that ¡®one man¡¯,¡± Vic said. ¡°Was the opponent of our guy in the mayoral elections. Nor that our guy wanted to connect his village to Noir.¡± Ra scoffed at Vic¡¯s reasoning. ¡°Look how that ¡®investment¡¯ backfired,¡± he said. ¡°That backwater town is now childless! I can guarantee you that it would cease to be in ten years!¡± ¡°You¡¯re mad that you weren¡¯t the cause of it?¡± Griff cheekily said. ¡°Listen you¡ª¡° Ra saw Vladimir glare at him and stopped himself. ¡°That is a shame,¡± Beatrice said. ¡°I¡¯d like to find out who managed to kidnap a hundred children.¡± ¡°Well, my men had discovered something of interest there,¡± Vic said. ¡°An Exsecratii man, Stanley Piers had left Noir a little while before those vanishments.¡± Ra and Griff both laughed at the suggestion. ¡°You think that bozo was able to smuggle that many kids out of the village?¡± ¡°The timeline matches up,¡± Vic said. ¡°Though there were other possible avenues of inquiry I could peruse if you want.¡± ¡°The Franks have other matters to attend to,¡± Griff said. ¡°They can¡¯t just go around researching has-been exterminators.¡± Barbara is a little intrigued. ¡°What If I sent some of my dollies with them? I¡¯m sure they might be able to help the Frankensteins out there.¡± ¡°You want them to help find snipes as well?¡± Ra said. Vladimir stood up. ¡°Actually, it might be worth it to investigate Hamlin,¡± he said. Ra was unamused. ¡°You can¡¯t be serious boss,¡± he said. ¡°There is something amiss in that town,¡± the man said. ¡°If we could solve it, we might be able to deepen our relationship further and maybe bring a few more loyal men into our fold.¡± Griff stood up. ¡°You heard the man,¡± he said. ¡°Hell, I¡¯ll lend some of the Vanishers to this little exercise.¡± Ra rolled his eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure The Houses of Seshat and Medjed will conduct their own investigation on the matter.¡± ¡°Glad to hear it, Ra,¡± Vladimir said. The meeting continues for a few more hours. Eventually, at the stroke of midnight, Erezbert disbands the meeting. And all the patriarchs of the Syndicate go their separate ways. Their network is still united, for now. ??? As Allowstide festivals were happening all over Libert¨¦, the town of Hamlin refused to celebrate. No decorations were put up, no treats were procured, and no guilds were contacted. After all, it made no sense to celebrate without children to celebrate with. Instead, the Mayor called the town to a nearby chapel in observance of mourning. It had been several months since the town¡¯s children were abducted, several months since they had captured and punished Carla. The town had moved on with their lives, but regrets and fear bubbled beneath the surface. Douglas and Medusa Arion were the only people who knew the truth. They knew that a demon was the real culprit, they knew that the children were alive but altered into a state that would incite panic among the townsfolk if they saw them. Panic, and furor. The alraune that once lived there had enacted a plot to fake her death at their hands to give them closure and to give herself and Emily time to free the children. Mayor Cortez addressed the group. He began by recalling the story of the day of the execution. The immolation of the woman the town had accused of the abduction. As he told his tale, Medusa saw Geraldine, the only alraune in the crown, and the only one beside them who knew what happened to her sister. The married couple recalled what happened the week after, the carpenter and father of three had called Geraldine over to Revotos¡¯s Valley, away from prying ears. The pretext was to gather lumber for a building project. It was then that they told her the truth of what exactly happened. Geraldine was worn to secrecy, having seen firsthand the town¡¯s bloodthirst. Yet there was disquiet in her heart. ¡°How long could this ruse continue?¡± She thought. The mayor continued his speech. Cortex mentions the loss of his own son, Charles, among them, and how difficult it is to move on. They have avenged their children, they have slain the monster that killed them, and the mayor had made great strides in his project to connect it to the city of Noir. Douglas wondered about Orpheus¡¯ endeavors. He had visited them recently and they had discussed in private about his time with the Ebony Guards. The bard had been careful not to alert any of the other villagers during his short stay there as he tried to look into the murder of Samuel. Yet Douglas knew he found no clues. The mystery remained so. The Mayor eventually ended his speech. With a solemn ¡°May you be blessed in the starlight,¡± he disbanded the congregation. Everyone left the chapel with painful reminders of the damned day. As the Arions left the chapel, they wondered if it was even possible for Carla to save the children from their current fate and if it could be done before the parents had forgotten about their kids, just as the children were made to forget their parents by the Piper Pruflas. The rest of the night was restless for the village. ??? Tim, Sarah, and the Hermandezes eventually found a dojo, hidden in the basement of an empty market. As they reached the end of the path, they ended up ambushed by several monks. Tim battled several of the ambushing monks. With a dragon kick, he repelled one of them and threw them into a pillar. With a double palm strike, he disoriented another enough for him to trip him with a swipe from his Qiang. With a crouching kick, he avoided a third¡¯s one-inch punch and retaliated with one of his own. While he fought the advancing monks, Sarah and the Hermandezes contended with their own enemies. Watching the fights unfold is a woman with a saber in hand. The woman was clad in an outfit resembling a cheongsam but with a loose jacket over it. Her hair was tied up in two hoops. Her clothing had shades of teal and black on it. ¡°Fen-hai Mei?¡± a retainer of the woman said. ¡°Those intruders, they¡¯re¡ª¡± ¡°I know,¡± the woman said. While stern, there was a youthful tone in her voice. Fen-hai Mei addressed the warriors fighting her defense. ¡°Cease!¡± she said. The monks that weren¡¯t defeated by Tim¡¯s group had stopped fighting. ¡°Tend to the wounded. I¡¯ll deal with our honored guests.¡± Mei said. She then approached Timothy Howard, who had offered some of the monks assistance getting up. ¡°You are a rather skilled warrior,¡± Mei said. ¡°Did a rival clan send you?¡± ¡°No, madam,¡± Tim said. ¡°My friends and I sought you ourselves.¡± ¡°My wife and I, we¡¯re with the Rouges guild,¡± Esteban said. ¡°A certain friend asked for a favor.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just here because my brother didn¡¯t want me near the treats,¡± Sarah said. The dwarfette held a grumpy face as she made that statement. ¡°So what would bring you to try to storm the lair of Alkhestists?¡± Mei said. ¡°Does this Qiang seem familiar?¡± Tim said as he displayed his weapon. Met apprised the features on the Qiang, including some familiar patterns. ¡°That weapon looks different, but I can sense the aura,¡± Mei said. She looked at Tim and noticed that the boy himself looked familiar. ¡°You were a student at the preliminary level of the Golden Spear?¡± Tim nodded. ¡°I was still learning bajiquan when the school fell. At the time I had no idea why, or who the true purpose is.¡± The monks were baffled by their lady¡¯s cordial tone with the invader. One more so than the others. His leather-clad appearance didn¡¯t hide his disdain for the current circumstances. ¡°Milady, don¡¯t tell you me you¡ª¡± ¡°Silence, Xhao Li,¡± Mei said with an authoritative tone. She turned back to Tim and presented him with a slip of jade. ¡°I know my master, and I knew he wouldn¡¯t let anyone who isn¡¯t attuned with the weapon sense his mana.¡± She displayed her own weapon. ¡°This Dao is similar, it senses promise within you.¡± ¡°I ask of you,¡± Tim said. ¡°Will you help me rebuild the Golden Spear?¡± ¡°Perhaps,¡± Mei said. ¡°But not know, it is clear that for your promise you had only begun to walk the path of Alkahestry. I would not cede my weapon or my aid to any unworthy of it. If you can prove to me your worth, and your purity of heart, then we¡¯ll see.¡± ¡°Very well,¡± Tim said. Esteban had a question about the dojo. He noticed signs of wear and tear among the furniture that indicated months of use. ¡°You¡¯ve been here for a while huh?¡± ¡°Perhaps,¡± Mai said. ¡°Why do you ask?¡± ¡°Has the Syndicate given you any trouble, ma¡¯am?¡± Julia asked. ¡°Syndicate?¡± Mei asked. ¡°Oh, the thugs dressed in gauze? My monks made sure they haven¡¯t penetrated this place.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll bet,¡± Sarah said, rubbing part of her body sprained by their attacks. ¡°We shall meet again,¡± Mei said. ¡°If Astra decides.¡± With that, Tim, Sarah, Julia, and Esteban began to leave. ¡°By the way,¡± Mei said to Tim. ¡°Yes?¡± Tim said. ¡°Make sure your Dungeon accomplice is with you next time,¡± Mei answered. Tim is surprised. ¡°How did you know about her?¡± ¡°I have my ways,¡± Mei said. Tim knew he wasn¡¯t going to get any more answers from her. With that, he left with the others. The monk wearing black leather stood up after the visitors left. ¡°Why are you considering aiding trash?¡± he said. ¡°Xhao Li,¡± Mei sighed. ¡°Regardless of your opinions on the quality of their roots, we can ill afford to make enemies of those with the other relics. The Jian had been stolen by a thief the night of the raid and the Bang remained unaccounted for. We have little choice but to assume they had fallen into the hands of Wu-kong or other parties who wish to render the Spear extinct.¡± ¡°She has a point,¡± a female monk said. Her air was tied in hoops. ¡°Besides, we also have to consider the other Alkahestic sects in Noir. Her eyes were hidden behind foggy glasses. Most of them consider us easy prey for what happened back in Jiang-hu, and others still might be sent by Wu-kong themselves.¡± ¡°That is right, Meihua Jie,¡± Mei said. ¡°We may be able to ward off these predators, but if we are to remain or to succeed then we must find allies where we can.¡± Li rolled his eyes, but out of a pragmatic desire to not be forced to ten hours of practice, he relented from speaking further. He thought about Tim and the mention of a Dungeon¡­ ??? A new says dawns as Stella emerges from the horizon. Tim and her party had returned to the Black box. ¡°So, how did it go?¡± the martial artist said. ¡°Atsuko and I did well,¡± the dungeon¡¯s voice echoed to Tim. ¡°Everyone had a great time!¡± ¡°Glad to hear it, Em,¡± Tim said with a smirk. He held the slip of jade in his hand. ¡°How about you?¡± Emily asked. ¡°Did things go well in Noir?¡± ¡°You could say that,¡± Tim said. ¡°I found who I was looking for, at least.¡± He hadn¡¯t tried attuning to the jade slip yet, something seemed to prevent him from accessing the knowledge within. Richard greeted his sister when she returned and asked her about the expedition into the city. Esteban and Julia meanwhile spoke with Minerva, Carla, and Lydia about the night. Heathcliff was in Rosenkreuz¡¯s guildhall to talk to Pauline about the previous night¡¯s festival. The Black Box is preparing to resume normal operation, with Minerva, Carla, the Coloraturas, and Tim once again tasked with challenging visitors as Sentinels. Meanwhile, in Rosenkreuz a certain pair of Dormarches were having lunch in the built-in restaurant. ¡°These burgers are fantastic!¡± Cassie said. ¡°Be careful, Cassie,¡± Sydney said. ¡°You don¡¯t want to have sauce in your little toys.¡± Alongside the food, several small gadgets were also on the table. Drone prototypes, manameters, and conduits were among them. Cassie¡¯s Stardeck was also on the table. Glaucus¡¯ Pisces card face-up on the pile. ¡°What is taking them so long,¡± Cassie said impatiently as she placed her sandwich down and picked up a screwdriver. ¡°You know Bernadette gets,¡± Sydney said as she strummed a few notes on her guitar. ¡°Tell me, are you sure this place is right for us, Cass?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Cassie said. ¡°It¡¯s got everything so far. It¡¯s nice, it¡¯s quiet, it¡¯s far away from both cities and dangerous Dungeons, and the guild seems at least competent enough to deter threats. Plus I heard those nice people from the other day live nearby as well, Syd.¡± Sydney chuckled. ¡°To tell the truth, I¡¯m getting a little tired of the ¡®nomad¡¯ act myself. But I¡¯m not convinced this place is perfect for us.¡± ¡°Maybe when everyone else gets here,¡± she said while she tightened a screw on a beetle-like drone. ¡°We can finally explore that Divine Dungeon that¡¯s said to be nearby.¡± A certain blue-haired elf walked up to the dog-eared women. ¡°Hello are you Cassie and Sydney?¡± she said. ¡°That¡¯s us!¡± Cassie said with exuberance. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°We have received a message from a Bernardette,¡± Pauline said as she handed them a red envelope. The parcel smelled like apple blossoms. Sydney took the red envelope and opened it. Her eyes widened in surprise. ¡°Seems like they¡¯re not going to get here for a few months,¡± she said. ¡°A few months?¡± Cassie said in shock. She took the envelope from Sydney and learned from it that a blockade in the Cerberus area had impeded Bernardette and her group. They were forced to take a longer path and cannot arrive in Nova Virginia, let alone Rosenkruz until December.¡± Her face grimace. ¡°Look on the bright side, squirt,¡± Sydney teased. ¡°It means we get to stay here in this ¡®perfect¡¯ town longer.¡± Cassie really wanted to show her friends and fellow nomads the town, and to make her case for her desire to live there instead of traveling with them anymore. Her cyan and blond locks were frazzled from static electricity from her drone moving onto her head. Her ears drooped in sadness. ¡°It¡¯s only a few months,¡± Sydney said empathetically. ¡°We¡¯ve been through worse.¡± ¡°Yeah, I know,¡± Cassie said. The two Dormarches finished their lunch and returned to their rooms in the guildhall. Cassie eventually perked up and decided to use the time to connect with the local residents in the interim until her fellows arrived. Chapter LXIII: Wanderers and Underdogs ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡°¡® ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡°Hey!¡± the Bhargest said. ¡°It was one time!¡± ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡°That¡¯s the first Sentinel?¡± Makoto said in shock. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡°¡­ ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Fuuka and Sid sighed. ¡°Sorry about that,¡± Sid said as she took out her instrument. ¡°My brother is very ¡­eager. Still, since you are in the way¡­¡± She strummed a chord that began to enfeeble the Coloraturas. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡°¡­ ¡° ¡°¡­ ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Chapter XLIV: The Monsoonfall Near the eve of Monsoonfall, within the dark underground streets of Noir. Esteban was fighting several strange people. The assailants were dressed in strange garb, resembling Albionian and Carolingian attire from not so long ago. Their eyes were clouded as if they were made of glass. Their skin powdered to a porcelain-like pallor. They attacked the cyan-clad rouge with dauntless determination, moaning and walking as if they were undead. Esteban had not failed to prevent their blows from touching his bronzed skin, not to retaliate against the assailants with his own strikes. One with ringleted hair tried to lunge towards Esteban¡¯s leg, but he sidestepped it and she ran into a suited man. Meanwhile, Julia was busy helping a mother and daughter escape these strange people. The two that followed her floated in the air, held a loft by mesoglea-made bells in place of legs. Their heads were surrounded by an orb of water each. ¡°Mommy, I¡¯m scared,¡± the daughter said as she swam, hugging her mother. ¡°It¡¯ll be okay sweetie,¡± the mother said. Julia looked back to the couple as they drew near a doorway. ¡°They won¡¯t follow you here. My husband and I would make sure of it. There is a guild hall to the east of here, they will take care of you.¡± Julia said. Her indigo hair billowed in the faint rays of moonlight. ¡°Thank you,¡± the mother said gratefully. She turned to her daughter ¡°C¡¯mon dear.¡± The family swam through the door which led to their safety. Julia looked back to the direction they emerged from. ¡°Always that time of year huh,¡± the rouge said. She took her dagger out and returned to aid her husband. Meanwhile, Esteban had felled several of the doll-like opponents. But several more had arrived to reinforce their allies. One of them, clad in a white suit and top hat, chanted with indistinct noises, attempting to use Bardsong, but his dissonant mumbles were silenced by an engulfing shadow surrounding him. Esteban grappled with another of the strangers, intercepting his clumsy blows and knocking him down onto the floor. ¡°Damn Dollkeepers,¡± Esteban thought as she continued fighting them. He wordlessly dispatched several of the opponents. Striking them in pressure points that immobilized them and sent them to the ground. Julia arrived and assisted more closely with her shadow guardian. Before long the Dollkeeper thralls were neutralized, and they vanished into mist. Esteban sighed. ¡°Thirty years and counting, and there is still no way to undo those hexes,¡± Esteban said. Julia comforted him. ¡°At the very least, we ensured those Ewerans didn¡¯t join them.¡± As Monsoonfall draws nearer, dresses styled after the Eweran¡¯s bell become in demand and the Syndicate has sought to supply premium dresses through their usual unscrupulous means. The controllers of the dolls have the ability to teleport using smoke and mist to escape, and the dolls would innately use this power if defeated, to return to their masters. The two left this part of the Underground and returned to the Black Box, making sure to contact the Rouges about Dollkeeper activity. ??? ¡°This is so exciting!¡± Azalea squealed vivaciously. Emily and several of her friends were in Noir for the Monsoonfall Festival. Specifically Anesidora Park. The streets were lined with joyous people dancing and singing in the streets as aquatic-theme floats hovered around them. Esteban kept an eye out for suspicious people within the crowd. Heathcliff approached his friend. ¡°Syndicate¡¯s in poaching season again?¡± Heathcliff asked. Esteban nodded. ¡°Twenty attempts in the last week,¡± he said. ¡°With eight additional missing people¡¯s reports. The Rouges were already trying to find them.¡± ¡°You¡¯d think those Ebony Guardsmen would at least pretend to care,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°They¡¯re too busy with the delegation from Hermocrates,¡± Esteban said. His tone was stern and consistent, for he had known the Guards would be of little help to them. Emily approached the men. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°The Dollkeepers,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°Dollkeepers?¡± Emily said confusingly. ¡°One of the Syndicate¡¯s familiga, they are very dangerous.¡± ¡°Oh yeah,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°They kidnap people from the streets for unspeakable rituals!¡± Esteban nodded. ¡°Be on guard they are rather active this time of year. Especially involving ¡®antithetic¡¯ Eweran dresses.¡± ¡°Those barbarians. They bring disgrace to the festival!¡± Richard arrived his Sarah in tow. The latter wore an umbrella-like dress as she hovered in the air. Her expression was one of discomfort. ¡°Sarah?¡± Emily said. ¡°Don¡¯t ask,¡± the tanned dwarven sister said. The dress resembled the bell of the Eweran and was enchanted to allow the wear to float. Tim followed the dwarves. ¡°What is the dress for?¡± Emily said. ¡°The Moonrise,¡± Sarah said. ¡°Brother wanted to design Eweran dresses for the more lunar half of the Monsoonfall festival.¡± Emily is left befuddled. ¡°The Eweran dresses,¡± Elizabeth said, ¡°Are so named because they are designed to evoke the appearance and flowing abilities of the Eweran merfolk.¡± ¡°Most of them,¡± Richard added. ¡°Were merely made in their image. But as I¡¯m sure you¡¯re probably aware there are miscreants who prefer genuine Eweran hide and would stop at nothing to get it.¡± Emily looked at Esteban in a dawning realization. The dark-skinned rouge nodded in affirmation. ¡°The depths of depravity are surprising in their lack of limits,¡± Tim said. Elizabeth looked at Sarah who was still visibly uncomfortable with the dress. She cocked an eye at Richard. ¡°Oh, rest assured the materials are completely synthetic,¡± the blond dwarf said. Sarah tried to control her moment as she floated around, the dress turned her upside down and rotated her body as her legs struggled to orient her body. ¡°Can I please take this off, now, I¡¯m getting seasick!¡± As soon as she said that, her cheeks were suddenly filled. Elizabeth and Richard helped orient Sarah and grounded the dwarfette and removed the dress from her. Sarah then rushed to a nearby trash can. Richard sighed. ¡°I warned her not to ear out that mooncake stall,¡± he said. Emily looked at the dress. The fabric was translucent as it glistered in the light of the setting sun. ¡°So um, why is this dress special.¡± ¡°The garment,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°It also used a floating lantern. The wearers are supposed to discard it at the end of the festival and let it float to the sky at the end of the parade.¡± ¡°They said it is so their wishes, embedded in their mana would reach Astra, the Cosmos,¡± Tim said. Emily is surprised to hear that. ¡°But isn¡¯t this festival supposed to honor Halcyon?¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct, ¡°Sarah said after emptying her head. ¡°The Festival in general is for Halcyon, the Flood, but some of the other traditions here are in honor of other Administrators.¡± ¡°The [Moonrise] is one for [Tranquiltas, the Moonshadow] for instance,¡± Elizabeth added. ¡°I see,¡± Emily said. ??? Meanwhile, Azalea swam around various pop-up stands, and each of them sold a variety of seagrain-derived food. Elizabeth took a pastry from one of the stands and ate it. ¡°Oh,¡± the fairy said. ¡°I knew there was a sweet aftertaste to seagrain, but I didn¡¯t expect it to be so strong.¡± ¡°I know, right?¡± Azalea said with glee as she chowed down on several of the pastries. Rose slithers to her clionid friend. ¡°Did you save any for me?¡± the pink-pigtailed lamia asked with an inquisitive tone. ¡°Of course,¡± Azalea took out some of the pastries she bought. ¡°You think I¡¯d swallow thirty whole Manta Sticks?¡± she took out some of the baked goods. The batter on the sticks gave a pleasant aroma as she handed them out to her friends. Rose wolfed down hers in one bite. To Raine¡¯s chagrin. ¡°This is delicious!¡± Rose said. She rushed ahead to the stand selling the Manta sticks. Lily and Clover followed suit. Raine sighed. She went to chastise Rose, but something caught her attention, a small feathered silhouette zoomed past her eyes for a split second. The phoenixian girl saw the figure¡¯s wings fold beneath her waist before she vanished. ¡°Something wrong,¡± Azalia said as she took out another of her treats. ¡°You¡¯re usually sticking it to Rose about her sweet tooth.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t see that?¡± The red-haired girl said. Her ponytail ruffled by the breeze. ¡°See what?¡± The clionid said. ¡°Seagrain? Sea slug?¡± she gestured to herself as she asked that last question. Raine looked back to where the silhouette was. ??? Nearby, Rosemary was doing some preliminary stretches. The Argyroneta Arcahne noticed Anemone, Clover, and Nina approach her. ¡°Hello Nina,¡± Rosemary said to the other young Arachne. Her head was already wrapped in a translucent weave in preparation for the Erineon. The silken threads shimmered like dew in the twilight. ¡°You want to take part in the Eirineon?¡± Anenome said. ¡°I know Argyronetae are good swimmers, but¡ª¡± The four were acquainted recently with Lydia introducing the spiderling to the other children. Rosemary¡¯s desire to swim in the traditional Monsoonfall race was evident from her introduction. The young girl practiced her swimming, her webwork, and her underwater breathing for the past several months. ¡°Yeah,¡± Rosemary said. ¡°It¡¯s been my dream to win the Eirineon!¡± Her eyes were bright with determination and joy as her eight legs slitted towards the centaur and lycanthrope. ¡°I heard that many of the swimmers trained their whole lives for this race,¡± Lily said. ¡°Some even went through intense training regiment for that end.¡± ¡°I heard one went as far as to seek out a specific Dungeon in Lake Haze to practice!¡± Rosemary said, unaware that her peers were concerned for her safety in such a race. ¡°Isn¡¯t that exciting?¡± Azalea swam towards her friends. ¡°Hey Rosemary!¡± the clionid said giving her a Manta stick. ¡°You¡¯re going to need some energy for the race.¡± The indigo-haired spiderling took the seagrain treat from the clionid. ¡°Good luck in the race!¡± Azalea said. ¡°Azalea,¡± Anemone said, a violet bang from her ringlets flew into her eye. ¡°Do you think Rosemary might not be ready for the competition?¡± she adjusted her bang. ¡°After all it took¡ª¡± ¡°She did swim fifty meters in two hours,¡± Nina said. The other spiderling beamed with pride. ¡°Indeed I did!¡± she said. ¡°But the Eirineon is a marathon of a swimming race,¡± Lily said, her yellow-blond locks and tail billowed in the wind. ¡°The track circles around the parade circuit!¡± Rosemary stroked her chin. ¡°That does stretch for six hours. Hey, wait why are you trying to discourage me from trying to fulfill my dream?¡± ¡°Rosemary,¡± Anemone said. ¡°There are various risks involved in joining this race,¡± ¡°And Nina trying to go on adventures is any less dangerous?¡± Rosemary said. ¡°Hey!¡± Nina said. ¡°She¡¯s nearly as stubborn as Rose,¡± Hydrangea said, butting in the conversation. Rose and the remaining Coloraturas followed her. ¡°Do you think the name confirms some great stubbornness?¡± Clover said. Rose and Rosemary were annoyed by the comparison. ¡°Hey!¡± the lamia said. Rosemary humphed. ¡°I¡¯ll prove to you I¡¯m worthy to compete in the Eireneon! I¡¯ll show you!¡± The spiderling stormed off. Anemone glared at the other seven Coloraturas, having failed in trying to deter Rosemary from doing something stupid. ??? Rosemary, still bitter about the lack of faith shown by her peers ran into a park. The spiderling ran past a group of people practicing for the Eurykreion. A collection of games that included the Eireneon. ¡°Stupid doo-doo heads!¡± the spiderling thought. The young indigo-haired girl missed an errant stone disk that hovered over her webbed head. ¡°Hey!¡± an aspiring competitor said to the centaur that had thrown the disc. ¡°You could¡¯ve hurt this poor child!¡± The half-horse man rolled his eyes and stormed off. The athlete flew to Rosemary. Still lost in her thoughts. Rosemary muttered to herself. ¡°Are you okay?¡± the other young woman said. Rosemary looked up and saw a young woman beside her. She nearly mistook her for Raine for how similar her feathered legs were. The only difference was that their coloration was bleached white. It took Rosemary longer to notice that the feathered legs were longer than Raine¡¯s. She looked up at the athlete¡¯s torso and saw that she had a toned body, caramelized by the sun¡¯s rays with muscular arms, covered by a leotard top that exposed her shoulders. The white-winged girl¡¯s head had hair that matched her feathers, with a feathery wavy texture as it billowed to her back, tied in a giant braid by a large pink bow. Rosemary blinked. ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°Oh, silly me,¡± the egret-like woman said. ¡°My name¡¯s Mackenzie. I came here to practice for the Eirineon¡ª¡± ¡°You want to race for the Eirineon?¡± Rosemary said. Mackenzie nodded. ¡°Me too!¡± Rosemary said. She then introduced herself. Mackenzie was surprised to hear someone as long wanted to take part in the race, but noticed the dew-coated web that covered Rosemary¡¯s head, translucent enough for her to see the spiderling¡¯s dark blue hair, brown eyes, and freckled face. She wondered how the threads could have such qualities, but she paid no mind to it as she and Rosemary talked about the race and Rosemary¡¯s desire to take part. The winged girl led Rosemary to a place where she could register for the race. ¡°We better hurry,¡± Mackenzie said. ¡°It¡¯s almost evening and they scheduled the race to end right before the parade starts.¡± The two maneuvered through several parked floats, seagrain pastry stalls, and practicing athletes until they made it to the nearest registration booth. Mackenzie walked Rosemary through the application process. The slimonid attendant listlessly and dutifully took the application. ¡°The race starts in two hours,¡± she said in a bored tone. Rosemary was excited, in two hours, she would begin the swimming race of a lifetime. ¡°There¡¯s a lake over there,¡± Mackenzie mentioned. ¡°We could practice until then.¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± Rosemary said with energy. The two walked to the lake, and along the way, Mackenzie felt like she was being watched. She heard something fall from a building wall and didn¡¯t find something amiss. ??? Meanwhile, Emily and Elizabeth toured some of the stalls. Tim, Richard, Sarah, and Esteban followed them. ¡°The children are fine by themselves, right?¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°Heathcliff¡¯s keeping an eye on them,¡± Tim said. ¡°There are around eleven of them,¡± Esteban said. ¡°The Coloraturas at least, can care for themselves,¡± Emily said. ¡°Right?¡± ¡°Right!¡± Sarah said. ¡°We can trust them to take care of the young ones.¡± The group walked through several stalls. ¡°Let me get this straight,¡± Emily said. ¡°The Monsoonfall has two halves, the Moonrise and the Eurykreion, right?¡± Elizabeth nodded. ¡°The merfolk brought them from places as disparate as [Macedon] and [Jiang-hu]. The Eurykreion are a collection of games and athletic trials meant to showcase straight and skill. The Moonrise, meant to honor [Tranqulitas] as well as [Halcyon], adapted several traditions that originated in [Jiang-hu].¡± ¡°Those traditions were altered when the merfolk brought them over,¡± Tim said. ¡°They were originally meant for harvest festivals in the vein of Allowstide,¡± Tim said. Emily wondered about the difference between those traditions. Esteban meanwhile kept an eye out for Syndicate activity. He watched over the various citizens as they enjoyed their seagrain treats and their ocean-themed prizes. He saw someone rush past the crowd with an abnormally large bag, a few tendrils poked from its zipper. Esteban excused himself from the group and slipped away. The dwarven twins noticed that he vanished, and followed suit, leaving Emily, Tim, and Elizabeth alone. ??? Esteban trailed the suspicious man among the festival patrons. He used his cloaking magic to avoid being seen by the man as he walked down the streets of Noir. As the sun set under the horizon and the ceremony opening the Eirineon was underway, the rouge caught the man with the bag in front of a Dollkeeper. ¡°Three Eweran hides,¡± a well-dressed woman said. ¡°Nice work.¡± She was surrounded by three equally dressed people, yet the woman remained the liveliest amongst the quartet. ¡°Thank you, ma¡¯am,¡± the man said with a stutter that indicated fright. ¡°Now, may I-I pl-please see my family?¡± His whimpering tone reverberated across the alleyway. Esteban had seen similar encounters like this, and could only pity the man for what is about to happen. The woman took the bag, containing three bells severed from three Eweran merfolk. The stench of decay seeped from the bag. The woman accessed the fleshy bells within. ¡°Very excellent quality.¡± ¡°Please m-miss,¡± the hapless fool said. ¡°My family, t-tell me where they are. I did e-e-everything you asked!¡± The woman looked at the poor man with dagger-like glares. Her smile was unflinching as she let out a demented giggle. ¡°Of right, I did promise you a reunion.¡± With a snap of her fingers, three figures rush forward. Esteban made out that two of them were shorter than the third. Before he knew it, the harvester was restrained by people dolled up in fancy outfits. His wife and two children, each with lifeless expressions. The family man was shocked at the thought that his family, the love of his life, and the two bundles of joy they raised together, were turned into husked by the mobsters. He had hoped that it wouldn''t have come to this if he had just done what the woman had said¡­ ¡°If only he had reported the kidnappings,¡± Esteban thought as he rushed into the alley. With his hands clenched into fists he punched one of the goons surrounding the Dollkeepers¡¯ next victim. He fought his way and freed the man from his now-turned family. ¡°Playing your games again?¡± Esteban said to the woman, blond hair cascaded down to her thighs. ¡°So the Azure Rouge had to butt in again,¡± she said. She commanded her ¡°dolls¡± to attack Esteban, but their haphazard movements were no match for the agile brawler. The timid man backed away from the fight, not wanting to see his defiled family. He rushed behind an alleyway and tripped. His daughter had grabbed his legs. Perhaps this was what he had deserved, in trying to free his family, the man had killed another in cold blood. He had heard the rumors about people being stuffed with enchanted wool, turning into undead-like thralls, but he had held onto a faint glimmer of hope that it wouldn¡¯t befall his family. They just wanted to witness the Eurykreion games, He wondered how did it ever came to this as he saw his baby daughter pull him closer. Esteban kicked the doll away from her father. ¡°Go! Get to safety,¡± he told the man. ¡°We will discuss this later.¡± The man, grateful for the save, nodded and ran away from the alley, tears streamed from his face. He ran past a pair of copper-toned dwarves. ¡°Guess we knew where he went,¡± the twintaled one said. Her blond brother looked around, making sure there was no one else to see him as he took out his stunners. The siblings entered the alley and saw Esteban grappling with several dolls. A blond woman lounged at the other end of the alleyway. ¡°Now that is bad news,¡± Sarah said as she took out her hammer and rushed towards the fight. One of the dolls was knocked into the wall by her hammer. Richard took out his stunner and aimed the crossbow carefully. He focused on landing a shot at the group of dolls fighting Esteban and fired the enchanted bolts. Thin bolts of lightning flew through the ally and were embedded in the flesh of the dolls. Lightning coursed through their cotton-stuffed bodies and shocked them to the point of collapse. Esteban and Sarah dispatched several of the remainder. The woman merely giggled. ¡°I see you made some new friends!¡± she said in a mocking tone. A plume of darkness surrounded the leader as she taunted them. ¡°I¡¯m sure they would make an excellent addition to my collection one day.¡± The roguish man was irked by her statement. Sarah ran towards her, hammer in hand, but the dwarf was too late. The dark smoke had already teleported her away and her weapon slammed only the ground. Richard looked to Esteban. ¡°Those are the Dollkeepers?¡± the blond dwarf said with tells of uncertainty on his tanned face. Esteban nodded. ¡°Why did you come?¡± ¡°You¡¯re slipping,¡± Sarah said. ¡°I thought the Azure Rouge was a lot more slick than that!¡± Esteban chuckled. ¡°My apologies, hermanos.¡± ¡°Emily knew as well,¡± Richard clarified. ¡°C¡¯mon, the ceremony is starting.¡± The three returned to regroup with Emily, Elizabeth, and Tim. Esteban explained what happened as they returned to where they left the rest of the group. She saw that the Coloraturas and Nina were accounted for, as were the other members of her group. ¡°Where¡¯s Rosemary?¡± Emily asked, noticing the Arachne¡¯s absence. Heathcliff returned with several figures in tows, but only one of them she recognized. ¡°Seems like someone made some new friends,¡± the knight said. ??? ¡°You joined the Eireneon?¡± Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. Elizabeth expressed shock at Rosemary¡¯s decision, despite knowing her desire to partake in the race for months. Rosemary nodded with determination. Anemone sighed as the hothead had failed to heed her warnings. Rained on the other hand was more occupied with Rosemary¡¯s new friend, the white-feathered girl was in turn transfixed on her phoenixian counterpart. ¡°You are¡­¡± Raine said, eyes directed at Mackenzie¡¯s shimmering feathers. The wings folded next to her thighs. Rose, Lily, and Azalea looked at the two winged girls. Clover accessed Mackenzie for any cervine features but failed to find any. ¡°You look just like Raine!¡± Azalea said. ¡°She looks just like me!¡± Mackenzie said, ignoring the obvious difference in hue. She turned to Rosemary, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me you knew another Kinnari?¡± ¡°What¡¯s a Kinnari?¡± The indigo-haired arachne asked. ¡°It sounds like a spice,¡± Nina said, the white-haired spiderling turned to Rose. ¡°Is it a spice?¡± ¡°That¡¯s cinnamon!¡± the pink-haired lamia said to Nina. Rose then turned to Rosemary. ¡°Where did you find her?¡± ¡°She approached me,¡± Rosemary said. ¡°She thought I was nearly hit by a disc.¡± ¡°You were!¡± Mackenzie said. Emily is a little confused. She turned to the fairy. ¡°Is there anything we can do, Lizzie?¡± Before Elizabeth could respond, the gathering festival goers clamored around. The afterglow of dusk gave way to large spotlights pointing to a small stage set up in the center of the park. A booming voice was heard throughout announcing the opening ceremony of the Eirineon. Rosemary and Mackenzie realized what this meant and rushed to the beginning of the track. ¡°Sorry, we¡¯ve got to go!¡± Rosemary said. Nina, Raine, Azalea, and Anemone followed suit. ¡°Guess it¡¯s too late now,¡± Elizabeth said. The announcer began his introduction. ¡°Citizens, visitors, guests. We welcome you to the Monsoonfall festival!¡± He was a merman with a longer-than-usual tail and thin lithe arms. His muscles were taut and toned. The announcer continued. ¡°For years we have been among the many cities and communities that celebrated this holiday, in honor of the Flood and the Moonshadow. May they bless the fishers and farmers of the sea with a bountiful harvest. May they continue to give their blessings to the adventurers. Maybe We, who came from the ocean, be graced with the auspices of the Administrators!¡± The gathered crowd cheered for the announcer¡¯s pious words. The merman continued to orate to the masses. ¡°It is in these hopes that we will begin the annual Eireneon. Dozens of people shall test their endurance as they swim through the parade¡¯s circuit. Not all will be able to make it to the end. Please, do not push beyond your limits. Though you might be compelled to compete with each other, this is not a race, this is an aquatic marathon, a way to test your limits and one of many ways to learn of the sea.¡± The announcer divulged the rules of the swimming race. ¡°Participants are to swim as far as they can across the track, From here in Anesidora Park, to the distracts of Nectaris and Broadway, and through the Dungeon known as la Rivi¨¨re du M¨¦trocourant. Those born without the ability to breathe underwater are required to use whatever means possible to ensure you do not drown. I recommend the use of oxygenation spells if possible. Know that the marathon will end at midnight when the parade begins, all participants must exit the track ten minutes before.¡± Though it is not meant to be competitive, with it being both a show of peace and a method to test one¡¯s limits, many of the racers do not see it that way, and Makenzie was one of them. ¡°Good luck,¡± the white-feathered girl said. ¡°You¡¯re going to need it if you can beat me!¡± she dived into the water and used her wind magic to create an oxygenation spell to allow her to breathe underwater. A necessity for those bereft of the ability. Rosemary followed suit, the web encasing her head was as watertight as she had hoped¡ªexpected it to be. ¡°We¡¯ll see about that,¡± Rosemary said. They took their starting positions, sandwiched between an Eweran and a hippocentaur. Mackenzie¡¯s spell allowed her to breathe the water as if it was pure oxygen. Rosemary¡¯s webbing kept the water out from her mouth and nose, as the silken fibers of all Argyronetae Arachne should. Nina and the three witches with her looked at the participants. Anemone wondered why some of the racers were as young as she was. Azalea and Nina kept their eyes on Rosemary and Raine kept her on Mackenzie. Rose, Clover, Hydrangea, Streltizia, and Lily looked at the race from a different angle, Lily noticed their friends on the other side of the track. Nearby, Emily, Esteban, Tim, Heathcliff, Sarah, Richard, and Elizabeth kept an eye on the two groups of children that came with them. ¡°Ready!¡± The announcement said. The racers swam into position, their bodies bobbing among the still waters of the constructed track. ¡°Get set¡­¡± Rosemary¡¯s excitement manifested as sweat on her brow, she was prepared to beat her new friend, her new rival, and to prove herself. ¡°Go!¡± The Eireneon began and the racers swam as fast as they could. ??? While Rosemary¡¯s web allowed her to breathe underwater, and her lungs were more capable of conserving oxygen than other strains of Arachne, a clear disadvantage was made apparent as soon as she swam. Her abdomen had caused her to take on too much drag. She had practiced her swimming to account for that in the months prior, and to her credit, she was not at the back of the pack, but it meant that she was way behind Mackenzie. The white-winged Kinnari was already several yards ahead of her new friend and the gap was widening by the second. The aquatic track led the racers into the next leg of the Eirineon, placed along several streets of Nectaris, a notable Jiangese community that lived and also where most of the Moonrise-related activities were located. The buildings that lined the district glowed with the vermilion hue of paper lanterns, a carryover from the Jiangese traditions. Nina and her group ran beside the other spectators, trying to keep an eye on Rosemary and Mackenzie. Rose and her party instead took to a higher vantage for a higher view. Esteban also kept an eye out for certain saboteurs. The Eirineon swimmers found that the track had diverged into split tunnels, Rosemary saw Mackenzie take the left one, and fearing she could not catch up there, swam through the right tunnel. The divergent path led Mackenzie towards the boundary between where the Elegere and Empeyan residents reside. And she had a view of the skyline of Noir. ¡°Whoa,¡± the indigo-haired spiderling said. The facades of the buildings glimmered with with lights from the paper lanterns, hanging from the clothesline and the walls. Through the transparent walls of the tunnel, Rosemary was awestruck by the sight. ¡°No, wait,¡± she said. ¡°Got to focus!¡± she continued her endeavor to overtake Mackenzie. Meanwhile, Makenzie¡¯s path led her to a similar sight. But where her friend was met with paper lanterns, hers instead lingered on the people on the ground below. Dozens of people gifting each other mooncakes, setting up street pickets to view the moon, and finding love in the matchmaker¡¯s incense stalls. Mackenzie was certain that if she was outside of the tube she swam in, she could smell the scent of kelp incense wafting from the stalls, and of sweet seagrain from the nearby food. She looked at the sight with a lament. ¡°Mother, I wish you could see this,¡± she thought. She could¡¯ve whispered it to herself if not for the sound being muffled by the water she was submerged in. With a nostalgic look in her eyes, she swam deeper into the tunnel. The swimmers reconvened after several twisting and winding turns, there were midway through Nectarus when Rosemary saw Mackenzie, now she was barely ahead of the Kinnari, but the winged girl was quickly gaining ground. In a few knots, the spiderling was already overtaken, but she dared to catch up to her competitive friend. The two were neck and neck as they exited Nectarus and entered the Broadway leg of the circuit. ??? While Rosemary and Makenzie are racing in the Eireneon, Esteban looked at the race from one of the higher stands set up by Noir to view the race. Heathcliff approached his friend. ¡°Never were one to rest, huh cher?¡± The red-headed knight said. Esteban smirked. ¡°There is no rest for me, Heath,¡± the Rouge said. ¡°Might do you some good to try, ¡°Heathcliff said, ¡°just a friendly suggestion. All work made Jack a dead boy and all.¡± ¡°Easy for you to say,¡± Esteban said. Heathcliff sat down next to his friend. He knew Esteban was ever vigilant, both to survive and to ensure the survival of those living in the underground. It seemed like only Julia was able to convince the Azure Rouge to take his mind off his work. Though Heathcliff remained determined to be the second. ¡°What happened back then,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°That wasn¡¯t your fault, you know.¡± Esteban sighed. His mind was fixated on that faithful night his frailly was killed. ¡°I¡¯ll stop the syndicate, and I''ll bring that man to justice!¡± he thought. He knew the name, he knew the face. He just needs to get closer to them. It¡¯s the only way he could avenge them. The rouge¡¯s rumination was broken when he saw a man dressed in a butler-esque suit walked past them. The festival goers were too caught up in their revelries and the Eireneon to notice the doll, or his sack that squirmed with each movement. Faint screams and cries were heard from the kidnapper¡¯s bag. Esteban glanced at Heathcliff. ¡°No time for the wicked,¡± the knight said as both stood up. Rose and her group also noticed the stranger and the even stranger¡¯s satchel. The lamia slithered away from the spectators, with Lily and Streltizia following her. ¡°Clover, Lily, tell the others!¡± the minotaride said. The fawn nodded and she and the centauride went to Azalea, Raine, and Anemone. ??? The doll lugged his spoils to a secluded building, emptied by the workers leaving to enjoy the Monsoonfall. The fluorescent lights flickered as the undead-like man placed the sack on the ground. Three Eweran children tumbled out from the sack. Their eyes trembled with fear as they saw two men enter. A man and a woman, clad in a respective attire of a black suit and lace-patterned dress. ¡°What do we do with the bodies, Annabelle?¡± the man said to the woman. His black suit was well kept, a black velvet vest draped over a white undershirt. Different from the doll¡¯s tuxedo. ¡°Hmm,¡± the woman said. Her dress was an array of white doily-like patterns lining the rim of her black skirt and sleeves, with more patterns decorating the fabric higher on the skirt. A large big bow atop her blond tresses. The jellyfish-like merfolk trembled as the taller folk looked over them. The three were too terrified to consider escape. Not that they had the option to with their hulking doll being able to pin them to the ground if they tried. Annabelle looked at the oldest of three, a young girl who pleaded with them to let them go. ¡°Our-our bells are too thin, too small!¡± She begged, aware of why they were kidnapped and brought here. ¡°She is so cute,¡± Annabelle said with a mix of venomous of sugar. ¡°She will make a wonderful doll. ¡°Chuck, I want them converted after the harvest!¡± Her psychotic grin beamed on her face. ¡°Please¡­I don¡¯t want to die,¡± the girl trembled. Her younger brothers clung to her waist for some semblance of comfort. They knew what would happen if well-dressed men and women approached them. The Dollkeepers were the subject of horror stories for their ¡°hobbies¡±. Some feared them to the point where they expressed they would rather die at the hands of the Voorhes Gang or the Tombkeepers, at least with them death would be certain. And more merciful than what would befall them. ¡°Sparkling Rondo!¡± Lightning sprinkled from the light fixtures, the tubes burned out as everyone¡¯s eyes were blinded in wight. Chuck doubled over in pain as one of the bolts struck him. ¡°Who did this?¡± The vested man with vested interest screamed. The pair and their servitor turned to the entrance, there they found a little lamia girl. Pink tail with pink scales and her head with pink hair tied in poofy pigtails. Her rapier and wand brandished and pointed at the gangsters. Annabelle grinned as she saw the angry child. ¡°So one of the Coloraturas had graced us with her presence.¡± ¡°She¡¯s not the only one!¡± Before the mindless doll could react. Strelitzia had tackled the corpse into a laundry machine behind him. Clover used her fan to create a blade of wind that sliced a pipe off the ceiling. The fallen tube pinned the doll down for now. The other Coloraturas emerged behind Rose, Clover, and Streltizia. Annabelle¡¯s grin was ecstatic. While the Dollkeepers were distracted by the eight witches, the Eweran children noticed an object move on its own. Esteban had used his cloaking magic to sneak past the mobsters and open an exit. ¡°Hurry,¡± he whispered. The frightened kids took their opportunity to escape. Chuck noticed them floating toward the door. ¡°Hey, the brats are¡ª¡± The vested man was knocked out by an errant shield. Heathcliff entered the room. ¡°This seems the wrong place here. The clock cleaners are down the street.¡± ¡°Aw, what¡¯s wrong,¡± Annabelle said. ¡°You needed a babysitter now?¡± she said in a mocking tone to Rose. Rose was irked by the older woman¡¯s retort. Azalea swam around the room, a subtle microexpression of anger at people attempting to ruin the Monsoonfall was present as she circled the gangsters. ¡°Time for the spin cycle!¡± she said as she conjured a whirlpool around the Dollkeepers. Annabelle and Chuck escaped the torrent. The doll¡¯s binding was lifted from the water and the tuxedo-clad brute stood upright and alight with animalistic rage. Annabelle took out her parasol, a disguised weapon, and fired shorts from the crank that was her handle. The umbrella unfolded as bullets were spared by the device, but Strelizia channeled her earth magic into her axe and slammed the concrete floor, causing it to strike into the form of a shield that deflected the rounds. Lily charged over the barricade and engaged Annabelle with her spear. ¡°And you got some toys too!¡± Annabelle said. ¡°How lovely!¡± The umbrella and spear clashed. Chucked tried to get the blond centauride away from his partner but was intercepted by Raine¡¯s talons and rings, and Hydrangea froze his arms before he could get out his more traditional weapon. Esteban disengaged from the fight to discreetly lead the Ewerans to safety as Heathcliff and the coloraturas engaged the Dollkeeprs, when he was certain that the three victims were with their families, he returned to the fight to help apprehend the Dollkeepers. ??? Mackenzie had again overtaken her new friend as they swam through the canals of Broadway. Surrounded by theaters and static floats designed by Hollyland set designers and lingering artisans. There the track leads into the entrance of the la Rivi¨¨re du M¨¦trocourant. An aquapolis of a Natural Dungeon created from a large reservoir. Enlisted by the festival planners for the Eireneon and the parade. The swimmers were thrust down several pipes by the dungeon and its turbines. Rosemary was again separated from the white-feathered kinnari. The current led her down another pipe, and she slammed into its metal walls. The collision caused a hole in the web around her head. Water began leaking. ¡°Drat, drat, drat!¡± Rosemary said in a panicked tone. She tried to surface to catch her air and repair her web. The spiderling held a large breath as she struggled to swim, rationing precious oxygen as she searched for an egress. She found a shimmering light above her, a hole in the track. She tried to swim toward it but she struggled against the current. Her spindly legs were unable to let her reach the aperture, her arms were too short to reach her in time, the oxygen in her air dwindled. ¡°If only I knew how to use wind magic,¡± she thought to herself. At the same time, Mackenzie had her own troubles. Her mana was running low, her oxygenation spell was fading and she needed to find a way to surface. ¡°I can¡¯t give up here!¡± she said. ¡°Not now.¡± She worked too hard to fall short on the last leg of the race. Her mind flashed back to earlier years when she gleefully swam with her mother on the lake. The egret-feathered girl tried to find a hole to swim through, an air pocket she could use to rest. She had only ten minutes left before mana exhaustion would render her unconscious, and worse before her spell faded and her flooded lungs were unable to breathe. Two minutes later, she found a hole, but as she tried to swim it she felt something push her into a current. ¡°Ow!¡± Mackenzie said. She turned to see that what crashed into her was a certain Arachne child, her neck was covered in torn webbing. Her eyes were glazed over from consciously, bubbles escaped her mouth as it drifted open and shut by the minute. ¡°Rosemary!¡± Mackenzie shouted. The competitive girl¡¯s mind was focused on finding a way out again, for both her sake, and that her of drowning friend. She carried the drowning spiderling under one of her arms and used her free arm and talons to try to swim. She found another exit, a valve on the floor, likely used to drain the tube. With her free arm, Mackenzie exerted her strength to try to pry it open. Rosemary¡¯s head slowly turned as she gazed at an arm through clouded eyes. Her mind was drowsy, her chest flooded with water that magic could not convert into oxygen anymore. She could barely move her head and she couldn''t speak with her mouth filled with water. Her vanishingly rare moments of consciousness were spent praying, and wondering who was trying to save her. Mackenzie was still trying to open the drainage valve. But she was out of mana, exhausted, and on the verge of collapse, she defiantly tried to force it open with her legs, but they were too weak. She could feel her lungs being choked by liquids. ¡°Come on! Open, damn you!¡± Mackenzie said, her speech turned to bubbles as her consciousness was about to fade. She heard something creak beneath her, but before she could see the valve turn, she blacked out, her vision clouded as her still-open eyes began to glaze over with slumber. She wondered if she and her new friend would be swimming in the Sea of Souls next, her last conscious thought¡­ ??? Earlier, after Anemone, Raine, and Azalea left Nina, Raine asked the spiderling to return to Emily. The young Arachne did as she was told and reached the avatara and her group. ¡°Nina?¡± Emily said. ¡°Is something wrong?¡± Nina shook her head, obvious as to why the three witches left her. Tim noticed that Heathcliff and Esteban were also missing. Elizabeth expressed a worried look with the others. ¡°Is something wrong?¡± the blithe wannabe adventurer asked. Before there could be a response, the group saw three Eweran kids floating past them, clearly terrified for their lives. ¡°Nina?¡± Emily said to the spiderling. ¡°Can you stay here for a bit?¡± ¡°Why?¡± the artless arachne asked. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to Rosemary finish the Eireneon?¡± Sarah said as a distractionary measure. ¡°Oh yeah!¡± Nina said. ¡°Wait where did she go?¡± ¡°The racers have likely made it to la Rivi¨¨re du M¨¦trocourant,¡± Richard said, with the Ewerean dress he had Sarah wear folded on his arm. ¡°Follow me!¡± The dwarven siblings led Nina to where the Dungeon is. Tim noticed something was odd. ¡°Tim?¡± Emily said. ¡°Go help them,¡± he said. ¡°I want to make sure Rosemary is okay.¡± He can¡¯t help but feel like something has gone wrong. The avatara also felt something similar. A feeling she couldn''t shake. With a nod, she left her first and finest Sentinel be for now as Tim moved towards the Dungeon. ??? At the laundromat, The Coloraturas, as well as the older Heathcliff and Esteban, fought against the Dollkeepers. The orchestrators of the attempted kidnapping, Annabelle and Chuck, had summoned more dolls to try to overwhelm them. Anemone had fired several arrows at the dolls¡¯ shadows, pinning them in place as Hydrangea froze the animated corpses in place. Rose and Esteban fought Annabelle directly. ¡°I daresay,¡± Annabelle said as she dodged Rose¡¯s thrusts. ¡°You certain were better with a wand.¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Rose said indignantly. She conjured a bolt of levin directly in front of her. Annabelle flinched at the sight and didn¡¯t see Rose preparing to whip her with her tail. The lamia girl placed her palm on the ground and turned her body, the centrifugal force moved her tail and slammed it into Annabelle¡¯s knees. The young woman was tripped by the attack. Annabelle tried to use her gun-parasol, but Esteban had disarmed her with well-timed elbow strikes. A result of him learning some moves from Tim¡¯s fights. Chuck meanwhile dealt with Heathcliff alone. ¡°Heh, you think you can defeat me?¡± the Dollkeeper boasted. ¡°Well,¡± Heathcliff bantered. ¡°I seem to be doing good so far!¡± he slashed at the Dollkeeper and put him on the backfoot. Azalea swam behind him and used her knife to manipulate the moisture from the washing machines. Hydrangea then combined her magic with Azalea and encased Chuck¡¯s legs in gelatinous binds. The Dolls tried to assist their masters, but Lily, Clover, Streltizia, and Anemone kept them away from their allies. The battle continued until Emily and Elizabeth arrived and saw two of the Dollkeepers. Annabelle smirked. ¡°Place is getting too crowded, later Rosie!¡± the young girl said to the Lamia. She and her partner vanished in a puff of smoke. Along with the dolls they summoned. Rose glared at where they once stood with a furious look on their face. ¡°What happened?¡± Emily asked. Esteban looked at the damaged washing machines and strewn clothes. Some Eweran dresses among them. ¡°Just a little clean-up is all,¡± he said. Emily turned to Rose. She saw her face adust with rage, as she slithered past Emily. ¡°Were those kids safe?¡± she asked. Her rage gave way to an innocent look. Emily nodded. She knew that the fleeing Eweran trio had something to do with this. Rose¡¯s expression turned to relief. ¡°That¡¯s good to hear. Mission accomplished!¡± she said, though Raine saw there was a hollowness to her serpentine friend¡¯s declaration. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Azalea said. ¡°The Eireneon isn¡¯t over yet!¡± She swam off. ¡°Hey, wait up!¡± Clover said as she ran after the clionid. The other Coloraturas followed suit. Emily turned to Heathcliff to take his purse out. ¡°Je te rattraperai. Gotta let the owner know what happened first. Don¡¯t worry, cher. Damages will be on me.¡± Emily left with Elizabeth and Esteban. They made their way through la Rivi¨¨re du M¨¦trocourant, where the swimmers should be. ??? Richard, Sarah, and Nina made it to the dungeon. No as adventurers but as spectators, yet they have yet to find any sign of Rosemary or her new friend, Mackenzie among them. ¡°Something isn¡¯t right,¡± Sarah whispered. ¡°Where did they go?¡± Nina asked. Meanwhile, Tim talked to one of the people overseeing the Eireneon, a Sentinel of the Dungeon. Tim had already confirmed that Rosemary was not in the Broadway leg of the track beforehand. ¡°An Arachne child?¡± the Sentinel asked. He had a stocky, stout build, as well as eight tentacles in lieu of two legs. Like other merfolk, his head was surrounded by water. Tim nodded. ¡°Have you seen her?¡± The Dungeon boss shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t think so. Give me a second.¡± The Sentinel communed with the core of the Dungeon and asked them if they sensed who the bajiquan practitioner asked for. The core of la Rivi¨¨re du M¨¦trocourant sent the boss a telepathic image. ¡°Something¡¯s wrong,¡± the Sentinel said. ¡°One of the pipes has something in it.¡± The Sentinel took his leave. On a hunch, Tim decided to follow him. The two went to a part of the dungeon with a drain attached to the pipes. One of the failsafes designed for if the waterways were sued by intruders. It had been sealed for the Eireneon, and yet the Sentinel had sensed something was somehow attached to it. ¡°I¡¯ve noticed there were some cracks in the tubes used for the track,¡± Tim said. ¡°Maybe something had gotten in through them.¡± ¡°Those pipes were brand new!¡± the male scylla said, befuddled by the development. The Smiths and Nina also arrived there, looking for the Argentonedtae. Tim looked at the draining pipe and saw water dripping from it. He walked closer and heard something within the pipe. ¡°Stand back,¡± Tim said as she assumed a horse stance. ¡°And forgive me.¡± ¡°Forgive you?¡± the fellow Sentinel said. ¡°For¡ªhey wait!¡± Tim leaped into the air and chopped the drain. The valve turned a bit. ¡°Tim,¡± Richard said with shock. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Just trust me!¡± Tim said as he made another leap. Another strike, the valve turned. Another leap, another jump and it turned again, so the cycle repeated thrice over and the valved pursed open. The tube glowed red as it sealed off the opened section of water that fell out and with it two bodies. Nina recognized that as her acquaintance. ¡°Rosemary!¡± she yelled as she skittered to her and her winged friend. The Sentinel was flabbergasted by this. ¡°They need medical attention!¡± Sarah said. ¡°Is there a¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯ll get a healer!¡± the scylla said. He made his own leap with his tentacles and swam quickly to the nearest medical stand. Tim and Nina took Rosemary and Mackenzie¡¯s comatose bodies and tried to drain the water from them. ??? Water regurgitated from the bodies of two near-death girls as healers, paramedics, and first aid experts tried to keep them away from the waters of the Sea of Souls. It was through great effort that they were managed to be brought from the brink of death. Mackenzie was the first to awaken. Her mind was groggy but still focused on one thing. ¡°Rosemary!¡± she yelled. ¡°Where is she?¡± The healer directed her to the stretcher on the right. There she found her new friend still unconscious, yet the winged girl saw that she was breathing. The kinnari¡¯s eyes welled up with tears. ¡°Is she¡­¡± ¡°We managed to purge the water from her lungs,¡± the healer said. ¡°She will need rest, but she will recover.¡± Rosemary stirred, her eyes opened and the first thing they saw was her new friend. ¡°Mackenzie?¡± Mackenzie was relieved. By some miracle, they survived. By the grace of the flood, they had narrowly avoided drowning. Yet all was not well, the Dugneon¡¯s Sentinel had alerted the Eirineon of what had happened and both were disqualified from continuing the swimming marathon. The kinnari didn¡¯t mind as much as she thought. ¡°Heh,¡± she thought. ¡°What good is it if you¡¯d end up swimming with the fishes afterward.¡± She said. She is grateful to be alive. She tried to move, but parts of her arms and legs were still mob. ¡°You still need to rest,¡± the medic said. ¡°Your mana was at dangerously low levels. Try not to use magic for the next week until you recover your mana, or else your body might not handle it.¡± Emily and her group arrived to pick up Mackenzie. Most of them donned Eweran dresses at Richard and Elizabeth¡¯s behest, gifted by the parents of the three children saved from the Dollkeepers. Rosemary, still delirious had mistook her friends for actual jellyfish as they took her outside the dungeon. ??? ¡°I told you it was a bad idea,¡± Anemone said to Rosemary. ¡°Was not!¡± The indigo hair spiderling said, now wearing an Eweran dress. They both argued as they floated alongside the other children, surrounded by parade floats modeled after icons of Halcyon, famous nautical vessels, and various sea monsters. The Parade had started, as the stroke of midnight was seen on all the clocks throughout Noir. Mackenzie was also with them, willing to take Rosemary¡¯s side. The purple-haired lycanthrope had her own words for encouraging behavior she saw as reckless. ¡°I could¡¯ve won!¡± Rosemary protested, ¡°If my web hadn¡¯t broke!¡± On the ground, Emily looked over Rosemary¡¯s performance relative to the other participants. Elizabeth also poured over the record with surprise on her face. ¡°This can¡¯t be right!¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°Even for [Argyronetae] to have a web that strong¡­¡± She turned to Emily. ¡°Emily this is.¡± Emily didn¡¯t catch on to the ramifications, she was too focused on the spectacle of the parade floats and fireworks. ¡°Huh?¡± Elizabeth puffed her cheeks, clearly incensed by Emily¡¯s ignorance of her observations. ¡°Rosemary, her webs were stronger than average. Way stronger. This could only mean one thing. She adapted to¡ª¡± A large boom had interrupted her conclusion. The two turned to Azalea having unleashed a deafening party popper close to them. Confetti rained down on the fairy and avatara. ¡°Sorry,¡± Azalea said with a nervous blush. Rose floated quietly away from the others. Her mind stuck on Annabelle. She wondered what caused her to go down this path. Why did she join the Dollkeepers? Raine approached her. ¡°Hey,¡± Raine said. ¡°Something on your mind?¡± Rose sighed. Her Eweran dress kept her aloft. ¡°Done talking to Mackenzie?¡± she said. Raine nodded, though her expression was bittersweet. ¡°I asked her if she had any family,¡± she said. ¡°She didn¡¯t want to talk about it but she did say that she was an elf.¡± She sighed. At least the phoenixian Kinnari knew what she iss now. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Rose said. Raine knew her mind was still on Annabelle. ¡°She could''ve been a great friend,¡± she said. ¡°I know,¡± Rose said solemnly. ¡°We met her so many times, it¡¯s just. Why did she have to go with those guys?¡± A single tear dripped from her face, falling far into the water where the parade floated. Stretlizita approached them. ¡°She made her choice,¡± the minotauride said curtly. ¡°Not us.¡± ¡°Stre,¡± Raine said. ¡°What?¡± Streltizia said. ¡°It¡¯s true. Rose, she stood with the syndicate for two years now. She is one of them now and we you know what they do to the innocent.¡± The lamia locked eyes with the minotaur. Her expression had shown hurt, and also resilience. An expression of a friend still in pain that her friend had betrayed them. Esteban remained on the ground, he found the bulbous silhouette of the skirt he now wore embarrassing. He turned to Heathcliff who was more comfortable in the dress. ¡°No butts, cher,¡± the knight said to the rouge. Esteban chuckled a little bit. Perhaps he could take some time to loosen up, just this once. Richard met with Tim. ¡°Can you help me with the hanzi?¡± the dwarf asked. ¡°You want to use hanzi?¡± Tim asked with confusion ¡°I felt it would be more authentic,¡± the dwarf said to the man. Tim had learned the native characters of Jiang-hu when he studied there. And learned a lot from his mother outside. He helped Richard write the riddles and prayers he dictated on his dress, as well as Sarah¡¯s. ¡°Anyone else?¡± Tim said. Elizabeth, Heathcliff, and Esteban already wrote on their dresses. The Coloraturas were the first to answer and alighted in front of him. The eight witches¡¯ riddles and prayers were penned with gentle strokes. Nina, Rosemary, and Mackenzie were next. The last to be inscribed were the dresses of Emily¡­and himself. ¡°Any prayers to the Moonshadow? The Flood? The Cosmos herself?¡± Tim asked. Emily blushed a little. ¡°Well¡­¡± she whispered something in his ear. ¡°Oh,¡± Tim said with reddened cheeks. He cleared his through. ¡°That could be arranged.¡± He wrote the riddle on the dress, one line of a poem he heard from Jingyu about an inseparable bond. He wrote the other half of the riddle on his own. With the riddles inscribed and the parade coming to a close, there was one last thing to do. Everyone took their dresses off and wrapped them around specialized frames, the hollow frames held in the center of each a small fire, kept from igniting the cloth that would be wrapped around it by a sphere of glass. With the Eweran dresses wrapped around the frames, and Stella poised to peek over the horizon. The group, and all the festival goers, had sent the furbished lanterns aloft. Prayers and riddles were sent to Tranquilitas as dawn began to crack. An unusual window, some may say, but one believed to be where the Administrators were most receptive. The Eweran lanterns floated aloft, carrying wishes and prayers for a bountiful harvest at sea and in the Dungeons alike. ??? Hours later, Emily and those she brought with her returned to the Black Box. Mackenzie Thyme was left alone again as she wandered the streets. ¡°I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll meet Rosemary again,¡± she thought cherishing the memories she had with her. The kinnari give a wistful sigh. ¡°Oh mother,¡± she said. ¡°If you could see how far I came.¡± She wondered if she could''ve gone further in the Eireneon. She recalled the last time she saw her. Then she recalled memories of being in front of a tombstone on a rainy day. That day the Flood noticed her, and last night she had ensured she did not join her mother. Since that day, her desire was to honor her by succeeding as a swimmer. The egret-winged girl lingered on that goal with a fixation and determination unmatched and undaunted. She may have failed this year, but she knew other opportunities would come. On the way home, she saw someone exit a building. A blond girl in a lacy blue dress, and a matching blue bow. ¡°Oh,¡± the girl said with familiarity. ¡°Hey Kenny,¡± she said. ¡°Makenzie,¡± she corrected. ¡°Did you enjoy the Monsoonfall?¡± the other girl said. ¡°Of course!¡± Mackenzie said. ¡°And you?¡± ¡°Things¡­didn¡¯t go well,¡± the blue-dressed girl said. ¡°My friend and I hit a bit of a snag last night.¡± ¡°Ouch,¡± Mackenzie said. ¡°What happened.¡± ¡°Oh, just a minor tiff, no biggie,¡± the other girl said with a small smile. ¡°Actually, if you have the time, could you do me a small favor?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Mackenzie said. ¡°Of course. What do you want?¡± The girl in the blue dress whispered something in Mackenzie¡¯s ear. Her eyes widened in surprise. ¡°Huh? Why that?¡± Mackenzie said. ¡°It¡¯s a secret,¡± her friend said. ¡°My dolls had been very lonely lately.¡± She said with a pleading pout. ¡°Please help them find new friends.¡± Mackenzie was sweating. She knew not the nature of the request, but she had too close a bond with this strange girl to deny her. ¡°Alright Annabelle,¡± the Kinnari said. ¡°Where can I find them?¡± Chapter XLV: Xhao Li ¡° ¡°¡® ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡°¡­ ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? The older Kitsune Dormarch observed the dress with disgust. ¡°Did you really need to use that silk?¡± she said. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡°The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Chapter XLVI: Flameshearth Almost a week later, snow fell upon the Black Box. ¡°Achoo,¡± Rose sneezed as she slithered around with clothing as warm as Elizabeth could find. ¡°Emily can you please warm up a little?¡± the lamia whined. ¡°I¡¯m sorry Rose,¡± the dungeon¡¯s voice echoed to the pink-pigtailed girl. ¡°I¡¯m trying my best.¡± The cerulean foliage of the Bleumaw had either frozen solid or vanished from the branches of the trees. Several of the creatures there and in the nearby forests had retreated to their caves, nests, and dens for hibernation. Rose tried to keep herself warm. The witch had come across a ¡°brilliant¡± idea. With a mischievous smirk, she focused on a simple spell. Meanwhile, Heathcliff, Esteban, and Julia were nearby, tending to a recent matter. ¡°Welcome aboard,¡± the knight said to some stranger. Ewerans as noted by their bulbous bells. ¡°Now mademoiselles if I may ask for your names?¡± One of them responded. ¡°This is Molly Bob, Holly Ray, and I¡¯m Debbie Bob.¡± The leader of the trio said. ¡°Thank you so much for taking us in.¡± After that, the three swam past the knights as a Cell led them to their new housing within the Black Box. Elizabeth arrived. ¡°So these are the [Ewerans] you told us about?¡± the fairy asked. Esteban nodded. ¡°Julia found them homeless in the underground. The Ebony Guards told them that with increased Dollkeeper activity in Noir, they could not be safe there.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the third group this month,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°They must¡¯ve been pretty active to force them out like this.¡± ¡°There has to be more to it than that!¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°Indeed,¡± Julia said. ¡°With Monsoonfall over, the Syndicate should have less reason to target them specifically.¡± The group heard a large yell from the room next door. Out of concern, Esteban went to check in on the resident and found one singed Lamia for his troubles. Azalea and Clover also heard Rose¡¯s cry of pain and went to the room. ¡°Rosie,¡± Clover said disapprovingly. ¡°You zapped yourself again?¡± Rose was too embarrassed to respond. The scorched flesh was telling enough. Esteban was more surprised. Azalea noticed the Rouge¡¯s expression. ¡°Shocking isn¡¯t it?¡± she quipped. ¡°Rose sometimes tries to use her magic to warm up this time of year.¡± ¡°I see,¡± he said with a knowing sigh. Hydrangea and Raine walked in. ¡°Look what we got!¡± the latter said in a sing-song tone. Rose looked at her friends and made an expression that said ¡°Oh Administrators please no!¡± The red-ponytailed and red-feathered girl had in her hands a coral pink blanket, with the limbs of a teddy bear attached at the corners and the head on the seam between the arms. ¡°Silly Rosie,¡± Raine said. ¡°You left this in Noir.¡± The lamia shivered from cold and emotion. ¡°Where did you g-g-get that?¡± The other Coloraturas, Strelitiza, Anemone, and Lily, walked in. Lily gasped at the sight of the blanket. ¡°Is that the ¡®Mr. Snuggiekins¡¯ blankie!¡± the blond centauride said. Rose¡¯s face grew red from embarrassment. ¡°Jacquelyn had it sent here,¡± Hydrangea said with a stoic smile. ¡°She found it while she was cleaning up the diner.¡± ¡°Richard and I had gone to great trouble to fix the holes in there,¡± Raine said. Her smile as cheeky as it is nostalgic. ¡°Try to take good care of it next time Rosie.¡± Among the effects brought by the Coloraturas from Noir to the Black Box, Mr. Snuggiekins was not one of them. The blanket was one of the last remnants of Rose¡¯s old home, yet as she aged, she felt she had outgrown it. At current the abject embarrassment was on display as she timidly slithered to the phoenixian girl and claimed it. A while later, Rose donned the blanket, finding the embarrassment slightly more preferable to the biting cold. Emily had to stifle a giggle upon seeing the serpent-tailed girl cowled by a blanket befitting a girl younger than even Nina. The blanket was draped over her tail as she slithered to Esteban. The rouge shot a silent stern look at Raine. ¡°Raine¡­¡± Raine stifled chuckles as she looked at the azure-clad rouge. ¡°What?¡± she asked. ¡°I wanted to return a lost item to her is all.¡± Esteban sighed. Hydrangea had turned to read another of her novels. A thriller about the murder of a captain on a cruise ship. She sat next to Azalea as she read her novel. The young girl made a melancholic expression as she turned the page of her book. ??? Atsuko was in another part of the Black Box, checking on the Takarabune for maintenance. She observed the various instruments of the craft and checked for any defects. As the nekomata tinkered with the ship, she heard an exuberant cry of ¡°hello!¡± She looked at the source of the cry. It was Cassie. ¡°Oh,¡± the teal-haired girl said. ¡°What brings you here?¡± she said with trepidation. ¡°I just finished helping the dwarves out with their little project!¡± the dormarch said. ¡°Today¡¯s work is done, but the thing won¡¯t be done until right before Spring.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± Atsuko said. ¡°That doesn''t answer my question.¡± ¡°I heard you are looking into enhancing items?¡± Cassie said with a great smile. ¡°Didn¡¯t we tell you about microdungeons already?¡± Atsuko said with confusion. ¡°Well, I was wondering if you could take a look at a special item for me?¡± Cassie said pleadingly. ¡°A special item?¡± the cat-eared woman said with intrigue, ¡°What kind of ¡®special item?¡¯¡± ¡°Flameshearth is in a few days!¡± Cassie said, punctuated with a small ¡°arf¡±. ¡°There is this tradition about¡ª¡± ¡°¡­an idol of the forgemaster,¡± Atsuko finished. ¡°Adventurers frequently use hammers and volcanic glass for this.¡± ¡°Mm¡¯hmm,¡± Cassie nodded. ¡°They are tribute to the Forgemaster for continuing to keep us warm in the winter.¡± ¡°I also heard that the idol is often used to ignite a fire for which people make Flamesheart dinners over,¡± Atsuko said. ¡°Why bring all of this up.¡± Cassie presented the idol. A sledgehammer that bore instructions depicting the Administrators and his forge within the star¡¯s core. The handle was immaculately crafted from the wood of ash trees. The head was made of simple steel but shaped with precisions and attention to detail. ¡°I made it myself! Though Sarah gave me some tips ehe. I want to ask if maybe this could be enhanced.¡± Her tail wagged with excitement as she spoke. Atsuko examined the hammer. ¡°Interesting,¡± she said. ¡°I should remind you that newly crafted weapons lead to microdugneons that aren¡¯t as influenced by the mana of their owners. If you were hoping to find any specific qualities there you may be disappointed.¡± ¡°It¡¯s still worth a shot!¡± Cassie exclaimed. ¡°Please?¡± Atsuko mulled on the idol for a few minutes. ¡°Alright,¡± The dog-eared artificer inhaled a large breath¡­ ¡°Tomorrow,¡± Atsuko said. Cassie exhaled in slight disappointment. ¡°Sorry,¡± the nekomata said. ¡°But the Takarabune needs to be in tip top shape for this.¡± Cassie glanced at the vessel behind Atsuko, the gleaming ship used as part of the apparatus for traveling to the microdungeons. The sleek shape of the vessel had captivated the Dormarch. ¡°One last thing, we will need you to come with us,¡± Atsuko said. ¡°So far our ventures need the owner of the item present with us for success.¡± ¡°Will do!¡± Cassie said. ¡°Hank you,¡± her last words before she ran off in giddy excitement. Atsuko returned to tending to the Takarabune. ??? The next day, Atsuko has gathered Emily and several others around for the voyage into the microdungeon of Cassie¡¯s idol. ¡°Why is is so chilly today?¡± Rose complained. Her tail was draped in the embarrassing bear blanket. ¡°That is a good question,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°Is it a [Mana Infection]? ¡°But I don¡¯t feel sick!¡± Emily¡¯s voice said to those gathered here. ¡°We might need to check for any signs of cataclysms nearby,¡± Atsuko said. ¡°The Pyrosphere alone might not be enough to ward off temperatures this cold. Anyhoo, do you know about the current expedition?¡± ¡°Something about an idol, right?¡± Rose said. ¡°One to the Forgemaster I would presume,¡± Hydrangea said. Atsuko nodded she turned to Saizo to elaborate. ¡°Lady Atsuko had decided to explore of of our recent resident¡¯s items at her request,¡± the shinobi said. ¡°That¡¯s me!¡± Cassie interrupted. ¡°I¡¯m the resident ehe.¡± Her mouth was agape with whimsical anticipation. ¡°Correct,¡± Saizo said. ¡°This is somewhat different from usual,¡± Sarah said, with her own idol in hand. ¡°These were not weapons or armor, not traditionally at least.¡± ¡°That is true,¡± Atsuko said. ¡°Part of the purpose of this expedition is for me to gauge how and if it items of that nature could be enhanced through the microdugneons.¡± Her ringletted twin-tails twirled as she turned towards the Takurabune. ¡°It¡¯s also a convenient excuse for me to test the updates as well.¡± ¡°What updates,¡± Sarah asked. ¡°You¡¯ll see when we get there,¡± the nekomata said with a crafty smirk. ¡°Now we still have time before we go, so feel free to ask Saizo and me if you want to go.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t we go now?¡± Rose said. ¡°I¡¯m sure it¡¯ll be warmer than here.¡± ¡°Oh c¡¯mon, Rosie,¡± Azalia said. ¡°Can you really bear to be apart from Mr. Snuggiekins?¡± The lamia showed an annoyed glance at her clionid friend. ¡°I can manage, thank you.,¡± she said in a petulant tone. The group dispersed to go about their activities until the quest is ready. Among whom, Sid and Cassie went to check on the other Dormarches, particularly Andy and Molly. The Coloraturas went with the other children to school. Tim returned to the Core room to check on a certain fixture. ??? At the core room, Tim observed Emily¡¯s Furnace. A faint glow is seen within the gleaming silver frame of the manifestation of Emily¡¯s current stage. He knows that the two of them were still in Albedo and that the next stage is Citrinas. ¡°Something wrong, Timmy,¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoed to her first Sentinel. ¡°No,¡± Tim answered. ¡°Just meditating,¡± he lied. Emily noticed he was looking at the furnace. ¡°Do you think this could be used as¡­well.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± Tim said. ¡°This is a symbol of your cultivation. If it could be used to warm yourself, I am not sure.¡± ¡°Do you feel cold, Tim?¡± Emily said with a somewhat insecure tone. ¡°Not really,¡± Tim said. ¡°Why do you ask?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just¡­well I¡­I¡¯m not sure if I¡¯m providing enough care to everyone is all.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± Tim said. He knows she is doing the best she can. ¡°Do you know that Rose is cold-blooded?¡± ¡°Cold-blooded?¡± Emily said. ¡°But she is usually kind, if a little sassy.¡± ¡°You¡¯re thinking of ¡®cold-hearted¡¯,¡± Tim said. ¡°Lamias can generate a little body heat, but it is only in their torsos. Their longer serpentine tails are incapable of it, and with the heat being dispersed through the tail the torsos is but a stand of a cow¡¯s hair among the heard.¡± Emily is a little disturbed by that knowledge. Especially since she knew she and the other Coloraturas went to a certain cold Manor for the Cryosphere. ¡°How do they survive?¡± ¡°Well,¡± Elizabeth fluttered in. ¡°Among their own communities, [Lamias] usually hibernate in the winter, but those that live among other people, like Rose, no longer had the option. As such they tend to rely on other means. Enchanted blankets, thicker clothing, and clinging to furrier creatures are common ones. Of course, those with access to a [Pyropshere], [Aquasphere], or [Electropshere] would be the exception to their poikilothermia, as they can use magic to generate heat instead.¡± Emily is a little relieved to hear that. ¡°..but,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°Rose¡¯s powers had gone haywire whenever she tried to use her magic in that way. I¡¯m not sure why that is, it is very abnormal given her higher-than-average experience.¡± Emily is a little surprised to hear that. ??? Meanwhile, Rose is getting ready for school. She took a look at Mr. Snuggiekins and sighed. The temperature is lower than comfortable for her, but she is reluctant to bring her reclaimed blanket with her to school. ¡°People would laugh at me if they saw this,¡± Rose thought. Her experience with her friends¡¯ snickers was already proof of that. She heard a knock on the door. ¡°Come in!¡± the lamia said. Raine entered the room where Rose¡¯s clothes lied. ¡°It¡¯s almost time for school, Rose,¡± she said in a somewhat annoyed tone. ¡°I know,¡± the pink-haired girl said to the red-haired kinnari. ¡°You still feeling cold?¡± Raine said as she looked at the blanket. ¡°I think I can¡ª¡± Rose sneezed. ¡°Manage.¡± Raine didn¡¯t believe Rose¡¯s lie. ¡°Come here,¡± said as she picked up Mr. Snuggiekins. ¡°Hey!¡± Rose said as she saw her friend pick the bear-motifed blanket and wrapped it around her tail. She struggled to break free of her hands as she deftly wrapped the blanket around her tail and fastened it tightly. ¡°There you go!¡± Rose attempted to remove the blanket, now a cape, but the rims had runes engraved that sealed its placement on Rose¡¯s scaly tail. ¡°Runes? Raine, what did you do?¡± ¡°I had Richard sew them on the way, just in case,¡± Raine said sternly. ¡°Are you trying to kill me?¡± Rose said like a spoiled child. ¡°I can¡¯t be seen like this. I¡¯d die of embarrassment!¡± ¡°Better than death of cold,¡± Raine said in her usual belligerent tone. ¡°Even if we can be resurrected, I don¡¯t want you getting ill and dying of it. Or trying to shock yourself every time you feel cold.¡± Rose rolled her eyes. ¡°Easy for you to say, you can generate enough heat to warm a small town.¡± Her voice tinged with the cold tone of envy. After a few moments spent grumbling she followed Raine to school, shying away from the mocking eyes of her peers along the way. ??? Raine and Rose arrived at their homeroom, and they took their decks. Her cheeks were adust with blush as she slithered past snickering classmates. She noticed Hydrangea sitting nearby. ¡°Hey Hydra,¡± the lamia said as she took to her desk. The homeroom teacher, Mr. Daniels, was late today. The cyan-bobbed girl looked at Rose and noticed her bear-emblazoned blanket before turning at her face. ¡°So, ¡®fearless leader¡¯,¡± she said. ¡°You want to explore a microdugneon today?¡± Rose nodded, hoping that the topic would take her mind off the mockery behind her back, and of the bitter cold. ¡°Yep! You wanna come with?¡± ¡°I suppose it is worth exploring,¡± Hydrangea said as she put her book away. Her tone was more melancholic than usual. Rose and Raine both picked up on it. ¡°You feel down lately, Hydrangea,¡± Rose said. ¡°Something on your mind?¡± ¡°Rose,¡± Raine said. ¡°It¡¯s almost Flameshearth, remember?¡± ¡°I know that Ra¡ªoh,¡± Rose remembered something about her friend. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± the bespectacled girl said. ¡°I already made my peace since we left the Cocytus Manor,¡± she said. ¡°Hydra,¡± Raine said. ¡°You know you can talk to us about¡­that.¡± ¡°There is nothing I haven¡¯t told you about them,¡± Hydrangea said. They knew that her parents had vanished after the Cycle¡¯s Turn and that their correspondence with her had ceased around Flameshearth years after. For this reason, they were considered bereaved. The other five Coloraturas arrived and greeted the other students. Lily complimented the blanket wrapping Rose¡¯s tail again, oblivious to how humiliated the lamia was by the presence. A while later Mr. Daniels arrived along with three new students. ¡°Good day, students,¡± the Arachne teacher greeted. ¡°Today I would like to introduce three new members of our class.¡± Three dormarch children walked to the front of the classroom. One Kitsune and an Orthosian pair. ¡°Hello!¡± the young kitsune said. ¡°My name¡¯s Makoto!¡± she said in a slightly brazen tone. Her two friends were more quiet and comparisons. ¡°A-Antoine,¡± the male twin said. His ears drooped with trepidation as his tail wagged. ¡°You can call me Andy.¡± ¡°My name¡¯s Molly,¡± the female twin said. Her curly silver hair stood on end from shyness. ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you all!¡± The three Dormarches were directed to their seats. Andy and Molly were directed to desks behind the Coloraturas¡¯ while Makoto sat in the one behind them. The class began with little incident as Mr. Daniels told the students about Flameshearth and its origins as a cultural holiday. ??? After the homeroom class ended. Hydrangea took her literature reports out of her bag on the way to her next class. Various notes on the stories she had read in articulate detail filled the notebook she took out of her bag. Today her teacher wanted to discuss the Astrapios, a book of books centered around the Admistrators. Along the way, she bumped into Rose again. She saw the young lamia flustered by the reaction to the blanket draped around her tail. ¡°Have you finished your homework last night? ¡°Hydrangea asked. ¡°Homework?¡± Rose said. Hydrangea sighed. ¡°The report on Chiaroscuro,¡± she said. ¡°Oh, yeah I did,¡± the pink hair girl said. ¡°Wanna see.¡± She took out her notebook. Hydrangea looked over the scrawls and scribbles on the pages. ¡°Rose¡­¡± she said with a sigh over the atrocious handwriting. Unhelped by the edges being scorched from the occasional lightning strike. ¡°Do you understand what the book is about?¡± she asked. Rose thought about it. ¡°A detective was investigating the murder of a visiting princess in the Etrurean city of Orestea. Having interrogated the local baker, his daughter, the butcher, and someone connected to the mob. He explored the dark underbelly of Orested trying to find the truth and found out that her butler was part of a conspiracy to incite war between her homeland and Etrurea itself and had assassinated her. Is that right Hydra?¡± The cyan-bobbed girl could only blink in shock. ¡°¡­and what are the themes?¡± ¡°Themes?¡± Rose said in confusion. ¡°Well, there was plenty of cobblestone. Thatched roofs. Oh, and the detective brought a candle with him everywhere he went. Even to the castle!¡± Hydrangea¡¯s amazement gave way to disappointment. ¡°Rosie¡­¡± The two made their way to their next class. ¡°By the way,¡± Rose said as she slithered alongside her friend. ¡°Did you know that Julia will be teaching here next month?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Hydrangea said. ¡°Kinda hard to avoid it with the staff talking about it.¡± The two children arrived at their class and they found another Arachne teacher. Miranda Inkswell. An Atracidae who was seen using her toxins as ink for strange messages. ¡°You¡¯re early,¡± the woman said to the two girls. ¡°Class doesn¡¯t start for two minutes.¡± Hydrangea and Roses handed their notebooks to the teacher. Ms Inkswell looked over the material, and had her usual reaction, both to Hydrangea¡¯s excellent summary of Chiaroscuro¡­and to Rose¡¯s illegible scrawl. ¡°I¡­see,¡± Ms Inkswell said. ¡°You¡¯re handwriting is still¡­trepidating.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± the oblivious lamia said. ¡°We¡¯re going to have a review on it in class,¡± Ms. Inkswell said/ ¡°I¡¯ll be sure to tre-pie-date you more Ms. Maxwell!¡± Rose said cheerfully. ¡°Of that, I am certain,¡± the Arachne teacher said. The next two to arrive were Andy and Molly. ¡°And what do we have here?¡± Ms. Inkswell said. ¡°Are you the two new students I¡¯ve heard about?¡± From shyness, Molly and Andy were slow to respond. ¡°Y-yes?¡± Andy said after thirty seconds. Hydrangea approached the twins. ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve properly introduced myself,¡± she said. She failed to do so last class and their original meeting was under circumstances that made it too difficult. Molly looked at Rose and more specifically, Mr. Snuggiekins. ¡°I like your blanket!¡± she said. ¡°It¡¯s so cute!¡± Rose¡¯s face turned red from humiliation again. She was expecting the two to laugh at her. ¡°Go ahead,¡± Rose said in a sarcastic. ¡°Laugh. Everyone else is doing it!¡± ¡°You¡¯ll have to forgive Rose,¡± Hydrangea said. ¡°She was rather sensitive about her retrieved blanket.¡± ¡°Am not!¡± Rose lied. ¡°Rose!¡± Ms. Inkswell said. ¡°No shouting!¡± ¡°Sorry, ¡°the lamia said to her teacher. Lily and Anemone arrived next. Lily gasped an excitement as she saw Rose still wore the blanket and looked over the repairs done to it. The rest of the classmates followed suit as class was about to begin. ??? Once class was over, the group met up with the other Coloraturas during their lunch break. ¡°Hello! I¡¯m Clover!¡± the green-haired fawn said. Her wings framed her deer-like legs as she rattled off. ¡°Sorry about what happened a week back. I haven¡¯t quite mastered the fan yet. Gasp, you two are Orthusians?¡± ¡°Y-y-yes?¡± Molly said. Her brother¡¯s face bore the same concerned expression as hers. ¡°Wow! I heard that Orthusians and Cerberusians can share each other¡¯s thoughts and feelings?¡± Clover said. ¡°Is it true that they share the same mind? Do you guys have psionic powers? Can you show me how¡ª¡± ¡°Clover,¡± Rose said. ¡°You¡¯re scaring them.¡± The twin Dromarches clung to each other in fear of the overly curious girl. ¡°¡­Sorry,¡± Clover said. Strelitizia banged her head on the deck. ¡°You really need to work on the rapid-fire questions.¡± The minotaruide said. Rose looked around and saw the snickering sneers of students looking at her embarrassing blanket. Her mind lingered on their mocking tones. She then turned her attention to Anemone. ¡°Hey, Mone, can you do me a favor?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± The purple-haired lycanthrope said. ¡°Can you help me get this blanket off?¡± Rose said. Raine turned to Rose. ¡°Rose, how will you warm yourself?¡± she asked. ¡°You know you can¡¯t generate enough heat.¡± ¡°Same way I always tried,¡± Rose said. ¡°Your heart will give out if you keep zapping yourself,¡± Anemone said. ¡°Yeah, Rosie,¡± Azalea said. ¡°You¡¯ll be fried snake after a few months!¡± ¡°Beats death by embarrassment,¡± the lamia muttered. ¡°Hey wait, Azalea. You¡¯re also Ecto¡­ecto¡­¡± ¡°Ectothermric,¡± Hydrangea said. ¡°Right, Ech-to-the-ric,¡± Rose said. ¡°How come you¡¯re not freezing?¡± ¡°Well,¡± Azalea said. ¡°My little tail doesn''t need to be warm,¡± the clionid said. ¡°Also the water is easily warmed from the movement and surrounding air. It has to be frigid for it to freeze over.¡± At that time, Pearl arrived. ¡°There you are, Lily!¡± ¡°Hi, Elisa!¡± Lily said to the disguised porcine girl. ¡°She looks familiar,¡± Andy and Molly said in unison. Pearl looked at Rose. ¡°Why are you wearing a blanket made for toddlers?¡± she asked the lamia innocently. Rose banged her head on the table. The lunch break came and went and everyone was set to go home. ??? Hydrangea was called by Emily. The dungeon said Esteban wanted to ask her a few questions. She found the rouge whittling away some wood. ¡°Hello,¡± Hydrangea said to the blue-clad man in a friendly tone. The rouge turned to the ice-wielding Coloratura. ¡°I heard you used to live in that frozen-over mansion. The Cocytus Manor right?¡± The cyan-bobbed girl bobbed her head in affirmation. Memories of her last trip there and of the time spent before then filled her mind. ¡°Why do you ask?¡± she said stoically. ¡°I heard that the original residents vanished several years back,¡± Esteban said. ¡°Archaeologists that were last seen in Sigurdtein,¡± Esteban said calmly. He also knew that if his assumption was true that would make Hydrangea their daughter and thus that he would be dredging up her bad memories. Hydrangea nodded. ¡°That is correct. Before the manor was a dungeon, it was once my home. And they were my parents.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Esteban said. His hunch was correct. ¡°I know it must be hard to be reminded of your lost ones.¡± ¡°I made my peace with that long ago,¡± Hydrangea said. ¡°That said, I wonder why are you suddenly interested in them.¡± ¡°You remember the Project Stronghold rumors?¡± the man said. ¡°Of course,¡± the child said. ¡°I had it on good knowledge that similar reports were made in Sigurdtein and larger amounts. Therefore I believe that if those rumors are true, then they likely began at Sigurdtein. With how your folks had mysterious had vanished, well, you¡¯re a smart girl. I¡¯m sure you can piece it together.¡± Hydrangea is shocked to hear Esteban¡¯s implication. ¡°You mean to say that my parents were kidnapped and ¡­Oh Obsidian¡­¡± ¡°Right now it is only a theory, or rather a hunch,¡± Esteban reassured. ¡°But the matter remains that if any clues would be found in that Dungeon. Amidst its frozen halls. Any information you can provide the rouges on where such knowledge would be found would be helpful to the Rouges.¡± Hydrangea was stunned. Her mind is still fathoming the possibility of her parents somehow being merged with Dungeon cores. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but this is¡­¡± ¡°Take your time,¡± Esteban said. ¡°I must also apologize.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Hydrangea said. ¡°I understand. Is there anything else?¡± ¡°Actually,¡± the rogue said there is. He took out a book. Its coalbound appearance was broken by golden letters emblazoned on it. The cover read. ¡°The Seed of the Zahhakglen¡±. ¡°I was wondering if you can help me understand this book?¡± The child smiled at the request. The book was a rare story. With only three thousand copies in circulation in Libert¨¦. It¡¯s said to be the origin of a group of Natural Dungeons that comprise a dense forest network. Those who read it believe it to be a fable. Others claimed it was a grimoire in disguise and had ordered it burned for hiding spells within its seemingly child-friendly pages. Even the reproductions were rare. Esteban held a curiosity in the tome for a while, as some of his fellow rouges pondered if the reason for this controversy was because it had pro-revolutionary leanings, drawing inspiration from mentions of a man imprisoned in Charlemagne for his lurid and sadistic writings. Those who read the book attribute to it a fairy tale quality, the kind that would be read to children before bedtime. Though he was also curious about the book, he also knew that Hydrangea¡¯s mood needed to be lightened. The two spent time reading and analyzing the text. A few hours later, Hydrangea left Esteban to his devices. ??? The next day, Emily and Atsuko had gathered those who were willing to explore the Microdungeon to the Takurabune and the room where the relevant instruments were located. Among the gathered were the Coloraturas, as well as the Dormarches. Atsuko and her ninja count the volunteers. Rose, with Raine and Anemone¡¯s help, had removed Mr. Snuggiekins from the lamia the previous night to the phoenixian girl¡¯s concern. ¡°Rose, are you sure you don¡¯t want to bring Mr. Snuggiekins with you?¡± Raine asked. ¡°It can¡¯t be guaranteed that the idol would be warm.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± Rose said. ¡°It¡¯s made in the image of the Forgemaster, right? He who makes arms and armor in the hot core of the planet, right?¡± ¡°It¡¯s more like Obsidian is the hot core of the planet,¡± Anemone said. Meanwhile, Hydrangea noticed that Andy and Molly approached them, their staves in hand. ¡°Yes?¡± the bobbed girl said. ¡°Um¡­hello,¡± Molly said. ¡°Um, can we go with you?¡± Hydrangea was surprised. ¡°You want to accompany me?¡± the young girl said. ¡°¡­If you want,¡± Andy said timidly. The twins had asked the other Dormarches about it, Cassie and Sid had already decided to go, but Fuuka and Makoto opted to stay in normal-sized space. ¡°Of course you can,¡± Hydrangea said with a tome warmer than her icy cyan and black aesthetic suggested. Andy¡¯s face brightened up a little. Saizo approved Atsuko after finishing up the tally. ¡°Alright,¡± Saizo said. ¡°The volunteers here include Rose, Raine, Clover, Streltiiza, Hydrangea, Anemone, Azalea, Lily, Antoine, Molly, and Nina.¡± ¡°Skewing a little young this time,¡± Atsuko said. ¡°Cassie, Sid, and Emily will also accompany me,¡± Atsuko said. ¡°That should be fifteen people, then?¡± Saizo nodded. ¡°Actually,¡± Elizabeth said as she fluttered to the nekoamta and her retainer. ¡°I want to go as well.¡± ¡°Sixteen then!¡± Atsuko said. ¡°Wish us luck,¡± Atsuko explained to the Dromarches about how the Takurabune, Kaguya Parallel Mirror, and the Femtonauts worked and directed them into the pods. Emily¡¯s avatara boards the vessel as everyone else prepares to have their mind streamed into the proxy bodies. Saizo and Noboru operate the instruments while Kasumi and Hoshikage ensure the party are prepared for the trip and activate the pods. Fuuka, Makoto, Kei, Aika, Minerva, and Tim wanted to assist with the instruments as well. The Takarabune shrinks into hyperbolic space as it lands on the idol and in its microdungeon. ??? Contrary to Rose¡¯s assumption, the Microdugneon, dubbed the Hammerhead Tundra, was anything but warm. The microdungeon was blanketed in a sheet of white as gray clouds shrouded the kaleidoscopic sky. ¡°Why is it so cold!¡± Rose said as she shivered. If she can take any solace it is in that the femtonaut¡¯s bodies were warmed by the mechanisms that enabled their function in subatomic sizes. Though even that was inefficient in keeping the lamia¡¯s body warm enough for her liking. Atsuko took a breath and saw a small mist from it. ¡°Maybe I should¡¯ve made thermo-regulating plating for the femtonauts,¡± she mused. ¡°Oh well.¡± Cassie drew from her stardeck. The Ascendant card of the day was Ursa Major. ¡°You¡¯re in luck!¡± the Dormarch said. ¡°Today Pyrois will shine on us!¡± ¡°That is rather fortuitous,¡± Elizabeth said, ¡°[Pyrois] is¡ª¡± ¡°The Planetes of the red planet,¡± Rose said with stilled bones. ¡°We know.¡± She wasn¡¯t in the mood for being reminded of the divinity after hearing about the Planetes so many times. ¡°I¡¯ll see if I can strum up some warming ditties as well,¡± Sid said. The party looked around. There they discovered tree-like structures made of volcanic glass. The jagged black bark gleamed with a touch of violet as scant light shone on them. ¡°We¡¯re supposed to find the exit?¡± Andy said shyly. ¡°R-right?¡± Hydrangea nodded. ¡°We usually dive ten floors at a time.¡± Nina looked around. ¡°I still don¡¯t get it, why are they called floors? Not all of them had basements.¡± ¡°That is¡­¡± Anemone said until she realized the arbitrariness of the nomenclature. ¡°¡­a good point. I¡¯ll go ask.¡± Anemone brought Elizabeth to the Orthuseans and asked her about the terminology. ¡°[Floors],¡± the pink-haired fairy answered. ¡°Were common parlance for the layers of [Dugneons], originated from many of them having multiple levels, but had soon evolved to encapsulate separated areas of the Dungeons in general. The Bleumaw, for example, could be a ¡®floor¡¯ of Emily, sequestered from her original body by its walls.¡± Rose scratched her head. ¡°Okay?¡± ¡°You¡¯d be surprised how quirky languages get,¡± Hydrangea said. Azalea noticed her bubble was freezing up. ¡°Um, Clover?¡± she asked the deerlet. The peryton fawn saw the froze in Azalea¡¯s water and nodded, casting an oxygenation spell on her. ¡°Alright!¡± the clionid said. ¡°If anyone is snowed down by this place, please let me know!¡± ¡°Here we go¡­¡± Streltiiza said in annoyance. ¡°This place is glass, isn¡¯t it?¡± Azalea said. The group traveled away from the Takurabune, warmed by the passive mana of Cassie¡¯s Pyrois deck and Sid¡¯s Bardsong, they prepared to explore the Volcanic Tundra. ??? The party explored the first floor of the Hammerhead Tundra. They encountered larger glass-coated chinchillas. They traversed the jagged trees and their ebony branches. Hydrangea and Azalea used their powers to create a gelatinous prison for humanoid pursuers, and Raine, Cassie, and Syd used their talents to keep the party warm throughout the trek. The group soon discovered a large bonfire, surrounded by stones. The snowmelt around the flame was kept at bay by its violet hue. ¡°That¡¯s¡­unusual,¡± Raine said. Tim and Rose approached the bonfire. Rose basked in its warmth as she slithered around the toasty blaze. ¡°Be careful,¡± Tim said to the younger lamia. ¡°There¡¯s is something off about this flame.¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah,¡± the careless child said. Emily, Atsuko, and Raine followed them as they examined the fire. ¡°Is this the gate?¡± the avatara asked. ¡°It seems like it,¡± Atsuko said. A cinder fell on Rose¡¯s tail and the girl yelped in pain from being burned. Raine and Tim shook their eyes at the lamia¡¯s misfortune. ¡°Tell me,¡± a curious Tim said to the phoenixian child. ¡°How long had you two lived together?¡± Raine crossed her arms. ¡°I think it¡¯s been a few years now?¡± ¡°How did you two meet?¡± Tim inquisited. ¡°Why ask?¡± Raine answered. ¡°I think it prudent to know my fellow students better,¡± Tim said. He had not forgotten that the Coloraturas were among those learning the art of Alkahestry. Raine sighed. ¡°I think I found her bawling her eyes out in an alley,¡± the kinarri said. ¡°She was definitely crying, that I know.¡± ¡°Was not!¡± Rose interrupted. ¡°I was the very picture of grace.¡± ¡°You were clinging to Mr. Snuggiekins the whole time,¡± Raine corrected. Rose disliked the reminder of the embarrassing blanket. Tim caught a glint in her eyes that implied that it was for reasons beyond schoolyard mockery, but he decided not to press that line of inquiry. Meanwhile, Andy noticed a different glint in the violent violet embers. A structure in the shake of a hammer. His sister instinctively turned to his direction and then towards the tool. Hydrangea noticed the two Orthusians walk towards the fire. ¡°Hey!¡± she tried to call to them out of concern. Cassie and Sid also noticed the younger dormarches approaching. Dread washed over their faces as they tried to get them to stop their advance.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. Molly and Andy moved into the fire their fluffy hair and coats singed by violet, but that was the extent of the damage, to the shock of all involved. Molly helped Andy climb the pillar where the hammer hung and the male twin carefully lifted it from its pedestal. The blaze erupted into a pillar of purple flame, the twins were engulfed as the cinders expanded beyond the stone barrier and flicked into the blazing road. The two woke up from their trance with Andy looking at the hammer in confusion. The violet path changed into a vermilion hue as it rise above the ground. The curious party traveled on the path, finding that the heat did not burn their lower bodies. They followed it towards a secluded area with ten pillars. A single orange flame stood atop one of them, melted was flowed from the obsidian pillar like lava. Strelitzia noticed a pattern on the frosted ground. She examined it closely and saw volcanic imagery beneath the ashened ice. ¡°Check it out!¡± The minotauride beckoned to the others. Elizabeth noticed the unmistakable image of the man depicted in the glyphs. ¡°Is that¡ª¡± the fairy said. Cassie was elated to see Obsidian depicted in the ruins. ¡°Calm down Cass,¡± her jonguler friend said. ¡°This is your idol remember?¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m excited, Sydney!¡± Cassie said. ¡°It is clearly a sign of piety!¡± she said. Atsuko wondered about the image of Obsidian. ¡°The hammer was recently crafted, even given its purpose it doesn''t make sense for mana to affect it so soon.¡± She said. The nekomata then noticed a string aperture near the Administrator¡¯s elbow. Strategy shaped it feels like it was carved to fit something. Andy observed the strange hammer in his hands. The head was made of the same glass, and the wooden handle resembled ash lumber. It felt familiar to him and his sister for some reason. Atsuko noticed the hammer in Andy¡¯s hand. ¡°Where did you get that?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Andy said. ¡°It suddenly appeared in his hand,¡± Molly said. Atsuko saw the twins grab something from the violet pyre. ¡°Did you remember walking into the purple flame?¡± ¡°What flame?¡± Molly asked confusingly. Hydrangea overheard Molly¡¯s response and made a baffled expression. Atsuko mused on the possibility that the Orthusians were not aware of their actions then. The teal-haired and cat-eared woman turned to the hammer again. ¡°May I see that hammer?¡± she asked politely. The young lad landed the Yanese researcher the strange artifact. As Atsuko touched it she felt her arm burn and dropped the artifact. Molly dived in front and caught the hammer before it collided with the ground, she and her brother blanked out as she did so. ¡°Huh?¡± Molly asked. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Good question,¡± Atsuko asked. ¡°Seems they are the only ones that can hold it,¡± she thought to herself. ¡°Can you do me a favor?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± the twins simultaneously asked. ¡°I found something over there,¡± she pointed to the hole. ¡°It seems like that hammer is just the right shape and size to fit, I want to ask if you can place it there, please?¡± Molly looked at the hole, it did seem like it was made for the hammer. Curious about what would happen she and Andy approached the arm on the image of Obsidian emblazoned beneath her feet and placed the hammer in the hole. The tool fits perfectly. As the hammer was placed, the engraving of the Forgemaster glowed and the sigil and those around them shone blindly and brilliantly. ??? The party arrived on the second floor of the microdungeon. At a similar circle then the one they arrived in. The four Dormarches were disoriented by the teleportation. ¡°That was¡­¡± Cassie said while dizzy. Atsuko looked around and noticed an immediate change, on two of the ten pillars surrounding them were vermilion flames. ¡°That is the entry gate,¡± the nekoamta said. Cassie looked to her left and saw the Takarabune had appeared near them. She was as amazed as she was confused as to the vessel¡¯s feat. Rose slithered around and noticed the air had grown slightly humid. ¡°Huh? It¡¯s a little warmer here.¡± ¡°It is, isn¡¯t it?¡± Hydrangea said. ¡°Well,¡± Atsuko said. ¡°We¡¯ll still have nine floors left.¡± ¡°What do you do in these microdungeons?¡± Sid asked. ¡°It seems like you have put a lot of effort into these strange places.¡± ¡°I did!¡± Atsuko said with pride. ¡°It was my life¡¯s dream to research them ever since I learned of them.¡± ¡°¡®If places have spirits, why not items?¡¯¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°I recall you saying something along those lines.¡± ¡°Wait,¡± Cassie said with a gasp. ¡°Does that mean that¡ª¡± ¡°No,¡± Atsuko said, gleaming from the context that is the item they¡¯re exploring. ¡°I find it highly unlikely we¡¯ll meet an Administrator here.¡± ¡°Is everyone ready?¡± Emily asked, with some annoyance of being left out of the conversation. The group moved to explore the second floor. They split into several groups to cover more ground. Atsuko explained that part of the tasks here involves taking back items from within the microdungeosn for analysis. To that end, the split group was tasked with taking some of the volcanic glass back with them. Hydrangea went with Azalea, Andy, and Molly. The clionid mermaid took the opportunity to beguile them with her punny humor while Hydrangea observed the glassy trees and dark ice for ways to harvest them safely. ¡°And then I said ¡®I¡¯m happy to be o-live!¡¯¡± Azalea finished. Hydrangea had asked the other three to test a method she devised. ¡°Could you conjure up water blades?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll try,¡± Molly answered. She and her brother channeled mana into liquid blades that aimed to sever the frozen glassy tree in front of them. Their efforts had ensured a few branches were loosened, but the cold had frozen the spells midair and assimilated them into the frost. ¡°Not bad,¡± Azalea said. ¡°Now let me show how how it¡¯s done!¡± She swam all over the tree condensing the moisture around her into liquid and directed them int a flurry of slashes too fast to free over. The young girl¡¯s agility as she swam through the air was enough to keep the water melted as her magic cut off several branches. ¡°Haha,¡± she said. ¡°Snow way the cold would hinder me!¡± she said as she grew lightheaded. ¡°I¡¯m not ¡­I¡¯m not.¡± She fainted. ¡°Azalea!¡± Hydrangea yelled as she caught her unconscious friend mid-plummet. She began convulsing and gasping for air. ¡°Crap,¡± the cyan-headed girl said. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Andy said with concern. ¡°Azalea¡¯s oxygenation spell expired,¡± Hydrangea said to the young dromarch. She rushed off carrying Azalea¡¯s body, the twins followed her. ??? Clover and Stretlizia were nearby, having finished slaying a hoarfrost-covered pack of wolves. The fawn looked over the corpses of the wolves. ¡°Hoary wolves?¡± Clover said. ¡°I didn¡¯t think they be in a place like this.¡± Strelitizia took her axe and chopped off the glassy fangs of the corpses. Clover helped her gather them up. ¡°Ow!¡± she yelped in pain,¡± the green-winged girl saw she had a cut on her finger. ¡°Clover¡­¡± the orange-haired minotaur said. She took some bandages from her pocket, taken from the Takarabune just in case, she helped the girl with green hoops with her wound. ¡°You need to be more careful. Those are still glass.¡± As Clover¡¯s finger was bandaged she realized something. ¡°Hey, Stre?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°How come this hurts?¡± Clover said. Strelitzia was about to answer with the obvious but she then realized that those weren¡¯t their actual bodies, but proxies their minds were begin streamed to from normal-sized space. She knew the Femtonauts were designed to emulate the biology of the streamed consciousnesses, but she didn¡¯t think it would be to this extent. ¡°That is a good question,¡± the horned girl said. Before they could continue the topic, they noticed Hydrangea running towards them, carrying Azalea in her arms. Molly and Andy followed the cyan-bobbed girl. ¡°Hydra!¡± Clover said. ¡°Is Azalea alright?¡± ¡°Her oxygenation spell wore off!¡± Hydrangea said with urgency. ¡°But I cast it an hour ago!¡± Clover said. She looked over the mermaid and saw that she is barely breathing before preparing a replacement spell. ¡°Is this place messing with time?¡± Streltizia said. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Hydrangea said. ¡°Um¡­¡± Molly interrupted. ¡°Will she be alright?¡± ¡°Barley,¡± Clover said. ¡°She usually relies on her bubbles to breathe but since they would freeze in this place¡­¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Andy said. ¡°But she was able to use water magic so¡­¡± ¡°How fast did she swim?¡± the minotauride said. ¡°Pretty sure speed was a factor there.¡± Clover finished casting her spell. Azalea gasped for air as she woke up with a groan. ¡°My head, I feel so dizzy. Clover? When did you get here?¡± Hydrangea breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on,¡± the fan-wielding fawn said. ¡°But if my spells wear out this quickly then we should try to stick together. Alright?¡± ¡°Got it!¡± Azalea said. ¡°I¡¯ll try not to snow you down.¡± ¡°You already used snow puns thrice!¡± Hydrangea said. ¡°Did I?¡± Azalea said. ¡°Guess I need to work on my snowmanship, er I mean showmanship a bit.¡± Hydrangea didn¡¯t want to correct Azalea¡¯s misplaced reference to showmanship. She was relieved to see her friend was safe. The group eventually regrouped with the others as they discovered the gate leading to the third floor. ??? The expedition of Hammerhead Tundra eventually reached the fifth floor. By that time it was evident that the floors progressively warmed as they traversed them. White blankets receded in favor of brown land and green grass. Yet the trees remained unchanged, still comprised of jagged dark glass. Rose was happy to find that the temperature was more moderate here compared to the previous floors, but the rest of the party had their own concerns. Emily approached Atsuko. ¡°I have a question,¡± she said. ¡°Yes,¡± Atsuko said politely. ¡°Have you tinkered with the femtonauts lately?¡± ¡°A little,¡± the nekomata said. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Some of the others have mentioned they were feeling¡­more than usual.¡± ¡°More what?¡± Atsuko said. ¡°Don¡¯t you find it odd that Rose was able to sense the temperature?¡± Emily asked. Atsuko mused on the idea for a moment before realizing something. ¡°That is strange. I could''ve sworn the sensation circuits weren¡¯t that advanced yet. I¡¯ll take a look at them after we¡¯re out.¡± The group found the gate to the sixth floor. ¡°We found the gate¡­but no key,¡± Raine said. Andy noticed a plume of smoke on the horizon, coming from a mountain nearby. Elizabeth, Cassie, and Hydrangea say Andy and Molly walk towards the volcano. ¡°Molly, Andy,¡± Cassie called. ¡°What are you doing?¡± The two twins did not respond as they walked away from the party. Cassie and Hydrangea chased after them. Rose noticed Hydrangea running and slithered after her. The five ended up separated from the rest of the group as Hydrangea, Rose, and Cassie caught up to the twins. ¡°Hey!¡± Cassie said. ¡°You know you shouldn¡¯t run off like that!¡± The Orthusians broke from their trance, unaware of why Cassie was yelling at them. They bore confused looks on their faces. ¡°Something isn¡¯t right,¡± Hydrangea said. ¡°They¡¯ve been acting strange since we entered the idol.¡± Rose looked at the twins and noticed their eyes were hazy. Andy sneezed. She then looked at Cassie. ¡°This is your item right?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Cassie said. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°The hammer is supposed to be for Flameshearth,¡± Rose said. ¡°I know that much, but I want to ask why did you want to improve it?¡± ¡°Oh,¡± the artificer was surprised to hear Rose ask her the question. ¡°Well, I noticed that the hammer was¡­not working.¡± Rose tilted her head. ¡°The idolic hammers, ¡°Hydrangea explained. ¡°They were used to light a pyre, a hearth if you will. The torch is a symbol of the warmth provided by the core, by the Forgemaster, and a tribute to him both. The hammer is used to light the spark.¡± ¡°I tried to use local materials for mine,¡± Cassie said. ¡°But for some reason, this hammer isn¡¯t working. The sparks aren¡¯t flying. Every strike grew cold.¡± Rose understood the reason now, but it didn¡¯t explain anything about the twins. Before she could press further she suddenly shivered. ¡°What the¡ª¡± Snow began to fall as the temperature dropped. The mountain nearby erupted with a white-blue lava. Ash and snow mixed as a freezing cold blew over them. ¡°Rose! Hydra!¡± Raine, Tim, and Sid had arrived. ¡°Raine?¡± Hydrangea said. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°The others. They were frozen solid!¡± The group reconvened with the others and saw that Emily, Atsuko and the others were entombed in blocks of ice. The eruption had rained snow-like ash over them before they noticed. ??? Meanwhile, in normal-sized space. Fuuka approached Noboru. ¡°I heard that there was a Yanese party looking into strange worlds,¡± the kitsune said. Noboru noticed a hostile aura from the young woman. ¡°Indeed, Lady Atsuko had put many a stride in that chase.¡± ¡°I have to wonder why someone like her is even in Libert¨¦, to begin with,¡± Fuuka said. ¡°Or you for that matter. ¡®The Enlightened¡¯ they say?¡± ¡°I pay no heed to rumors,¡± Noboru said. ¡°You¡¯d be surprised how much misinformation can mutate knowledge. It helps to have a clear mind.¡± He offered a cup of tea to his guest. The fox-eared woman took the hot cup from him. ¡°I brought my own matcha, thanks,¡± she said. ¡°So,¡± Noboru said. ¡°I heard you do not get along well with our Arachne friends?¡± ¡°That obvious huh,¡± she said curtly. ¡°I¡¯m not surprised you¡¯d side with the jorogumo. You who have not known their depravity. I¡¯m surprised many of their brood weren¡¯t consumed by their parents.¡± ¡°As I said,¡± the tanuki dormarch said. ¡°I do not heed rumors.¡± ¡°Then heed this,¡± Fuuka said. ¡°Their barbarity knows no bounds. Mine and Makoto¡¯s village were destroyed thanks to those monsters. We have stood on the south isle of Nanshuyo for centuries before they.¡± ¡°¡­despoiled the farmland and made off with their mates?¡± Noboru said. ¡°I can assure you that none here were like that.¡± Fuuka made an indignant expression. ¡°Perhaps you should try to get to know them better,¡± Noboru said. ¡°By all accounts, your younger friend has taken to them quite well.¡± Fuuka sighed as she sipped from her cup. ¡°I don¡¯t know what is up with her. Evil monsters raid our home and raze it to the ground and her response was fascination?¡± ¡°I offer my condolences for your loss,¡± Noboru said. ¡°But this is not Yae Shoto and this state is not Nanshuyo. Whatever malice you saw in the raiders should not be projected onto our neighbors, or else¡­¡± ¡°Or else what?¡± ¡°Those that refuse to let go of malice would become consumed by the malice. Avert your gaze from the abyss, lest it peer into your soul.¡± ¡°So those rumors are true,¡± Fuuka said with a chuckle. ¡°You have taken an interest in other forms of philosophy.¡± While the elder talked with the young women. Minerva, Heathcliff, and Hoshikage observed the findings of the Kaguya Parallel Mirror. ¡°Everything seems stable,¡± the kunoichi said. Her smile beamed as bright as Stella¡¯s rays as she said that. ¡°Glad to hear it,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°I do have a question,¡± the Arachne said. ¡°The Dormarches, most of them took to this place rather well for former nomads. I have to ask why.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t told you, cher?¡± Heathcliff said with bemusement. ¡°Let¡¯s see, Cassiopeia was pretty obvious, she was pretty taken with the place and all. Her friend seems pretty loyal to her. Her brother¡ª¡± As if on cue, Glenn arrived. ¡°I¡¯ll speak for myself thanks,¡± he said. His unkempt look did not hide his nature as a wild berserker. ¡°I figured there is ample opportunity to fight here,¡± he smirked. ¡°Makoto wanted to meet your spider friends here and the twins? Well, I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know?¡± Minerva said. ¡°Most of us are rather picky with where we stay,¡± the black knight said. ¡°Others are more content to be with their friends, and Makoto, Antoine, and Molly have been close friends since they joined our caravan.¡± ¡°What brought you guys together,¡± the tanned ninja said. ¡°Cassie, my sis and I go way back,¡± Glenn said with a fanged smile. ¡°Been nearly inseparable since birth. Bernardette then found the twins lost in the forests. The poor puppies were close to the Sea of Souls back then. It took us a year to nurse them back to health. I think it was around that time we meet the foxes. Immigrants from Yae Shoto, and yet viewed with the same scorn as the rest of us, typical.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Minerva said. Heathcliff noticed something off in the mirror. ¡°Guys¡­why is the screen frozen?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Hoshigake said. The blond ninja moved to the mirror and its accompanying instruments and saw that the view through Emily¡¯s eyes had stopped. The only motion came from the falling snow and the wind. She examined the screen and came to a dire conclusion. ¡°I think Emily¡¯s been frozen!¡± ??? Rose, Raine, Hydrangea, Cassie, Sid, Andy, Molly, and Tim gazed upon the other half of their party. Emily, Elizabeth, Atsuko, Lily, Anemone, Azalea, Clover, Streltizia, and Nina, all frozen solid. ¡°How in Titania did this happen?¡± Cassie asked. Tim noticed something was lodged in one of the frozen hands. A strange-looking hammer. He turned to the Orthusian twins. Andy and Molly found that Lilly had discovered the hammer they needed and worked to remove it from her frost-coated grasp. As they did so they found the frost coating the centaur¡¯s hand only grew. ¡°Hang on!¡± Cassie said as she drew from her Stardeck. She drew the Draco card and handed it to Molly. ¡°Try this.¡± Molly took the power of the card and imbued herself and Andy with it. The two noticed their throats grow hot as smoke emerged from their mouth and nostrils. The smoke turned to flame as they blew on the frozen centauride. The ice melted around Lily and the hammer by the dragon breath of the twin dormarches. The blond girl woke from her frozen daze with a desire to pinch her nose. ¡°What happened? P.U.¡± The hammer fell from the hand of the girl and plummeted onto the ground. Andy picked it up. ¡°Good question,¡± Sid said. The Bhargest jonguler then turned to her friend with the two-tone hair. ¡°Lily?¡± Andy said. ¡°Did you¡­¡± he showed her the hammer. Lily, still reeling from the dragonic breath widened her eyes at the sight of the hammer. ¡°I picked it up,¡± she said nasally while holding her nose. ¡°We needed it to move for¡ªwhy is everyone else frozen?¡± ¡°Another good question,¡± Sid said with a scolding face. The group tried to find ways to free their friends from the ice, but none worked. Raine, Rose, and Cassie tried the obvious method and used heat, but the ice didn¡¯t melt. The former two then tried to combine their powers to energy them to free themselves but that had no effect. Tim attempted to use wind powers, but that only cause the frost to spread. The group was left at a loss. Atsuko and Emily were needed to traverse the microdugneon, yet they could not move in their current state. The dormarches were less used to them than the others. ¡°What do we do?¡± Rose asked hopelessly. Molly and Andy looked at the hammer and nodded. Molly address the unfrozen. A steeling look of determiniation on her face as she approached the image of Obsidian. ¡°Molly? What are you doing?¡± Cassie asked. ¡°We move forward!¡± she said, bereft of her usual timidly. Her hammer and staff glowed with an incandescence as she placed the former in its slot. Purple and orange flames danced around the group as the gate opened and sent them to the sixth floor. ??? The party arrived on the sixth floor of the microdugneon. Their frozen members were teleported inside the Takarabune. Hydrangea looked around the area. There was even less snow than the previous floors, and flowers grew on the dirt. Lily played with Andy and Molly as Rose bashed in the increased warmth. Cassie meanwhile was in a panic. The dormarches¡¯ lack of experience with microdungeons, combined with Atsuko¡¯s incapacitation, left her concerned with how to progress, and how to escape. At the same time, in normal-sized space, Hoshikage alerted Saizo about what happened in the microdungeon. The two shinobi discussed what to do in light of the current situation. ¡°I already enabled a recall on those that were frozen,¡± Saizo said. ¡°They should be waking up shortly.¡± ¡°What about Emily?¡± Atsuko had emerged from her pod concerned about the current state of affairs. ¡°I¡­have declined to recall the avatara,¡± Hoshikage said timidly. Atsuko looked at her friend. ¡°I see,¡± she looked toward the room and thought about the issue with the hammer. Aware that removing the avatara from the idol would pose a risk to the expedition. ¡°I¡¯ll need to talk with Elizabeth on how to proceed, but right now, Cassie and those still with her are on their own.¡± She said with a regretful lament. ¡°Is there anything that could be done, Lady Atsuko?¡± Saizo said. ¡°One of the adjustments I made to the Takurabune,¡± the nekomata said. ¡°Also included remote recall functionality, but with Emily¡¯s mind frozen, it is hard to gauge any adverse effects with that method.¡± The three returned to the Mirror, where they will try to maintain the Takurabune from normal-sized space. Within the idol, Tim met with Cassie and Sid. The latter was trying to comfort her friend. ¡°I understand that this journey was because your idol failed to spark, yes?¡± Tim said. ¡°Yeah,¡± Cassie said. ¡°In what way did you think this method would resolve that problem?¡± Tim asked. Cassie was stunned. She couldn''t think of an answer. ¡°I just¡­I heard that there was a way to enhance the mana of objects here.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Tim said solemnly. Tears began to well up on Cassie¡¯s face. Sid glared at the martial artist with a scolding glare. ¡°I must apologize,¡± Tim said. ¡°I am aware that¡ª¡± Tim was interrupted by a loud roar. The mountain began erupting a pillar of blue lava. ??? Rose, Raine, Lily, Hydrangea, Andy, and Molly were fighting a strange creature. It resembled a manticore, its mane and wings were made of bluish-white glass shares. Its tail had a dark glassy stinger and its fur and face were as white as the absent snow. Rose slithered around the chimera using her staff to channel lightning through it, but her bolts had missed the beast. The glass manticore fired a spell from its stinger tail, but Molly and Andy combined water and light to refract its effect and caused it to miss its targets, freezing instead the leafless trees. Raine clashed with the fangs of the beast with heated rings. The red-haired girl¡¯s strikes cut some shards of frosted glass from the opposing threat. The manticore slashed at the phoenixian girl with its claws, but Raine dodged the attacks and counted with her fire. The beast recoiled in pain as it leaped towards a nearby peak and channeled a large amount of mana into itself. Clod wings blew from around the fight as the manticore prepared a frigid spell, aimed at the the magical girl with the red wings. ¡°Raine!¡± Rose slithered to try to strike the beast, but the manticore dodged her lightning strikes while charging its spell. Raine also tried to close the gap, but as she attempted to strike, the beast fired the incomplete spell and azure light engulfed them both. When the light reseeded, the manticore had fled to another peak, and Raine¡¯s arm was covered in frost, grasping a certain blanket, now hardened by ice. Molly and Andy noticed the beat had several hammers on their back. Molly turned to her brother who only nodded in response. They were about to leave until¡­ ¡°Hold it!¡± Lily and Hydrangea saw that the twins were going out on their own again and stopped. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± Hydrangea said sternly. ¡°That monster,¡± Molly said. ¡°It had this floor¡¯s hammer.¡± ¡°Or hammers,¡± Andy said. ¡°We have to get it from them.¡± Cassie and the others arrived, relieved to find that no one was frozen again. Rose looked at Mr. Snuggiekins tearfully, despite her insistence to the contrary. Raine chuckled at the lingering attachment her lamia friend had to the blanket. Rose turned to the direction the manticore ran. Filled with ire at it for harming her friends and for reducing the bear-decorated blanket to a hard frosted fabric. ¡°You want to fight that beast? I¡¯m in!¡± Sid strummed her guitar and grabbed everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°Hold it, we¡¯re going to need a plan first,¡± the bhargest said. ¡°She¡¯s right,¡± Tim said. ¡°Blindly charging in is foolish.¡± ¡°Does it have any weaknesses?¡± Lily said. ¡°It didn¡¯t seem like it was affected by the heat.¡± The group decided to make camp next to the Takurabune. The night at least was warm even despite the chimera¡¯s influence. ??? Within the Black box, Atusko, Elizabeth, and Heathcliff discuss what to do. ¡°I knew that setbacks were inevitable, the nekomata said, ¡°but I didn¡¯t expect it to come like this.¡± Heathcliff bore a grim expression on him. A departure from his usual jovial smile. ¡°How is she?¡± he asked sternly. ¡°Well, Emily¡¯s vitals remain consistent so far,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°But her thought activity has ceased, her mind is as frozen as her avatara.¡± ¡°Can we get them out?¡± Heathcliff said with concern for both Emily and Tim. ¡°It is possible,¡± Atsuko said. ¡°But there are some risks attached. We don¡¯t know how the dungeon core would react to the recalling process. And there is still the issue of destabilizing the microdungeon in the process. It will be a delicate process that would take some time.¡± ¡°I get it,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°That [Manticore] had strange proprieties,¡± Elizabeth muttered. ¡°Pardon?¡± Heathcliff said. Atsuko recalled a vague memory. The last thing she saw before becoming frozen. Her mind drifted towards the anomaly. After a few minutes of discussion, the group decided to abort the mission and try to recall the others still within the idol. Atsuko turned to the Kaguya Parallel Mirror and discovered that the recall had failed. ¡°What in the¡­¡± ??? Hours later, after Cassie¡¯s party made camp near the Takurabune, Lily noticed Molly and Andy near the campfire. Made from some of the obsidian they had gathered from previous floors. The violet flames made a thin plume of smoke that wafted into the sky above, reflecting a kaleidoscope vision of the Black Box. Molly noticed the blond centaur¡¯s presence. ¡°Hello,¡± she said to Lily. Molly¡¯s cloud-like hair was matted by both snow and humidity alike. ¡°Hello!¡± Lily said. The centaur sat down with the twins. Her hind legs and rear collided with the dirt beneath as she looked at her recent schoolmates. Her chipper smile seemed as bright as the fire itself. It almost put a smile on Molly¡¯s own face. ¡°What brings you here?¡± Andy said, a little fearful of the filly. ¡°Well,¡± Lily said, ¡°I want to get to know you a little better.¡± ¡°Okay?¡± Molly said. ¡°Where do we start?¡± Lily asked, ¡°Where did you go¡­before here that is? Where did you come from?¡± ¡°Um, well,¡± Molly said timidly. Her tail stiffened as she thought about where they had been. She had all but forgotten about where she came from. Andy however had not. ¡°You heard of the Citrusian peninsula?¡± the Orthusain brother asked. Lily nodded. ¡°It¡¯s part of the Libert¨¦¡¯s southland!¡± ¡°We were born there,¡± Andy said. ¡°More or less.¡± Her brother¡¯s answer jogged Molly¡¯s memory, a vague recollection came to her mind. ¡°That¡¯s right, we were¡­¡± The twins began to speak in unison. Their voices simultaneously spoke the same words and uttered the same tones. ¡°We were born in Citrus, in a small town named Boggartglade,¡± they said. ¡°Things were peaceful for a time, until¡­¡± they stopped. Lily was curious, she hardly noticed that Andy and Molly had used the same cadence, nor that their eyes stained blankly at her own. ¡°Until what?¡± ¡°The glade was raided,¡± the spoke again. ¡°Strange men came clad in black armor. They had¡­they said this place was no longer insured. We don¡¯t know what they meant by that, but we did know that these men had abducted us.¡± ¡°That¡¯s horrible,¡± the centaur filly said. ¡°We were moved elsewhere, somewhere deeper in Citrus,¡± the twins said in sync. Their memories and feelings are shared betwix each other. At times their eyes gave the impression that it was a singular entity speaking through two individuals. ¡°They had us harvesting¡­ Andy said. ¡°¡­grass from the marshlands,¡± Molly continued. ¡°They had us weaving¡­¡± ¡°¡­fabrics in the mills.¡± Andy finished. ¡°Day in¡­ ¡°¡­day out¡­¡± ¡°¡­it was like this until something happened.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± Lily said. ¡°We don¡¯t know.¡± The twins said in unity again. Their faces blank as they recalled their harrowing tale. ¡°The place was attacked by unknown invaders. The place was set on fire and we were separated from the others. We realized that it was our one and only chance to escape An opportunity we were thankful to the Administrators for, and one we took.¡± Lily was a little stunned. She understood that those kids were separated from their family and friends, forced to labor in Astra-knows-where, and that, by luck or by divine intervention, they were granted a chance to escape. Her mind lingered on the emotion of the word ¡°uninsured,¡± but she didn¡¯t know why. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry,¡± Lily said. ¡°That must have been awful!¡± The orthusians continued. ¡°We evenly met Cassie and the others. Led by their elder, Bernadette,¡± they spoke with clarity. ¡°We were left with nowhere else to go, so they took us in and so we traveled all over Libert¨¦, looking for a home, to replace that which we lost. Eventually, that led us to the Black Box.¡± As Molly and Andy finished, they shook their head as if they were in a daze. ¡°What were we talking about?¡± Molly said before recalling the conversation she and her brother had as one. As Lily asked the twins about themselves. Sid watched on with some sense of pride and relief. ¡°They really took a liking to them,¡± she said. ¡°There you are!¡± Cassie said to her friend. ¡°What were you doing?¡± ¡°Keeping an eye on them,¡± she said to the two younger dormarches talking with Lily. Cassie noticed that they seemed to be more willing to talk about their past with the centaur, despite barely knowing her. ¡°I¡¯m a little jealous,¡± Cassie said. ¡°It took them weeks to open up to us about that.¡± ¡°Maybe they just wanted to get things off their chest now,¡± Sid said. ¡°Sydney,¡± Cassie said. Her ears drooped as she made a long gaze at her friend. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, it¡¯s my fault we¡¯re in this mess,¡± Cassie said. ¡°This again?¡± Sid said. ¡°Cass, it¡¯s not your fault. We didn¡¯t know that this was going to happen.¡± Cassie sighed. Sid approached her and gently took her hand. ¡°We¡¯ll get through this, This isn¡¯t even the tenth on the list of dire things we¡¯ve encountered on our travels. How come on.¡± She then called to the three kids and told them to come inside the ship. In a few hours they will hunt the manticore. ??? Hours later, Cassie and her party began their hunt for the manticore. Sid kept an eye on the volcano in the distance, knowing how it heralded its presence. The four Coloraturas magicalized and prepared their weapons for the encounter. Tim meanwhile looked on Emily¡¯s frozen avatara, the only frosted femtonaut remaining the Takarabune. He grasped in Qiang with a determination to defeat the monster responsible. Andy and Molly followed the four witches, and Lily and Hydrangea kept an eye on them at the behest of Cassie. The twins have taken a shine to Hydrangea in particular. Rose and Raine heard a rustling in the bushes and followed it. They discovered that the source was not the manticore, but a hoary wolf. They were far away from the others. ¡°Ugh,¡± Rose said with an annoyed groan. ¡°Of all the things that wasn¡¯t that godsforsaken manticore,¡± the pink-pigtailed girl grumbled. Raine noticed that Rose clutched onto something, the frozen blanket. The one that the lamia had shunned and the one that saved Raine from certain doom. A tear escaped Rose¡¯s eyes as she looked on the frozen fabric. ¡°And here I thought you didn¡¯t want that anymore,¡± Raine said. ¡°Shut up!¡± Rose said with an annoyed tone. Raine chuckled as she looked around. ¡°Rose, you still loved Mr. Snuggiekins, don¡¯t you?¡± Rose turned away with a childish humph. ¡°I¡¯m still too old for that thing anymore¡­but¡­¡± ¡°But what?¡± the red-headed girl said. Rose grew frustrated. ¡°Why did you have to bring this blanket back?¡± Beneath her anger, she couldn¡¯t bear to part with it again. This thing she had thought she left behind. ¡°Stupid blanket. What did you have to go and save her?¡± she grumbled. Raine had known Rose for a long time, she could tell when she doesn''t mean the words she said, and that now was one of those times, as evidenced by the tears that streamed from Rose¡¯s face. With a wistful sigh, Raine gently placed her hand on Rose¡¯s shoulders. ¡°You know it¡¯s okay to still like things you¡¯ve outgrown.¡± Rose sniffled. ¡°Yeah¡­I know,¡± she said sullenly. She clutched her stiffened blanket. The bear arms and legs hardened by the frost, the careful stitching no longer warm to the touch. Raine looked her slightly younger friend in the eye. Her gentle gaze soothed Rose¡¯s ire and pain. ¡°We¡¯ll get this fixed again, once we get out of this.¡± Rose nodded. ¡°Okay,¡± her tone was soft and grateful. She looked at the bear head of Mr. Snuggiekins. ¡°Thanks,¡± she whispered. The two began to return to where they first heard the sound. Rose chuckled at the irony of their recent dynamic. ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± Raine said. ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Rose lied. They heard a loud rumble. The lamia looked forward and saw blue lava erupt from the volcano again. The manticore has attacked. They rushed back to their allies. ??? Tim leaped towards the manticore, keeping the beast in melee range as he dodged its icy spells. He struck the beast with several wind aspected attacks from his weapon. Hydrangea used her grimoire to try to bind the manticore in frozen chains, but her attempts failed as the beast somehow thawed the ice around them. She conjured an ice slide to dodge its attack as Tim closed the gap again and struck the beast. ¡°This thing is surprisingly tough!¡± the bespectacled girl said. She turned to another page of her spellbook and attempted another bind on it, but the manticore flew into the air and avoided that spell. Lily galloped toward and up a nearby hill, aiming to strike the beast from above. She leaped with her enlightened spear. ¡°Lumiere Avant!¡± Her attack stuck the manticore as she landed on its back. The flash of light blinded it and sent it towards the ground. Cassie and Sid used the Stardeck and Bardsong respectively to try to impair the frost-coated monster. Rose and Raine arrived and saw that Andy and Molly were nearby, having been told to stay back by the others for their own safety. The dormarch twins cowered at the sight of the beast. Raine took her staff out and used it to channel a ring of fire around it and Lily. Lily tried to keep her spear lodged within the chimera, as it attempted to shake off the once-frozen centauride. The manticore saw the flames engulf them and let out a mighty roar. Orange turned to violet as glass shards shoot out from the blaze. Rose slithered and tried to parry the shrapnel aimed at the twins, but one slipped by and cut her tail. A patch of black frost formed on the cut. Lily¡¯s hooves were becoming encased in ice as she tried to remain on the beast and pin it down. The manticore spread its wings and leaped from the purple blaze, shaking off the centaur and her spear. In its ascent, a different item fell in front of Molly, a familiar hammer. Rose tried to strike it from the sky with strikes of lightning, but the hammer of skyfire left naught but a scratch on the glassy chimera. Tim observed the beast and tried to concentrate on its attacks and patterns. As he gazed intently at the manticore, he recalled how it fought with ice, but also how it somehow thawed Hydrangea¡¯s bindings. Hydrangea saw that the manticore was aiming its attack at Rose, Molly, and Andy. Rose tried futility to shock the adversarial beast from the kaleidoscopic sky above and into the verdant dirt below, yet her attacks failed to leave a mark on it. ¡°Rose!¡± Raine called out. Hydrangea and Lily also called for their friends as they tried to stop the beast. Molly and Andy tried to flee, but the manticore had trapped them and Rose with more obsidian shrapnel. Molly saw the hammer nearby and heard a sound calling to both her and her brother. As she picked up the idol, the power suddenly welled up within her. ¡°Molly! Andy!¡± Cassie cried out. The manticore launched its spell, a twister of black hail and frost surrounded the twins and the lamia. The funnel cloud obscured them from the sight of everyone else. The beast smirked at what seemed to be the first victims of its rampage, until. Shards of frost pierced its wings, the snowstorm vanished and the three were left unharmed. Molly had used the hammer to conjure a barrier of ice and Andy used his light to augment the barrier. By the hammer¡¯s providence, a reflective barrier was formed. Rose took the opportunity and directed the lightning to strike the frosted patches of leather on the wings of the manticore. This stunned the beast enough for it to falter in its flight and the frostbitten manticore crashed into the ground. Hydrangea and Raine launched a simultaneous assault. Frost and flame danced around the monster. The frost spread to cover the wings of the manticore, the heat then affected the frozen wings, shattering them as if they were made of the glass that comprised its mane. The chimera let out a pained roar. ¡°It¡¯s weak to thermoshock?¡± Hydrangea said. Rose slithered to Raine. The phoenixian girl understood her intent. The two combined their magic to energize themselves and the rest of their party. Tim focused on the witches¡¯ trike and searched within for hidden power. A fireball formed within his palm for the first time. With a one-inch punch, the powers of the pyrosphere jetted out from his palm and towards the chimera. The beast dodged the fire and tried to turn it against them, but Hydrangea and Lily preemptively combined their magic to create a reflective barrier that redirected the shrapnel back at the manticore. Sid took her guitar ¡°Time for you to chill out!¡± she yelled as she strummed a tune on her guitar. Through her bardsong, the beast was surrounded by frigid cold that exacerbated the effects of its self-inflicted wounds. Cassie drew from her Stardeck. The card she drew was Cepheus. ¡°Now let¡¯s heat things up!¡± she said as she used the card. She fired the card through her weapon and it took the form of a pillar of flame. The bear yelled a pained roar as the extreme clash of temperature enfeebled its legs. The beast was crippled but it would not give up the fight. It rolled until its stomach faced the sky and began to charge a spell. Molly and Andy acted fast. They grasped the hammer and tried to charge a spell of their own. They struggled to keep their focus as snow fell from the sky and began to freeze them from the leg up. Hydrangea, Cassie, and Sid saw the twins and tried to free them. Cassie drew the phoenix card and shot it at them, blasting wings embraced them as the icy bindings began to thaw. But the phoenixian power of the Pyrois card was not enough to prevent it from encasing them solid. Molly focused on the manticore as it continued charging its spell. Her and Andy acted in unison as they began chanting. ¡°Oh frozen gales that assail the forge of the star¡­¡± The manticore turned its gaze at the twins, but Lily and Rose blinded the beast with flashes of light and lightning. Causing the attack to miss. Tim moved with a charging step and prepared to ignite the beast. ¡°..Become the vector of providence!¡± the twins finished their spell, and all the snow and frost around them began to circle the manticore. The manticore attempted to break free, but the chimera was unable to escape the dark frost that was turned against it. It became entombed in its own ice. ¡°Now!¡± Tim unleashed his blazing attack. Fire surged through the frozen beast. Shattering the glass creature. The battle was over. Everyone was left exhausted from the fight. They were on the verge of fainting. As Molly¡¯s consciousness faded she and Andy firmly grasped the hammer in their hands. ??? Within the Black Box, Atsuko noticed the anomaly in the Kaguya Parallel Mirror had vanished, and that Emily¡¯s mind was already recalled. ¡°Huh?¡± she said in confusion. ¡°It¡¯s gone.¡± ¡°What¡­happened?¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoed to everyone, her tone was groggy. ¡°Emily!¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°Are you alright, don¡¯t stress yourself.¡± Those that weren¡¯t frozen in the idol emerged from their pods. Cassie was confused. ¡°That¡¯s it? We¡¯ve only seen six floors!¡± ¡°Unfortunate,¡± Atsuko said. ¡°Unforeseen circumstances had forced us to terminate this expedition. I¡¯m sorry.¡± She handed the idol back to the dormarch. Cassie was crestfallen. ¡°Aw,¡± she whimpered. ¡°That idol had more anomalies than I expected,¡± the nekomata said. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Anemone asked Rose. ¡°I should be asking you the same thing!¡± Rose replied. ¡°That manticore¡­¡± ??? Later, Emily manifested her avatara in front of Atsuko. ¡°Akko?¡± she said. The teal-ringleted girl was startled by Emily¡¯s voice. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s you. Sorry about that. Things had been so quiet this hour.¡± She returned to the Takarabune. ¡°This data¡­it doesn''t make sense.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Emily asked. ¡°Well first off, the femtonaut analysis had revealed that one of them had brought an item into the microdungeon and that another had brought it out with them.¡± ¡°I thought that was the point of these trips?¡± Emily said confusingly. ¡°They are, but that is done by placing them inside the Takarabune. That item, this ¡®replica¡¯ hadn¡¯t even touched the vessel, it manifested in Molly¡¯s hand when her mind returned. Speaking of which. There is the matter of the manticore.¡± ¡°What manitcore?¡± Emily asked. ¡°Right,¡± Atsuko said. ¡°They didn¡¯t tell you huh? Well, I learned that there was something in the microdugneon that was interference with the Kaguya Parallel Mirror. An anomalous factor whose effects I¡¯m still trying to decipher. The monster that froze us, as a manifestation of this¡­well ¡®virus¡¯ is as good a term as any for describing this. When the remainder of the party defeated the manticore the virus was removed, and their minds and yours were immediately recalled.¡± ¡°I think I get it,¡± Emily said. ¡°Do you think someone may have tampered with the idol?¡± ¡°That is improbable,¡± Atsuko said. ¡°A scenario that assumes certain variables that shouldn¡¯t be. But¡ª¡± ¡°You guys!¡± Cassie called out to them, brandishing her hammer idol. The head of which had signs of wear and more tellingly scorch marks. ¡°It works! The idol can ignite!¡± Her tail wagged excitedly. ¡°Glad to see that this wasn¡¯t fruitless,¡± Atsuko said. ¡°Now Hearthsflame is tomorrow night. I heard Heathcliff had just ordered the food for the dinner.¡± Emily demanifested the avatara, and Cassie and Atsuko talked more before parting. Atsuko remained to work on the Takarabune. She looked at the craft with more questions than answers. ¡°Could it be that Emily had more of an effect than I thought?¡± She asked. ??? The next day, the day of Flameshearth, Rose was asked to come to the dwarves¡¯ Atelier. ¡°Hey guys,¡± the lamia said. ¡°What did¡ª¡± she was stunned by what she saw. A sleeve, a stocking, a garment tailed for her tail. Made with warm spider silk and dreamcloth. The fuchsia garment shimmered with a nacreous hue, broken by three rings of feathers at each layer. The underbelly of the cloth pant bore familiar elements. Richard looked at his latest work with a sense of pride. ¡°Raine told me about what happened,¡± the blond craftsman said. ¡°I¡¯d hope that this iteration of Mr. Snuggiekins would be to your liking Miss Rose.¡± Rose slithered towards the pink garment. The child could tell that it was carefully designed to keep her tail warm. Every stitch is made with care. Rose noticed that the feathers that bordered the first layer of feather trim were from the white-winged swans that now flock in the Bleumaw. But the other two trims were red with a fiery aura. ¡°Raine?¡± she said to her friend. ¡°Did you¡­¡± ¡°Some of my feathers molted,¡± Raine said. Rose chuckled as she looked back at her sudden gift. The new form of her beloved blanket. She let out a giddy smile as she took the garment off the mannequin and slithered into an empty room to change. Raine turned to her teacher¡¯s brother. ¡°Thank you for the favor,¡± Raine whispered. ¡°It was no problem at all, Raine,¡± Richard said. ¡°It wouldn''t do to force the child to get her death of cold.¡± Raine turned to a back of molted feathers. Excess down that went unused in the construction. ¡°You¡¯re saving these feathers?¡± Richard smirked. ¡°The Cycle¡¯s Turn is in five weeks! It would be wasteful not to use them for certain attire. Oh don¡¯t worry, your feathers were already sorted out.¡± Rose emerged now clad in her new garment. The snug fit matched her tail and the dreamcloth underbelly ensured that friction would dare not blemish it as she slithered around. ¡°This is so awesome! Thanks, you guys.¡± ¡°Rose! Raine!¡± Lilly called to her friends. ¡°There you are!¡± The other six Coloraturas had arrived, as well as Nina, Charlotte, Pearl, Molly, and Andy. ¡°Did you make gifts for them too?¡± Rose cheekily asked while showing off her more stylish attire. ¡°You know it¡¯s too early for that,¡± Raine retorted. ¡°We¡¯re here to pick you up,¡± Azalea said. ¡°The feast is starting!¡± ¡°Ooh, do we still have any leftover webcakes?¡± Rose asked. Nina turned her head grumpily. ¡°I could¡¯ve taken on that manticore¡­¡± she lamented. ¡°I¡¯ll get Sarah,¡± the tanned dwarf said. ¡°If nothing else, this feast would be a good test on her ¡­upper limits.¡± He said. The children left Richard and his workshop and began heading towards the feast hall. On the way. Anemone turned to Molly and Andy. Molly responded by looking at the violet-haired lycanthrope. ¡°You¡¯re Anemone right?¡± the once timid girl said. ¡°Cassie had told us a lot about you!¡± ¡°Really?¡± Anemone said. Andy¡¯s tail wagged. ¡°Can you tell us about ¡®La Libertad¡¯?¡± he asked. ¡°I¡¯ve been hearing a lot about it lately?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve also heard about ¡®Metropolica Esmeralda¡¯,¡± Molly said. ¡°They said they discovered scenes from the pre-Pearl-Templeton version! Have you heard about that?¡± Pearl wined at the mention of her first film, and the associated adventure. Lily giggled at her porcine friend¡¯s reaction. ¡°No we haven¡¯t,¡± the centaur interrupted with a white lie. ¡°But I can tell more about the Fairy Princess films!¡± Anemone said to the twins. ¡°That would be¡­¡± Andy began. ¡°¡­Amazing!¡± Molly finished. Their ears perked in unison. ??? Later, everyone arrived at the feast hall. Colored a burning vermilion hue in honor of the Forgemaster. A large circular table with a lavish spread circled in the middle of the large room. At the center of which was a large pile of wood. ¡°Is the sm?rg?sbord ready, Heathcliff?¡± Elizabeth said to the knight. ¡°Almost!¡± the red-headed man said. ¡°The other chefs were just wrapping up.¡± Several Arachne and Sprite cooks carted the remainder of the food in. Cassie looked at her hammer with pride. And also at the large pile of kindling. She eagerly anticipated the main event. Heracles tugged at her skirt and beeped. She looked at her beetle drone understandingly. ¡°I know, Hercules. It¡¯s just I¡¯m so existed!¡± She knew this would be the first Heathsflame since she went to Rosenkreuz, and the first since moving to the Black Box. It was a very special day for the dormarch artificer. The others were also aware of it. Sid approached her with her guitar in hand. ¡°Hey Cass, can¡¯t hold it in?¡± she said. Cassiopeia chuckled. ¡°Of course! How long will it be? I can¡¯t wait anymore.¡± At the same time, Emily, using her avatara, spoke with Tim. ¡°You¡¯d think something like this would be a bit less¡­formal?¡± Emily said, looking at a special black and purple gown Richard made for the occasion. Tim blushed a little. ¡°Y-y-yeah.¡± He cleared his throat. ¡°I don¡¯t know what Richard was thinking when he made the dress.¡± Emily noticed Tim had averted his gaze. ¡°Something on your mind Timmy?¡± she said playfully. ¡°Actually¡­¡± It was true that he had other matters besides the feast. From the recent intrusion of Xhao Li, to the jade slip he tried vainly to decipher, to his first use of fire magic just yesterday. ¡°Do I have to use my techniques to ignite the bonfire?¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± Emily said. ¡°Good question?¡± she guessed. Tim sighed. ¡°There is one other thing.¡± He took out the slip of jade he obtained from other survivors of the Golden Spear. ¡°It¡¯s been several months now and I still don¡¯t know what it says.¡± Emily took a look at the skip and held it in her palms. Yet the secrets inscribed on it were as inscrutable to her as it was to the martial artist. In another area, Clara looked at the bonfire with hesitancy. The events of Hamlin lingered in her mind, the most vivid of which was her ¡°demise¡±. She saw Heathcliff approach her. ¡°Bonjour,¡± the knight said. ¡°Ah, Heathcliff,¡± Carla said. ¡°Finished with the preparations?¡± ¡°Oui,¡± the knight said to the alraune. Two patches of pink blazed on her chartreuse green cheeks. She then turned to the pile of kindling with some discomfort. ¡°Not that I doubt your judgment or anything, but are you sure a fire this big is¡­safe?¡± The tamer said hesitantly. Heathcliff understood the underlying feelings of that statement. The microexpressions tell of one still scarred by events at the village that she once called home. ¡°We can douse the fire before dinner starts if you want.¡± ¡°Huh, no,¡± Carla said. She was never one to let her desires impede on others, provided they were of noble intent of course. ¡°It¡¯s just that well¡­¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°Be honest, cher.¡± The knight said tenderly and gently. Carla sighed. ¡°Well, I will admit that I am a little fearful of the fire.¡± Much was her mother, Charlotte was worried about the potential risk the large pile of kindling would have. Her indigo leaves and petals stood up on end in comparison. Anemone, Euryale, and Sthenno noticed that she looked at the pile of wood as if it was already flickering. ¡°Lotte?¡± Euryale said. ¡°Huh?¡± Charlotte snapped back to reality. The lycanthrope and the mouse-eared Cells noticed that her stunned expression lingered. ¡°Maybe we should pick a different place to sit?¡± Stheno said. ¡°It does seem too close.¡± Lily approached them. ¡°What did you guys do with that mirror?¡± Nancy was beside her. ¡°What mirror?¡± Euryale lied. ¡°I hid it in Charlotte¡¯s room,¡± Anemone said. She turned to Nancy. ¡°We¡¯re sorry for putting you through all that.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Nancy said. ¡°You guys didn¡¯t know better right?¡± ¡°R-right,¡± Charlotte lied. ¡°Still,¡± Nancy said. ¡°Don¡¯t you guys think you should turn that weird mirror into the guild?¡± ¡°There are some things I want to check on it first,¡± Anemone answered. Nancy shrugged. ¡°Oh well, hey Charlotte, there¡¯s an open spot next to me. You want to sit there?¡± ¡°Oh um,¡± Charlotte is unsure whether she should accept the offer. ¡°Thank you kindly, but.¡± ¡°Oh come on, Lotte,¡± Euryale said as she grabbed the young alraune¡¯s arm. Nancy grabbed the other one. ¡°W-w-wait!¡± Charlotte said as Nancy and Euryale dragged her to the open sear. Sthenno sighed in response to her sister¡¯s antics. They followed her and ran into several of the sprites. Ulric, Flowena, and Salliandra greeted them as they flutter to their own smaller seats on the table. ??? A few minutes later. Emily¡¯s avatara walked to the front of the pile of wood for the pre-feast ceremony. ¡°Um, hello there,¡± the dungeon core said awkwardly. She was used to many people living inside of her, but not all of them staring at her at once. Elizabeth coached her through her speech. Emily gulped before continuing. ¡°Ahem. We are gathered here tonight to give our thanks. To those who are with us. To those, we call our family, our friends, no matter how recent their bonds are forged. To the residents of the Black Box, to the people who dwelled within me. I thank you.¡± ¡°That was rather short, isn¡¯t it,¡± Kasumi said. Hoshikage bumped her with her elbow. Emily stuttered a bit. ¡°I also w-w-w-want to thank several individuals, it is thanks to them that we are here to this day. To my sentinels, Tim, the Coloraturas, Minerva, and Carla. Thank you for protecting me. To Sir Heathcliff and Elizabeth, to who I owe a debt of gratitude for their assistance in managing our humble community.¡± Heathcliff is a little flabbergasted. Esteban and Carla. ¡°Wait a minute, ¡®sir¡¯?¡± ¡°You have yet to improve your sense of subtlety,¡± Julia said. ¡°O Crimson Hound.¡± ¡°To Atsuko and her ninja, with whom the gates of new possibilities were opened. To Richard and Sarah, who helped refined my offerings to adventurers. To Carla and her daughter Charlotte, who kept the creatures beside us a boon instead of a bane. To Esteban and Julia, who guided me through my trips through Noir. Thank you.¡± Cassie stood next to Sarah and Molly, each stood bearing their idols. ¡°To the sprites that took refuge in me. To the Arachne that came to me after their homes were gone and to our recent Dormarch and Eweran residents. Thank you. I can only hope you will remain with me for years to come. To the guild of Rosenkreuz, who continue to guide me and my party as adventurers, I thank you. To the Cells that help protect me, I thank you for your valiant service.¡± Emily said. ¡°And to those that were imprisoned in me, I pray that your chains will one day be broken,¡± she thought to herself. Nancy noticed something coming from the avatara, a tinge of sadness. ¡°Is Emily sad?¡± she asked Charlotte. ¡°Huh?¡± Charlotte was confused. Kaitlyn also sensed Emily¡¯s sadness, it conjured an inspiration for a painting that she wants to suppress until the morrow. ¡°And finally to the Administrators to whom we would not be on this star without. Tonight I want to pay tribute to Obsidian, the Forgemaster. To whom I owe my existence, and to whom we thank for providing us with warmth in this bitter winter.¡± Cassie tightened her grasp on her idol in excitement. ¡°This is the best part,¡± she thought. Molly giggled upon seeing the other dormarch act so giddy. Her brother Andy sensed and shared his twin¡¯s exuberance, despite them being separated by a table and several feet of distance. ¡°It is to he who provided us with warmth, the core of Titania himself that we light the kindling before us,¡± Emily said. ¡°But it also also to our bonds that we light this flame.¡± Sarah, Cassie, Molly, and others, on cue, took their idols and slammed them into the wood, sparks flew from the hammers and the underlying flint to become embers, and the embers became cinders. An incandescent flame spread through the pile of firewood and illuminated the orange hall with its vermilion grace. Carla and Charlotte recoiled from the sight before looking back in the warm embrace. The sight of the bonfire was calming despite most of their prior associations. Emily turned towards the bonfire and recalled her own tragic memory. Whereas her trail involved a flame that spiraled out of control, here the bonfire remains in her complete control. Rosemary sat next to Rose and noticed the garment on her tail. ¡°Hey, cool pants!¡± the spiderling said. Her joy was visible through the transparent webbing on her face. ¡°Thanks!¡± the lamia said to her similarly named acquaintance. With the bonfire lit. The feat began. Joy and merriment were in equal measure as everyone partook of the large spread of food prepared by Heathcliff and various cooks and chefs from Rosenkreuz. The residents talked with each other over the dinner. For some, it was the first time they met those they spoke with. For others, it was a time to express their own thanks to each other. The capstone of the feast, lavishly cooked poultry was consumed with cheer and goodwill. The night was unlike any other, yet Stella will rise on a day more mundane in comparison. Chapter XLVII: Collision at the Hexenflutch In the Underground of Noir. Two groups of magical girls fight. One side, a trio, had ambushed and subdued one of their two opponents. ¡°Amethyst!¡± A magical girl cried out for her partner as she lied face down on the street. Black ooze seeped from her nostrils and mouth. Between them were three women, also witches. Their lamia leader bore curly red locks. ¡°Oh yes,¡± she said. ¡°Thou shall make a fine offering.¡± The trio¡¯s orange haired opponent grimaced at them. Her broadsword manifested in her arms. ¡°Leave¡­leave her alone.¡± Her arms trembled with fear against her assailants, but she was determined to save her fallen friend. Citrine Cryst clashed with the agents of the Vorhees Gang. The blond witch cast a barrier against Citrine. She giggled like a manic schoolgirl. Her expression was unfocused in spite of her acute spellcraft. ¡°Can¡¯t we just use the somitoxin on them?¡± She said with the feline ears of a nekomata perked on her head. The older sister chastised her youngest. ¡°Tsk tsk, sister. Thou knowest that Madama Erezbert needs them alive.¡± Citrine was repelled by the momentary barrier she looked at the figures looming over her purple-dressed friend. The robes were draped over a dress each, except for the eldest who wore a thin jacket instead of a dress. ¡°Citrine!¡± Amethyst said to her friend. ¡°Please, run away, it¡¯s too late for me!¡± she coughed as blackened bile escaped her mouth once more. The middle sister glared at the witch at her mercy with one eye, the other obscured by dark blue locks. Her dormarch ears listened in to her victim¡¯s plea. Citrine clashed with the youngest sister, her broadsword channeled earth and ice magic into crystalline shapes. The eldest turned to her still-standing opponent and began singing a tune. ¡°Hocus, pocus, thou unfocused,¡± she sang with bardsong enhancing her spells. ¡°Thou are naught but one locust. An insect so tiny and small. Though this spell, thou shall fall.¡± Citrine was paralyzed with fear. She tried to cover her eyes, aware of the nature of Bardsong. ¡°You¡­you,¡± her trembling grew worse as she was brought to her knees. Her course was sapped by the bardsong. The middle sister joined in. ¡°Wobbled knees, trembling arms. Thou not the strength to avoid these harms.¡± Citrine coughed up black liquid. The youngest sister of the trio of witches joined the chorus. ¡°Into a dream seeped in the dark, to the Sea of Souls, we cast your spark.¡± She cackled with glee as Citrine further collapsed. The red-headed sister finished. ¡°Good night¡¯s faked. Nightmares take. Fall to torpor endless, and never wake.¡± The three sisters cackled as the bardsong manipulated Citirne¡¯s emotions. The opposing witched attempt to stay awake, to try to save her and her friend both, but the song was too powerful and she succumbed to a comatose state, plagued by nightmares in her unwaking moments. The Weyward sisters took the unconscious Amythist and Citrine into their vehicle, making sure they were not spotted as they placed the two young girls in the trunk of the car before driving away to their den. There, they waited for their master and prepared a potion in the meantime. An hour later, Erezbert Camilla arrived. Her red dress a striking contrast to the other gangsters¡¯ attire. ¡°Madama Erezbert!¡± the redheaded sister said to their boss. ¡°Look what we have hath obtained.¡± Erezbert looked around the warehouse and saw several young maidens. Magical girls, witches much like the sisters themselves. ¡°You have done surprisingly well Hildur,¡± Erezbert said. The red-headed sister¡¯s face glowed with praise. ¡°We hath endeavored to please thou, just as we always done.¡± The youngest sister chimed in. ¡°We hath honed our craft in the dungeon Hexenflutch! There we hath¡ª¡± The middle sister elbowed her. ¡°Savina!¡± she said. ¡°Thou must knoweth when to hold thy tongue!¡± ¡°Ow!¡± Savina said, clutching her frizzled blond hair in pain. ¡°Sorry Grisella.¡± Erezbert noticed the interaction but paid it no heed. ¡°I see whatever you have done hath yielded some fruit.¡± ¡°All in thine service, milady,¡± Hildur said. Erezbert was pleased. She turned to the torpid captives, dozens of young maidens ripe for the taking. ¡°We can¡¯t let their mana go to waste, now can we?¡± The coven were giddy at Erezbert¡¯s suggestion, they continued working on their potion. The three sang in unison. ¡°Blood of black, thou wills cracked.¡± The three sang in unison. ¡°Rivals serve us, your wills attacked. Thy bodies enthralled. Thy lives entwined. They blood and hearts, they will be mine. Serve us here, serve us now. Seal your thoughts, in seed we sow.¡± The cauldron upon which they brewed their potion exhumed a green smoke the toxic fumes wafted into the nostrils of the captives, and their eyes opened in enthrallment as black turned into a sanguine red. Their faces were blank as any thoughts they could have were sealed in the darkness depths in their minds. The children became no more than automata in the service of their captors who have taken them in mind body and soul. The Weywards finished their chant. ¡°To our master we offer you. Chained by this arcane tune. Feed us plasma, feed us life, and escape not. Dare not fight!¡± With that, their song is finished. Their spell held absolute. The souls of the children were barred from controlling their bodies, and as they were all but dead, they were barred from the Sea of Souls. They were bound to the will of Erezbert. Erezbert in turn took out her scepter. ¡°Now let¡¯s see if there¡¯s anything special about these brats.¡± She cast her scepter at them and the victims vanished. Fifty-two new servants to tend to her needs, and fifty-two new sources of plasma and mana to feed her own beauty. The gang leader turned to her three underlings. ¡°I have not forgotten to reward you three,¡± she said to the Weywards. ¡°Follow me, I have need of company in my bathroom tonight.¡± The three sisters variously expressed their excitement. This is how Erezbert shared her gratitude, after all the fountain of youth often spilled over otherwise. The families of these fifty two girls would know not what befell them or why they vanished, now will they ever see them again. The latest in a string of mysteries that few hold the answers to, and most unable to act on them for fear of reprisal from the Syndicate. ??? Weeks passed and the Cycle¡¯s Turn is around the corner. The annual celebration of the end of the year and winter both has all around the realm abuzz with joy¡­and stress as they make their preparations for the the holiday. On a quiet Duodecember day, Richard and Sarah toil in their atelier running through several designs for the end of the year as they work on a certain outfit for Heathcliff. Their mannequin draped in a red outfit with white trim. Sarah took a pin from her mouth and used it to stitch the trim onto the coat. ¡°Brother, that addition you propose would add ten pounds to the dress,¡± she said as she helped put together the outfit. ¡°If we used normal steel yes,¡± Richard said as he looked around the red velvet fabric for any holes or misplaced threads. ¡°But I know there is a vein of Cloudsteel in the nearby mountains.¡± ¡°Cloudsteel?¡± Sarah said with surprise. ¡°How did you come across a vein of ore that rare?¡± ¡°I noticed that mirror the Truces brought from that dungeon had trace elements of the ore,¡± Richard said. ¡°If we can procure it, then we¡¯ve have access to lighter yet studier armor, and a complementary material to the Dreamcloth.¡± ¡°That is a big if,¡± Sarah said as she and her brother put the finishing touches on the garment. ¡°How do you know this ¡®Hexenflutch¡¯ would¡ª¡± she suddenly had a stomach ache, and grew disoriented. The platinum-haired dwarfette fell off the stepladder and fell onto the floor. Her leather-hued face convulsed with agony. ¡°Sarah,¡± Richard said. ¡°Did you eat all the leftovers again?¡± The blacksmith stood up and climbed the stepladder again. ¡°Those were leftovers?¡± she said as she finished assisting her weaver and jeweler brother by stitching the trim on the neck. ¡°As I was saying?¡± ¡°The two possibilities,¡± the less practically-minded brother said. ¡°Are that either the Dungeon either can create Cloudsteel as its resource, or that it is able to get it from a nearby vein.¡± ¡°And you really think your suggestion to the pauldrons and gauntlets would be worth it,¡± the more practically-minded sister said. Richard nodded. ¡°I do indeed.¡± He said. It was at that point where Heathcliff arrived. ¡°Bonjour,¡± the knight said to the Smiths. He looked at the finished costume with a smirk. ¡°Excellent quality there, chers.¡± ¡°But of course!¡± Richard said. ¡°Only the finest would suffice.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Sarah said. ¡°I just had to dissuade him from bejeweling up the trim first.¡± She said as she looked around her small body for stray threads. ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t want the jewels added?¡± Richard said. ¡°It can add a touch of elegance here.¡± ¡°Heh, If I was in the mood for things that fancy, I¡¯d stayed in ol¡¯ Charlie!¡± Heathcliff said with a jovial smirk. ¡°Besides, the Solsaint is said to be of humble origins remember?¡± ¡°I remember,¡± Richard said. ¡°Tales tell of how he leads a cadre of faeries and elks to deliver presents to the young and pure of heart.¡± ¡°Shame the Astralpios haven¡¯t been clear on who they were,¡± Sarah said. ¡°One book claims they were raised as an infant found by three traveling wisemen. Others claimed they were a Messenger who gave of himself freely. And there is a third that implies they are an incarnation of Stella herself! I swear there are so many contradictions there.¡± ¡°Hehe,¡± Heathcliff said as she tried on the red and white outfit. ¡°Perhaps that is one of life¡¯s little mysteries. The fit is nice, you two outdid yourselves.¡± ¡°Well I had to make sure it is compatible with my Cyberworks designs, especially given you are among the few that prefer to keep it on at all times,¡± Richard said. ¡°Now I have to ask, does the Guild normally ask you to play the role for the younglings?¡± ¡°This is my first time!¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°And the town asked me to volunteer. Emily also asked me to put together something for the kids living here afterward.¡± ¡°Seems like you¡¯re going to be busy, o ¡®Sunsaint¡¯,¡± Sarah quipped. ¡°No rest for the wicked. Speaking of which she told me you two wanted to explore a dungeon?¡± ¡°The Hexenflutch yes,¡± Richard said. ¡°Carla will be leading us, why do you ask?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Heathcliff said before he began to relay that other people were interested in visiting¡­or revisiting the dungeon. ??? ¡°Hey Charlotte, are you ready?¡± Charlotte was playing a sport with the other children during school today. Nancy yelled at her from one of the white plates near her position. The indigo-petaled alraune held a bat in her arms as she was knocked out from her dazed and focused on the pitcher in front of her. Azalea had a small and firm ball in her hand, white with red stitches. The mermaid looked at her Alraune friend and to the child behind her wearing a brown glove tailored for catching balls like the one in her hands. Azalea threw the softball, Charlotte tried to swing at it, but her aluminum club missed. The schoolmate behind the alraune caught the ball. ¡°Strike!¡± an umpire said from behind the two kids. The catcher threw the softball back to Azalea. She kept a playful look on her face as the clionid threw the softball. Charlotte saw the ball arc to her left and tried to swing the bat that way, the ball avoided it and the catcher caught it again. ¡°Strike!¡± the umpire said again. The girl with green skin and purplish-blue hair grew nervous. She already missed twice and she knew that a third miss would grand Azalea and her team a point. Anemone looked at her from the plate opposite Nancy and gave a reassuring look. Charlotte tried to focus, but her mind was preoccupied with certain matters. Azalea made her third pitch, but the softball had passed her before she could recognize that it was already thrown. ¡°Strike!¡± the umpire said. Charlotte was shocked, her teammates were crestfallen. A nearby scorecard was updated. The number for Charlotte¡¯s team stayed static as the score of their opponents increased by one. It now read five and six points. The game continued and Azalea¡¯s team widened the score gap to the point where they won with a lead of thirteen points over seven. After the game, Charlotte, Anemone, Lily, Euryale, Sthenno, and Nancy looked up the score. ¡°We lost!¡± Euryale said with a dejected tone. ¡°Better luck next time, I guess!¡± Anemone said. She looked at Charlotte. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Charlotte said. ¡°You sure, Lotte,¡± Euryale said. ¡°You seemed out of it all day!¡± ¡°Is it because of that mirror?¡± Nancy said. ¡°Um, well, I mean,¡± Charlotte sighed. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry!¡± Lily said. ¡°We¡¯ll be sure to find something from there that works.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know why you guys are so interested in curse-breaking items,¡± Nancy said. The rival team approached. Rose, Strelitzia, Clover, Azalea, Andy, and Molly greeted them. ¡°That was a good game,¡± Azalea said. ¡°I hardly batted an eye there.¡± Streltizia groaned. ¡°Azalea¡­¡± Rose shot a look at the others, still wearing Mr. Snuggiekins. Her mood had lifted upon seeing people no longer mocking her blanket-turned-garment. ¡°So are you ready to hack back to Hexenflutch?¡± Charlotte nodded. ¡°Wish I could go,¡± Andy said. ¡°But Sid made an appointment for a medical checkup today.¡± Euryale turned to them. ¡°At least you guys can leave!¡± Euryale said. ¡°We can¡¯t move two steps outside of here without melting.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t get why you¡¯re so obsessed with leaving here,¡± Nancy said. ¡°Don¡¯t you like Emily?¡± ¡°Of course I do!¡± Euryale said. ¡°It¡¯s just that¡­¡± she caught herself before finishing. ¡°It¡¯s complicated.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll have to forgive my sister Nancy,¡± Sthenno said. ¡°She is as prone to frustration as ever.¡± Euryale tried to protest, but she knew she could not share the truth of Nancy¡¯s circumstances with her. Of what the Piper Pruflas did to them and more than a hundred children. Raine and Hydrangea arrived. ¡°So how was the game?¡± Hydrangea said. ¡°It was pitch perfect!¡± Azalea gloated. ¡°As were my own pitches.¡± Strelitzia rolled her eyes. ¡°Stre helped too,¡± Clover said. ¡°She had made three home runs in a row!¡± ¡°And Rose was so fast in the outfield!¡± Lily said. ¡°I barely made it to the base before she caught me.¡± The group of children soon headed to their classes. Once school was over, the Coloraturas and Charlotte prepared for their upcoming trip. In her room, Charlotte looked at the mirror from the Hexenflutch. She wondered why it had failed. Why did Nancy have such an adverse reaction to it? She and her mother were certain that the mirror¡¯s properties would help in freeing the Hamlin kids from the demon¡¯s alterations. That they would restore their minds to normal. Why did it fail? ¡°Charlotte?¡± Carla entered the room. Charlotte looked at the door. ¡°Yes, mom?¡± ¡°It¡¯s time to feed the Tatzelwurms,¡± Carla said gently. ¡°Oh!¡± Charlotte said. ¡°It is? Isn¡¯t that for¡ª¡± She looked at the time and saw an hour had passed since she arrived at the room? She had lost thirty minutes more in her room than she thought. ¡°Oh, right, sorry.¡± The little alraune walked out and headed won¡¯t to the kitchen. There she took a bag of specialized food and carried it with her. Carla took a second and third bag of feed and followed her to where the feline serpents typically prowled. ¡°Sorry about that!¡± Charlotte apologized for her tardiness as she poured the large bag into one of three bowls set aside for feeding them. The trio of serpents slithered to the bowls and salivated over the food. Carla took two other bags and poured the other bags into their respective bowls. The monsters began to feast on the feed set aside for them. The two disposed of the packaging and then tended to the other animals and monsters. The swans, the chimeras, the dire wolves, the mountain lions, and the hippogriphs were all fed and cared for. The only one left was the cordyceps deer. ??? The alraunes saw Clover and Stretlitzia near the deer. ¡°Clover,¡± the minotaride said. ¡°You know that is dangerous.¡± The peryton fawn disregarded her friend¡¯s warning and petted the exposed head of the zombie deer. Its flesh had revealed strange white fibers coating its brain. The green-haired girl continued stroking the parasite-infested corpse with a strange sense of familiarity as if she somehow known this deer for years. Carla intervened before the deer could transfer its parasites to her while Charlotte looked on in confusion. ¡°Does she¡­always does that?¡± the alraune said. Stretlizia sighed. ¡°I tried to stop her, but she insisted on it.¡± After Carla scolded her the three headed back to her home to make sure Clover was clean of the corrosive parasites. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± the fawn protested. ¡°Really.¡± ¡°We have to be certain,¡± Carla said. ¡°I do not want to see suddenly hanging from a trees branch spreading pollen everywhere!¡± Carla said. ¡°It has been a while since we saw that deer,¡± Charlotte said. ¡°Wonder where it¡¯s been.¡± Carla argued with the younger Clover for several minutes as she inspected her for parasitic infection. Fortunately for her, the winged deerlet was clean. Anemone arrived shortly after and was surprised to find Clover and Stretlizia were there. ¡°Long story,¡± the ax-wildeing minotauride said. ¡°Here to teach Charlotte more gravity spells, I guess?¡± Anemone nodded and turned to her student. ¡°Are you ready, Lotte,¡± the purple-haired Lycanthrope said. Charlotte followed Anemone to a patch in the Bleumaw, where they focused on lifting apples with apurgy and keeping them in the air. ¡°Geosynchronous orbit is a rather complex application,¡± Anemone said as showed Charlotte the relevant page of her spellbook. ¡°It requires you to maintain an apurgy level to keep it floating in the air. Too much and it would fall upwards. Too little and it would eventually descend to the ground.¡± Charlotte nodded and began focusing. One of the apples was made aloft and floated into the air, she focused on maintaining its altitude, until a stray thought entered her mind. Before she knew it an image of the mirror emerged in her mind¡¯s eye and she ended up catapulting the fruit into the stratosphere, speeding past the gently falling snow in the opposite direction. ¡°Okay?¡± Anemone asked in confusion. ¡°Sorry about that!¡± Charlotte said. She focused on the second apple and tried not to recall the mirror again. ¡°Steady,¡± she thought, ¡°Steady¡­¡± Her spell worked and the apple now floated in the air without her help¡­for now. Anemone noticed the floating fruit and observed that its descent was slight, but still happening. ¡°You were close,¡± she said reassuringly. Charlotte continued her practice. After a few tries, she managed to keep several of the fruits in an even orbit. The alraune smiled as she was able to master this lesson¡­until the floating fruits suddenly moved sideways and collided with the trees. Her joy turned to shock and dismay as she witnessed the apples splat on the frosted bark. ¡°That is a common pitfall,¡± Anenome commented. ¡°As Titania turns floating objects are liable to ¡®move¡¯ towards the opposite direction.¡± Charlotte turned to the lycanthrope. ¡°I see?¡± Anemone turned to Charlotte. ¡°You¡¯re doing very well, Charlotte. It took me a year to manage this level of control. At this rate, you¡¯ll be able to keep them in place by the Cycle¡¯s Turn!¡± ¡°But that¡¯s in two weeks!¡± Charlotte said. ¡°I know, right?¡± Anemone said. ¡°Two weeks¡­¡± Charlotte then turned her face to the ground. ¡°And then the year is over.¡± She sighed heavily. ¡°How long? How long were they¡­¡± Anemone sat down and looked at her student. ¡°We¡¯ll find a way to free them. I¡¯m certain of it.¡± ¡°Are you certain?¡± Charlotte said. ¡°It¡¯s been more than a year now, and they still have no recollection of Hamlin! They were still bound to Emily¡¯s mana.¡± ¡°I¡¯m certain!¡± Anemone said. ¡°I know it!¡± Charlotte chuckled. ¡°Rose rubbing off on you again?¡± she asked. Anemone said. ¡°¡­Maybe. My point still stands. Just have faith. I know we will free them. Now then, we still have more apples to float.¡± Charlotte continued to practice her lesson into the wee hours of the evening. Anemone said good night to the Truces before returning to where she rests with her friends and the two alraunes have their dinner together. The night came and after it, the return to Hexenflutch. ??? The next day, Emily and Tim gathered up the party for their trip to the Hexenflurch. Carla and Charlotte were the first to arrive, accompanied by a Tatzelwurm, a Swan, and a Dire Wolf. The Coloraturas and Nina were the next to arrive. Followed by Sarah and Richard. ¡°Is everyone¡ª¡± Emily said before she noticed a strange fog rolling in. Kasumi emerged from the mist she conjured. ¡°Heard you guys were going to a dungeon?¡± the young kunoichi said. ¡°Yeah,¡± Emily said. ¡°Why do you ask?¡± ¡°We want to go too!¡± the excitable ninja said. ¡°Huh?¡± Tim said. ¡°We?¡± A sprite emerged from a compartment hanging off Kasumi¡¯s dress. ¡°Yes, ¡®we¡¯,¡± the young sprite said. ¡°Salliandra?¡± Emily said in surprise. ¡°You want to come too.¡± The young sprite nodded. ¡°I wanted to see if the tales of the Hexenflutch were true.¡± ¡°That makes, two of us,¡± Anemone said. Her mind uncertain about it after the mirror incident. ¡°Will that be a problem, Emily?¡± Kasumi innocently asked. ¡°No, not at all,¡± the avatara said. ¡°Let¡¯s see. Me, Tim, Nina, Carla, Charlotte¡­¡± She counted the rest of the party, with the dwarves, the eight Coloraturas, and the presence of the kunoichi and her sprite friend, the total was seventeen, plus three beasts. ¡°Did you clear it with your guardians?¡± Tim said to the newcomers. ¡°Akko and Hoshikage-sensei said I could go!¡± Kasumi said with confidence. ¡°I talked it over with Ulrich and Flowena,¡± the yellow-dressed sprite said. ¡°They said I can go as long as I don¡¯t cause too much trouble,¡± she giggled. Tim raised an eyebrow and turned to the eight witches. ¡°And you?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Rose said in confusion. ¡°I¡¯m sure the school knows we would be absent today¡­right?¡± ¡°They did,¡± Hydrangea said as she presented nine identical stacks of worksheets. ¡°Mr. Daniels and Julia kindly compiled these sheets for us to work on on the way.¡± She said. ¡°I was hoping they forgot the homework,¡± Rose said. Hydrangea handed eight of the sheets to her fellow magical girls and to Charlotte. The latter placed it in her bag while the Coloraturas used their abilities to store it in their internal inventories. ¡°By the way,¡± Hydrangea said. ¡°Mr. Daniels will fail us and we try to claim consumption as an excuse.¡± She said as she turned to Azalea. ¡°I¡­I was sure the class was aware I didn¡¯t literately eat my sheets!¡± the clionid said while flustered. ¡°That was one joke I¡¯m sure the class would never forget,¡± Strelitzia said. Carla turned to Emily. ¡°We¡¯re ready, how about you?¡± Emily nodded her head. ¡°Everyone else?¡± the dungeon core said. ¡°I got the food!¡± Sarah said as she presented two picnic baskets. ¡°Should be enough for all of us!¡± she said. Nina looked at Sarah incredulously. ¡°I brought my lunch too!¡± the dwarfette said with little irony as she handed the baskets to Tim and Carla to carry. ¡°We made sure our friends were well-fed for the day,¡± Charlotte said as she gestured to her and her mother¡¯s feral companions. ¡°Lizzie will alert the guild if there are any complications,¡± Emily said with some trepidation. She knew Heathcliff and Chiron would also be at the guildhall as well. The group of seventeen adventurers finished their preparations and left the Black Box. Carla led them to their destination, drawing on memories of their previous trip. ??? At the same time, a beaten-down car drove far away from its garage Noir. ¡°Astra, curse ye!¡± Hildur drove the vehicle. Much of her tale took up both of the front seats before its tip was firmly planted on the gas pedal. ¡°Twas not enough for thou to have us cursed by this mockery of Manatounge?¡± ¡°We were hexed by Astra?¡± Savina said from the backstreet. ¡°I thought it was¡ª¡± ¡°Younger sister,¡± Grisella said, ¡°Hast thou forgot that Hildur curses the gods at every misfortune?¡± The Weywards were once again on the way to Hexenflutch, to practice their powers, but also to search for that which avoided them there. ¡°Art we there yet?¡± Savina said impatiently. ¡°I¡¯m bored.¡± Her two tails swayed around her rear. One of them hovered over Grisella¡¯s nose. The dormarch fought to keep from sneezing, a fight she had lost. ¡°Savina!¡± the blue-haired girl said to the sister which made her sneeze. ¡°Pray keep your tails to yourself.¡± ¡°I shall not!¡± Savina said petulantly. ¡°Thou knowest that Hildur needs to drive!¡± The car drove down the road lined with sparking crystals. The lamia driver grew more annoyed at her younger sisters¡¯ arguing and bickering. ¡°Sisters! If ye don¡¯t shut up! I will bewitch this vehicle and have it emulate the rides at Joyfuller Island!¡± ¡°I love the rides of Joyful¡ª¡± Sabine was elbowed Grisella¡¯s sister before she could finish. As the road drove towards its destination, a crystalline mountain entered their view. The glimmer of the nearby river reflected the sky above, clear of impurity. The sparking stones were clear and transparent. The ruins were similarly immaculate as light refracted through their translucent forms. The car soon stopped. Three of the four doors opened. ¡°We¡¯re here!¡± The red-headed lamia said. The three gazed upon what they claimed as faraway stomping grounds. ¡°Ugh, the Agneist stench still rots this place,¡± Grisella said. She sniffed around with her Bhargest nose as small as a button and as powerful as a bloodhound. Her black crop top and tattered denim shorts were undisturbed by the wind. ¡°But at least there are no actual Agniests here¡­yet.¡± She said. ¡°The bastards still maketh their home in Gardenia,¡± Hildur said with a mix of ire and nostalgia. ¡°Oh, how we were lucky to hath escaped that wretched place.¡± ¡°I heard that several witches embarked on a pilgrimage there,¡± Savina said. ¡°Fools,¡± The eldest sister said. ¡°All of them. If not for those accursed Nighthawks We would¡¯ve¡­¡± Her rant was stopped by the appearance of a house cat, glaring at the intruders with crystal eyes. ¡°So the Hexenflutch wishes to greet us,¡± Grisella said with a smirk. The cat hissed at the three invaders before running off. Hildur in turn glowered at the creature. ¡°Come along, sisters. I¡¯m certain that relic will be ours soon. And then we shall quit this place and seek a more suitable lair anon.¡± The trio encroached further into the Dungeon, uncaring of its wrath, and unknowing of those that would also set their foot there. ??? Emily and her party had arrived at the dungeon. They looked around the precipice of the domain, declared by various colorful crystals. ¡°Let¡¯s see,¡± Carla said as she led the group towards the entrance. ¡°I recall there being three zones. A grove, a cistern, and a spire,¡± the alraune said. Anemone looked around the crystal grove, drawing from her memories. The entrance to the Cistern was guarded by an Aquaroc,¡± Anemone said. She looked around for the Sentinel¡¯s shadows. Charlotte was also looking for the avian. The mirror from the last visit strapped to her back. ¡°They¡¯re so pretty!¡± Lily said as she examined the transparent crystals. Sarah looked around them and noticed they had no impurities, no trace of anything not even the concentrated ice and earth mana that would comprise the rocks. Richard polished his stunners as she looked around for anything that would hint at Cloudsteel veins. The dwarves followed the others as Carla tried to search for the Cistern entrance. As he walked with the others, Tim tried to focus on the events of the Hammerhead Tundra, when they encountered slimes, he attempted to summon fire with his techniques, yet there were no cinders. When the party encountered hostile bats, he resorted to melee flanking strikes whenever he failed to ignite them. As they found a bridge-less river, Time propelled himself into the air with wind. ¡°Tim?¡± Emily said to her Sentinel. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Trying to use fire,¡± the boy said curtly. ¡°You can¡­never mind,¡± Emily said upon realizing that as she has the Pyrosphere, she and Tim are able to utilize the infernal powers of flame...in theory. ¡°Something is not right,¡± Tim aid. ¡°I should be able to learn this, but my attempts since the Tundra had proved ineffective.¡± Charlotte grew a little uncomfortable with the discussion about fire. Richard looked around and saw no sign of the Aquaroc or the Cistern¡¯s entrance. ¡°I¡¯m a little curious. You all know our reasons for coming here,¡± he said, ¡°But I admit I do not know yours.¡± ¡°Well,¡± Emily said. ¡°I wanted to help, and maybe take some Cloudstone for myself.¡± She said. Her abilities would allow her to analyze the absorbed material and eventually recreate it. ¡°That would be a great boon to us,¡± Sarah said. Richard turned to the Coloraturas. ¡°I think there is¡­something about this place that warranted further investigation,¡± Anemone said. ¡°Like a Stre-le-ga?¡± Nina asked. ¡°Stre-ga,¡± Rose corrected. ¡°More to the point,¡± Charlotte interjected. ¡°I wanted to see if what was said about this Dungeon having curse-reversing items is true, given the previous attempt.¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± Carla said. ¡°It is prudent for us to verify the rumors in the wake of what had nearly happened with Nancy.¡± After all mother and daughter shared a reason why they wished those rumors to be true. Kasumi heard something approaching. ¡°Hush,¡± she said to the others. ¡°Something¡¯s coming!¡± She took a bauble from her dress and slammed it into the ground, cloaking the area in a layer of dense mist. A larger-than-average slime rolled into the fog. Its transparent skin refracted light as it attempted to find the party. Salliandra used her dwimmers to further befuddle the large slime as Azalea and Hydrangea attempted to counter it with their own gelatinous spells. The crystal slime merely absorbed the conjured gelatin within itself and grew slightly larger. The water and ice mana faded into its translucent sheen. Anemone fired an arrow at it, but the projectile was similarly dissolved and violet mana similarly assimilated into clear nothingness. ¡°It is as Crystslime,¡± Anemone yelled. The Crystslime heard the cry and tried to roll into Anemone. Tim swooped in and moved them both out of the way. As the slime rolled around the surrounding mist was absorbed into its body, deconstruction into red and blue mana within and then faded. ¡°A Crystslime?¡± Rose said. ¡°I heard of those,¡± Emily said. ¡°Lizzie said they absorb and purify mana, and that they were said to be guardians of sacred lands.¡± ¡°Did she tell you any weaknesses?¡± Kasumi said as she threw metal stars at the slime. The kunoichi¡¯s weapons were dissolved into orange earth and pink lightning within the slime. Richard¡¯s stunner bolts were likewise dissolved into pink mana within. ¡°I have a plan,¡± Sarah said as she leaped in and slammed her hammer into the slime. The slime was pushed into the nearby meadow. ¡°They might be good at absorbing magic and projectiles, but a good ol¡¯-fashoned smackdown will weaken it!¡± The Crystslime split into two from the impact. Each smaller than the original. Emily and Tim attacked one each with rapid attacks from swords and spear both. The two slimes became three, then four, then eight, then sixteen, until they were small enough for Sarah''s hammer to squash them flat. The dwarfette dusted off her palms. ¡°See? Pretty easy,¡± she said. As she said they they heard a cawing in the distance. ¡°There!¡± Charlotte said as she pointed to the northeast. They saw a blue-feathered avian flying overhead. The group followed its shadow deeper into the Dungeon. ??? At the same time, the Weyward sisters were locked in battle with a large Moray Steel. The eel-like creature was covered in metallic scales as transparent as the clear waters of the nearby river. Hildur used Bardsong to conjure up crimson flames that matched her fiery curls to confront the beast. ¡°Burning ire, light my desire. Damn this eel, to the hellish pyre!¡± The crimson turned to toxic viridian as it engulfed the Cloudsteel-scaled eel. Grisella sang her own spell to support her elder sister. ¡°Heart of ice, wicked vice. Cleave this beast with your jaundice!¡± The spell conjured yellow ice to be used in tandem with the hellfire that Hildur conjured. The two opposing forces coated the Moray Steel in an enumerating miasma that weakened it up for the younger and shorter sister to finish it off. ¡°Levin of the skies, hear my cry. Render thou judgment upon this lie!¡± Lightning of an orange color struck the metal-clad eel and cast it down onto the ground. The Cell perished with a whimper as the three mobsters walked atop its body.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. ¡°Is it just me,¡± Sabina asked, ¡°Or did thine foe seem¡­weaker?¡± she said with a tilt of her head. Hildur cackled in triumph. ¡°Who cares, younger sister?¡± She loomed over her blond sister, being two heads taller than Savina. Grisella was in between, being only half a foot shorter than Hildur. ¡°Good point,¡± Savina said, not caring for the eel as it is left to be reclaimed by the land. The three snuck their way towards the dungeon. Grisella smelling the presence of other witches and trying to follow the scene. ¡°The purity of this place doth work to our advantage, sisters,¡± Grisella said with a flip of her blue locks. Her canine ears heard faint chatters in the still crystal-covered landscape. Hildur had an annoyed expression. ¡°We must make haste,¡± she barked, her serpentine tail tensed up with urgency. ¡°We must find the core before they do!¡± ¡°Yes, sister,¡± Grisella said. ¡°They seemed to hither towards the cistern!¡± ¡°We shall breach it anon, and catch them unawares!¡± Hildur cackled. ¡°But what if they know our secret passage?¡± Savina said with her wavy blond hair. Hildur slapped Savina. ¡°That is a stupid question, younger sister!¡± the lamia said. ¡°Yes, eldest sister,¡± Savina said meekly. The trio arrived at an edifice, an aperture into the waterways. While Hildur moved to open the door, Grisella turned to her younger and shorter sister, who was unaware of the blue-haired dormarch¡¯s envy. ¡°I do not understand it,¡± Grisella said to herself. ¡°How in the name of the Administrators was she allowed to stay so¡­thin!¡± she looked at her own pudgy body in contempt. ¡°Thou has vexed me so!¡± Savina pranced and frolicked around like a giddy schoolgirl. ¡°The boys will love me, this I know,¡± she said as she admired her own looks. ¡°A shame so few deigned to cross my path,¡± she lamented. Her lamentation only made Grisella¡¯s shoot a scornful look at her. ¡°Sisters!¡± Hildur called. ¡°The passage hath opened, get thine asses in it posthaste!¡± ¡°Coming, dear sister,¡± Griselda said. ¡°Coming!¡± Savina said with a giggle. ??? Emily and her party arrived at the entrance of a cliffside. Carved into it was a stone doorway that refracted and radiated with iridescence. ¡°This is the one!¡± Carla said as she drew upon memories of her previous trip there. ¡°Which means¡­¡± Charlotte said as a large shadow moved over them. The group looked up and saw a large avian creature swooped in from on high. The Aquaroc descended with a gentle rainfall following in its wake. Clouds gathered as the water-attuned roc flapped its wings. ¡°Do you recall how you beat this thing?¡± Rose asked Anemone. Hydrangea already had an idea and slid on an ice path of her own making. With her grimoire, she aimed to freeze the bird solid. ¡°Hydra, wait!¡± Anemone said. ¡°This is not like the other Aquarocs!¡± Before Hydra could respond, the monster ascended into the air and broke the path she slid on. The disconnected icey plummeted by the force of gravity and the bespectacled girl was attacked by crystal pinions, the sharp flechettes pinned her armored clothes to the ground. The avian attempted to encase Hydrangea in a crystal prison, but Clover rushed in and saved her before the rock could form. ¡°Crystal magic!¡± Clover said as she pranced away with Hydrangea¡­ ¡°But that has nothing to do with water!¡± The avian launched more feathers but Clover put her friend behind her and then deflected the projectiles with her fan. ¡°This Sentinel is tapping into ice and earth mana!¡± Anemone said. ¡°It can do more than the average aspected roc!¡± Strelitzia and Lily combined their magic to create an aurora in the sky to protect them and their friends from the avian¡¯s attacks. Emily launched herself into the sky and onto the Aquaroc¡¯s back. The avian channeled water magic to try to dislodge the unwanted passenger as she planted her two swords onto the ground. ¡°Two can play at that game!¡± Emily said as she channeled her shapeshifting powers and morphed her arms into a crystal binding over the avian¡¯s neck. The Nanomachines that comprised her avatara assumed a rock-solid form that hindered and attacked the Aquaroc with a flap of the wings. Anemone used the opportunity to aim an arrow directly at it, hoping to use her darkness magic to hinder it. A gravity spell could enburdern it enough for it to cease flight. She let loose the arrow and it pierced the wing of the blue-feathered bird. With a wail, the avian descended onto the ground. Anemone then fired another arrow to bind its shadow. Emily morphed her arms to normal and leaped off the beast as Carla sicced her Dire Wolf and Tatzelwurm on it. The swan meanwhile took to the skied to assert the dominance the Aquaroc lost, with Sarah clinging onto its talon. At the right height, the short but heavy dwarf let go and used his hammer on an ariel slam. The Sentinel¡¯s cried pained summoned smaller Crystslimes to assist it. The rain¡¯s aqua mana empowered it. Raine sliced at several with her chakrams, being careful to ignite the rings to prevent corrosion on them. Richard focused his stunner on the bird and bird alone while Kasumi sliced at the additional enemies. Salliandra used her allusions to distract the dimwitted slimes. Charlotte used an apurgy spell to lift Rose into the air. She zipped into the sky with her lightning-colored rapier as Azalea swam in the Aquaroc¡¯s face. ¡°Oops! You missed,¡± Azalea said as she dodged the talon of the beast. ¡°Too bad, ¡°she said as she deftly swam to the side of the wounded wing and countered with a water bubble. ¡°Having trouble clawing your way?¡± She said mockingly. She then swam away. ¡°Time for a shocking revelation!¡± she said as Rose thrust her way through the avian. Strelitzia and Lily then charged toward the beast and used their weapons to sever the wings off for good. Those last attacks finished off the avian and it collapsed into the ground. Water leaked from its wounds as the remaining Crystslimes aborted its remains and rolled off, a treasure chest remaining of their foe. Emily opened the chest and found several pieces of crystal jewelry and an ingot of both Bismuth and Cloudsteel. As well as two brilliantly shining suits of Cloudsteel mail. ¡°Light as a feather, hard as steel,¡± Richard said as he and Sarah took the mails for themselves. ¡°We could prolly break it down into two additional ingots each.¡± ¡°That means I could create this metal on my own?¡± Emily asked. ¡°Five pieces, usually,¡± Sarah said. ¡°But since this place apparently dropped Bismuth as well¡­¡± ¡°I see,¡± Emily said. ¡°There is another business here as well,¡± the avatara looked at Charlotte still determined to verify the nature of this place, and why the mirror didn¡¯t have the desired effect. Tim noticed that within the chest were two different keys. One gleamed with silver, the other jet black, yet both had a nacreous jewel decorating them. As Tim picked up the keys, he noticed Salliandra glaring at him. ¡°May I assist you?¡± ¡°No thanks,¡± the sprite said. ¡°The time for that had passed. Dare I ask why you weren¡¯t pulling your weight in that fight?¡± ¡°Forgive me,¡± Tim said. ¡°I was still¡ª¡± ¡°Still trying to find out how to ignite people,¡± the blond sprite said as she rolled her eyes. ¡°I get it,¡± she fluttered off an annoyed huff to rejoin Kasumi. Tim looked back at the keys and handed them to Emily. ¡°I think these might be useful for navigating the Dungeon.¡± Emily took the keys and approached the Cistern¡¯s entrance. She noticed that the black one didn¡¯t fit the keyhole so she tried the silver one. With a turn of the lock, the key receded into the door and it opened. The group ventured further into the Hexenflutch. As they entered the Cistern, a herd of housecats watched with curious eyes. ??? Emily and her party traveled down a brightly lit staircase. Crystal-clear water dripped from the ceiling as they descended the steps. Carla looked around as she tried to recall her last trip. ¡°There was a large room with a floating staircase,¡± she said. ¡°You mean like this?¡± Rose said as she slithered down. ¡°Not quite,¡± Charlotte said. ¡°It was floating on the water beneath. The room was flooded.¡± ¡°It sounds like it was an aqueduct,¡± Sarah said. ¡°Last time we were there,¡± Carla said, ¡°We had to raise the staircase to the highest floor. We also had to rotate the staircase several times to reach certain areas.¡± Sarah was interested in that. ¡°Seems like there were a lot of mechanics involved here. Maybe I¡¯ll check out their workings while we¡¯re here.¡± ¡°What about the enemies?¡± Lily said. ¡°This place would surely be protected by Cells!¡± ¡°Probably more Crystslimes,¡± Streltizia said. ¡°That is true,¡± Carla said. ¡°But there were also mobile crystal statues as well.¡± ¡°They nearly grabbed me once,¡± Charlotte said. Tim was dissociated from the conversation. Again focusing on the fight with the Frost Manticore around Flameshearth. Salliandra¡¯s words also lingered in his mind. Kasumi looked at the contemplative martial artist. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you see in him!¡± Salliandra said. ¡°What do you mean?¡± the kunoichi said. The sprite rolled her eyes. ¡°You were looking at him ever since we got here.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not true¡± Kasumi denied while her cheeks were adust with blush. ¡°I-I don¡¯t like him.¡± Salliandra sighed. ¡°This is going to be a problem,¡± she thought. Emily looked around the crystal walls. She can see water pouring down the bright fountains, illuminated by a white incandescence that refracted in rainbow halos around them. The group arrived at the main hall of the cistern, a vast underground spire where clear water pours down the walls. A large part of the room was submerged in the transparent fluid as the path led towards a different staircase leading up. Azalea swam around in awe. ¡°This place¡­is beautiful!¡± she said. She swam towards the fountains on the walls, the ornate gilding on the crystals, and the growth of translucent ivy on the walls. ¡°I bet the water here is cool!¡± she said as she tried to dive into the water. ¡°Azalea! Wait!¡± Anemone shouted before hastily firing an arrow. The projectile landed on her shadow, stopping her as she was an inch away from the liquid pool. Azalea struggled to move past the boundary of her pinned shadow. ¡°Anemone! What was that for?¡± the clionid said. The relieved lycanthrope looked at her friend. ¡°That water is dangerous. It was enchanted to drain water and mana from your body if you get it on you.¡± Azalea contemplated the possibility of being desiccated and reduced into a husk upon touching the water. ¡°¡­Oh,¡± she said. Richard looked around and saw that something was amiss. He gazed at one of the fountains and noticed the stream was more opaque, more murky, though it lost this as gravity sent it to the clear pool below, this still made it a far cry from the pristine and immaculate transparency of the other wall fountains. Emily walked up the steps and saw that there were four doors from her vantage point. As well as the one they used to enter the room. She saw that there was one to the east, one to the west, and one to the north right behind her. ¡°I see three doors!¡± she said. ¡°Carla, do you know which one you took first?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± the alraune said as she climbed with her daughter and her three beasts in tow. ¡°That was a haze for some reason.¡± ¡°I think we took the east door?¡± Charlotte said. ¡°No,¡± Anemone said. ¡°We took the western one, I¡¯m sure.¡± ¡°I thought that was the north one!¡± Lily exclaimed. Salliandra saw the three girls arguing and sighed. ¡°Maybe you guys were hit by memory-sealing spells here?¡± Anemone pondered on it. ¡°It is possible. There is an ambient amount of dark and water mana in this place.¡± ¡°So¡­we have no idea where to go?¡± Kasumi said. ¡°There are seventeen of us right?¡± Clover asked. The Tatzelwurm, dire wolf and swan glared at the fawn, incensed over being excluded. ¡°Settle down,¡± Clara said before turning to the green-haired peryton. ¡°What are you getting at.¡± ¡°Maybe we could split up?¡± Clover said. ¡°Cover more ground that way?¡± ¡°That does seem like the logical step,¡± Richard said. ¡°Agreed,¡± Emily said. She looked around the group and divided them into thirds. Asking Carla, Anemone, and Lily to guide one each. Carla¡¯s group would have Strelitzia, Clover, Azalea, and Nina. Anemone¡¯s will include Emily, Rose, Raine, and Hydrangea. Lily¡¯s would have Charlotte, Richard, Sarah, Tim, Kasumi, and Salliandra. The three beasts were also divvied up accordingly with The Tatzelwurm going with Anemone, the swan staying with Carla and the dire wolf following Charlotte to Lily¡¯s group. ¡°That¡¯s the groups,¡± Emily said. ¡°Lily¡¯s will go north, Carla¡¯s will go east, and Anemone and mine will take the west.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Lily said cheerfully as she galloped past her and lifted the door. ¡°Come on!¡± she said with a bright smile. Sarah is exasperated. Carla turned to the Tatzelwurm and instructed it to protect Emily¡¯s group while they were separated, the feline serpent complied and slithered to Rose. The serpent purred as it nuzzled up with the lamia. ¡°Um¡­¡± Rose said in confusion. ¡°I think it likes you!¡± Hydrangea said with a small smile. ¡°Maybe it warmed itself up to you Rosie!¡± Azalea said. ¡°Oh no!¡± Rose said. ¡°I do not do pets!¡± Her lightning mana on the fur of the Tatzelwurm caused both to stand on end as the cat-headed serpent rubbed its head on her neck. ¡°Ugh, so how are we moving this thing?¡± she asked. Carla looked around and saw a switch hanging from the ceiling, hanging over a broken part of the rim. Rose noticed the device was unusual, with a floating octahedral shape with a pale pink glow. The lamia took out her wand on a hunch and cast a lightning spell on it. The electric shock activated the switch and the crystal receded into the wall. Magenta lines of light illuminated the staircase as it rotated clockwise towards the western door. ¡°Guess that¡¯s our stop,¡± Anemone said. ¡°Farewell for now,¡± the two groups separated. Carla¡¯s group remained in the stairwell. Nina, ever eager to prove herself simply scaled the walls. ¡°Nina!¡± Streltizia said. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Searching for more switches,¡± the spiderling said as she scaled the cavernous wall. She used her webs to ensure a place to cling onto as she scaled and shimmied her small Arachne body towards the opposite end. She found a different type of switch, attached to the ceiling of the door. Curious, she made a dragline towards it and used it to reach the switch. ¡°One¡­two¡­three!¡± she said before jumping off and clinging onto the brass bar. Her eight dragged the switch down as golden light illuminated the staircase and rotated it counterclockwise past the northern door. ¡°I did it!¡± she said cheerfully. Carla was as concerned for the spiderling¡¯s reckless behavior as she was relieved that Minerva was not here to witness that. She lightly scolded Nina for running off like that before opening the door. Her party entered through it and reached the eastern part of the cistern. ??? As the three groups leave on their respective paths, from the highest ledge, three figures watched over them. ¡°So thy interlopers hath divided themselves,¡± Hildur said while slithering around a small pillar. ¡°What do we do?¡± Savina said anxiously. ¡°If they find the sword first¡ª¡± ¡°Quiet!¡± Grisella said. ¡°Sister always has a plan!¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± the elder lamia sister smirked deviously. Savina noticed that some of the people within the group looked familiar. ¡°Hey don¡¯t you think that some of them looked like those ¡®Coloraturas¡¯?¡± the cat-eared girl asked. ¡°Mere coincidence,¡± Grisella said. ¡°Those orphans hath never found willing parents.¡± ¡°As if anything would ever adopt those freaks!¡± Hildur said as she slicked back her red curls. She recalled certain rumors about some of the rival witches. ¡°Still¡­there is something unusual about them. Grisella, find the minotaur!¡± ¡°Yes sister!¡± the dormarch sister said dutifully. ¡°Savina!¡± Hildur said. ¡°Find the wifwolf¡¯s party!¡± ¡°Leave it to me!¡± Savina said with glee. ¡°I wanted to get close to that dreamy bodyguard of theirs!¡± ¡°Ugh, Ereshkigal spare me,¡± Hildur tried to suppress the urge to bark. ¡°Eldest sister, Will that mean you will be seeking out the third group?¡± Grisella said. ¡°Indeed, younger sister,¡± Hildur said. ¡°The alraune interests me so.¡± ¡°But why?¡± Savina said. ¡°This Dungeon is but a stone¡¯s throw from the village of Hamelin, a village that hath suffered mass bereavement at the alleged hand of an Alraune. Rumors circleth around the missing six score children. Rumors that claim their survival. If we can find them, then we wouldst have a treasure trove of thralls for ourselves and Madame Erezbert!¡± she cackled evilly. ¡°I haven¡¯t had a good meal in a long while,¡± Grisella said while contemplating the possibility. ¡°You know thy assignments, sisters!¡± Hildur said. ¡°Tis time to follow them. We shall catch them unawares and then bring them here anon!¡± The coven cackled madly before splitting up. Each one was sent to track one of the three parties. ??? Beyond the western door, Anemone and Emily¡¯s group explored. The group found a large water wheel, stilled and unmoving. The flow of water stopped with it. ¡°What exactly is this?¡± Rose innocently asked. ¡°I think they were used for generating power?¡± Emily said. ¡°Water weights down one side turns the wheel, and creates hydroelectric energy.¡± ¡°Seems like it¡¯s stuck,¡± Raine said. Hydrangea looked at the shallow water beneath their ledge. ¡°Is this also dangerous?¡± Anemone nodded. ¡°The water here has an adverse effect, deeper waters here would dehydrate you, drain you of your mana. But even shallow pools have a dangerous effect.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± The cyan-bobbed girl said. She looked around and saw something of interest, a door to the left, deep inside the shallow pool, some water seeping beneath the door. She took out her spellbook and froze a path in the water. ¡°It should be safe now,¡± Hydrangea said. With a frozen pathway before them, Emily had the opportunity to test a recent trick she learned. She tapped her feet on the crystal ground beneath her. A metal arc extruded from her ankle, forming a wheel as it looped beneath from the back of her feet and around towards her toes, finishing just beneath the sole of her covered leg. She tapped the other foot and a similar hoop formed beneath it. ¡°Lizzie taught me this¡ª¡± Emily said as she tried to keep her balance. ¡°This neat trick.¡± With those hoops, she skated on and across the ice. The metal blade moved a slight cut onto Hydrangea¡¯s ice as she moved towards the door. The children followed suit, with Rose making sure not to slide into the unfrozen pure water. The door opened to reveal a large cavernous pool of water. A gap with a small key hanging on the other side. Interspersed by rotating circular platforms, hanging from gigantic bears that all but replaced the ceiling. Rose grimaced. ¡°Not really a good jumper here,¡± the lamia lamented. Hydrangea had an idea and attempted to make an ice path, she took out her wand and, but hidden from her bespectacled eyes, a small projectile attacked her in the arm. A crystal shard threw off her spell and knocked her back a little. ¡°Hydra!¡± Anemone said as she summoned her bow. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m ¡ªguh!¡± The shard on Hydrangea¡¯s shoulder suddenly transformed into a Crystslime. The young girl tried to remove it before it grew and dissolved her body, but her effort futile led to the slime engulfing her. ¡°Hydrangea!¡± Rose said before instinctively taking her rapier out. The slime bounced above and bounded into one of the rotating platforms. Rose tried to use lightning spells at range, but the Crystslime¡¯s properties had ensured that it was unharmed by the electric lamia¡¯s strikes. Raine spread her wings and followed it onto the platform, chasing it across the flooded cavern below. Anemone took her bow and fired at crystal statures, armed with loaded bows that fired the entrapping shards at them. Hydrangea tried to escape as she felt her body dissolving into the slime. Cyan mana and black sludge seeped from her body as she tried to escape the mobile gelatinous mass. Her attempts at speaking are hindered by the blob. Emily dispelled the skates and looked at the Tatzelwurm beside her. The serpent latched itself onto Emily as she followed Raine and Hydrangea across the gaps. The gears suddenly stopped rotating and threw Anemone off her platform. Raine heard her yells and turned around to catch her as she fell. The Tatzelwurm bit onto the edge of the platform to allow Emily to swing onto the next one. The Crystslime took advantage and attacked Raine while her back was turned. The phoenixian girl maneuvered to dodge in time as the slime landed on a crystal platform below. It leaped again and corroded the cord that bound the platform to the gears. Raine sliced at the Crystslime, splitting it and two and freeing Hydnragena. The two slimes landed at the entrance in front of Rose, who valiantly attempted to use her sword to slice them into chunks, but the slimes instead sandwiched the lamia and captured her within its gelatinous body. Her head sticking out from the slime. ¡°Help me!¡± she yelled as she struggled to free herself from the captor¡¯s hold. The slime bounced across several of the round platforms, severing their connection to the gears with its corrosive body as it leaped beneath the platforms. Dragging Rose to the far side of the room with it. Hydrangea had an idea, and with much of her remaining strength conjured ice around the slime and Rose, freezing them both. Emily then leaped from her platform and threw her combined swords into it and Raine followed with her rings. The three chakrams collided with the frozen slime and broke it into several pieces. Rose¡¯s body was freed from the attacks as the larger chunks of frozen slime plummeted into the depths. ¡°...Thanks,¡± Rose said woozily before collapsing. A while later, Anemone, Emily, and Raine tended to the two girls, making sure they were both alive and healthy after being captured by the Crystslime. Rose woke up and saw that most of the platforms were gone. While the lamia was sleeping Emily took the key and also an attached note. The note read. ¡°For those that seek the Blade of Lies, turn back now. The cursed blade must remain sealed!¡± ¡°Cursed blade?¡± Emily asked herself. Raine looked back at the now impassable gap. ¡°Can¡¯t go back that way now.¡± ¡°Stupid slime,¡± Rose grumbled as her body repaired itself. Black slime receded into veins as the wounds on her and Hydrangea prepared themselves. The Tatzelwurm purred with relief at Rose¡¯s awakening. ¡°You¡¯re lucky Sarah and Richard packed medical potions alongside the lunch!¡± Anemone said. Emily saw that there was a corridor to the right and followed it, leading to a locked door. She looked at the key and used it on the door. Lock and key both turned to shining dust as the door opened. ¡°Guys!¡± Emily shouted. ¡°I found a door!¡± The younger girls followed the avatara¡¯s voice and they delved deeper into the dungeon. ??? Charlotte¡¯s group ventured far beyond the northern door they entered through. They soon arrived at a large room where various reservoirs lay beneath them, separated by a transparent crystal floor. ¡°It seems this was also used as a treatment facility,¡± Tim mused as he observed the reservoir. ¡°I wonder where the impurities go.¡± Kasumi looked at Tim again with longing eyes. Salliandra pulled on one of her braids. ¡°Ow!¡± the brown-haired ninja said. ¡°What was that for?¡± ¡°Distractions like this ill suit a ¡®shadow warrior¡¯,¡± the petulant sprite said. Lily cantered towards the two. ¡°You must really like Tim, huh?¡± the Centaruide said. ¡°Do not!¡± Kasumi protested. The two blonds were not convinced. Kasumi humped. ¡°I just happen to respect him a little is all,¡± she said. ¡°Right,¡± Salliandra said sarcastically. The group continued to walk towards the end of the corridor. The dire wolf at Charlotte¡¯s side smelled something and growled. ¡°What is it?¡± Charlotte said. The beast howled and rammed through the door, revealing phantasmal white flames dancing around the new room. Tim sensed several unholy presences in the unusably darkened room. ¡°Ghosts!¡± Lily cried in panic. ¡°Lovely,¡± Richard said sardonically as he took out his stunners. Sarah followed the Direwolf into the room and attracted the attention of the specters. Each phantom flame harassing her with its ectoplasmic smoke. Kasumi tried enveiling the battle in mist and obscuring the specter¡¯s sights, but the cooled steam was dispelled by the white fires. Their blazes colored blue and red by the absorbed mana. ¡°What are these things?¡± Sarah exclaimed as she swung her hammers around them. The wisps dodged the swings with ease. Lily gathered her wits and tried to use her light spells to illuminate the room. Faint shadows were made visible on the stone columns in the dungeon before the uncolored flames grew attracted to the light. Salliandra quickly used a mirage staff to reveal the true form of the specters, allowing Tim, Sarah, and Richard to dispatch them before their wisps could absorb and use Lily¡¯s light against them. Amidst the battle, Charlotte noticed a panel sticking out from the floor. She tried stepping on it, but her weight was insufficient for its activation. ¡°Lily!¡± the alraune called out to the centauride. Lily galloped to where Charlotte beckoned her and stood on the panel, but not even her heavy quadrupedic body was enough to activate it. Wisps began to circle them. The wolf tried to deter them with a mighty howl, but the wisps retaliated with water, fire, and light spells. Assailed, a risky idea formed in Charlotte¡¯s head. She turned to Lily. ¡°I¡¯m sorry!¡± she said before casting a spell. ¡°Sorry for¡ªAah!¡± Lily suddenly collapsed onto the panel, her body growing heavier by the alraune¡¯s gravity magic. The panel lowered as the centaur struggled to stand back up. Pure water began falling along the walls, separating many of the wisps from their adversaries. The remaining ones attempted to attack, but Tim and Sarah repelled them and threw them into the dousing mana-draining wall of water. The specters were soon vanquished. With the wisps gone, Charlotte reversed the spell she cast on Lily and helped her up. The centaur smiled at the girl despite the sudden enfeeblement. ¡°That was a close one!¡± she cheerfully said. The water stopped falling and a crystalline key was seen on the drainage grate. Tim picked up the key and noticed there was a locked door behind him. He used the key on the door and key and lock both crumbled into motes of light. In the next room, Charlotte glimpsed a small cat leaving from a ledge. Tim turned to Lily, who graciously accepted Charlotte¡¯s apology. Salliandra fluttered to Lily, sharing in her blissful exuberance. ¡°Maybe we can use her as a weight more other?¡± the spite said. Lily recoiled at Salliandra¡¯s request. ¡°Let¡¯s¡­not? Suddenly weighing four tons isn¡¯t a lot of fun.¡± Richard noticed a small note on the floor. The page had dissolved at the edge and many pieces were missing, but the ink was still a deep contrasting black compared to the yellowed pages. The note read, ¡°I have ventured into this Dungeon on rumors of two things. One was that a cursed sword lay here and that it had purifying properties. After centuries of existence. I believe that if the rumors about this ¡®Hexenflutch¡¯ are true, then¡­¡± Richard turned to the back of the parchment. ¡°Day two. I noticed the water here¡­isn¡¯t water. I mean it looks and feels like water, but I do not sense any of its mana or anything that connected it to the Flood. Furthermore, anything that is submerged in it risks dissolution into mana which is then dissipated. I have decided to name it ¡®aqua regina¡¯ for now, pending a more appropriate term for this liquid. I¡¯ll also try to avoid it going forward, lest I end up in a different body of water later.¡± Richard gave the note to Sarah. ¡°There¡¯s a cursed weapon here?¡± the dwarfette asked. ¡°Apparently,¡± her brother responded. ¡°Wonder how it came to be here.¡± Charlotte looked at the mirror she brought. She noticed something unsettling in the reflection. Showing not crystal, but fire. The horrific imagery felt like it was sucking her in before she snapped herself out of it and placed it back on her back. She overheard the Smiths talking about the possibility of a cursed weapon and wondered if that was related to the mirror. After a few moments of rest and exploration, the group eventually found another key. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Tim said. The group returned to the reservoir and saw that a doorway suddenly appeared on the north wall. Tim used the key on this new door and the lock vanished alongside it, granting him entrance. They arrived back at the Cistern¡¯s central pool, on a higher ledge than their entrance, and opposite an already opened door. The dire wolf sensed an unsettling presence behind them but saw no one there. With a whimper it followed the rest of the group as they traveled along the outer room of the large room, unaware that someone was tailing their every movement. ??? Carla¡¯s party ventured deep beyond the eastern door. The swan and Nina used their skills in flight and wall-scaling to traverse large gaps. Strelitzia protected the party from opposing threats while Clover repelled them away with her winds. Carla used her knowledge of monster biology to calm the Crystslimes, and Azalea studied the water in hopes of trying to manipulate it. ¡°That isn¡¯t right!¡± the blue-haired clionid protested. ¡°This is water, why can¡¯t I move it?¡± ¡°Normal water wouldn''t dissolve magic,¡± Streltizia said. They soon arrived at a room with a locked door. Azalea tried to open it, but the crystal lock kept the door firmly in place. Carla looked around and noticed a book next to a pristine blade. The cover and spine were well worked and many of the words had faded. The remainder of those that weren¡¯t used glyphs and spellings unfamiliar to her. She noticed there was a note attached to one of the pages, less jaundiced from age than the book. The alraune opened the note. ¡°I knew it was a bad idea to try to use that dungeon for water treatment. The results were so pure it actually drowned a reverend! Administrators, why did you let us be tempted by this clean place?¡± ¡°We have decided to move further west. The Profaned Arm at least would be secure here in this gods-dammned place. No guild shall ever know of it, no fool shall dare set foot here as long as we stay the hells away from it.¡± Carla wonders what such a note is doing in a place like this. As she examined the parchment, she heard a small clink fall onto the crystal floor. She looked down and saw a small key. She recalled the locked door and decided to test the key on it. As Carla worked the lock on the door, Azalea noticed the pristine dagger and took it from the table. The crystal blade was immaculate with hues dancing through its edges. ¡°Ooh, pretty!¡± the mermaid said. Carla succeeded in undoing the seal on the door. Lock and key both vanished into motes. The group entered the door. ??? After another puzzle, Anemone, Emily, Raine, Rose, Hydrangea, and the Tatzelwurm arrived in a strange room. There, they were attacked by large crystalline mantises. The group made short work of these translucent insects. Anemone noticed that the mantises had empty jars on them and took them. ¡°What is this?¡± she asked. Hydrangea noticed a plaque above the other door. ¡°For those that seem to cleanse the hex, the power of the flutch, you must best.¡± Rose noticed that there was a discarded journal on the corner. Worn and out of place leather in this crystal-made room. ¡°Huh?¡± the lamia said. ¡°Emmy, look!¡± Emily picked up the tome and turned its pages. The letters were worn out, the ink faded, but several passages were still legible. ¡°¡­it¡¯s been two weeks since I last arrived. Two weeks since I began to search for Danielle. The villagers told me she was last seen there, but I¡­¡± the ink faded too much to continue. Emily turned to another page. ¡°¡­¡®We are leaving.¡¯ the Reverend spoke. The village was recently d¡­d by a Cataclysm. We¡¯re forced to relocate to ... And yet, I knew that Danielle is still ... My beloved daughter, why have you¡­home?¡± The words were more faded. Emily noticed that the edge of that page was strained. She turned to another page at the end of the book. ¡°No, it can¡¯t be¡­I found her earlier¡­Daniele has¡­No, I will not let her run rampant. Tomorrow I will ¡­ I will bring her peace.¡± The rest of the pages were blank. Emily looked at the book in confusion. The state of the book made it clear that it had been here for a long time. ¡°What has happened here?¡± Emily said. A curious part of her considered finding the core of the dungeon and asking them, but she knew that would likely be a rough endeavor. The Hexenflutch was not associated with any known guild. For all she knew it could¡¯ve been a rouge dungeon. And yet she didn¡¯t know anything about it until The Truces decided to visit it on rumors. ¡°Emily!¡± Raine called out to the avatara. Her train of thought was broken. ¡°Yes?¡± Emily answered. ¡°We found a map!¡± the red-haired girl said. Hydrangea and Anemone looked it over and noticed that there was a path that led back to the center pool of the dungeon¡¯s Cistern. With that in mind, the group decided to move forward. As they exited the room, Emily looked back, thinking she was being watched. As the door closed behind them. A crystalline cat had emerged from behind one of the columns. ??? At the same time, Charlotte and her party had just entered another room. Pipes dotted the walls. Some dripped with tranquil aqua regina, others were dried. A few pressure switches and a small box were present. At the eastern wall was a locked door. ¡°Hang on,¡± Charlotte said. ¡°I have an idea,¡± the young alraune walked to one of the switches and used gravity magic on herself. She fell to her knees and she concentrated on the spell. The panel activated and one of the pipes spewed water over the grate that was the floor. ¡°Charlotte!¡± Tim said. ¡°You¡¯re exerting too much pressure on yourself!¡± The alraune ignored Tim¡¯s words of concern. With the not-quite water flowing, Charlotte struggled to move her head to face it. She began to lift her now heavy arm to cast another spell. The flow of water was stopped and the small river began to float in midair. She carefully moved her eyes towards a dry pipe and made sure to direct the water¡¯s gravity towards it. Her careful spell worked and one of three pairs was connected. Salliandra dispels the gravity spell on herself. The alraune breathed heavily as the pressure she placed on herself decreased. ¡°I have a better idea!¡± the sprite said before diving into Richard¡¯s bag and rummaging through it. ¡°Hey, what are you doing, stop that!¡± Richard said to the nosy sprite. ¡°Found it!¡± Salliandra said as she lifted a camera from the bag. ¡°You brought a camera with you?¡± Sarah said incredulously. ¡°You never know when it might be handy!¡± Richard said defensibly. Salliandra used her powers to suspend the camera in the air as she took pictures of the dry pipes and the box. She then took pictures of pictures of the dry piped and used her mirage powers to manifest larger copies. She placed the images in midair under the dripping pipes and then used the photo of the box to create a large copy over the switches. ¡°Okay,¡± the spite said to Charlotte. ¡°Try making that box heavier!¡± her tone was giddy with excitement. ¡°You sure this is going to work?¡± Lily said. ¡°It beets watching Charlotte risk mulching herself,¡± Kasumi said. Charlotte followed Salliandra¡¯s advice and increased gravity bearing down on the box. All three switches were activated. The first set of pipes acted as Charlotte¡¯s spell intended. The two dripping pipes also flowed into Salliandra¡¯s floating photos. Two jets of water suddenly appeared in midair, flowing into the walls next to the dry pipe. ¡°Oops!¡± Salliandra said. ¡°Thought I nailed it!¡± she fluttered to the photos and adjusted their position. The aqua regina jetting from nowhere soon flowed into the dry pipes. The door unlocked. ¡°Um¡­thank you, Salliandra,¡± Charlotte said. ¡°No problem!¡± the small sprite said before she returned Richard¡¯s camera to him. ¡°Can you take a pic of me? Please!¡± she said childishly. The befuddled dwarf complied. The group entered the opened door and continued their exploration. ??? As Carla and her stepped into a new room, they found themselves in a large hallway, standing on the top of a floor that sloped steeply on both sides. Eerie silence was all that filled the cavernous hallway. Carla looked behind her and said the door was suddenly locked again. The group carefully walked across the path. Strelitzia kept watch for anything suspicious. Azalea, not bound by gravity, swam towards the left wall and noticed an array of pipes. ¡°Guess this dungeon piped down,¡± the clionid quipped. Strelitzia looked towards her mermaid friend and noticed the pipes were dripping. ¡°This place is booby-trapped,¡± the minotaride said to herself. She was certain that if they made the wrong move, the floodgates would open and the pipes would flood the room with deathly clear fluid. They soon arrived at the other side. There was a strange pillar, with smaller cylinders extruding from it. A small key hung from one of the cylinders. ¡°Where¡¯s the door?¡± Nina asked. ¡°There should be a door here right?¡± Streltizia grimaced. ¡°Oh Obsidian¡¯s hammer!¡± she thought her herself. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me¡­¡± The only way out was the way in, and this key, which she is certain would cause the faucets to open and let loose a torrential trial. She gripped her axe. ¡°Stre?¡± Clover asked her horned friends. ¡°Clover,¡± Streltizia said. ¡°Get ready.¡± Her expression told her all she needed to know. Nina noticed the key and skittered towards it. Carla tried to warn her against taking it too hastily, but the spiderling didn¡¯t heed her warnings. She climbed up the pillar and took the key. ¡°Yay!¡± Nina said. ¡°We¡ªwhoah!¡± the pillar rotated as the smaller cylinders receded into it. The small Arachne was thrown off the pillar as the faucets opened, just as Streltizia feared. That water would flow from the crystal walls did not surprise the minotaride, but that the water was pitched black, did. As the jet-black water flowered, Large crystals fell from the ceiling. The stones broke apart and took the form of adventurers and mantises. The adversaries charged towards the group. ¡°Everyone!¡± Streltizia said. ¡°Run!¡± she charged towards some of the opposing, and slammed her axe into a crystwalker mage. The magician tried to use its body as a medium for channeling mana before the bull-horned girl slammed her axe into it. Another crystwalker clashed with Clover, blocking her fan before she could unfold it. The peryton simply used the folded metal fan as a makeshift club and pushed it against the crystwalker¡¯s blade. Azalea and the swan leveraged their relative freedom granted by floating and flying over the ground to attack and distract crystwalker archers and mages. The crystal warrior failed to shoot either of them from the sky as Azalea used her control over the water on the sludge. Summoning a small tide that ensnared the crystalline foes and dragged them down the steep sides of the platform. Her small tide eroded the crystal the crystwalkers stood on. ¡°Azalea!¡± Strelitzia said wrathfully at the clionid who made their path back more arduous. ¡°Sorry,¡± Azalea said. She swam towards the area and tried to help wash away the other crystwalkers. Before she could try to control the water again, she was struck in the back by a crystwalker mage, aiming a curse spell at her. The young girl was overwhelmed with pain and struggled to control the water. Too distracted to notice the other crystwalkers poised to drag her into the inky depths. Carla used her vines to ensnare them and threw them towards the other side where the simulacra shattered against the wall. The black ooze filled half of the space to the side of the elevated platform. Its flow accelerated as they tried to cross the gap Azalea accidentally made. The clionid struggled with searing pain as she swam towards the other side, Nina hastily excreted small struck threads across the gap for her to cross. Clover propelled herself over with her wind spells, Carla relied on her swan to carry herself over, and Strelitzia stayed back to ensure the others escaped first. Slaying the crystwalkers that dared impeded her friends. ¡°Strelitzia!¡± Clover called to the orange-haired minotauride, ¡°Everyone made it across!¡± That was her cue escape. The axe-wilding girl focused on a spell and moved her lead. As she slammed her hoof on the ground, the crystal she soon on extruded and lifted her into the air. She leaped off the ledge. She breathed heavily as she landed on the other side. The group made it back to the door. Carla took the key from Nina and quickly placed it into the lock. The binding on the door vanished and the group rushed through it. Streltizia was again the last to go. As she ran through the door she was struck by a spell. A crystwalker mage had landed a curse spell on the horned girl. Her shoulder burned from the combined power of dark and flame. Just as Azalea¡¯s back ached from the dread combination. The door slammed before the crystnauts and the flooding black water could flow through. Opposite it, a new path had opened, but that was a little concern. Carla had taken small petals from her skirt. ¡°Here,¡± the alraune said as she gave them to the minotarise and the clionid. ¡°These should soothe the pain a little.¡± The two girls rubbed it at their cursed areas and found the curse had subsided, but its effects still lingered. ¡°What a horrible night to have a curse,¡± Azalea lamented. ¡°It¡¯s not even night!¡± Strelitzia said as the curse flared up again. Clover looked at the two friends. ¡°There is only one true way to remove curse magic,¡± she said. Unfortunately, the means for that were Anemone and Raine, who were in different groups. Azalea looked at the water pouring from behind her. Separated by a crystal wall. ¡°Well¡­maybe there is one other way?¡± she asked. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Nina asked. Azalea turned toward the wall. ¡°Can you help me smash this? I don¡¯t think I could move this water here.¡± ¡°Azalea, are you crazy?¡± Strelitzia said. ¡°That would drain us of mana completely.¡± ¡°It¡¯s only a little bit,¡± Azalea said. Strelitzia began to protest, but her shoulder flared up again. She clutched her right shoulderblade in agony. Clover looked at her in concern, her fan folded into a form more ready for striking the crystal wall. Strelitzia relented, ¡°Fine,¡± she fought her singed shoulder and she took her labrys. Azalea was unable to help with the curse¡¯s heat wreaking havoc on her back. Clover supported Streltizia as they tried to break a hole in the crystal wall. Carla, Nina, and the swan also assisted. After several attempts, the fan and axe bore a large enough hole for them to walk through. Strelitzia stretched her arm out first into the clear liquid. Her pain increased as purple and red flowed beneath her wet arm. She kept her arm stretched for five minutes before the faraway hues changed into browns and oranges. She took back her arm before the false water could damage it further and felt relief from the curse. ¡°It worked?¡± Strelitzia said with confusion. Carla quickly took a jar, one of several she retrieved from previous encounters here, and filled it up with the water. She asked Azalea to show her her back. The clionid complied and shifted her body until she was floating face down. Carla applied the water and saw purple and red liquid drip from the clionid¡¯s body. The cyberworks armor moved to expose her afflicted back and only her back. ¡°Hehe, you know when we¡¯re about to die, we usually go belly-up,¡± Azalea said. She giggled through her pain. ¡°Is this really the time for jokes?¡± Streltizia said. Nina giggled at Azalea¡¯s remark, to Streltizia¡¯s annoyance. After a few minutes the water that dripped from Azalea¡¯ turned azure, The clionid celebrated her relief by stretching her arms as the armor moved itself back into place. With the curse lifted, the group looked at the new path before them, they traveled down this new road and arrived back at the cistern¡¯s central pool. The staircase lifted to their level¡­and the once clear water beneath grew murkier and blacker. ??? Later, Emily and her group have just prevailed against the second Sentinel. A special Crystwalker Guardian who was as silent as he was formidable. As the warrior fell and Emily approached the chest, Anemone noticed something approaching them. It was a cat, a crystal cat, but a cat nonetheless. Its fur was as pitch as the starless sky. It looked at the group with curious eyes, as if sizing them up. Rose looked at the cat with confusion. ¡°Hey, Mone,¡± she whispered to the lycanthrope. ¡°Did you see this last time?¡± ¡°No,¡± Anemone responded. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I think that cat has been following us ever since we¡¯ve arrived here,¡± the young lamia answered. Emily gathered the contents of the chest. Crystal-laden robes, cloudstone ingots, and several translucent armaments were either absorbed by her or handed off to Raine and Hydrangea. ¡°We¡¯re ready!¡± the avatara yelled before she noticed that Rose and Anemone were looking at a cat. The Tatzelwurm silently slithered to the other feline, trying to access its motive. As it approached the black cat had hissed and then ran off. It ran through the door that was opened by the defeat of the crystallized statue. ¡°Huh, weird,¡± Emily said. ¡°You¡¯re telling me,¡± Rose said. The group followed the new path which led back to the Cistern, but on the way, they noticed a creeping darkness envelope them. ¡°Huh?¡± Rose cried in shock. ¡°Everything¡¯s dark!¡± ¡°Hang on,¡± Raine said. ¡°I can make a light.¡± She extended her arm and channeled fire mana into a floating fireball. The incandescence of the flame illuminated the first few feet in front of them. As Raine conjured the flame she noticed a serpentine shadow slither past them. ¡°Rose is that you?¡± the phoenixian girl said. ¡°Nuh-un!¡± Rose exclaimed. ¡°I was right here.¡± The group heard a loud cackle. ¡°Fellow trespassers, thou journey ends here.¡± A green flame erupted from the darkness, Hydrangea immediately created a barrier of ice to stop it. ¡°Curse magic?¡± Anemone said. ¡°Show yourself!¡± Raine said to the voice. The room was lit by the smoldering green hues of dark fire. A second lamia slithered before Emily and the four Coloraturas with her. Her curly red locks framed a face that made a grin wicked with subtle sadistic glee. Rose recognized the fellow snake-taled woman. ¡°What do you want?¡± she demanded. ¡°So the orphans found a new friend,¡± the intruder said. ¡°Such a pity. Thou hath stumbled into a world unseen.¡± She launched another attack, but Raine countered with her own flames. Emily didn¡¯t know who that was, but she was certain the red-headed lamia was an enemy. She drew her swords and clashed with the serpent. But she evaded her attacks and summoned a sword of dark fire. As Emily clashed again with the interloper, she noticed a kind of mana similar to the Coloraturas and Kaitlyn. The intruder was a Witch! Cracks on the crystal floor began forming, assailed by the cursed flames. ??? As Emily and her group faced a sudden foe, so too did Tim and his group. A blond nekomata had ambushed them after they had arrived back at the Cistern. The poor beneath them were now a murky opaque black. ¡°Hehehe,¡± the stranger giggled. ¡°Thoth hath a purty mouth indeed.¡± She summoned a thunderous spear. ¡°Pray, won¡¯t thou join me?¡± Kasumi was annoyed by what sounded like an attempt at flirtation, directed at Tim no less. She entered the fray and clashed with the cat-eared invader. ¡°He¡¯s not interested!¡± ¡°Oh?¡± the blond opponent said. She noticed that Tim never responded to her words with words of his own thus far. ¡°The strong silent type, huh?¡± ¡°Not my type,¡± Tim said as he assumed a horse stance. He made a charging step towards the nekomata intruder and pushed her back with a trike from the hips. The cat-eared witch simply charged forward. ¡°I love a good fight,¡± the woman said. ¡°I¡¯ll be sure to be gentle with you.¡± Her voice remained as eerily smitten as it is adamant. Her focus on Tim was such that she barely recognized the kunoichi also fighting her, nor did she notice the centaur, dwarves, sprite, and dire wolf prepared to enter the fray. Or so it seemed. As soon as Lily charged in, the opponent dodged her spear thrust. ¡°Lily!¡± she exclaimed as if referring to an old friend. ¡°Thou hath a new toy? I¡¯m so glad.¡± The centaur ignored the opponent¡¯s honeyed words. Her near-constant smile gave way to a scornful frown. ¡°I still remember what you did at Broadway!¡± The nekomata was torn. ¡°Thou still hung up about that?¡± she said. ¡°The manager was so handsome, I couldn''t re¡ª¡± She was suddenly zapped by Richard¡¯s stunner. Sarah rushed in to knock her to the wall, and Tim and Lily followed up with their own attacks. The stranger simply giggled as she took blow after blow. ¡°Yes!¡± she yelled, ¡°Give me more!¡± The floor beneath them began to crack. Charlotte tried to assist, but she was preoccupied by something. A voice in her head that beckoned her to stand back. The young alraune child struggled to keep her mind clear. Lily and Tim clashed with the lightning-brandishing teenager. Polearms collided as one evaded the other two¡¯s thrusts and answered with rapid strikes of her own. Levin struck the ground, further weakening the floor beneath them. The crystal floor began to give way. Large chunks fell onto the once pure aqua regina. Black sludge began to rise, like a geyser about to erupt. ??? At the same time, Carla¡¯s group was likewise locked in combat with a strange adversary. Strelitzia already locked her axe with that of the ice-wielding dormarch. ¡°I hath yet to introduce myself, and you greet me with this?¡± the blue-haired witched said. ¡°Hath thou lost your manners?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t need the pleasantries,¡± Streltizia said. ¡°I can smell the sin on you.¡± The blue-haired dormarch smirked before repelled the minotaur back with frigid winds. ¡°Very well, I¡¯ve not the time for pleasantries either. ¡°She began chanting a spell. ¡°Frozen winds, heed my call. Thine enemies be made to fall!¡± The crystal floor froze over and grew more fragile. Strelitzia struggled to keep her footing as Clover and Azalea rushed to her aid. Carla commanded the swan to keep the minaotauride on her two hooves, while Nina sneaked behind her and tried to web her unawares. Those attacks were futile. The stranger froze Nina and her webs in crystalline ice. Clover¡¯s winds were turned against her and rooted her to the ground. Azalea¡¯s water spells were instead redirected away and the water orbiting her head turned into a choking gelatinous orb. Carla and Streltizia were the only two remaining and the latter was the only one of the two that is experienced direct combat. ¡°What do you want?¡± the horned girl yelled as she deflected a thrown ice axe with her labrys. ¡°That is none of thou¡¯s concern,¡± the blue-haired dormarch said. ¡°But maybe my sisters and I can speak it over some nice juicy steak.¡± She licked her lips as she said those words. ¡°Now tell me, doth thou prefereth tenderloin, sirloin, or the rump?¡± ¡°Stre!¡± clover shouted as she tried to free herself. ¡°She¡¯s trying to get under your skin!¡± ¡°I know,¡± Strelitzia said calmly. ¡°Thou art presumptuous,¡± the stranger said. ¡°Seeing thyself as pure of the crystal that surrounds you? Or maybe thou art hiding from a different sin?¡± Strelitzia was incensed. The other witch grinned as she recalled her axe. ¡°I heard many a rumor about the decline of a certain herd of minotaurs,¡± the dormarch said. A tide of black sludge was visible from behind the walls. Some jetting out from cracks that formed in them. ¡°Overnight their membership dwindled, slaughtered. Their princess had vanished and the curious faction hath been rend asunder.¡± Strelitzia was angered by those words. ¡°Could it be that this princess doth stand in this ¡®hallowed¡¯ hollow?¡± the stranger said. ¡°Is it a coincidence that one small bull joined a herd of fellow orphans?¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Strelitzia said as she held her labrys over head and slammed the ground. ¡°Stre!¡± Clover tried to calm down her friend and guardian, but it was too late. Earth mana quaked on the frozen crystal floor and created more cracks in the walls. Carla and Clover noticed that the ooze from beyond risked flowing into this hall and flooding it. The dormarch goaded the horned girl about the things she had done once and the fragile structures that kept chaos at bay were rendered no more. Like a tsunami, the wave of sludge broke through the weakened walls and flooded it. Swallowing all its path. The three groups were submerged in the slime, separated from each other as they ended up in the confines of a Strega. Chapter XLVIIS: Blackmagik Blazing As winter snow fell on Noir, Erezbert emerged from the elevator on one of the tallest structures of the city. The Polity Center. The young man accompanying her walked her to the orange set of mahogany doors, inlaid with majestic ebony fillings in geometric patterns. ¡°Mr. Alucard is behind these doors, Liza,¡± the staffer said. ¡°As expected,¡± the woman responded. ¡°I believed I told you my meeting with him is to be held in the strictest confidence?¡± she said as she slipped the man a stack of sterling coins. ¡°Noted,¡± the man said as she discreetly put the coins in his pocket. ¡°I wish you both the best of luck.¡± Erezbert entered the office and closed it. There she found Mr. Alucard, or rather, the man who is her equal among the leadership of the Voorhes Gang. Vladimir Draconis. ¡°How¡¯s your day job treating you?¡± the woman said as she swayed towards the empty chair of the deck. The handsome man had finished looking over the policy proposals for the new year. ¡°It has served me well,¡± Vladimir said. ¡°As it always has.¡± The disguised gang leader put the documents on his desk. Erezbert knew he had disguised himself well. His silvery hair was replaced by blond locks, his black and red robes were replaced by a standard business suit. His faked slight hunch, his microexpressions, the pair of glasses he wore. If she didn¡¯t knew any better, she would¡¯ve assumed they were different people. But Erezbert was the trusted lieutenant of the leader of the Voorhes Gang and the Syndicate. The vampiress smirked. Mr. Alucard gave her a stern expression. ¡°I understand that you still kept a trio of failed assets around.¡± ¡°Even the stronzi have their uses,¡± Erezbert said. ¡°Besides, you of all people should know that death is a thing that must be managed.¡± ¡°Quite,¡± Mr. Alucard said. His tone differed subtly from that of his other persona, still businesslike but bereft of the subtle theatrical touch he possessed. ¡°Where are they now?¡± ¡°They are currently at a Dungeon called the Hexenflutch,¡± Erezbert said. ¡°They seemed to have grown more competent since discovering it.¡± She took a small incense stick from a nearby burner and found a garlicky odor eliminating from it. She had to stifle a chortle from learning of the presence of an alleged ¡°weakness¡±. ¡°I take it your pet project is still in progress?¡± Mr. Alucard said. ¡°Naturally,¡± Erezbert said. ¡°122 million people nationwide, a dozen times that many Elementalist¡¯s Spheres, and counting.¡± ¡°You said your family was searching for these certain relics?¡± ¡°Ever since the end of the Dissonance.¡± Mr. Alucard nodded. ¡°The Obbligato, the converted cores of beings such as the Earthshaker that once quaked around the continent. Such relics, relegated to myth and legend.¡± ¡°And so are Witches and Cultivators,¡± Erezbert scoffed. ¡°And yet they exist in our midst. My house had gathered knowledge in a bid to find those sacred items.¡± Mr. Alucard let out a slight chuckle. ¡°I know, as I also knew your task hadn¡¯t impeded operations here. The goal of the secretive House of Camilla, home to many philanthropists and magnates. As I don this mask so too does their matriarch don the mask of Liza Cer¨¦za-Corozon.¡± The matriarch in question looked at her partner¡¯s eyes. ¡°That reminds me, it came to my attention that the death rate has dipped to under 15% throughout the year.¡± ¡°Those blasted Rouges¡­¡± His voice was calm, but Erezbert could sense the ire in him. The tone was more akin to an exasperated bureaucrat. Perhaps out of awareness that an outburst would arouse suspicions or perhaps of how weary it is of the everlasting conflict between the Syndicate and the Rouges. ¡°Ever the pests,¡± Erezbert said. ¡°Always trying to bring the unwashed Exsecratii into the hallowed domains of the Elegere or even the Empyrean. Or even just getting them out of their little prisons.¡± ¡°Homeless rats breaching the sewers,¡± Mr. Alucard said. ¡°Removed from their place in the natural order. Even though we both knew their fates were but the natural selection at work. Only the fittest is worthy of survival after all.¡± ¡°But of course,¡± the socialite said. ¡°Man, Monster, Dungeon, it matters not. It is our job to sort out for whom life is worth saving and for whom life is but a mere antechamber to the Sea of Souls. And of course to wring out what little value remains along the way.¡± Mr. Alucard took out a book and began reading it. The treatise¡¯s pages flipped to one that was clearly worn from use. ¡°The Siegamento War may be over, but warlords are still needed. Even if they must present as antithesis. That is the mask of the sovereign.¡± ¡°A necessary mask,¡± Erezbert said. ¡°Too many rabble-rousers as is it.¡± ¡°I pray for our success,¡± Mr. Alucard said. ¡°For it thought either project where we may find the means to hold life and death in our dominion.¡± He took out a bottle of red liquid and two glasses. Sanguine fluid flowed down into the two crystal chalices on the desk. ¡°Long may we reign,¡± Erezbert said as she took one of the two glasses. The two clinked their glasses and consumed the red fluid. Erezbert left the office and the disguised Vladimir alone to his devices. ??? Charlotte woke up in a strange realm, reminiscent of the Hexenflutch, yet more bizarre. She found herself surrounded by crystal trees and mucky waters. She tried to move, but her legs were bogged down by the jet-black mud. The mirror still attached to her back. ¡°Guys?¡± the little alraune called as she struggled to move in the bog. Her verdant legs were tainted by darkened muck as she waded through the molasses-like substance to find anything resembling solid ground. Charlotte felt something tugging on her submerged leg. With a shriek, she sank deeper into the mud. Her arms were nearly submerged in the quick-sand-like bog and she was unable to move her legs. The indigo-petaled girl calmed down as she realized she had a way to escape this snare. ¡°Focus,¡± she thought as she began casting a gravity spell. A small bubble encapsulated her and the surrounding muck and lifted it out from the bog. While maintaining the apurgy-gravity balance she carefully changed the spell¡¯s boundaries to repulse the muck from her body and petals. Charlotte hovered around until she could find something more stable, ultimately landing on a crystal path. ¡°Is anyone there?¡± Charlotte yelled. The echoes were the only response. She knew she was separated from her friends but did not know where she was transported to. Despite the abundance of crystals here she wasn¡¯t even sure if she was still in the Hexenflutch. She looked around and saw crystal trees and platforms on the swampy marshland. ¡°Come to me,¡± a voice inside her head rings. The alraune looked around but could not find any source. ¡°The key to your escape is night,¡± the echo said. ¡°Um,¡± Charlotte said, ¡°who are you?¡± ¡°A guide,¡± the echo responded. ¡°Follow me, come close to me child, and I will deliver you from this prison.¡± Charlotte considered the option, but she had her doubts. ¡°Where are you?¡± she asked. ¡°I was trapped, by the vile dungeon, held captive in its crystal halls,¡± the echoes said. ¡°Follow my voice, it will guide you to me, and to the means of your egress.¡± Charlotte looked around, and could not find anyone else. Her friends were missing and there were no signs of life that she could see. Her eyes soon glimpsed a black cat in the distance. Vanishing into a distance fog. Charlotte with no other choice, decided to follow the cat and the mysterious voice. ??? ¡°Help!¡± Rose¡¯s tail was stuck in the swampy black muck, unable to slither out. Hydrangea had frozen the brackish water around her while Raine and the Tatzelwurm attempted to pull her to the shore. A while later they had succeeded in pulling the lamia out from the bog. Rose panted heavily. The three girls were aware that they were inside a Strega. And that the stranger that had assaulted them had vanished. Raine melted the ice around Rose¡¯s tail. ¡°Thanks,¡± Rose said gracefully. Raine Carnation Cadenza turned her head away. Hydrangea began to conjure some glaciers to move around the bog more easily. ¡°Be careful,¡± she said sternly. ¡°This will be slippery. The three embarked on the frozen raft and Raine used her wand to create a jet of flames to direct it. The Tatzelwurm coiled itself around Rose, snuggling up to the lamia again, to her trepidation. At the same time, two violet-haired girls had just prevailed against two crystal alligators. The bayou reptiles were pinned to the ground by Anemone¡¯s arrows while Emily skated around them and slashed with her two swords. Emily enchanted her swords with earth and ice and wielded their combined mana to strike with crystal attacks. The two reptiles fell to these blades. The violet-haired avatara sighed. ¡°You said you had suspected a Strega here right?¡± The lupine magical girl nodded, as she put her bow away. ¡°Yes. By the look of things, these suspicions proved true,¡± the young child said. Emily brushed off her shoulders. ¡°I¡¯d bet Heathcliff¡¯ll be jealous. He sometimes mentioned how alligators were a common foe where he grew up.¡± The duo noticed a small glacier in the distance. As it drew nearer, Rose waved her hands. ¡°Anemone! Emily! Over here!¡± Emily¡¯s group was reunited, but questions remained on her mind. She wondered if the other two groups had ended up within the Strega, and also, what happened to the lamia that had attacked them. ¡°Did you see anyone else on the way here?¡± she asked. ¡°If we did,¡± Raine said. ¡°They would¡¯ve been on that iceberg Hydra whipped up.¡± ¡°The only things we found here were crystal zombies and boars,¡± Rose lamented. ¡°And you?¡± Hydrangea asked. Emily shook her head. ¡°It was just us.¡± Anemone looked around and saw that the marshy swamp had several elements retained from the Hexenflutch, including clear crystal structures. ¡°Something isn¡¯t adding up,¡± the lycanthrope said to herself. ¡°Strega should be dungeons unto themselves, but this one¡­¡± the group heard a feline cry, interrupting Anemone¡¯s thoughts. ¡°Rose!¡± she yelled. ¡°Can you tell the Tatzelwurm to stop yowing. I¡¯m trying to concentrate.¡± ¡°That wasn¡¯t¡ª¡± Before Rose could finish, the Tatzelwurm hissed and lunged toward a moving shadow, the serpentine cat had seized, another, less serpentine cat in its fangs. The two felines battled each other until the Tatzelwurm prevailed. The black crystal cat escaped its opponent and fled off. The group decided to follow the cat, thinking it might lead them to somewhere important. ??? Meanwhile, Lily was also trapped by the black mud. Sarah was trying to pull out the horse. ¡°A little help here?¡± Sarah said. ¡°She¡¯s too heavy for me to move alone!¡± ¡°Sarah,¡± Richard said as he tried to help Sarah pull Lily up. ¡°There nowhere to push from behind,¡± The centaur hung her head in shame. ¡°Sorry guys.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not your fault,¡± Kasumi said. ¡°If anything it¡¯s that nekomata¡¯s fault.¡± Lily couldn¡¯t help but frown as she heard the mention of the intruder. ¡°That girl is bad news!¡± she said curtly. ¡°Do you know anything about her?¡± Tim said while meditating on a solution. The centauride struggled to try to swim upwards, but the mud¡¯s hold on her legs proved difficult. She was at least grateful it was too shallow to submerge her. ¡°I have an idea!¡± Kasumi said as she decided to take out a bauble from her dress. ¡°This mist should solidify the mud, it would be easy to break her out there.¡± She said with a confident grin. She moved to Lily¡¯s side and threw the bauble down. The exploding fog had the opposite effect, making the mud more fluid and causing her to sink. ¡°Huh?¡± the cocky kunoichi said as her legs began receding into the newly made mud. ¡°What the, I can¡¯t move!¡± she tried again with another bauble but fumbled and dropped it. The object sank into the object. Tim stood up and began to make some movements. The ground beneath Lily, Kasumi, and the dwarves was lifted into the air and plummeted just as quickly. ¡°Ow!¡± Lily and Kasumi said as they fell on solid ground, mud clumped on the kunochi¡¯s feet and the centaur¡¯s equine body. Tim helped the girl with the braided hair stand up. The ninja blushed as Tim grabbed her hand and lifted her upright. ¡°I-I could''ve done it myself.¡± Tim ignored the remark. ¡°You¡¯re welcome, ¡° he said. Kasumi looked around. ¡°Hey did any see Salliandra?¡± ¡°She said she left to look for the others,¡± Richard said. ¡°The dire wolf also followed her.¡± As if on cue, the sprite and dire wolf returned, with Streltizia, Clover, and the swan in tow. ¡°Stre! Clover!¡± Lily exuberantly galloped to her friends. ¡°So the Strega got you too?¡± The peryton nodded. ¡°What happened?¡± Kasumi explained that their group was attacked by a strange Nekomata witch. Clover in turn revealed that her party was instead attacked by a blue-haired dormarch witch. ¡°It was the one from the Broadway attack!¡± Lily chimed in. ¡°You mean that one with the wrecking ball?¡± Stretlizia said. ¡°No!¡± the centaur said. ¡°The other one!¡± ¡°Oh,¡± the minotaur said. ¡°I thought that was the last we¡¯d see of her.¡± The blond girl shook her head. ¡°She¡¯s back and she seemed fixated on Tim!¡± ¡°She should get in line,¡± Salliandra snarked. Tim was a little disturbed by how infatuated the blond nekomata was with him, but his mind was left on other matters. ¡°We need to regroup,¡± he said. ¡°At the very least two of the three groups are now inside this swamp.¡± The others agreed, and they set off to find the rest of their friends. ??? ¡°This swamp is yucky. Too much mud and dirt and grime. Why are there crystals?¡± Azalea said as she swam around Carla and Nina. By now the water that Azalea uses to breathe in the air had returned to a pure liquid state. ¡°Pray tell, small mermaid. Why are we talking like this? Is this a ¡®you¡¯ thing?¡± Nina said. The three woke up near a path of floating logs, beneath a strange plant. Carla looked at the unusual botanical entity. ¡°Mayhap we should move. See what lies beyond the logs. And Reach normalcy?¡± Clara said. Nina looked towards the flotsam in front of them. ¡°Don¡¯t know if it¡¯s wise. Those logs are rather spooky. Try a different path?¡± ¡°What other road lies?¡± the mermaid began. ¡°This marshland is waterlogged. There is no other.¡± ¡°You swim through the air!¡± Nina said. ¡°Why can¡¯t you find a new path? You¡¯re not scared, are you?¡± Azalea was taken aback by the spiderling¡¯s words, hypocritical as they are. ¡°Might be worth a shot. What are those logs gonna do? Arise from the brine?¡± The clionid turned to the bog around them and swam forward in the air above. She swam several yards away from the logs, noticing one suddenly sank under the brackish swamp. Azalea soon saw another isle in the swamp. ¡°Hey!¡± she said. ¡°There¡¯s another¡ª¡± Her jubilant exclamation was interrupted by the emergence of a geyser, a monster with tendrils ending in log-shaped structures emerged. The frog-like beast roared as it turned towards the blue-haired clionid, its frog-like body locked onto the little mermaid. The amphibian exhumed poi. Azalea swam reflexivity to dodge it. The log-covered toad extended some of its tendrils, poised to launch the logs at Azalea. But before it could do so, Nina landed on the back of the beast and pierced its hide with her bladed legs. ¡°A most fowl beast!¡± Nina sided as she slid black and sliced the leathery skin of the toad. ¡°I thank you for the escape. Carla, come on here!¡± Carla was shocked at the spiderling¡¯s brazen attempt to use the toad as a mount, but Azalea picked her up and placed her onto its back. Nina attempted to direct the toad. She used the blades on her armored legs to direct the toad. Eventually, the toad collapsed on a patch of mud, bleeding out from the wounds Nina inflicted on it. ¡°Well done Nina,¡± Azalea said. ¡°You¡¯ve ribbited into it. The toad had done croaked.¡± They dismounted the corpse and landed on solid ground. ¡°Azalea, dear. Can you tell us where we are? This is no Dungeon.¡± ¡°I know what this is. This feels like a Strega. That I am certain,¡± The clionid cheerfully said. The effect of the plant had faded and they are no longer bound to speak in haiku, to Nina¡¯s relief. ¡°Oh thank Astra,¡± the spiderling said. ¡°I have no idea what I do I spent the rest of my life speaking like that!¡± They traversed the swamp, fighting through several toads and the occasional Crystslime. In a place that is more crystal than swamp, they discovered and regrouped with Tim and his party, only without a certain member. ¡°Where¡¯s Charlotte?¡± the alraune mother said. Lily sighed. ¡°We lost her,¡± the centaur said. ¡°She got separated from us where we fell here,¡± Sarah said. She looked around and noticed Stretlizia and clover were absent. ¡°Take it we¡¯re not the only ones?¡± The worry on Carla¡¯s face was as apparent as the pitch coloration of the mud, and the immaculate translucence of the surrounding crystals. ¡°We¡­we have to find her!¡± she said. ¡°Agreed,¡± Tim said. ¡°This is no place for someone like her to wander alone.¡± The assembled group began to search for the others. As they did Carla fretted about her young daughter¡¯s safety. ??? ¡°Ah, this swamp feels more like home than I imagined.¡± The Weyward sisters were reunited after they fell into the Strega¡¯s domain. Hildur in particular relished in the atmosphere that resembled her place of birth. ¡°Careful, eldest sister,¡± Grisella said. ¡°Thou know thy surroundings art the boundaries of a Strega, right?¡± ¡°I know!¡± Hildur lashed out, her red curls seemingly flared up with her glower. ¡°A pitiful shame we are stuck here, but I can¡¯t help but feel a little¡­nostalgic.¡± Savina meanwhile looked on the ground in a mix of fury and lament. Her tails dragged on the mob below. ¡°I was this close to making that heartthrob squeal like a little piggy!¡± ¡°What is up with youngest sister?¡± Grisella said. Hildur gave an uncaring shrug. ¡°We must needs focus. We must defeat the Strega and absorb its mana, then we can resume our prize!¡± ¡°That is a brilliant plan, sister,¡± Grisella said. ¡°Okay,¡± Savina said. The sisters Weyward began exploring the labyrinth, in search of fragments that would lead them to the core. As they searched a thought came to Hildur. ¡°Sisters,¡± she said. ¡°I must wonder.¡± ¡°Yes, Huldur?¡± Grisella said loyally. Her ears perked in curiosity. ¡°The Lobosiam massacre,¡± Hildur said. ¡°Are we certain the survivors were taken care of?¡± ¡°I think so, sister,¡± the dormarch said. ¡°Madama Erezbert and Master Vladimir said that the remnants were destroyed by the remnants of the ¡®Mustache Petes¡¯. Why do you ask?¡± ¡°Oh, no reason that concerns you, sister,¡± the red-headed lamia said. ¡°Just musing on some thoughts.¡± She knew that among those whose was reported missing was the daughter of the patriarch Malthus. And that someone who bore a resemblance to her was among those she had met earlier. ¡°It seemeth rather strange that eight orphans had gathered together so easily,¡± she thought to herself. The three witches continued their exploration of the Strega. ¡°What do we do,¡± Savina said for the first time in half an hour. ¡°If we find a fragment that is?¡± ¡°The same thing we always do in times like this, sister,¡± Hildur said. ¡°We make her our own and have her lead us to the core!¡± she said with a malevolent cackle. The youngest sister followed suit. ¡°Right, sister. How could I forget?¡± The three soon heard rustling in the leaves of the crystal trees. Hildur turned to one of them and found a shadow leaping from its canopy. ¡°It seemeth our search has yielded fruit, sisters,¡± Hildur said. They summoned their weapons and began chasing the shadow through the marsh. ??? Emily¡¯s group explored the crystal swamp until they discovered a large pit, resembling the Citstern they were previously in. Complete with unusually clear water. ¡°Is that a bridge?¡± Emily asked. Noticing the flat path floating in the tranquil water. ¡°Seems like it,¡± Hydrangea said. The group looked around and noticed that the pool¡¯s design strongly resembled the architecture of the Hexenflutch the most. Complete with a crystal barrier that kept the brackish water out. Anemone thought about the assailants. ¡°Do you think those witches are connected to the Strega?¡± ¡°They do know an awful lot about the Dugneon,¡± Hydrangea mused. ¡°Anemone have you seen them before when you last visited with Lily and Charlotte?¡± The lycanthrope shook her head. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen them before.¡± Rose and the Tatzelwurm slithered onto the bridge, being careful not to fall into the transparent water. The feline serpent beside the lamia noticed something and mewed to call Rose¡¯s attention. ¡°What is it?¡± Rose asked as she slithered to the serpentine cat. She looked down and saw that there was a large door at the bottom of the artificial lake. Chains crisscrossed through the ingress, locked by a giant sword crossing both. ¡°Emmy!¡± Rose called to Emily. ¡°Look at this!¡± Emily looked at the bottom of the pool and the locked door. Through this, a thought came to her mind. ¡°We¡¯ve progressed through the Hexenflutch by raising the water level, maybe we can find the core by draining the pool? But how?¡± Strelitzia meanwhile stood guard over the others, keeping a watchful eye out for monsters. Clover approached her. ¡°Are you okay, Streltizia?¡± the peryton said. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± the minotauride said. Clover knew that Strelitzia was not fine. ¡°You¡¯re making that face again,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯m not!¡± Streltizia denied. Even though her microexpressions told otherwise. Clover sat down next to her friend. ¡°You didn¡¯t know that attack would bring us here.¡± ¡°But I should¡¯ve,¡± Strelitzia said. ¡°Anemone suspected that a Strega would be here, and I let myself be goaded into having it swallow us up! I should¡¯ve¡ª¡± ¡°Strelitzia!¡± the antlered girl said to the horned one. Clover¡¯s wings unfolded as she said her name. ¡°It wasn¡¯t your fault. If anyone was to blame it was that dromarch! We¡¯ll find a way out, I¡¯m certain of it!¡± Strelitzia calmed down a little. ¡°I guess you¡¯re right.¡± ¡°I know I¡¯m right!¡± the fawn smiled. ¡°How many Strega and Dungeons have we found ourselves in again?¡± ¡°Fair point,¡± Streltizia said while giving a wry smile and a wistful sigh. Clover noticed her expression had changed slightly and was glad she was able to lift her spirits a little. ¡°Now come on, no use dawdling around!¡± she said. The group looked around the area and noticed there was a path of logs floating around. Clover used her wings to fly over the logs and discovered a locked door framed by several brambles and throned hedges. ¡°I found a door!¡± Clover yelled to the group. ¡°It¡¯s locked!¡± As Clover returned to the group, Anemone noticed a strange cat running on the muddy water to the right of the lake. She turned to Hydrangea who also saw the cat. The cyan-bobbed girl took her grimoire out and looked to a certain spell. She then took her wand and motioned it in various patterns. A sheet of ice formed above the mud, allowing the group a way to move past the otherwise debilitating mud. Emily led the group as they followed the black cat. ??? Tim¡¯s group meanwhile was still searching for the others. Carla frantically called out for Charlotte, her worry for her daughter was visible on her face. ¡°Charlotte!¡± the alraune cried out inconsolably. ¡°Where are you?¡± Azalea and Lily are unsure how to comfort the concerned mother. Carla was well aware of the dangers of adventuring, but she was still overcome with fear for her daughter. Azalea considered trying to lighten the mood but reconsidered upon realizing she did not have any material that wouldn¡¯t come off as mockery. Nina scurried about when she noticed a nearby tree rumbling. She curiously approached the tree. ¡°Is anyone there?¡± she yelled. The tree suddenly rotated one hundred and eight degrees and revealed a ravenous face, with bark that resembled two buck teeth. The swamp tree uprooted itself and moved to attack the group. The sight of this caused Nina to scream. Carla turned to see the tree attack the spiderling and commanded the two beasts with her to fend it off. The swan assailed it with molted feathers and pecks, while the dire wolf used fang and caw to proliferate the mud-caked bark. Nina bravely and defiantly moved around the bark and used her legs to peel off some of it. The others noticed the gigantic treant and lent their assistance. Tim disoriented it with close-range attacks, while Azlaea summoned a muddy geyser beneath one of its roots. ¡°Timber!¡± the clionid yelled as the treant fell unto the mud. The swam was poised to claim the fallen monster, but it used its branches to hoist itself upright and roared. Lily charged forward and leaped with her spear. The centauride impaled the treant when one of the larger branches met the trunk. Sap and mud flowed from the monster¡¯s wound as Tim knocked it over with a toppling palm strike. Carla commanded her beasts to prune the larger branches from the monster after it fell. Azalea used her knives to create water cutters that sliced several of the remaining branches off. Sarah and Richard coordinated their attacks to paralyze the tree and keep it pinned down as the branches were removed. The tree¡¯s ability to put itself back up dwindled alongside its branches, and Nina and Carla carved into its body and pierced its heart, defeating it for good. The tree¡¯s corpse landed near another island, this time with more crystal architecture. The group crossed the swampy lake through the treant¡¯s fallen body and followed the trail of crystals. Along the way, the group encountered a treasure chest. The contents inside were similar to those of the Hexenflutch, crystal-adorned armaments, and armor, as well as jewelry and already filled jars of aqua regina. Tim took the jars while the dwarves removed the other items from the coffer. As they followed the crystal trial, Carla still expressed worry for her missing daughter. Lily cantered up to her, finally trying to cheer up the grieving mother. ¡°Um, Carla?¡± Lily said. ¡°Yes?¡± the alraune said, trying to hide her pain. ¡°Um,¡± Lily still struggled with finding the right ways to console Carla about Charlotte. Still, she was aware of why she was fraught with pain. ¡°You¡­you cared about Lotte huh?¡± ¡°That obvious, huh?¡± Carla said wistfully. ¡°I do. It is normal for a mother to worry when her child is in danger.¡± Lily stumbled on how obvious the answer was. ¡°Yeah,¡± the blond centaur said. The chartreuse-petaled woman looked at the child. ¡°Tell me, I knew your parents were no longer around, but can you tell me what they were like?¡± Lily nodded. ¡°Mommy and Daddy were wonderful, though we didn¡¯t play together that often I could tell they were doing their best.¡± ¡°Do you miss them, Lily?¡± Carla said. ¡°Well,¡± the centaur said. ¡°I¡¯d be lying if I said I didn¡¯t, but It¡¯s okay I don¡¯t feel as lonely as before. I got Rose, Anemone, and the other Coloraturas.¡± Lily beamed as she said those words. Carla wondered if she should pry into Lily¡¯s past. It was clear that she and her friends were embroiled in unusual circumstances. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Lily said. ¡°I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll find her. I promise!¡± Carla was a little soothed. ¡°I hope you¡¯re right, dear child,¡± she said. ¡°I hope you¡¯re right.¡± ??? Emily¡¯s group traversed the swamp, following the ebon-furred cat until they reached another crystal-laden area. And a herd of wild boar stampeding around it. ¡°Boars?¡± Anemone whispered as they hid behind the bog¡¯s trees. ¡°What did you expect?¡± Streltizia said. ¡°Strega or not, this is a swamp.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± Clover said. ¡°It looks more like a bog to me.¡± ¡°Feels like a marsh to be honest,¡± Rose said. ¡°Nah,¡± Raine said. ¡°It¡¯s a bog.¡± ¡°Why are you arguing?¡± Hydrangea said. ¡°It is a swamp, I¡¯m certain.¡± The Tatzelwurm noticed that something was amiss and slithered away to investigate. While the six magical girls bickered about what biome the dungeon resembled most, Emily noticed that one of the rampaging boars had made a sudden turn. ¡°Um, girls,¡± she said as she drew her swords. A second boar noticed the group¡¯s presence and rushed toward them as well. ¡°I¡¯m telling you!¡± Rose said. ¡°This is definitely a marsh!¡± ¡°Rose!¡± Streltizia said. ¡°This is a swamp. Plain¡ª¡± Leaves suddenly fell from the branches as one of the boards crashed into the crystal bark. The four girls saw that the herd had noticed them and charged around them and that Emily was already defending herself against them with flame-tongued and lightning-bladed swords. ¡°How did they¡ª¡± Streltizia was stunned to see the Boards had noticed them as she took her axe out. Raine and Clover used their wings to fly over the herd as more boards emerged from behind the crystals and the trees. The phoenixian and the peryton used fire, wind, and smoke to attack the herd from above, while Emily, Rose, Anemone, and Streltizia engaged with the tusked beasts on the mud and crystal ground. ¡°Sparking Rondo!¡± Rose called out as a volley of levin emerged from her wand and sunned some of the boars. She then slithered towards one of them and sliced it with the rapier, the defeated boar melted into black mud. Anemone fired from afar, landing arrows on the shadows of the boars and pinning them into the ground, Hydrangea froze the pinned boars solid, and Rained provided fire to thermoshock them. The mix of frost and flame ravaged their hides as Streltizia took her axe and slammed the ground. Sending the boars flying. Clover used her fan to channel a windstorm to carry away the lifted boars. The herd was thinned, but several still remained. Emily sliced and danced her way through them with her swords before channeling light through her blades and throwing a Photon Ring at them. As the swords-turned chakram flew, another board attempted to ram her, but Emily assumed a horse stance and drew on and used a palm strike to repel the boar. The returning chakram sliced the side of that boar as they returned to Emily¡¯s arms. The board attempted to headbutt the avatara, but she dodged to the right. ¡°Too slow!¡± she said mockingly as she carved into the boar like a pork roast. The boar melted and two more attempted to take her place. ¡°Emily!¡± Hydrangea called as she created a wall of ice around her, stepping the boards in their tracks. Anemone looked at Raine with a knowing look. The red-feathered girl dived into the ground and used her rings to summon an inferno around the remaining boars. Melting the ice that protected Emily, The avatara took it as a sight to get away from the fire as Anemone aimed a volley of dark-enchanted arrows at the blaze. The violet haze of the arrows turned the vermilion fire into a noxious veridian as the elemental mana merged and became that of curse magic, incinerating the boars with unyielding and painful flames. The ablaze boars soon melted from the nigh-unquenchable fire. Strelitzia was reminded about how she and Azalea had been attacked by curse spells an hour ago and also how the clionid jokester had suggested a risky move to purge the otherwise unpurgeable fire. As the group looked for the black cat around this place, the minotauride turned to the lycanthrope. ¡°Hey, Mone?¡± Streltizia said. ¡°Did you collect some of that clear water?¡± Anemone nodded. ¡°Why do you ask?¡± The horned girl told Anemone about what happened to herself and Azalea. The lavender-ringleted girl was surprised to learn that they used the Hexenflutch¡¯s waters to clear what should¡¯ve been an equally dangerous ailment. ¡°You could¡¯ve gotten yourselves killed!¡± Anemone said. ¡°That¡¯s what I tried to tell her,¡± Stretlizia said. ¡°But it wasn¡¯t like there was any other choice.¡± Rose overheard her two friends mention cured fired and looked at the burning piles of black mud, still emitting verdant cinders. She was reminded of the encounter that preceded their descent into the Strega, the other Lamia who used cursed fires. Before she could bring that up, everyone was interrupted by the presence of a black cat. ¡°You¡¯ve done well to prevail here, guests,¡± the cat said, Carla¡¯s Tatzelwurm beside it. The group was shocked to hear the cat speak. ??? The black cat stood over the confused Emily and her equally flummoxed friends. They let out a simple chuckle. The six Coloraturas tensed as they drew their weapons. ¡°I see,¡± the cat said. ¡°Rest assured that I come in peace. Emily noticed a familiar aura from the cat. ¡°Are you¡­¡± The cat purred affirmatively. ¡°I am, or was, a Sentinel of the Hexenflutch. It¡¯s nice to meet you.¡± ¡°A Sentinel?¡± Rose asked. ¡°Yes, much like you,¡± the cat said. ¡°I¡¯m sure you knew that the swamp was once a person, also like you?¡± ¡°We figured,¡± Strelitzia said. She recalled what Azalea had told her and Clover a while back, the same knowledge that the clionid had told the others. ¡°Can you tell us more about them?¡± Anemone said. ¡°Alas, my memory is faint,¡± the feline said. ¡°But I do know that this encroachment, this¡­you called it a ¡®Strega¡¯ yes?¡± ¡°That is correct,¡± Hydrangea said. ¡°Right, this ¡®Strega¡¯ had emerged as soon as the wards around Vanitas wanted,¡± the cat said with a tone of certainty. ¡°Vanitas?¡± Emily said. ¡°A dread weapon,¡± the cat said. ¡°A village of Agneists had gone to great pains to ensure it doesn''t pervert the surrounding land. Perhaps you came across them?¡± ¡°We haven¡¯t seen anyone of the sort,¡± Emily said. ¡°I see,¡± the feline said wistfully. ¡°Anyway, the Blade of Lies is a cursed sword that seeks wielders to possess and will use honeyed words to that end. Thousands of souls were already trapped in the corrupted blade.¡± ¡°Hold on,¡± Raine said. ¡°What is a cursed weapon doing in a place like this?¡± ¡°My master, the Hexenflutch, as it came to be known has a rare power to purify the corruption of the Unlifetree. It took the form of water that is not quite water. I¡¯m certain that one previous traveler called it ¡®aqua regina¡¯,¡± the cat said. ¡°Aqua regina,¡± Emily said. ¡°Got it.¡± She recalled her encounter with a lamia stranger. ¡°Did you see any other ¡®visitors¡¯ here?¡± The cat grimaced. ¡°My master was able to warn me about some incursions. A trio of pests, most recently. And a small araune child before that.¡± The cat looked at Anemone. ¡°They told me they were accompanied by a least someone resembling you, as well as a centaur child.¡± ¡°Yeah about that,¡± Anemone explained about the mirror and what had happened with it. ¡°I see,¡± the cat said. ¡°So it is worse than I feared.¡± ¡°What is?¡± Rose asked. ¡°With the Strega¡¯s emergence,¡± the black cat said. ¡°My master had attempted to seal it within itself, to turn it into a Sentinel. A method that only partially succeeded. This was because Vanitas had attempted to exploit the emergence of the Strega as a wielder and a host. Because of this, the purification process was corrupted and the malefic enemies of the sword began to leak out from its tomb. It also means that the soul of the swamp was not bound to my master, and would pass to the seal of Souls if defeated.¡± ¡°Are you saying that the mirror is corrupted by this ¡®Vanitas¡¯?¡± Hydrangea said. ¡°It is well within possibility,¡± the cat answered. ¡°This sword,¡± Anenome said. ¡°Could it be a Profaned Arm?¡± ¡°I know now what you meant by that,¡± the cat said., ¡°But I do know the blade once went by the title of ¡®Vertias¡¯.¡± The cat¡¯s response was confirmation enough for Anemone. A question lingered on Rose¡¯s mind. ¡°Could the Strega be saved?¡± the lamia asked. ¡°Rose¡­¡± Raine said understandably. The cat shook their head. ¡°I do not know if it is possible.¡± ¡°If at least one fragment remained¡­¡± Hydrangea said. Emily looked at the cat. ¡°You said the Hexenflutch was visited by three ¡®pests¡¯?¡± The cat nodded. ¡°Three women hexed. Whose presence was a bane unto the dungeon. I do not know what motive they have, but my master warns me that it cannot be good.¡± ¡°Did they include a Lamia, by any chance?¡± Rose said. ¡°Like you?¡± the cat said. ¡°Less cute, redder hair,¡± Rose clarified. ¡°What about a blue-haired dromarch?¡± Strelitzia said. ¡°Both do match what my master said of the unwelcome guests. A blond cat-eared woman was among them as well.¡± Emily, Rose, and Streltizia exchanged looks of worry. Emily looked back at the cat. ¡°We came with some others,¡± she said. ¡°Have you seen them?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± the cat said. The group heard a loud explosion. They turned in the direction of the noise where they saw a plume of smoke.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. ¡°Something¡¯s wrong!¡± the cat said before running off. The group followed their feline guide. ??? Tim, Carla, two of her beasts, Lily, Anemone, Sarah, Richard, Kasumi, Salliandra, and Lily eventually arrived at a flooded pit, surrounded by crystalline structures and bridged by a floating platform. The pit was filled with the transparent aqua regina. As clear as a pristine lake. ¡°Do we need to make a pit stop,¡± Azalea quipped about the pit in front of them. ¡°As above, so below,¡± Tim said. ¡°Huh?¡± Lily said in confusion. ¡°Heaven and Earth are as a mirror, at least in this case,¡± Tim said as she moved his eyes around the artificial lake. Richard nodded. ¡°If traversing the Hexenflutch necessitated reaching the top, to raise the steps¡­¡± ¡°Then it would stand to reason that draining this pit could allow us to reach our goal,¡± Salliandra said. ¡°You¡¯re saying the Strega¡¯s core might be at the bottom of this¡­lake?¡± Lily said. ¡°I dunno,¡± Azalea said to the centauride. ¡°Something doesn''t add up here.¡± Carla mused on a certain possibility. ¡°Correct me if I¡¯m wrong,¡± the alraune said. ¡°If this monster is defeated, would everyone held captive be released?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what usually happens,¡± Lily said. ¡°It happened with that ¡®Anima Mundi¡¯ place,¡± Sarah said. ¡°And the fake movie studio,¡± Nina said. A possibility had opened up to the tamer. Lily saw her microexpressions shift. ¡°Carla, what are you thinking?¡± ¡°Lily, Azalea,¡± Carla said. ¡°Do you think you two can defeat that monster?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± the centauride said. ¡°We don¡¯t know!¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a while since we fought a Strega without the other Coloraturas,¡± Azalea said. ¡°And this one seems to be very powerful.¡± ¡°And if we lent our strength?¡± Carla asked. ¡°Carla,¡± Tim said, realizing her plan. ¡°I understand your concern for Charlotte,¡± he said in a calm manner. ¡°But please consider the potential risks involved.¡± ¡°I have, Timothy,¡± the alraune said. ¡°In this group, there are four Sentinels, people tasked with protecting Emily and those who called her home. Myself included. We are both aware of the boons that came with such a role.¡± ¡°Um, Carla?¡± Lily said with a frightened tone. ¡°I know my daughter is out there in this place, and that her life is at risk.¡± The alraune mother said. ¡°Administrators as my witness, I will gladly do everything in my power to save her, as I would to save those taken by the Piper Pruflas and submerged in Emily¡¯s mana.¡± Tim started at the older woman with a stern expression. ¡°That is your resolution?¡± Carla nodded. ¡°Perhaps you will understand one day when you have children of your own to protect.¡± ¡°Now hold on!¡± Kasumi said. ¡°Do we even know how to drain that lake?¡± ¡°If Tim¡¯s assessments are correct, ¡°Carla said. ¡°The mechanisms would likely be scattered around this swamp. ¡°That¡¯s a big ¡®if¡¯,¡± Azalea said. ¡°The Strega may be Dungeons, but they don¡¯t play by the same rules as Emily. That said, it¡¯s not as if we¡¯re swamped with leads.¡± The group suddenly heard a shriek from the direction of the fallen treant. Lily and Azalea already rushed back to the log that was the drowned monster. Sarah and Richard followed suit. Carla realized that the discussion must be put on hold as she and the others headed back to whence they came. ??? Meanwhile, the Weywards, after a lengthy chase, had trapped their prey. A young child, with mahogany-colored hair. Her freckled head made a defiant expression against her three captors. ¡°Well done sisters,¡± Hildur said. ¡°This bog hath yielded an interesting catch.¡± She slithered towards the young girl and noticed the child¡¯s body had a crystalline luster translucent and tinted in tawny tones. The young girl glared at the lamia. ¡°Get away from me!¡± she yielded as she tried to strike the captor, but her crystal hand was caught mid-punch and held by the lamia. ¡°Careful, child,¡± Grisella said in a polite but venomous tone. ¡°Elder sister hath quite the grip. Thou wouldn''t want to test how brittle thy diamond skin is?¡± Her nose picked up the scent of incoming interveners. Savina giggled at the punier girl¡¯s attempts to resist her captivities. ¡°That child doth not know when to admit defeat.¡± The crystal child struggled to free herself. ¡°I¡¯ll never go with you freaks!¡± she said in defiance. ¡°I won¡¯t let you have that sword.¡± She then covered her mouth with her free hand. ¡°So thou doth know of the relic?¡± Hildur said with piqued intrigue. ¡°Sisters!¡± Grisella said. ¡°We must make haste, I smell people approaching.¡± The blue-haired dormarch¡¯s warning came too late. Brackish water began rising from the body beside them. A torrent of mud had crashed down on them. Hildur shielded them with an incantation. ¡°Wicked flame, hollowed bane. Defend us with might arcane!¡± Hildur said as a ring of green fire erupted from around them. The tsunami was burned away, but the mud in turn negated the fires. ¡°Interesting,¡± the red-haired lamia said with a wicked grin. She kept her grip on Savina and stared intently into her eyes. ¡°Starlit night, filled with fright. Imbue dwimmer in thy sight! Let courage wane, through might arcane. Rend desire to escape to nane.¡± The crystal girl¡¯s eyes began to see monsters more fearful than the sights she was already used to. The Bardsong prevented her from mustering enough bravery to resist. Her arms grew limp as she was overcome with dread. Tim¡¯s group encountered the sisters hexed. Azaela looked at their adversaries. ¡°I was sure that mud wave would stop you.¡± ¡°Ah the would-be comedian,¡± Hildur said. ¡°I think we hath met not?¡± Lily glared at the blond nekomata beside Hildur, but Savina did not return hers to the wrathful centaur, but instead gazed on Tim. ¡°Hi there,¡± she waved slowly. A brief look of disgust flashed on Tim¡¯s face. A longer lasting long lingered on Kasumi¡¯s. Who are you?¡± the martial artist said. ¡°We are sisters three,¡± Grisella said. ¡°Weyward and lost in need.¡± ¡°We came in search of treasure vexed,¡± Hildur said. ¡°Sealed in crystals and swamps we hex.¡± ¡°That fragment knoweth the way to the sword. So kindly let us move forward?¡± The trio attempted to use Bardsong to manipulate the party, but Lily and Tim saw through their plot and attacked them. Lily¡¯s charge broke Hildur¡¯s grip on the crystal child, but she remained frightened of the girl, still under the spell. ¡°Give that child to me!¡± Hildur said in rage, but Tim used palm and knee strikes on the lamia, she attempted to counter, but Tim expertly dodged the amateurish attempts at riposte. Savina and Grisella tried to assist, but Richard paralyzed the nekomata with his stunners and Carla¡¯s swan hindered the dormarch sister with its aggressive and graceful movements. Kasumi took a bauble from her dress and threw it at the sisters, enveloping them in fog. An enraged Hildur cast a spell to dispel the mist with her flames. The evaporated mist revealed that Tim and his party had escaped, and the fragment with them. ¡°Curses!¡± Hildur screamed as a plume of smoke rose from the flames. ??? As the other two groups searched for each other and as her mother looked for her in the Strega¡¯s boundaries, Charlotte wandered the swampy dungeon, guided by the enigmatic voice. ¡°You¡¯ve been trapped here for centuries?¡± Charlotte said. ¡°Indeed,¡± the voice said. ¡°Those wretches had sealed me here, for they fear that which they do not understand. Close-minded fools.¡± ¡°I think I can relate,¡± Charlotte said. ¡°From the looks of things,¡± the voice said. ¡°You weren¡¯t treated well by the village you left either.¡± ¡°It¡¯s complicated,¡± Charlotte said with a sigh. ¡°Is it?¡± the voice echoed. ¡°Your mother was blamed for crimes by a demon most fowl, and of slaying one she held dear. Whilst you were ignored by the villagers at best, a mere accessory to one the ignorant masses felt a danger, a threat, a monster.¡± ¡°Well¡­when you put it like that,¡± Charlotte said. The alraune child had avoided the dangers of the swamp, the decelerating mud, the boars, the treants, not even the Weywards, those who had sent them plummeting into this domain, were seen by the girl. Soon she came across a strange device, a wheel affixed to a crystal pillar. It looked like something you¡¯d find on a ship. ¡°We¡¯ve arrived at the first switch,¡± the voice said. ¡°Turn it and one of the seals will lift.¡± Charlotte gulped as she approached the larger wheel. She tried to reach it, but her frame was too short, her jumps hindered by the heavy petals attached to her waist. She tried to use her gravity magic to ensure she floated in the air, but her attempts ended in failure. ¡°Focus,¡± the voice echoed. ¡°I¡¯m trying!¡± Charlotte said. ¡°Do not let fear cloud your mind,¡± the voice said with honeyed words. ¡°Be not intimidated by the daunting stature of this switch. You¡¯ve a special gift within you and what will be the key, our key. Of this, I know.¡± ¡°A special¡­gift?¡± Charlotte said. A little more confident, Charlotte tried again, creating an aura of apurgy around herself that allowed her to reach the switch. She pushed down on one of the crystal poles crossing the wheel with all her strength, and slowly it began to turn. A nearby weight was lifted as she pushed on the wheel. Aqua regina flooded from a nearby crystal dam. The clear river washed away blackened mud and debris. ¡°Excellent,¡± the voice said. Another cat emerged from the top of the dam and ran off. Charlotte did as she was instructed and followed the feline. At the same time, in a certain pool, the crystal clear water began to sink, draining into one of three floodgates. ??? A few moments later. Tim and Carla¡¯s group had arrived back at the aura regina pit they had found. ¡°Is it just me,¡± Azalea asked, ¡°Or did that well look¡­less full?¡± Carla examined the well. ¡°How did it happen?¡± ¡°Maybe it was from that giant tree?¡± the clionid quipped. ¡°I don¡¯t think so,¡± Kasumi said. ¡°It didn¡¯t seem that empty when we came here.¡± ¡°Maybe it was a delayed reaction!¡± Kasumi said. Tim wondered if Emily¡¯s group was responsible. He turned his attention away from the pool and towards Lily, Salliandra, and the crystalline child that the centaur carried. The fragment had passed out from the trip when Lily galloped away from the Weywards and avoided the patches of much that would surely slow her down. Salliandra had worked to dispel the illusion Hildur had cast on the young girl. ¡°¡­and there,¡± the capped sprite said. The young girl slowly roused, her vision restored to normal, yet that did not assured he fears at the new company. She made an aggressive face and jumped off Lily. ¡°Who are you?¡± she said with a fearful yet determined tone. Carla walked to the child, secreting a pleasant aroma to help calm her nerves. ¡°Do not be afraid,¡± she said. ¡°We are friends.¡± ¡°Hi!¡± Azalea swam to the girl. ¡°My name¡¯s Azalea! Water you waiting for?¡± she said in anticipation of an introduction. The fragment was startled but she looked around and saw less malice compared to the trio she encountered before. ¡°N-neil.¡± ¡°Hi, N¡¯niel!¡± Lily said. ¡°My name is Lily!¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s Niel,¡± the girl said a little more calmly. ¡°Huh? ¡°Lily said in confusion. ¡°No, My name is Lily?¡± she chirped. Azalea whispered something in the centauride¡¯s ear. Lily had come to a more obvious realization. ¡°Oh.¡± Niel noticed a familiar aura coming from those two girls, she could sense they were fellow witches like herself or at least like the person she remembered herself as. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± ¡°Well,¡± Lily said. ¡°We came here without friends to see if there was a Strega here.¡± ¡°To try to slay it?¡± Niel said. ¡°Yeah!¡± Azalea said. ¡°Can you help us find the core?¡± Niel looked toward the well. ¡°It¡¯s beyond the door at the bottom of the water.¡± A hunch was confirmed, yet Niel made a threatening grimace. Tim picked up on it. ¡°Is there anything else beneath those waters?¡± ¡°I had escaped from the Strega¡¯s attempts to assimilate me,¡± Niel said. Her statue-like body refracted the ambient light from the artificial sun over the swamp. ¡°In all of these escapes, I¡¯ve noticed that several cats with me. Some were working with that dungeon that it partly absorbed, others seemed to be the minions, or maybe they were the other ¡®mes¡¯ that were absorbed. I wouldn¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Cats, you say?¡± Carla asked. Niel nodded. ¡°Those allied with the Hexenflutch mentioned something about a sword, that was also at the bottom of the well. Something the Strega¡¯s core jealously guards.¡± The group noticed they had seen strange cats around since they arrived at the dungeon. Tim caught a possible lead. ¡°Can you tell us where we might find one?¡± Niel nodded. ¡°Follow me,¡± Niel said. She led the group to a nearby set of crystal structures, on the mud, they noticed several sets of tracks. Lily, Azalea, and Tim noticed they corresponded to their missing friends. Rose¡¯s tail, Stretlizia, and Clover¡¯s hooves, Anemone¡¯s and Emily¡¯s feet, Nina¡¯s pointed legs, and the dwarves¡¯ tiny footfalls. Yet they were nowhere to be seen. ??? Meanwhile, Emily¡¯s group arrived at the source of the explosion, there they could see signs of struggle and verdant fires, but no living creature in sight. ¡°Seems like there was a battle here,¡± Rose said. The cat moved around the site of the battle. Anemone followed them as they tried to search for clues about what happened. ¡°Can you tell me about the cursed sword?¡± she asked. Sarah also approached the cat. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m mighty curious about it as well. Maybe my hammer can beat the curse out of it!¡± she joked. ¡°The Profaned Arms are not something so easily released from the curse,¡± the cat said. ¡°My master said it thus, if they were so easily purified, then sealing them would be unnecessary. The use of the aqua regina is a process that takes centuries.¡± ¡°Profaned Arms?¡± Sarah said. ¡°I think I¡¯ve heard of those.¡± ¡°They were holy weapons that were used against the Archfiends,¡± Anemone said. The cat nodded. ¡°That is true. Of course, ¡®were¡¯ is the operative word here. The tools and armaments were corrupted, their divine purposes subverted.¡± Anemone suspected that was the case. ¡°Did you know how the Strega emerged?¡± ¡°Alas, I do not,¡± the Cell said. ¡°That is something my Master keeps to themself. All I know is that it happened after a child had entered the dungeon. Back then, the nearby village was set to abandon their settlement and migrate eastward. They feared that the blade would bypass the seal and cause great harm to them. They were also fearful of the aqua regina used to purify the sword.¡± ¡°How so? ¡°Sarah asked. ¡°The villagers figured that an essence that dissolves essences would be useful in many applications. Especially cleaning. But several people got too careless and ended up losing their lives to its properties, and others who attempted to explore other uses were eventually exiled.¡± Anemone figured that the child the cat spoke of was another magical girl, from long ago it seemed. The cat noticed her inquisitive look. ¡°The girl had acted strangely that day, saying she was becked to aid someone unfairly detained in the Dungeon and asked why they were holding someone prisoner. I suspect that the village was vindicated in that the cursed blade did seep from its tomb.¡± Emily called to them, telling them that they had found something. Anemone, Sarah, and the cat put their conversation on hold to follow the avatara. ??? Emily¡¯s group came across a crystal statue resembling a sleeping child, clad in wizardry robes. ¡°Weird stature,¡± Nina asked. ¡°Wonder what it¡¯s doing in a place like this?¡± Anemone noticed a finger on the ¡°statue¡± had moved. ¡°This is¡­¡± The cat moved to wake up the ¡°statue¡±, who turned. ¡°Come on Dale,¡± the feline said. ¡°You know it¡¯s dangerous to sleep here.¡± The crystalline girl stood up and rubbed her eyes. ¡°Good morning.¡± She blinked and noticed that the cat wasn¡¯t alone this time. ¡°Um, who are you?¡± ¡°Lost travelers,¡± Sarah partially lied. Anemone and Hydrangea realized that the young child before them was a fragment from the Strega. ¡°How long have you been here?¡± Anemone asked. Dale yawned, a fine mist exhumed from her mouth as her crystal body refracted some of the light. ¡°Several years I think?¡± The cat sighed. ¡°Dale here sleeps like a log. She would often slumber in torpor for decades on end.¡± ¡°That¡¯s one way to avoid the Strega I guess,¡± Rose said. ¡°Um,¡± Emily said. ¡°Can you tell us how to find the Strega?¡± The tired girl didn¡¯t answer, the group wondered if Dale had fallen asleep again. ¡°Dale,¡± the cat said to the dozing girl. ¡°I-I¡¯m awake!¡± Dale replied as her eyes snapped open. ¡°I¡¯m sorry but I don¡¯t know much about this entity.¡± ¡°Well,¡± Streltizia, said. ¡°That was a bust,¡± ¡°Stre!¡± Clover said before turning her attention back to Dale. ¡°Would you like to come with us?¡± Clover asked. ¡°It¡¯s not safe here.¡± ¡°I guess,¡± the child timidly answered. Dale followed the group. The party then noticed a familiar figure move in a distant shadow. ¡°Is that?¡± Anemone said. Emily turned to the cat. ¡°Can you two stay here?¡± The cat nodded and agreed to watch over Dale. The Tatzelwurm also stood guard over the crystal. The group decided to track the shadow. ??? Emily¡¯s group followed the shadow until they reached a strange switch. The earth rumbled as they approached the shadowed figure, and black mud sprouted from the ground. The switch turned as they witnessed a gigantic blob rise in front of it. A slime made out of dark mud shaped like a reptile and covered by a matted mix of gnarled ivy and moss. ¡°Oh great,¡± Rose said. ¡°More mud!¡± Strelitzia didn¡¯t waste any time engaging the monster in battle. Her labrys chopped at the mud-beast, but her weapon was caught in its gooey scales. Sarah also attacked the beast, but her hammer was also stuck in the sticky mud. The beast then let out a dread yell, the solid earth beneath the party instantly transformed into mud. ¡°Drat!¡± Rose said as she tried to slither around, the liquified dirt turning into a hindrance that slowed the movements of her tail. Hydrangea tried to freeze the mud solid, but her ice sank into the depths, Clover and Raine took to the air to avoid the burdening mud while Anemone and Richard fired their projectiles at the beast. Lightning from Richard¡¯s stunner bolts shocked the mud beast enough for Sarah and Strelitzia to reclaim their weapons from the monster. The reptilian mud beast recovered and leaped onto the wall above the switch, climbing the crystal wall and Dodging Anemone¡¯s arrows. It lobbed balls of mud at Raine and Clover, who remained in the air and dodged its attacks. Strelitzia had an idea and took her wand out. ¡°Orbis Rondo!¡± she yelled as the wand glowed an orange hue. Parts of the mud lifted themselves from the ground and began orbiting the minotauride. She used all of her might to leap from the mud¡¯s snares and jump closer to the beast. The monster fired three projectiles at her, but the mud that orbited her deflected these attacks as she made another mighty leap. Emily observed Stretlizia¡¯s movement and had an idea. She channeled bard song to create a gust of wind beneath her. The air created a bubble in the mud that exploded and propelled her into the sky. From this vantage point, she quickly channeled wind and fire into her swords and threw the chakram into the beast. The two attacks caused the mud-beast to fall from the wall and land on its backside. Exposing a more solid sphere. Smoke from Emily¡¯s attack had singed the mud-beast. Rose launched a Sparking Rondo, stunning the monster further as everyone else waded or flew closer to strike the exposed underbelly. The beast was attacked from all sides as it struggled to turn around. ¡°Oh no you don¡¯t!¡± Clover said. ¡°Gigue Giocoso!¡± A whirlwind swirled around the reptile-like mud creature, preventing its tiny legs from finding purchase on the mud beneath before propelling it into the air. Raine followed up by slashing at it with her rings ablaze. The monster was unable to keep its attacks as Hydrangea, and Anemone attacked the core, freezing it solid and shattering it. The beast could no longer hold its shape and exploded, splattering everyone with mud. A chest formed in front of the switch. Clover landed in front of it and picked up the crystalline contents while the others helped themselves and each other out from the mud. ¡°You did great,¡± Streltizia said to Clover as she approached her. She noticed the chest¡¯s contents included items similar to what they found in the Hexenflutch, including a crystal bow and an axe. The beast was destroyed, but they had lost the shadow. The group decided to return to Dale and the cat. ??? As Emily¡¯s group returned to where they left the cat, Dale, and Carla¡¯s Tatzelwurm, they discovered a horrifying sight. The cat stood over a pile of crystal pieces. Their face washed over with grief and rage. The Tatzelwurm was missing, and Dale was nowhere to be seen. The pieces in the pile resembled the broken body parts of a human child. ¡°What happened?¡± Anemone said in shock. ¡°She¡­she just shattered,¡± the cat said in a tone that indicated it wasn¡¯t the first time they saw that happen. Rose slithered over to the pile that was Dale¡¯s remains. She shed a tear for the broken fragment. Anemone turned to the cat. ¡°Can you lead us to the core of the Strega?¡± she asked. The cat made a surprised face. ¡°Maybe, but I need to know more about what it is you seek.¡± Anemone explained Stregas and their cores to the cat, but upon hearing that, the cat¡¯s face grimaced. ¡°My master knew where such an entity lies,¡± the cat said. ¡°But I can¡¯t let you go there.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± Hydrangea asked. ¡°The core you seek was discovered in the chamber where the sword was sealed,¡± the cat said. ¡°Though this part was severed from the rest of the Hexenflutch, my master ensured that it still influenced that chamber, so that nothing could get in or out.¡± Emily made a realization. ¡°Does that mean that the Hexenflutch made the Strega¡­¡± ¡°Precisely,¡± the cat said. ¡°What?¡± Rose said in shock. ¡°You made a Strega a Sentinel?¡± Streltizia said. ¡°It was all that could be done at that hour, my master said,¡± the cat said. ¡°The sword must not be allowed to fall into any hands.¡± ¡°That is insane!¡± Clover said. ¡°Do you know that this swamp is also the Strega?¡± ¡°I am privy to that knowledge yes,¡± the cat said. ¡°It is tantamount to absorbing another dungeon, and its spirit. Yet¡ª¡± The cat noticed that the nearby mud and brak crew more clear, more pure, and made an ominous face. ¡°Something¡¯s wrong.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong,¡± Richard asked. ¡°The well,¡± the cat said as it rushed back towards it. Emily and her group followed it. They arrived at the well and discovered another shocking sight. The clear pond was nearly empty, drained of aqua regina, the water level was now just above the arch of the locked door. ¡°Was this your doing?¡± the cat said to the party in an accusatory manner. ¡°What?¡± Raine said. ¡°We don¡¯t know how that happened.¡± The cat yowled in disbelief, but before it could strike, the Tatzelwurm returned and glared at it. The crystal cat and cat-headed serpented exchanged looks and the former calmed down. ¡°You said you came here with others, yes,¡± the cat said. ¡°That is true,¡± Emily said. ¡°We need to find them,¡± the cat said. ¡°Time is of the essence.¡± As soon as the cat uttered those words, Tim¡¯s group arrived. Lily and Azalea moved to greet their fellow magical girls, while Carla moved to address any wounds on her tamed Tatzelwurm. Emily noticed that Kasumi and Salliandra were beside a young girl who resembled Dale. Carla turned to Emily. ¡°Have you seen Charlotte?¡± the alraune asked. ??? Earlier, Charlotte had just finished activating the second switch. Guided by the voice, she rushed towards the next one. ¡°Excellent,¡± the voice said. ¡°My emancipation is nigh.¡± ¡°There is still one more switch, yes?¡± the little alraune said. ¡°Indeed,¡± the voice said. Before Charlotte could inquire further, she heard rustling in the distance. ¡°More foes dare to draw near,¡± the voice said. ¡°Flee, this swamp will hinder them.¡± Charlotte did as the voice told and left the second switch behind. The mirror at her back reflected a small light as she followed another cat. Soon she stopped in the foliage of the swamp, hidden from sight. There she sighted a familiar beast. One of the Tatzelwurms her mother had tame, the one that came with her and her friends. She stopped as she saw the serpent was with a different cat and with a young crystal child. ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± Charlotte said. ¡°Tell me, child,¡± the voice said. ¡°You mentnioend having those you want to free yourself?¡± Charlotte nodded. ¡°There were from the village.¡± ¡°The same one that had shunned you?¡± the voice answered. Its tone sweet and calming. ¡°Perhaps it is better to leave those to their fate? Let them reap what they sowed?¡± Charlotte reaction was horrified. ¡°You know I can¡¯t do that.¡± ¡°Why?¡± the voice said. ¡°Who let yourself be burdened by misplaced guilt?¡± Charlotte stayed silent for a few moments. Yet the voice somehow knew what her reasons were. ¡°I see,¡± the voice stated. ¡°Twas not your burden alone. You are noble indeed.¡± The Tatzelwurm noticed something in the foliage and ran to check. ¡°You cannot be spotted,¡± the voice whispered to the alraune child. ¡°Your friends would never understand my plight, now would they understand I am the key to their freedom. Run. The third switch awaits!¡± Charlotte saw the Tatzelwurm getting closer to closer to her. She was certain the voice was wrong, that perhaps she could explain it her friends, to her mother. ¡°Are you willing to let this journey end in vain?¡± ¡°No!¡± Charlotte yelled. The Tatzelwurm heard the familiar voice and slithered towards its source. Charlotte was certain things would work out, but something had happened. Charlotte¡¯s arm started moving on its own. ¡°Wait, what¡¯s happening?¡± ¡°Fear not, young child,¡± the voice said. ¡°This is necessary!¡± The crystal girl near the cat began showing cracks on her slumbering body, Charlotte was unwillingly increasing gravity around the statuesque girl. The increased pressure caused the cracks to turn into fractures, as pieces of it fell from the body. Before wither of them knew it, the sleeping crystalline girl was no more. Charlotte was horrified at what she was made to do. Before the Tatzelwurm noticed her she ran away. She ended up in a new path in the brackish mud, a line of stumps sticking out of the bog. The dirty water cleared up as aqua regina flooded it, replacing it with browns and blues that soon gave way to colorless clarity. Charlotte stopped running and held her knees, desperate for breath, ¡°What¡­what did I do? What¡¯s happening?¡± The voice whispered once more. ¡°You did nothing wrong, child. That girl was long since dead.¡± ¡°But¡ª¡± Charlotte said. ¡°Proceed!¡± the voice commanded. Charlotte looked back and saw that the road behind her had sank unto the clear water. There was no way back, even if she wanted too. With a heavy heart she obeyed the voice and leaped from stump to stump, heading towards the third and final switch. Yet with each leap, she wondered if she was truly doing the right thing. Doubt formed into her heart. ??? Emily and Tim¡¯s groups caught each other up on what occurred since they separated, including the current state of the well. ¡°There were thee sisters that attacked us?¡± Emily said. Tim nodded. ¡°Quite, they were trying to abduct this child,¡± he gestured to Niel. Niel looked at the pile of broken crystal that was her doppelganger, her other self. Thought she had not known Dale, something within caused her to shed a tear regardless. The cat that accompanied Emily¡¯s group approached Niel. ¡°You encountered those recurring pests?¡± the feline said. At the same time, Carla sat on a nearby crystal stump. Her thoughts turned to her missing daughter and what danger could had befallen her. Lily approached Carla. The forlorn mother noticed the centauride¡¯s presence. Carla gave a gentle smile. ¡°You face such begins before, yes?¡± ¡°The Strega?¡± Lily said. ¡°Of course, but¡­¡± the blond girl knew of how dangerous these monsters were. Carla looked into Lily¡¯s eyes and let loose a wistful sigh. ¡°I¡¯m sure she is still alive,¡± Lily said. ¡°You know how well she can handle herself, just have faith.¡± Carla was less moved then in the previous conversation, but she appreciated the attempt anyway. ¡°You believe everything will work out int he end?¡± ¡°Mm-hmm!¡± she said cheerfully. Later, Emily looked at the well, she knew that the water level is a quarter of what it was before. She looked at the cat, who was still talking with Niel. ¡°There is one more switch left, right?¡± The onyx cat looked at the avatara. ¡°That is right, three switches lied in this swamp, as part of my master¡¯s attempt to bind the Strega, and keep the sword sealed.¡± ¡°Can you lead us to the third switch?¡± The cat was taken aback, before they realized the intention. ¡°You believed that we would meet the interlopers there?¡± ¡°I think so,¡± Emily said. ¡°Someone had to be going around and using them right?¡± ¡°I supposed that makes sense,¡± the cat said. ¡°Very well, I shall lead you to the final switch.¡± Emily gathered the rest of the group. They followed the cat as it lead them to the third switch. ??? Charlotte ventured across the swamp¡¯s quagmires on her way to the final switch. The path behind her vanished, pushing her forward as she began to doubt the voice that guided her in this swamp. ¡°Why do you hesitate?¡± the voice echoed to the alraune. Their tone tinged with a subtle aggressiveness. ¡°Don¡¯t you wish to save those lost souls?¡± Charlotte still remembered the previous incident with Dale, and how she was forced to crush the unknowing girl with her magic. ¡°Why did you¡ª¡± ¡°I simply did what was necessary,¡± the voice cut Charlotte off. ¡°The stature that crumbled was but a mere vestige of a soul long past, a ghost. To linger on one who already floats in the Seal of Souls is to ignore the plight of those not in its waters.¡± Charlotte was not entirely convinced of the voice¡¯s reasoning. ¡°But¡ª¡± ¡°You sure love to dawdle don¡¯t you?¡± the voice cut her off again. Charlotte spoke again. ¡°Who are you? Why do you not show yourself?¡± ¡°We are prisoners,¡± the voice answered. ¡°Held hostage within a dungeon within another dungeon. Sealed against our will for acts that were deemed sins by the ignorant and the privileged. Now I think the time for talk is long past.¡± ¡°But¡ª¡± Before Charlotte knew it, she was placed under the effects of a toungebind spell. Her mouth was unable to make a single sound, no matter how she tried to move her tongue. ¡°Now,¡± the voice said. ¡°Shall we proceed?¡± The silenced alraune let out an inaudible sigh as she moved along the path laid out for her. At the same time, the Weyward trio were on their own path, close to where the large treant fell. ¡°Ugh,¡± Savina said, wringing her soggy clothes. ¡°The boggarts were pests most foul!¡± her tone whined like a petulant child. ¡°Junior sister, hush!¡± Grisella said. ¡°Hildur is focusing.¡± Hildur was in the middle of casting a spell that would lead them to the weapon. ¡°Flowers, grass, sunlit day. Reveal to us the way. Bogs, swamp, mud, and quagmire. In this path, ignite hellfire!¡± Around the three, noxious green flames erupted the swamp and brackish mud blazed to the southwest of the trip. Hildur cackled gleefully. ¡°Sisters, it is time to greet our prize!¡± The three hexed their way down the blazing path, the wicked witches followed it until they reached a crystalline shrine. ¡°Elder sister,¡± Grisella said. ¡°Perhaps thine spell hath failed?¡± Her blue ears drooped in anticipation of a certain response. Hildur¡¯s nostrils flared up. ¡°Failed? My spells art immaculate!¡± she said in a wrathful tone. ¡°How dare thou question them?¡± ¡°Then¡­where doth we find the sword?¡± Savina said ignorant of the foul mood her eldest sister was in. Hildur¡¯s eyes darted around the shrine, there was nothing around that would indicate ht presence of the cursed sword they sought. ¡°This hath to be a trick,¡± Hildur said frantically. ¡°An illusion of the fowl swamp! Yes!¡± she slithered around turning over each and every stone around them. The dormarch and nekomata sisters exchanged looks. ¡°I think this Strega hath broken her,¡± Grisella said. ¡°I heard that!¡± Hildur turned around and glared at them. Unbeknown to the Weywards, Charlotte silently lurked behind some nearby foliage, having been ¡°encouraged¡± by the voice to see where the green blaze led. ¡°Fools,¡± the voice said to them. ¡°They knew not the nature of that they seek, mayhaps we should dissuade them before they harm themselves?¡± Charlotte recognized Savina amongst the trio. From the presence of the other two, she realized that they were allied and dangerous. Unable to speak, she moved around the foliage. The rustling unnoticed by the quarreling triad. She sneaked around and tried to cast a spell. Her toungbind interfered with the casting process, but she managed to slightly increase the gravity of one of the spoke¡¯s ends on the shrine¡¯s wheel. With the sudden increase in weight, the wheel slowly turned. Amidst the arguments, Grisella noticed the shifting wheel. ¡°Sisters?¡± she whimpered. ¡°What!¡± the lamia said scornfully and loudly. The blue-haired sister directed their attention towards the turning wheel, the weighted spoke had moved towards the bottom. Hildur slithered to the wheel. ¡°Of course!¡± she said with a flash of inspiration. ¡°How doth I ignore something so obvious as that? Sisters, help me turn the wheel!¡± Charlotte noticed the sisters had seen the effects of her spell. The voice had an idea. ¡°Perhaps it is fortuitous,¡± the entity said from afar. ¡°But they must not reach the well. Use your skill of the arcane and ensure those fools do not follow us!¡± Charlotte was left with no choice but to comply. She walked toward the path, unnoticed by the sisters. ¡°Heave¡­ho!¡± Hildur said as the three toiled to turn the heavy wheel, not looking back to the little alraune child behind them. Charlotte moved to create a glyph on the ground, that once activated would increase gravity around the area. As she worked on the spell, the three witches continued to rotate the wheel. The counterclockwise motions slowly lifted the final floodgate. Charlotte finished her glyph and hastily covered it with mud. As she did she noticed Grisella¡¯s head had begun to turn back and rushed back into the foliage. The dormarch looked back and saw nothing, yet her nose picked up the sweet scent of the alraune. ¡°Eldest Sister,¡± she said. ¡°What?¡± Hildur said as she and Savina struggled to complete the wheel¡¯s revolution. ¡°There is a child here,¡± Grisella said. ¡°I can smell it. The scent is unmistakable.¡± A click was heard. The wheel stopped, and its position indicated that its task was finished and the flames changed their path to lead elsewhere. Hildur rubbed her hands. ¡°Mayhaps we can take a small detour on the way?¡± she said with a subtle malevolence. ¡°A small snack wouldst be suited for the road,¡± Grisellda answered with a scheming tone. Charlotte realized they were coming after her and rushed away, awaking her that in their attempt to follow her they would fall into ehr trap. Sure enough as the three Weywards walked onto the obscured glyph, the gravity was increased around them, the grove gave way beneath them and they unwittingly fell into an underground crevasse. ¡°Splended,¡± the voice said to Charlotte. ¡°That will keep them at bay. Now, proceed.¡± Charlotte did as she was told and returned to the well. ??? At the same time, Emily and her group attempted to find the third switch but were barred by a wall of cursed flames. Anemone and Rained attempted to dispel it with their own fire, while Hydrangea and Azalea worked to quell the patches of vermilion that replaced the verdant fires. ¡°Why was there a wall of cursed fire?¡± the cat said in shock over the obstacle. The group eventually created enough of a gap in the firewall to pass through, they soon arrived close enough to the third switch to see it from a distance. The cat gazed at the switch, nothing something was off. Their eyes soon jolted wide with shock. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Emily said to the feline guide. ¡°We were too late!¡± the cat said. ¡°The last switch was turned. We must return to the well, hurry!¡± The cat ran off, and everyone else followed suit. Upon arrival at the well, their guide¡¯s worst fears were confirmed. The pit was void of aqua regina, and the doors at the bottom were opened, the sword and chains that kept them sealed were absent. The group resolved to enter the gate, in the hopes they could reach the intruder before they arrived at the Profaned Arm. ??? Beyond the gate, Charlotte walked, surrounded by dark crystal mirrors. She walks surrounded by her own reflections. The voice''s toungebind spell had faded, yet Charlotte was not willing to speak¡ªnot the voice willing to respond. She eventually reached a dead end, greeted by yet one more reflection of the alraune child. The indigo-haired girl looked wistfully at her reflection. ¡°Have I made a mistake?¡± she asked herself. The reflection silently glared at her. Her eyes shone with a contempt for Charlotte¡¯s actions. She first came to this place to try to free the souls of the Hamlin children, but yet she ended up destroying another child with her magic, forced by the voice she had slowly trusted since she ended up in this swamp. Could she ever forgive herself? Would her mother forgive her if she knew what she had done? With these questions in her head, Charlotte continued down the mirror-coated maze. Her indigo petals shad from her skirt, and from the flowers growing from her head. A while later, she arrived at a sanctum, grand and immaculate, with fountains spouting clear water from the walls, pristine and untainted by the brackish water of the swamp. In the center lay a sword, black crystal comprised its blade. The sword was splendid in its dark radiance, yet she sensed an eerie presence emanating from within. Like an ancient evil that was sealed for good reason. ¡°Take the sword,¡± the voice echoed to Charlotte for the first time since she opened the gate. ¡°Release us from our gaol.¡± Charlotte¡¯s suspicion of the voice returned to levels where she felt they should have been all along. ¡°Why should I? What do you plan to do if you¡¯re free?¡± The voice echoes with the same honeyed tone, its gentle words trying to assuage the alraune¡¯s fears. ¡°We simply wish to live in peace, free from the bindings that hold us so?¡± ¡°Was that worth her life?¡± Charlotte said referring to the now shattered crystal child. ¡°I told you, that needn¡¯t concern you, dear,¡± the voice said. Its echoes changed to match the voice of someone familiar. A motherly voice. Carla¡¯s voice. Charlotte only glared at the response of its use of her mother¡¯s voice to sway her. The two were at an impasse. The voice attempted to manipulate Charlotte again, yet the alraune grew more suspicious of the unseen entity. ¡°I¡¯m leaving,¡± Charlotte said as she turned around. ¡°I want no¡ª¡± she tried to finish, but her mouth failed to utter the words. She tried to move, but her legs instead turned back toward the sword. Her ears were assailed by a rhythmic wail. A bardsong spell, traces of which she heard in each conversation of the voice that she had. She fought with her own body. ¡°Get ¡­away ¡­from me,¡± she said with a strained voice. ¡°To think you have come this far, only to throw everything away at the last moment. Such a pity,¡± the voice¡¯s tone shifted to a reverting growl. ¡°A pity that you cannot comprehend that you don¡¯t have a choice in the matter. Now. Proceed.¡± Charlotte tried to move back, but her legs slid forward on the crystal floor. She attempted to use gravity magic to pin her to the wall, but her movements and words were interfered with by mumbles and jerky movements. ¡°Proceed.¡± Charlotte attempted to use her arms to cling to the guard rial on the staircase, unfortunately for her, the crystal was slippery, and she ended up moving closer. Her eyes grew wide. ¡°No ¡­please ¡­stop!¡± ¡°Proceed.¡± Charlotte was not at the pedestal where the sword was embedded. One arm grabbed the handle of the sword, below a crystal pommel of the same make as the blade, polished and sanded to a perfect translucent sphere. Her opposite arm clung to the first, trying to wrest it away from the sword. ¡°Proceed.¡± Charlotte¡¯s willpower was not enough to take back control of her body, the other arm gave up and and joined its twin on the handle. With pained cries, the alraune slowly lifted the sword from its crystal prison. ¡°Splendid,¡± the voice said. The blackened blade glowed with a dark aura, Charlotte looked on in horror when its malevolence engulfed her. She let out a scream that reverberated through the tomb and echoed through the surrounding mirror maze. Vanitas was unsealed. ??? Emily and her group navigated the reflective maze, guided by their feline guide. They fought through several reflections, the last line of defense against those who would liberate the sword from its prison. After they dispatched the shades, everyone heard a loud scream echo through the mirrors. Carla¡¯s eyes widen upon recognizing the sound. ¡°Charlotte!¡± she yelled. She rushed ahead of the others, with her beasts following suit. The Tatzelwurm, dire wolf and swan helped her remove the last few obstacles in their way. Carla arrived at the labyrinth¡¯s center, where the Profaned Arm was chained. Greeting her was Charlotte, hunched over with tears streaming from her face. The mother slowly approached her, relief subduing any sense of foreboding that she had felt. ¡°There you are,¡± the mother said in a gentle tone. ¡°Sweetie, we need to get out of here.¡± ¡°Please¡­¡± Charlotte¡¯s voice strained. ¡°Don¡¯t!¡± her voice held a subtle reverberation. She turned to face her mother. The sclera of her eyes turned black as ink, and their pupils shifted to a blazing scarlet hue. She then grabbed her head in pain. Carla tried to help her daughter, but a shockwave erupted, pushing her to the wall. Charlotte floated into the air as her body grew limp. Her arm was outstretched. It changed into the form of a sharpened crystal blade of a longsword. The others arrived and gasped in horror over Charlotte¡¯s state. The young girl looked at the newly arrived and spoke in a voice far deeper than normal. ¡°After all of these years,¡± the voice said, using Charlotte as a vessel. ¡°We are freed.¡± The black cat hissed in furor. ¡°Vanitas,¡± they said scornfully, ¡°let her go!¡± Vanitas moved towards the party with their borrowed legs. ¡°Why should I?¡± the cursed weapon said. ¡°Why would we let ourselves be chained again?¡± The party was hesitant to fight Charlotte. Carla most of all. Time observed the possessed alraune¡¯s movements. The cat scowled at the sword. ¡°We need to separate the weapon from her.¡± ¡°But how?¡± Lily asked. ¡°We must fight,¡± Tim said. ¡°As painful as it is, we have to subdue them. Or else she would be trapped by the sword.¡± Carla was taken aback by Tim¡¯s suggestion. ¡°Are you¡­¡± She didn¡¯t dare finish. The look in the martial artist¡¯s eyes was enough to show his suggestion as in earnest seriousness. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Tim said, ¡°I wished there was another way.¡± Vanitas manipulated Charlotte¡¯s arm to point the grafted blade a the party. ¡°Struggle all you want, you face the legion of a myriad souls!¡± With rue and hesitancy, the party prepared for battle. As Anemone drew her bow, she took careful notice of the crystal tendrils wrapping around Charlotte¡¯s elbow. Emily looked at the cat. ¡°You¡¯re friend is right! We must separate the sword from her body and seal it again.¡± Vanitas took a single step, but from that step, the earth rumbled, and a large wall of glass materialized between Dale and the others, locking her from the arena and separating the crystal child from the others. The sword then made a battle stance and wreathed the shoulders and legs of their unwilling host in verdant dark fire. ??? Before they could make a move, Vanitas¡¯ blade shone a blinding eerie glow. The arena had transformed into a wide crystal floor, with plumes of cursed flame lining the edges. Emile activated her skates in response to this shift. The possessed Charlotte then plunged towards the party, but Sarah intercepted the longsword¡¯s crystal blade with her iron hammer. The weapons clashed for a moment, but Vanitas forced Sarah back with arcane might and then followed up with a slash. Sarah leaped to avoid it and the crystal sword instead hit Emily¡¯s two swords. Emily tried to reach Charlotte, but the bewitched alraune child only responded by moving the sword and thrusting it forward. Her consciousness suppressed by those of the phantasms sealed within the Profaned Arm. Emily parried the thrust and attempted to urge Charlotte to resit the possession, to no avail. Tim leaped into the air and tried to strike the adversary, but Vanitas anticipated that and countered with a wide slash. ¡°Even a fledgling had more skill than that,¡± the sword mocked before it used its host to attack Tim. The battle was waged for several minutes. Rose and Emily attempted to appeal to the consciousness sealed within, but the possessed child failed to heed their calls. Lily and Anemone attempted to hinder their opponent through binds and blinds, but those tricks failed to deter them. Nina attempted to trap Charlotte in her webs, and Richard tried to paralyze her with his stunner, but both were only met with a slash that infected them with cursed unyielding burns. Strelitzia and Sarah attempted to block the foul sword¡¯s slashes, but the possessed Charlotte ignited the crystal blade and her vines in curses and struck them down. The three clashed as Sarah and Stretlizia fought through several curse volleys, aided by Clover¡¯s winds, Azalea¡¯s waters, and Kasumi¡¯s mist. Yet those five had failed to wrest the cursed sword and its hold from Charlotte and they were all thrown into the burning wall. Raine and Hydrangea attempted to fight the possessed alraune, but they were also taken out of the fight by her use of cursed flames and gravity spells. Carla could only watch, helpless as her daughter rampaged around the area, possessed by wicked spirits and fighting her friends. It was only by the intervention of the others distracting it that the cursed sword failed to acknowledge her presence. She struggled with what to do, and how she could free her daughter from her current fate. Her three beasts attempted to help, but Carla had commanded them to stand down. She was conflicted. Lily stampeded forward and clashed her spear with her sword. ¡°Lotte, please,¡± Lily beckoned, ¡°You have to fight this!¡± ¡°Charlotte is long gone!¡± the possessed alraune responded. She broke through the stalemate and slashed Lily from her front legs to the flank. The centauride was burned by the cursed wound as Charlotte prepared to strike her down. Before the blade of Vanitas could slash Lily again, the blade stopped, and Charlotte¡¯s unarmed arm grabbed the other. Holding it back as the alraune cried tears of pain of regret. Lily fought her own pain as she stood up. ¡°Please¡­¡± Charlotte said in her own words. ¡°Help¡­¡± Lily nodded and took her staff. Preparing to separate the sword from the arm it was attached to. With a slash, a gash was made on Charlotte¡¯s arm, below the guard of the crystal sword. Red dripped from the wound as it was moved away from the other blade mid-cut. The sword asserted dominance over the body. ¡°Her will is stronger than I thought,¡± the sword said, ¡°but that alone is insufficient!¡± Vanitas had struck Lily, wilding Charlotte and her own gravity spells to pin Lily down. The blond girl was unable to move as the weapon was poised to carve her out. An arrow was fired and it missed, yet Charlotte struggled to move her arms. ¡°What is this?¡± The voice possessing her said. Anemone had used gravity magic to stop the attack, making the crystal sword too heavy to lift. Azalea swam forward to Lily¡¯s aid. ¡°Come on Charlotte!¡± the mermaid beckoned. ¡°Are you really going let some mean old sword wield you?¡± The possession empowered its host with herculean straight, it lifted the heavier blade and attempted to slash at the clionid. Azalea dodged with nimble moments and parried with two daggers, the one she came with and a pristine blade from earlier in the Hexenflutch. Anemone rushed to the Centauride as well, helping her up. Lily could barely move while her side was singed with endless pain. ¡°I have an idea,¡± the lavender-haired lycanthrope said. ¡°Already ahead of you!¡± Lily said. She moved despite her pain and took her wand out, Anemone did likewise. ¡°Dwimmering Twilight!¡± the two cried in unison. Yellow and violet radiated from the wands and engulfed the malevolent ghast and its host. The cursed weapon suddenly saw multiple instances of their opponents. Each attacking and charing at once. Charlotte tried to attack, but the target faded into nothing afterward. Like a mirage. ¡°Fools!¡± the sword bellowed as it attacked nothing but thin air. ¡°Do you think such pitiful tricks would work on me!¡± Charlotte channeled mana into the possessor¡¯s true form and held it high into the air, curse projectiles erupted from the crystal as gravity around her increased. Lily and Anemone fell to the floor, unable to move, Azlaea struggled to keep herself aloft as she tried to separate the sword from who is wielded by it, but Vanitas countered the attempt by slashing at her, knowing her back several feet and rending her daggers flying away. The crystal dagger landed near Carla. Sharp and pristine. The immaculate blade remained intact despite it clashing with the ebon onyx of Vanitas. Carla gazed at the knife as thoughts swirled around her mind. ¡°Could I really do it? Bring harm to my only child to save her?¡± she couldn¡¯t bear to think about it. ¡°What if I miss?¡± she said, knowing that she would only have one chance at striking and severing the sword from her beloved daughter. She looked back at the fight and saw Charlotte clashing with Rose. The lamia had slithered around her friend, dodging her attacks as she was assailed by the illusions. ¡°Charlotte,¡± Rose said. ¡°Fight this! Let me help you!¡± ¡°Silence!¡± the sword possessing the alraune girl said. Rose coiled around and parried the sword with her own, as Vanitas prepared for another attack, Rose lunged forward with a shocking thrust and retreated back into her position. Emily and Tim soon arrived to assist the lamia child. Carla watched as her daughter struggled to free herself from her possession. The alraune mother looked back at the crystal dagger. She knew what must be done. ??? Charlotte, still possessed by Vanitas, fought with Emily, Tim, and Rose. The ghast-possessed child had attempted to overwhelm them with its curses, but the three dodged them and countered with a barrage of attacks. Rose soon coiled herself around Charlotte and tried to constrict her. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Rose said as she tried to stop the child from slashing with the crystal sword. ¡°You will be!¡± the sword-possessed girl repelled Rose back several feet. Emily attempted to attack but Charlotte dodged the avatara. ¡°Pitiful dungeon!¡± Vanitas had landed a heavy blow on Emily and slammed her into the ground. ¡°Emily!¡± Tim cried out as he tried to reach her. The martial artist had attempted to defend her. He held his own for several minutes, but even he failed to hold Charlotte back. The possessed alraune child loomed over the fallen. ¡°Freedom, true freedom is nigh!¡± the sword uttered as it prepared to charge a spell. While Charlotte channeled a large amount of mana, she noticed something pierce her sword arm. Her concentration was broken. ¡°Who still stand!¡± the sword bellowed. Carla had grabbed Charlotte from behind and retained her. ¡°Forgive me,¡± she said as held the dagger to the arm fused to the sword. ¡°This will hurt, dearie.¡± She thrust the pristine blade into the arm with the tainted blade. The pain from the stab roused Charlotte¡¯s dormant concisenesses. She looked and saw her mother had held her in her embrace, while her arm was pierced by the sword. ¡°M-mom?¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯m here, honey,¡± Carla said with a steely yet warm smile. Red tears streamed down Charlotte¡¯s face as she endeavored to help Carla free her form the sword¡¯s influenced. With all of her might her unarmed hand was moved to her mothers and together they moved the dagger around the arm fused to the blade. ¡°How dare you?¡± the sword bellowed. ¡°How dare you reject us?¡± Charlotte and Carla continued to move the dagger, crimson dripped from Charlotte¡¯s arm as she fought both the influence that controlled her body and the pain from the wound. Soon the sword was severed from Charlotte¡¯s arm and was sent hurtling towards the gorund. ¡°Nooooo!¡± the sword bellowed. ¡°I won¡¯t let you take our freedom again!¡± The black cat, having not participated in the fight until night rushed into the arena. Emily had managed to stand up. ¡°We have freed the child,¡± the feline said. ¡°Now to seal the sword!¡± They attempted to recreate the sealing wards, but a dark aura erupted form the crystal blade and repelled the cat. Emily impulsively rushed toward the sword and tried to absorb it. ¡°You¡­you won¡¯t harm anyone anymore! I will not let you!¡± she began absorbing all the dark mana around it, all the malice and malevolence that surrounded it, she took it into herself. The sword¡¯s physical form began dissipating into shards of glass, themselves vanishing into motes of purified light. Emily had absorbed the Profaned Arm. The battle was over. ??? Over the course of thirty minutes, Emily, Tim, and Salliandra helped heal the cursed burns, using the aqua regina with Azalea¡¯s guidance. Anemone was surprised to see this aspect of the clear liquid in person. Carla meanwhile looked over Charlotte, knocked unconscious from the fight, her chartreuse skin and indigo petals singed by the dark fire, her stump bandaged and redressed to prevent sanguine plasma from leaking out. Emily approached her. ¡°Will she be okay?¡± she asked. ¡°We alraunes possess a potent healing power,¡± Carla said. ¡°At least potent enough to heal from dismemberment. In a few months, her body would heal but¡­¡± She wasn¡¯t certain about her mind. Having lost control of herself and became puppeted by a malevolent sword. Anemone turned to Niel and the cat, noticing something amiss. ¡°You said the Dungeon had attempted to make the Strega a sentinel?¡± The cat nodded. ¡°My master had tried, but Vanitas had absorbed and usurped the Strega. It was one with the blade.¡± Anemone reconciled the ramifications and turned to the crystal child who was unaware of them herself. Her gentle contention turned to a subtle panic as soon as she heard the ground rumble around them. Crystal began shattering as the chamber caved in on itself. The swamp was vanishing. ¡°We need to go!¡± Salliandra said, fluttering around in a panic. ¡°This place is collapsing on itself.¡± The party heeded the warning and made their escape. Carla carried Charlotte¡¯s torpid body over her shoulder as she followed the others. The party made their way outside the unsealed chamber and saw that the swampland was transforming into a mass of dirt and bedrock. They raced the emerging walls until they discovered a staircase, summoned by the cat¡¯s master to grand them an exit to the Hexenflutch. ¡°Quickly!¡± the black cat said. The party ascended the stairwell, as the rest of the Strega¡¯s domain vanished around them. Sarah, Richard, Nina, Raine, Clover, Streltizia, Rose, Hydrangea, Azalea, Kasumi, and Salliandra ascended the stairwell, Carla also had her beasts carry Charlotte up as she climbed the stairs. Leaving only Niel, the cat, Emily, Tim, Lily, and Anemone to ascend. ¡°Thou had doth angered us!¡± The three Weywards emerged from the subterranean mire. Having escaped the trap and noticed that Vanitas was absorbed. Hildur glared at the group. ¡°Foul dungeon, noble pests. We forbid you from your egress!¡± Chapter XLVIII: The Cycles Turn ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡°This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡°I do not understand it,¡± Grisella said to herself. ¡°How in the name of the Administrators was she allowed to stay so¡­thin!¡± she looked at her own pudgy body in contempt. ¡°Thou has vexed me so!¡± ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡°That is true,¡± Carla said. ¡°But there were also mobile crystal statues as well.¡± ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡°¡­ ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ??? ¡° ¡°Don¡¯t need the pleasantries,¡± Streltizia said. ¡°I can smell the sin on you.¡± ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Chapter XLVIIIS - Until Dawn The day of the Cycle¡¯s Turn begins¡ªthe last day of the year. The children around the world start to wake with anticipation as Stella rises on the day dedicated to her. Within the Black Box, several of them had already gathered at the entrance to the Banquet Hall. The spiderlings, the Cells, and the Coloraturas eagerly awaited the opening into the room where the Cycletree lay. ¡°Is it time yet?¡± Nina asked immediately, knowing that a very special gift was waiting for her. ¡°Nina,¡± Lily said. ¡°Emily said she would open the door at six!¡± In anticipation of the horde of children wanting to reach the gifts below the tree, and knowing that it would be impossible to bring most of them to slumber once they woke up, Lydia and her assistants ensured they were well-fed first. Yet even the broodmother didn¡¯t expect them to finish their meal at twice the speed of the average breakfast. ¡°Those children are really eager,¡± Lydia said as she looked over them, joined by Carla and Minerva. ¡°Few days can get them up so early en masse then the Cycle¡¯s Turn,¡± Carla said wistfully. While waiting for the doors to open, Charlotte examined her fully healed arm. Nor coated in a silvery veneer. Euryale and Sthenno approached her. Euryale yawned. ¡°Morning, Lotte,¡± she said. Her own body bore the same silver finish as Charlotte¡¯s arm. ¡°Good morning,¡± Charlotte said as she looked back at her arm. ¡°It seems like it¡¯s fully healed now,¡± Sthenno said. ¡°Yeah,¡± Charlotte said. She turned her eyes away from the now mismatched arm. ¡°Do you have any plans for today?¡± ¡°Dad¡¯s sneaking out of Hamlin,¡± Euryale said. ¡°Said he and Orpheus wanted to visit us.¡± Charlotte was surprised. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t the village notice?¡± ¡°He said he got it covered,¡± Euryale said. ¡°Hey!¡± Nancy skipped toward the alraune and the Arion twins. Her exuberant expression shone like the Sunlight¡¯s sunlight reflected off her face. ¡°Hello Nancy,¡± Charlotte said. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Charlie wanted me to ask if you want to play later after we open the presents that is?¡± Nancy said. ¡°Oh,¡± Charlotte hesitated to answer. ¡°Maybe?¡± ¡°Hey,¡± Euryale asked Nancy. ¡°Is this the first time we¡¯re celebrating the Cycle¡¯s Turn here?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so?¡± Nancy said. ¡°I remember celebrating it last year.¡± Euryale¡¯s expression indicated she had expected such a response. For the question was another attempt to route memories scrambled and altered by the Piper Pruflas. ¡°You always were one for weird questions, Eury,¡± Nancy said with a giggle. She then turned to Charlotte. ¡°Hey, can I see your arm? I want to check if it¡¯s back to normal.¡± ¡°Um, sure?¡± Charlotte extended her new silver arm. ¡°No your other arm, silly.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Charlotte said to the mouse-eared Cell. She extended her other arm out and saw that it bore the normal chartreuse green hue as the rest of her body. Nancy examined it. ¡°Huh? Shouldn¡¯t it have healed by now?¡± she said innocently. Charlotte knew that that wasn¡¯t the arm fused with the Sword of Lies. Her expression was incredulous as she retracted the arm. Euryale and Sthenno were also taken aback by the innocent question. They feared it was another effect of the demon¡¯s tampering with her and the other children¡¯s minds. Nancy rolled back the sleeve of her blouse and revealed more of her silvery-coated arm. ¡°Shouldn''t it look more like this?¡± ¡°Nancy¡­¡± Charlotte said with a sigh. ¡°To be clear¡­where did you get the impression that Charlotte¡¯s arms should be silver?¡± Stehnno asked politely. ¡°I learned it from Emily!¡± Nancy said with a big smile. ¡°That¡­can¡¯t be right,¡± Euryale said. ¡°Guess that¡¯s another fake memory,¡± she thought to herself. ¡°It¡¯s not fake!¡± Nancy said. ¡°She told me last week!¡± ¡°What?¡± Euryale said with surprise. Charlotte and Sthenno were confused. ¡°What do you mean it¡¯s not fake?¡± Sthenno asked. ¡°Euryale claimed I was lying!¡± Nancy said with a hump. ¡°I did not,¡± Euryale said. ¡°You said my memory was fake!¡± ¡°I did not say it!¡± Euryale said. ¡°But I thought it,¡± she said. ¡°How would she know?¡± ¡°Know what?¡± Nancy said with puffed cheeks. ¡°Is there something you¡¯re not telling me?¡± ¡°Not for lack of trying,¡± Sthenno thought. ¡°Trying what?¡± Nancy said. ¡°I wanna know!¡± ¡°Nancy,¡± Charlotte said. ¡°Can you please give us a minute?¡± The request stirred an all-consuming curiosity within her. ¡°Please, Lotte, I want to know! Tell me!¡± her eyes pleaded with the alraune. Charlotte was uncertain of what was going on. It felt like Nancy somehow read their minds. ¡°I bet they are hiding something really cool from me,¡± Nancy thought. A thought that was transformed into sounds heard by the other three girls. ¡°It¡¯s not cool!¡± Euryale blurted out. ¡°Oh really?¡± Nancy said. ¡°Who won¡¯t you tell me?¡± ¡°Believe me, we¡¯ve tried,¡± Euryale said with frustration. ¡°You keep forgetting¡ª ugh forget it!¡± The Cell stormed off. ¡°Sister,¡± Sthenno said with a concerned face as she followed Euryale. Charlotte turned back at Nancy. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± the apologetic alraune said. ¡°A lot is going on right now?¡± ¡°Oh really?¡± Nancy said with a still-curious smile. ¡°And you can¡¯t tell me?¡± ¡°As much as I want to,¡± Charlotte said. ¡°You¡¯ll forget it right afterward.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Nancy said. ¡°My memory is pretty sharp you know?¡± She said in complete ignorance of the cognitive gaps in her mind. ¡°Hey Nancy?¡± another of the Hamelin children, Ethel, called to Nancy. ¡°The doors are opening!¡± Charlotte and Nancy turned to where Ethel pointed and saw that Emily was opening the doors to the banquet hall. The mob of children moved rapidly through the expanding gap in the walls, running towards the tree in the center and the various presents laid out beneath it. Nancy, in festive anticipation quickly forgotten about what had just transpired as she joined the mob. Charlotte meanwhile was unable to process how Nancy was able to read her mind, or how she was able to hear her thoughts. For her, the day took on a strange beginning. ??? Nina was among the various kids rushing towards the tree, trying to find her presence. As the other kids ravaged the packaged presents and removed the wrappings, The young spiderling scurried around trying to find it. A glint had gotten her attention. It was among the larger presents wrapped in silver with violet ribbons. Its oblong shape kept it from rolling from the tree. Nina curiously approached it and examined the tag attached to the ribbon. ¡°Whew, that thing is finally done. Now Nina, when you find this present, find me and Richard. We have a lot of rules to explain about the Pallant. Merry Cycle¡¯s Turn -Sarah.¡± Nina¡¯s face was elated at confirmation that this was her gift. She used her legs to cut the wrapping and revealed a craft resembling the Athen¨¦, scaled down and with a rounder shape. ¡°Cool!¡± Nina said as she searched for the entrance to the cockpit and climbed in. ¡°Now how do I use this thing?¡± she said. She noticed eight thin slits on the floor of the cockpit, arranged in four paralleled pairs and just large enough for her arachne legs to enter through. With a mischievous giggle, she turned to face the opening of the cockpit and placed her legs through the slits. The cockpit closed around Nina. ¡°Now how do I¡­¡± her mind suddenly grew hazy. ¡°How do I¡­¡± She began hearing a bardsong tune that lured her into a trance as the Pallant began to move on their own. Taking Nina to another part of the banquet hall. Meanwhile, Sarah had already begun eating food at a section of the dining table behind the Cycletree. Richard, Atsuko, Cassiopeia, and Sid were nearby keeping an eye on several of the younglings. ¡°Now then,¡± Cassie said as she looked at her beetle drones. ¡°You sure the bardsong spell would work?¡± ¡°It should,¡± Sarah said. ¡°Music¡¯s not my forte, but Elizabeth was able to get it going. It will only work once.¡± ¡°Surely there had to be a better way to do this?¡± Richard said with slight trepidation ¡°Are we even sure she won¡¯t be harmed by this machine?¡± ¡°Brother, I made sure the Pallant is extremely safe. Even showed it to Minerva to assure her that her daughter will be fine.¡± ¡°That said,¡± Cassie said. ¡°It is still a miniaturized version of the Athen¨¦, right? A large Sentinel designed for combat.¡± ¡°It¡¯s as unarmed as it could possibly be,¡± Sarah said. ¡°Though there are still some risks, granted.¡± ¡°Such as?¡± Sid asked. ¡°The machine is designed to interface with her mind,¡± Atsuko said ¡°Is it in effect an extension of her body while she is piloting it. As such it was designed with Arachne biology and form in mind. That means it has eight multi-ton ¡°legs¡± for starters.¡± ¡°I see,¡± the bhargest said. ¡°Anything else?¡± ¡°Besides the ability to channel mana through said legs, no,¡± Sarah said. ¡°Come to think of it, we never did learn what sphere she was born with.¡± Richard turned to Atsuko, who donned a winter kimono as per her homeland¡¯s traditions. ¡°How were my¡­additions?¡± Atsuko looked at the sleeves, tailored with a mix of floral patterns and starry imagery, and colored with a mix of white, crimson, and verdant shades. ¡°It is¡­on theme,¡± Atusko said. ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the occasion?¡± Sarah asked. ¡°My shinobi and I are heading to the shrine later,¡± Atsuko said. ¡°A tradition involves going to a shrine to make a wish during the new year. I had these outfits made for the occasion.¡± ¡°You couldn''t do it at the chapel?¡± Sid said. Atsuko made a subtle glare. ¡°As much as I appreciate Chiron¡¯s services, there are issues with randomly heading to a church just to express wishes. Besides, I¡¯m almost certain the folk at Rosenkreuz would find this tradition ¡­strange.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Cassie said. ¡°There aren¡¯t many Yanese around these parts.¡± Atsuko nodded. ¡°The shrine we¡¯re going to is at Noir¡¯s outskirts. Near the ferry to Joyfuller Island.¡± The conversation was interrupted by the approaching of the Pallant. The sight of which attracted the gaze of everyone who saw it and the awe of the younger amongst them. Especially the young Arachne. The Pallant stopped right in front of Sarah and the cockpit opened to reveal a dazed Nina. ¡°Why do I feel like I slept through ten minutes?¡± the child said. She then noticed Sarah in front of her. ¡°Sorry about that,¡± the platinum-blond dwarfette said. ¡°Didn¡¯t want you joyriding before we could establish the ground rules. As much as we did to danger-proof it, there are still risks attached to your gift. The Pallant is not a toy.¡± She said these words with a stern tone but also with an undercurrent of excitement beneath. ¡°Got it!¡± Nina said with excitement. ¡°So how do I use it?¡± The dark-skinned dwarf smiled. ¡°The Pallant works like the Athen¨¦ it is derived from. It is attuned to your mind and you alone. It is best to think of it like a bigger body.¡± ¡°A bigger body?¡± Nina said. ¡°More specifically,¡± Atsuko said. ¡°It is more like a bigger prosthetic body. It will take some time getting used to, given your lack of a grasp on the cerebellum¡¯s limbic effect on movement.¡± ¡°Limb movements?¡± Nina said. ¡°I can move my limbs!¡± she said as she lifted one of the Pallant¡¯ legs with ease. ¡°I rest my case,¡± the teal ringletted nekomata said. Nina tried to keep the leg aloft, but despite being supported by the other seven, she found it too heavy to keep in the air for long and was forced to drop it. The descent was met by a loud thud, but not much else. A testament to the lengths Sarah went through to ensure the use of the machine did not harm anyone by accident. She felt her respective leg feel tired afterward, despite it not moving since she place it through the slit. ¡°We can take it to somewhere less crowded to practice,¡± Sarah said finishing her large meal. Sarah instructed Nina to pretend the machine¡¯s legs were her own and move with that in mind. Nina began to follow Sarah, moving the Pallant¡¯ legs clumsily all the while. ¡°I¡¯ll go make sure they don¡¯t hurt the others,¡± Richard said. ¡°Sister is rather prone to overlooking design flaws. Hope your shrine visit goes well, Miss Atsuko.¡± ¡°Please,¡± Atsuko said. ¡°Atsuko or Akko will do.¡± ¡°Wait,¡± Cassie said. ¡°Yes?¡± Atsuko said. ¡°Can me and Sydney come along?¡± Cassie asked. ¡°Cass,¡± Sid said. ¡°You¡¯re more than welcome to,¡± the nekomata said. ¡°Hoshikage would love the company.¡± ¡°Great!¡± Cassie said. ¡°I¡¯ll bring Fuuka and the other dormarches too!¡± Sid expressed concerns about how Andy, Molly, and especially her brother, Glenn would act, but Cassie was too caught up in her excitement to notice. The artificer¡¯s tail wagged in glee as she ran off to fetch the other dormarches. ??? Amidst the festive mirth of the Cycle¡¯s Turn, Emily and Elizabeth tried to ensure everyone was well accommodated for. Her walls changed to ensure foot traffic was not impeded by the stampede of rushing children. Her floors were kept at just the right friction to avoid people slipping on them. Her banquet hall was kept as neat and today as possible as shredded foil and paper littered around the large tree at the center. ¡°Are you okay, Emily?¡± Elizabeth said, having barely got any contact from the Dungeon as she tried to perform her tasks. Emily responded after a few minutes. ¡°I¡¯m okay, Elizabeth,¡± her voice echoed, two hours since she opened the banquet halls the fairy could already hear a wearied tone. It is to her elation that the guild had forbidden any visits to the Black Box from adventurers for the rest of the week. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­¡± The dungeon core heard a glass plate shattering and immediately stopped speaking with the fairy, to Elizabeth¡¯s sorrow. She saw Esteban walking by one of the halls, with a small stack of books in hand. ¡°Esteban,¡± she fluttered to the Rouge. ¡°Can you do me a favor?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± the blue-clad man said. ¡°What do you need?¡± ¡°Do you know of anything happening today? Noir and Rosenkreuz?¡± the pink-haired fairy was certain that Emily needed a break from it all. Esteban reminded Elizabeth about Atusko¡¯s plans to visit a shrine in Noir and also mentioned that his wife Julia had told him that Father Chiron was holding a ceremony in Rosenkreuz¡¯s chapel as well. ¡°Perfect!¡± Elizabeth beamed. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°My pleasure,¡± Esteban said. ¡°I¡¯d come with you, but I have business in Noir.¡± ¡°You have to check in with the Rouges Guild?¡± Esteban nodded. ¡°The underground always had those that want food even as those on the surface eat their full and then some. And also those that, on the Syndicate¡¯s orders, will try to steal, spoil, or destroy the food before it reaches the mouths of those they deemed Exsecratii. We¡¯ll be back by dusk.¡± The rouge left to embark on his job. Elizabeth fluttered to the core room, the plight of the homeless in the city Noir was something she would worry about later. Right now, her goal is to make sure Emily doesn¡¯t overwork herself. It¡¯s a time for relaxation! She fluttered the core room and approached a spot where an avatara usually forms. There she found Heathcliff was already in the room. ¡°Already noticed huh?¡± the knight said as Elizabeth headed towards a terminal. The fairy pressed the lone button then. A mass of nanomachines spurted out from the nearby chamber, taking the form of Emily¡¯s avatara body. ¡°¡­come on,¡± the purple-haired girl said as she stumbled onto the ground. ¡°I just cleaned¡­that?¡± she noticed that her consciousness was now in an avatara again and confusedly blinked at Heathcliff and Elizabeth. ¡°We¡¯re heading out, cher,¡± the knight said. ¡°Y¡¯all need to relax.¡± ??? Sarah and Nina arrived at the Bleumaw¡ªthe azure forested expanse of the Black Box. Along the way, Sarah instructed Nina on how to pilot the Pallant. The young spiderling took the small mech as she followed the dwarf. Nina grew accustomed to her new present as she positioned it near a pair of trees. The dark-skinned inventor turned her eyes to Nina, and Nina met her gaze from the cockpit. ¡°Alight, kid,¡± Sarah said. ¡°First we need to lay down some ground rules. As I said before this is not a toy.¡± Nina nodded. ¡°First things first. Have you felt tired on the way?¡± The young Arachne took a while to recall how piloting the Palleth felt. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. I did feel dizzy at times.¡± ¡°That¡¯s to be expected,¡± Sarah said. ¡°The mech was calibrated to your mind, but it will take a while to acclimate.¡± ¡°Acc-cli-mate?¡± Nina asked. ¡°You¡¯ll eventually get used to it, basically,¡± Sarah said. ¡°Until then, you can¡¯t pilot the Pallant for longer than two hours a day.¡± ¡°Two hours?¡± Nina protested. Sarah made a stern glare. ¡°Yes, two hours. This psychic link will take a toll on your mind, and if you linger in it too long, your body.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Nina said as she began to climb down from the cockpit. ¡°While you¡¯re plugged into the Pallent, your mind becomes synchronized with its systems. You become a living brain for it in a way. However, this means that a prolonged period of time in this state risks ¡®disconnecting¡¯ your mind from your actual body, trapping it within the machine. This was not and could not be designed as a proxy body in the way Emily¡¯s avatara is. Understand?¡± Nina was having trouble processing it. ¡°Looks like an analogy is needed,¡± Sarah thought. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s put it another way,¡± she said. ¡°Let¡¯s say the Pallant is a car.¡± ¡°A car?¡± Nina said with an innocent tone. Sarah nodded. ¡°A car, yes, and your mind is the key that activates the engine.¡± ¡°Oh Anesidora,¡± the dwarfette thought as she made her tortured analogy. ¡°Please help me with this!¡± ¡°And I shouldn¡¯t be in the car for too long because?¡± Nina asked. ¡°The car was constructed with some rusty parts,¡± Sarah said. ¡°One of those is the mechanism used to turn on the engine. If the key remains in that mechanism for too long it will get stuck, and you won¡¯t be able to leave the car. Does that make sense?¡± ¡°I think so?¡± Nina said. ¡°But what happens if I get stuck?¡± ¡°You ever heard the radio mention stories of children being stuck in a vehicle on a hot summer day?¡± Sarah said. It didn¡¯t take long for the possibility to dawn on Nina. ¡°There is more to it, than just heatstroke risk,¡± Sarah said. ¡°The Pallant also draws on your mana to use. If it is a car, then your mana is the fuel for the engine, and as long as the ¡®key¡¯ is inside then it will consume the ¡®fuel¡¯.¡± Nina flinched upon hearing that. ¡°So that means it would drain me dry?¡± ¡°Correct,¡± Sarah said. ¡°While it was deceived from the Athen¨¦, several of the systems were changed for a smaller frame and for safety. But that doesn''t mean it is dangerous. Nina, I hope you understand that.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry!¡± Nina said with a confident and chesty tone. ¡°I¡¯ll be super duper careful!¡± With the risks to Nina herself established. Sarah then moved on tot he risk of others. ¡°I¡¯ve taken great pains to ensure this mech is as safe as possible, it is more of a club than it is a a sword as a result. Do be careful when using it around others. And please don¡¯t try to start fights with this. Emily and I have ways to disable it further if you try to use it unjustly.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Nina said, with an eagerness to climb back into the mech again. After Sarah explained the other rules she agreed to let Nina back in so that she can practice with the rudimentary functions. ¡°We have fifty minutes,¡± Sarah said. With that Nina spent the next near hour learning about the limited functions and practicing her movement. ??? In a certain church in Rosenkreuz, Emily, Elizabeth, Heathcliff, and Tim attended a small ceremony. ¡°We are gathered here today,¡± a cleric spoke from the altar at the end of the hall. ¡°To honor the Administrator Stella, she who illuminates our days¡­¡± Emily remained nervous about her Dungeon body, and the children residing within it. ¡°Are you sure things will be okay?¡± Emily whispered, still fretting over possible catastrophes. ¡°Positive, cher,¡± the fatherly knight said to the purple-haired avatara. ¡°Things will be fine.¡± Chiron cantered towards their row of seats. ¡°Hello, we are humbled to have your presence here today Emily,¡± the centaur said. ¡°Um, thanks?¡± Emily said. ¡°I didn¡¯t really plan to visit today,¡± she thought. ¡°Emily,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°You were acting unusually tense today.¡± At the altar, the priest finished orating and uttered a prayer for the new year. The assembled attendants dispersed, and Emily and her group toured the chapel. They met with several attending families and clergymen. They soon met up with Pauline. ¡°Merry Cycle¡¯s Turn!¡± Pauline said. ¡°How was the day been?¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Tim said. ¡°It went pretty well,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°Though Emily is acting wound up about something.¡± ¡°I am not!¡± Emily lied. The blue-haired elf shot Emily a curious look. ¡°Okay, I am,¡± Emily said. ¡°I¡¯m concerned about those kids?¡± ¡°The girls from Noir?¡± Pauline asked. ¡°No, the other ones,¡± Emily said. She expressed her fears that they would be a part of her forever and more immediately those that remained at the Black Box could take care of them today. ¡°You¡¯re selling Lydia and Clara very short, Emily,¡± Heathcliff said with a hearty laugh. ¡°Lydia especially.¡± ¡°Plus, Minerva is also there,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°If any of the [Cells] would cause trouble, she would certainly put a stop to that.¡± ¡°By the way,¡± Pauline said, ¡°Have you thought about your goals for the new year?¡± ¡°Goals?¡± Emily said. ¡°The new year brings with it new opportunities,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°People use the turning of the cycle as an opportunity to reevaluate themselves and set new resolutions for themselves.¡± ¡°Though most of them tend to fail at those resolutions,¡± Tim said. ¡°Tim!¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°That isn¡¯t helpful.¡± ¡°Even if it is true,¡± he whispered under his breath. The elf ignored the two men and returned to Emily. The avatara admitted she hadn¡¯t thought about new goals. ¡°To be honest,¡± Emily said. ¡°It felt like the end of the year snuck up on me. It¡¯s hard to believe that tomorrow would be the year twelve twenty-three tomorrow.¡± ¡°And with that, Spring,¡± Pauline said. ¡°Come to think of it, do you know why this holiday exists?¡± ¡°Because of Stella right?¡± Emily said. ¡°It was to honor her in the same way that Allowstide honors Anesidora, the Monsoonfall Halcyon and Tranqualitas and Flameshearth Obsidian, right?¡± Pauline nodded. ¡°But there is more to it than that, the placement was especially on the day before the equinox, right as the sun and moon reach equilibrium.¡± ¡°The equinox?¡± Emily asked. ¡°But why is that?¡± ¡°Well,¡± Pauline said. ¡°Actually I think the play can explain that. Follow me.¡± Pauline led the quartet through the church until they reached an auditorium, where several actors finished their rehearsal. ??? Within the city Noir. Esteban and Julia had encountered several mobsters from the Tombkeepers. The bandaged mobsters attempted to intercept a delivery of food originating from the Rouges¡¯ Guild when the Azure rouge and his wife intervened. Esteban clashed with two of the mobsters at once, dodging their blows and retaliating with punches. Meanwhile, Julia had her shadow guardian block the other three from hijacking the vehicle carrying the food. ¡°Of all the rotten luc¡ª¡± one of the gangsters said before Esteban decked his halls. The gangsters were eventually defeated and forced to flee. Esteban dusted off his coat and turned to the cowering driver. ¡°They¡¯re gone,¡± he said. The driver peeked out the window, a male lamia who was tasked by the guild to deliver the food to an orphanage on the Underground¡¯s outskirts. ¡°Th-thank you, sit,¡± he said. Mr. Soprano convened with the pair. ¡°The path¡¯s clear,¡± the well-dressed man said. ¡°There¡¯ll be no ambush on the rest of the way.¡± The lamia driver was grateful for the Guild¡¯s help as he drove along his route. As the truck passed Mr. Sorpano, he looked at the couple in a rare look of distress. ¡°Blasted Syndicate. It happens every year!¡± ¡°We all know why they ramped up their activities every winter,¡± Esteban said sorrowfully. ¡°They want to turn what should be a joyous time into one of terror.¡± ¡°All so they could sell their ¡®protection¡¯ to they who can barely afford it,¡± Julia said. ¡°Even Scrooge had more scruples than that,¡± she said. ¡°It¡¯s a shame that we can¡¯t give their leadership a visit from the spirits of Cycle¡¯s Turn past, present or future,¡± Mr. Soprano lamented. ¡°We at least ensured that hundreds of Exsecratii kids were able to eat for the month,¡± Esteban said. ¡°Every small step counts.¡± ¡°Death of a thousand cuts,¡± Mr. Soprano said. ¡°That reminds me, heard that the mayor had approved an interstate road project?¡± ¡°They have?¡± Esteban said. ¡°I heard whispers,¡± Julia said. ¡°Said it was done in response to ¡®surplus population¡¯,¡± Mr. Soprano nodded. ¡°Said whispers claimed that it is to connect it to Ascalopolis.¡±The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Now that is a risky venture,¡± Esteban said. ¡°That place is supposed to be sealed.¡± ¡°Guess Wall Street needed more dragons,¡± Julia said. ¡°Or a way to dump the alleged ¡®surplus population¡¯,¡± Mr. Soprano said. ¡°You¡¯d never know with how many of the Emperyan are in the Syndicate¡¯s pockets.¡± ¡°Have you talked with the other about this?¡± Esteban said. Mr. Sorpano nodded. ¡°Several of them are already looking into it. If anything comes up, you will be the first to know.¡± ¡°Gratzie,¡± Esteban said. ¡°Now, we have more food deliveries to secure,¡± Julia said. She and Esteban left Mr. Soprano and ventured to Joyfuller Island. ??? As Esteban and Julia tried to protect the food deliveries in Noir¡¯s underground. Emily and her group followed Pauline backstage an the amphitheater in Rosenkreuz¡¯ chapel. The actors prepared for their next show, and Emily noticed a certain elf among the many actors. ¡°Felicity?¡± Emily asked. The timid elf was startled at hearing her own name. ¡°Yes?¡± she said. She noticed the purple-haired strange that called her was familiar, but couldn''t figure out how. She did recognize the martial artist beside her. Emily remembered that they only met her while she was disguised as Amelia. ¡°Have your two met?¡± Pauline said. ¡°Um¡­¡± Emily said. ¡°You remembered the Farrow party right?¡± Heathcliff whispered to the blue-haired elf. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s right,¡± Pauline said. She addressed the younger elf. ¡°Felicity, this is Emily,¡± she said, introducing the dungeon core to her. ¡°I told her a bit about you, dear.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Felicity was surprised. ¡°Is that so? Nice to meet you, Emily.¡± Elizabeth also introduced herself to Felicity. ¡°Can you tell me the story behind the Cycle¡¯s Turn?¡± Emily said. ¡°With pleasure,¡± Felicity said. ¡°It¡¯s actually the basis of this play we¡¯re putting on.¡± She took out a script containing a summary of the legend. ¡°Long ago, there was only the Cosmos, the creator of the universe, Astra. Her first creation was the Sunlight, Stella, the cheerful star. Though all are said to be her creations, Stella was condensed to be Astra¡¯s one and only child. Even after the formation of the planet Titania. Obsidian¡¯s unstable eruption and Anesidora and Halcyon wrapping him in themselves. And after the creation of other stars, Stella was still the one doted on by Astra and the other Administrators. The Planetes were her caretakers, always caring for the child goddess, watching over her, orbiting her to watch for attacks from beyond.¡± Emily felt like she heard that part before. Felicity turned the page. ¡°One day, one of these Administrators, the Fallen, in an act of resentment had betrayed the Administrators. This act of rebellion ended with him falling from grace, but not before cursing Stella. The young child was now doomed to eternal sleep, never to awake again. This curse had devastated the Administrators, and Astra most of all. The Cosmos had reclused herself following this moment. Yet those who slumber dream. And the Administrators were not exempt from that.¡± ¡°The Fallen?¡± Emily asked. ¡°You mean the one called Lucifer?¡± Felicity nodded. ¡°[Lucifer, the Fallen]¡¯s story is its own tale. One that coincided with the first [Messenger]; [Michael, the Ascendant],¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°I told you that story once, yes?¡± ¡°I think so,¡± Emily said. ¡°He was not only the first Messenger, but also the first Administrator to be made such.¡± ¡°That is why he bore the title of the Ascendant,¡± Felicity said. ¡°But although Michel was the first, he was not the last. But I¡¯m getting ahead of myself.¡± Felicity said as she walked over to a table, and stumbled into a wayward prop. Emily caught her before she fell. The young elf thanked the avatara as she got a cup of water and resumed the legend. ¡°As the Discordance started, Anesidora noticed something strange, a child had been born on Titania. A child that bore a similar mana to Stella. This girl had manifested in front of a childless couple and was adopted by them. She lived a mundane but tranquil life until demons began to attack, drawn to the child.¡± Tim mused a bit on the legend. ¡°Was it ever explained if they knew of the nature of that girl?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± Felicity said. ¡°The archaeologists and clergymen have yet to find an answer.¡± She continued her legend. ¡°The girl, named for the sun, had been banished, being seen as the cause of the demonic attacks. Her parents tried to protect her, but they were murdered for this. The village had feared her, hated her, believed the innocent child to be the cause of their woes, and so she was banished from the land she once called home.¡± ¡°That¡¯s horrible!¡± Emily said. ¡°But not unheard of,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°Fear of the unknown makes people do crazy things.¡± ¡°She was not left alone,¡± Felicity said. ¡°Another girl, a shamaness the same age as Stella had abandoned the village. Both out of concern for the banished girl and fear that they would try to rid themselves of her next. That girl¡¯s name was Tranquiltas.¡± The elf turned the page. ¡°Tranquilitas, as in the Moonshadow?¡± Felicity nodded. ¡°The two had grown close over their years together, with Stella somehow maintaining her innocent exuberance despite all that was thrown at her and nightmares, memories of her life among the stars. Tranquiltas in turn acted like the sister she had never had and the mother she had been severed from taking great pains to ensure she survived at her own expense. The pair had many adventures together, chronicled in different versions of the play we¡¯re performing. One showed how the pair encountered three sages beneath three stars. Another told how they fended off a Krampus in the dead of winter. Another one instead showed how they allied with a Messenger to bring succor to the downtrodden.¡± ¡°That¡¯s was the first Sunsaint, yes?¡± Emily said. ¡°Correct,¡± Felicity said with a smile. ¡°The Sunsaint knew of Stella¡¯s divine origins and sought to confirm it and to find a way to bring her back to where she belonged. Though their paths seldom crossed. He helped to ensure that those in their hour of need would live to see the coming year.¡± Felicity continued the legend for several minutes, before reaching the end, which showed what became of Stella and Tranquilitas. ¡°They soon found a way to return Stella to Astra, a special ritual that coincided with the end of winter. Using vernal forces provided by Anesidora, Tranquiaitas sang a song that would reawaken Stella¡¯s divine power, and return her consciousness to the sun, to her original body. Yet the demons were aware of this ritual and manipulated the nearby Krampu?e to attack them. The two were unable to fend off the hoard by themselves despite years of experience. Tranquilitas had to give her life to finish the ritual. An act that caused Stella profound anguish. In that state, and with her divine power restored, the sun goddess had turned that power to the Krampu?e that took her friend away from her. Calling upon the Planetes to seal them in winter itself. Never to emerge again until winter had returned. To this, they vowed to avenge themselves by trying to steal children and seal them in winter and had taken part of her power to do so. This is why they were able to harness the Pyrosphere. They leeched that power from Pyrois.¡± ¡°But Tranquilitas became the moon right?¡± Emily asked. ¡°How did that happen.¡± ¡°That was Stella¡¯s next act upon regaining her divinity. She begged her mother and begged the Pathfinder to let her reunite with Tranquilitas. An act that they reluctantly obliged. I say so because they knew that part of Stella¡¯s divinity would be the price and that means she would return to a state of perpetual torpor.¡± ¡°In exchange for ascending Tranqualitas and raising her from the Sea of Souls, Stella would be locked in torpor, her solar body would only be roused for a few scant moments and her consciousness would cycle through incarnation after incarnation. A waking dream of an unconscious sun. Despite this, Stella agreed and Tranquilitas was raised. A new form had to be constricted for her, so Astra had sent a shooting star to Anesidora, who merged it with part of her own essence. This body was then sent into orbit around Titania, becoming the Moon. The body of Tranquiltas, the Moonshadow, the second Administrator to had originally been mortal and the first to be both because of Stella¡¯s wishes and to had not been a Messenger prior.¡± Felicity finished. ??? ¡°So that is why the Cycle¡¯s Turn is at the end of winter,¡± Emily said. Felicity grimaced. In hindsight, she should have warned Emily that it wouldn''t have ended happily. ¡°That string of events all took place within the Dissonance, when Bardsong was the only known form of magic. A dark age filled with tragedy and yet hope as well.¡± ¡°If Tranquilitas became an Administrator¡­¡± Tim asked. ¡°Wouldn''t that mean she could somehow join Stella¡¯s incarnations?¡± ¡°That is something the theologians have hotly debated for years,¡± Felicity said. ¡°But if you want my opinion, I think Tranquilitas would indeed be watching over Stella. They would wound incarnate together. B-but that is just my interpretation of things.¡± Emily then recalled her meetings with Claudia, the Trickster, and began to wonder if she would know more. ¡°I don¡¯t think [Claudia] would be willing to answer such questions,¡± Elizabeth thought a thought that Emily heard. ¡°Regardless,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°This origin story is a far cry from the Cycle¡¯s turn as it is now, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°I understand what you mean,¡± Felicity said. ¡°But I¡¯d think Stella would want it that way. The legends told of her gregarious and childlike nature and also of a wish for people to be happy. Wouldn¡¯t that be the best way to honor her on her special day?¡± ¡°I wouldn''t know,¡± Tim said. ¡°Maybe if we met her current incarnation we could ask her.¡± ¡°Perhaps,¡± Pauline said. ¡°But finding a needle in a haystack would be easier than that. So many people had claimed their daughters were Stella so much that people nowadays considered the legend to be just that, and others had mused that maybe Stella and Tranquilitas instead returned to the Cosmos together instead of lingering on Titania.¡± ¡°Stella isn¡¯t the only goddess said to walk the earth.¡± Father Chiron cantered in. ¡°Something the matter?¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°I just wanted to check on an old friend and his new ones,¡± the centaur said. ¡°I hope the Cycle¡¯s Turn is going well for you. May you be blessed in the starlight.¡± ¡°Thank you, Chiron,¡± Emily said. ¡°May you be blessed in the starlight.¡± The group talked with the priest about the Cycle¡¯s Turn and also about resolutions for the coming year. Eventually, Emily, Heathcliff, Tim, and Elizabeth said farewell to Pauline, Chiron, and Felicity, but not before Emily told Pauline to send a certain message to the younger elf cleric. ??? Meanwhile, at the Black Box, Rose arrived at the Truces¡¯ home within the Dungeon. ¡°I¡¯m here!¡± Rose said. Charlotte opened the door and saw the lamia slither in. ¡°Elizabeth told me your mom wanted me to come here?¡± ¡°Mom!¡± Charlotte called for Clara. Clara walked towards the entrance and saw Rose had arrived. Her expression was stern but with some warmth. ¡°How was the day so far?¡± she said. ¡°It¡¯s great!¡± Rose blurted out. ¡°Everyone was so nice and happy today.¡± ¡°That is self-evident,¡± Clara thought. She wondered if this was the right way to go about it. It is a punishment, but it is the first time she tried to discipline someone who is not her child. She had more experience working with beasts and monsters after all. ¡°Still, she needs to learn somehow.¡± Clara flashed a gentle smile at the pink-haired serpent. ¡°I want you to help me take care of a specific monster,¡± Clara said. Rose is taken aback at the tamer¡¯s request. ¡°You need me to help with something?¡± Carla nodded. ¡°One of the Tatzelwurms had been acting all uppity since yesterday,¡± she said. ¡°I think it would be good for both of us if you can assist.¡± ¡°I dunno,¡± Rose said. A sense of dread warmed up over her as she began to realize which of the three serpents would be acting this way. ¡°I¡¯m not good with taking care of monsters.¡± ¡°Perhaps we could fix that,¡± Clara said. ¡°By all accounts, I might be a tamer but I am still a single woman. Some things can¡¯t be done alone. And besides,¡± Clara¡¯s tone had shifted somewhat. ¡°It can also help with your tendency to risk your life so recklessly.¡± Rose gulped. Her muscles tensed a little. She didn¡¯t like having Vesper around her. Carla chuckled. ¡°We don¡¯t have to do it today. It is a special deal for us all, and I¡¯m sure you want to relax.¡± ¡°¡­Noted,¡± Rose said. She wondered if there was a way she could get out of this. ¡°Mom already spoke with Heathcliff about it,¡± Charlotte said. Inadvertently reading Rose¡¯s mind. ¡°Mr. Daniels too. He approved it as an extracurricular activity.¡± ¡°Drat!¡± Rose thought. ¡°Wait,¡± she said. ¡°Did you¡­¡± ¡°Lucky guess?¡± Charlotte lied. ¡°Anyway,¡± Clara said. ¡°Have you two made your resolutions yet?¡± ¡°Mine is¡­rather obvious,¡± her daughter responded. ¡°I¡­haven¡¯t thought about it yet,¡± Rose said. It was the first time the thought had ever crossed her mind. Before Emily adopted her and the other Coluraturas she was more focused on the present, and her resolutions were when asked more for short-term objectives, usually sugar-related. Carla bent down to meet the lamia child. ¡°I understand. Few are those that have an idea of what to do with the year. There is no need to rush. We will begin tomorrow, Rose. Charlotte will teach you handle to handle Vesper.¡± With that Carla let Rose return to her Cycle¡¯s turn activities, with the knowledge that she will have to see the Tatzelwurm Vesper more often than she wanted. ??? Elsewhere, near Joyfuller Island. Atsuko, her shinobi, the Dormarches, Salliandra, and Rosemary were traversing towards a certain shrine. ¡°I never visited a Yanese shrine before, ¡°Cassie said with her tail wagging excitedly. ¡°Wonder what it would be like?¡± ¡°Lot of rice cakes I assume?¡± Syd said. ¡°This one has a lot more seagrain-made food than others,¡± Atsuko said. ¡°You¡¯d be surprised how long Monsoonfall leftovers would last,¡± she said with a smirk. Saizo meanwhile kept an eye out for possible threats. The ninja noticed someone had tugged on his sleeves and looked down. He saw it was Andy and Molly, fidgeting with their legs. ¡°Something wrong?¡± the man said. ¡°Restroom,¡± Molly said. ¡°¡­Need to go,¡± Andy said. Saizo sighed. ¡°Hoshikage?¡± ¡°Coffee shop,¡± the tanned kunoichi said. ¡°Near the port, I¡¯ll go take them.¡± ¡°Can I take pictures?¡± Salliandra said. ¡°No,¡± Suzume answered. ¡°You take Richard¡¯s camera once and you¡¯re suddenly a photographer huh?¡± Kasumi said to her sprightly sprite companion. ¡°The proper term is ¡®tourist¡¯!¡± The capped girl said petulantly. Hoshikage took the twin Dormarches with her. Glenn meanwhile acted awkwardly. The armored bhargest whimpered in anxiety. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with him?¡± Aika asked. ¡°He is not a fan of cities,¡± Syd said. Fuuka meanwhile kept an eye on Makoto, or rather on Rosemary as she talked with Makoto about herself and her fellow Arachne. Noboru noticed the kitsune woman¡¯s suspicion of the child. ¡°You¡¯re seeing ill intent where none exists,¡± the tanuki said. Fuuka rolled her eyes. ¡°She is way too trusting of them.¡± Noboru sipped from his cup of macha tea. ¡°And you¡¯re too untrusting,¡± he said. ¡°Bug off,¡± she said. She had hardly expected the sage to side with the Arachne. Hoshikage soon returned with the twin Dormarches and the group eventually arrived a the shrine. Housed on a street with a torii gate at the entrance. One of the beetle drones jumped from Cassie¡¯s bag. ¡°Neptune, no! Bad girl!¡± the two-tone-haired dormarch scolded the drone for its egress. The group walked passed various buildings and trees decorated with baubles and talismans alike. With several stalls selling various food. Which Hoshikage was already eager to get for himself. Atsuko led the group down the streets where they got several food contained in special wooden boxes and then got slips of parchment containing fortunes. ¡°What!¡± Cassie said. ¡°I¡¯m gonna suffer heartbreak in Tertimber?¡± Sid sighed, ¡°These things are like horoscopes.¡± Not that the dormarch who consults her stardeck daily would be convinced. ¡°There is a way to ensure that this does not come to pass,¡± Kei said. The writer directed their attention towards the largest tree in the street Their destination was adorned with a hefty amount of ornaments, lights, and more relevant of all, wooden tablets, and slips of paper. ¡°Traditionally,¡± Aika said. ¡°Omikuji with misfortunate results are hung at trees like this.¡± Cassie¡¯s eyes beamed as her ears perked up. She nearly pounced on the tree before Sid calmed her down. Glenn snickered a little to his sister¡¯s ire. Atsuko handed a priest a bag of tablets, resolutions and wishes from the last year were written on them. In exchange, she received enough blank tablets for herself and her group. ¡°Alrighty,¡± the teal-ringleted nekomata said as she presented the tablets. ¡°The purpose of these is to house your wishes and resolutions for the year. They would then be hung on the tree tonight before being reclaimed tomorrow.¡± After her explanation, Atsuko passed them down to the group. Hoshikage and Kei offered to help the others write down their wishes. After everyone was finished with the tablets, The group approached the tree, where they placed them on their wishes. Cassie also hung her misfortune slip onto the tree as well. Salliandra then took the picture she wanted and everyone then toured the street until near sunset. ??? At dusk, Atsuko¡¯s group and the Hermandezes left Noir to return to the Black Box. Likewise, Emily and her group were on their way back too. As they walked around, they saw various fireworks displayed in the purple sky¡ªthe first wave of fireworks to herald the new year. ¡°It seems like those firecrackers would keep the children up,¡± Emily said. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°Loud as they are, Rosenkreuz is still far away from you.¡± ¡°Some of the residents might be planning on firing some of their own,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°There are traditions of letting them loose as the clock approaches midnight tonight.¡± ¡°¡­Good point,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°If you want, I¡¯ll try to ask them to keep it quiet while the children rest, Emily.¡± Emily felt a sense of familiarity when she heard Heathcliff mention that. A faded memory of watching fireworks explode in the starlit sky on a winter night. She can¡¯t figure out where this memory came from. Tim noticed Emily¡¯s distant gaze directed at the fireworks. ¡°Emily?¡± The girl was broken from her daze. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°You seem transfixed on those fireworks,¡± Tim said. ¡°Oh. Well, I¡­something just came to mind.¡± Emily said, a little flustered. Heathcliff and Elizabeth decided to walk ahead and give the other two some room. Emily and Tim stopped at a bench on the path and sat down. Emily looked back at the fireworks, as well as the story she learned about today. ¡°Do you even think about your past?¡± Tim said. ¡°Sometimes,¡± the martial artist answered. ¡°My concerns are more immediate,¡± Tim thought. ¡°I know that there were some things I forgot about myself,¡± Emily said. ¡°Sometimes I tried to recall them. Remember who I was before I became a dungeon,¡± Emily sighed. ¡°Do you understand what it is like, knowing that¡ª¡± ¡°That there was a life before your current one that you know nothing about?¡± Tim interrupted. ¡°I can¡¯t speak for myself but I understand that it is common, if not natural, for Messengers and Divine Dungeons to be curious about who they were before.¡± ¡°Do you think I would learn who I was one day?¡± Emily said. ¡°That I¡¯m not sure of,¡± Tim said. He looked to the sky and saw several images woven by the firecrackers in the glistening twilight. Emily¡¯s hand grasped Tim¡¯s. Emily looked at the same display. She felt a strong comfort looking at the night sky with Tim as starmines, pinwheels, and comets dot the air. Tim likewise felt a similar feeling. There was something about the moment that felt just right for them. It was nearly enough to get Emily to forget about her memories. The pair then remembered that they still hadn¡¯t arrived at the Black Box yet. Emily let go of Tim¡¯s hand and awkwardly stumbled in a rush. ¡°We have to get home!¡± she said, sprinting on the path out of concern for what had happened in her unexpected absence. Tim stood still for a moment before running after Emily. The moment was fleeting, but unbeknownst to them it will be among many cherished moments. And unbeknownst to them, it would be the calm prelude to an unexpected incursion. ??? When Stella receded over the horizon on her special day, a different Administrator kept an eye on a certain development encroaching on the Black Box. Claudia watched the Krampu?e as they moved closer to the dungeon, lured by the Trickster herself. ¡°[The Cycle¡¯s Turn] is always too quiet,¡± Claudia thought to herself as she sprinkled the scene of the Coloraturas and Tim, those who slain their fallen brother. ¡°Tis time te night got some¡­excitement in for tem.¡± She led the four Krampu?e closer to the Bleumaw. The scent grew stronger and the goat-like monsters accelerated their stride. By midnight, as soon as countdowns were finished and nocturnal celebrations were underway in many other homes, the Krampus quartet was at the border between the Dungeon and the surrounding woodland. ¡°I know you can rise to te challenge, Emily,¡± Claudia said. ¡°Merry Cycle¡¯s Turn, and a blessed New Year to you.¡± The Administrator vanished. As the Krmapusse made ingress into the Dungeon. The sprites made noticed. Among them was Phlilliam who woke up with a chill down his spine. ¡°Unseelie,¡± the purple sprite muttered. He knew the Krampu?e had invaded and fluttered to Salliandra. ¡°Five more minutes,¡± the sleepy sprite groggily said. ¡°Salli,¡± Philliam said as he shook his sister and friend. ¡°Do you sense the Unseelie in our midst? Wake up,¡± The younger sprite opened and rubbed her eyes. ¡°What is it¡ª¡± She then sensed the mana of the dangerous Krampu?e. ¡°We have to let Emily know,¡± Philliam said. ¡°Can you help me wake the other sprites?¡± Salliandra nodded and began channeling mana into a bright light. Flowena and Ulric were among those roused by the brilliance. ¡°Is it morning already?¡± Ulric yawned. Flowena and the other sprites soon sensed the tainted mana of the Unseelie fae that set foot inside the dungeon. Several of them panicked, including Gnobby. Ulric had to calm them down. The ruckus had attracted Emily¡¯s attention. ¡°It¡¯s not even morning yet,¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoed to the sprites. ¡°Emily,¡± Flowena said. ¡°Unseelie fae are here!¡± ¡°What?¡± Emily said in confusion. At the same time, Elizabeth also noticed the incursion and looked into the horizon. There, she saw four towering horned figures¡ªeach marched towards the building that is the Black Box herself. ¡°Lizzie,¡± Emily¡¯s voice echoed to her fairy. ¡°The sprites are panicking about ¡®unseelie¡¯ here.¡± ¡°Then they had noticed their presence,¡± Elizabeth said solemnly. ¡°Their presence?¡± Emily¡¯s gaze looked in Elizabeth¡¯s direction and the dungeon saw her current visitors. The sight of the four Krmapusse caused her to gasp. ¡°Emily,¡± Elizabeth said. ¡°Those are [Krampu?e].¡± ??? Within minutes, Emily and Elizabeth had woken up her Sentinels, as well as Heathcliff, and the Hermnadezes. The result had also ensured that others had woken as up as well. Emily had warned everyone about the approaching Krampu?e. ¡°Krampu?e? Here?¡± Clover said. ¡°But Veilgard¡¯s so far away!¡± Everyone already knew about what reason the Krampu?e would have for coming here, A fact that Lydia had acted on by gathering her assistants and several Arachne warriors to guard the nursery. Panic had set in for several minutes before Elizabeth and Heathcliff made a loud noise that got everyone¡¯s attention on them. ¡°Ahem,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°We¡¯re not up the creek yet.¡± The knight began to assure the gathered crowd. Well aware from the report from Tim and the Coloraturas¡¯ previous skirmish with them as well as the legend Emily heard from earlier today, of the weaknesses of the Krampus. ¡°We have six hours before sunrise, ¡°Elizabeth said. ¡°If we can hold them off for that long, then the [Krampu?e] will be vanquished,¡± she said with more confidence than her inner thoughts had. ¡°Can it be done?¡± one of the Ewerans said. ¡°Few were barely able to kill one, and there are four of them now!¡± ¡°It will!¡± Rose said. ¡°The vile unseelie will be banished, by the light of hope and justice!¡± the young lamia girl said. ¡°For the Colorturas had¡ª¡± ¡°Rose,¡± Raine said. ¡°We don¡¯t have time for this!¡± ¡°We know how to beat one,¡± Hydrangea said. ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be hard to defeat four more, right?¡± Before the others could respond, The Athen¨¦ mech emerged from behind them, Minerva already piloting it. ¡°They are vulnerable to their own elements, yes?¡± the white-haired Arachne said. ¡°And immune to electric spells,¡± Lily said. That was all the confirmation Minerva needed. ¡°Emily, can you lead me to them?¡± Emily manifested an Avatara on one of the Athen¨¦¡¯s legs. ¡°They¡¯re coming from there.¡± The Dungeon and the Athen¨¦ will be the vanguard of the counterstrike. The first line of defense against the invading Unseelie. Tim looked at Emily with a tint of fear in his otherwise stoic eyes. ¡°It¡¯ll be fine,¡± Emily said as she set off with Minerva. ¡°I promise!¡± The two set off, while the others prepare for the event Emily¡¯s avatara and Minerva are defeated. ??? The Krampu?e walked closer to the Black Box''s main building. Each lumbering step ignited the ground beneath their feet and chilled the air around them. The Athen¨¦ was the first to attack them. The tarantula-shaped mech launched a petri-beam from afar, but the goat-like monsters saw the glint and avoided it before it landed. Emily used the distraction from Mienrva¡¯s attack to close the gap and slash at one of the four Krampu?e with blades enchanted with frost and flame. The wound had inflicted Thermoshock onto the Krmapus¡¯s leg, causing it to stumble as its flesh rebelled with itself. The other three noticed the fourth¡¯s cries of pain and saw the Dugneon¡¯s avatara had attacked them. ¡°Okay, Emily,¡± she thought to herself as she weaved around the Krampu?e¡¯s legs and attempted to sting the invaders. ¡°Focus.¡± The monsters saw her and attempted to strike her with their lumbering arms, and horns, but Emily deftly dodged these attacks. Minerva meanwhile used the Athene to grapple with them and to try to burn, freeze, or petrify them with the legs of her mech. The Athen¨¦ fired a beam of cold air onto the afflicted Krampus. It tried to counter with a fireball from its maw, but the mana of both attacks collided too close toward it and caused the head to be afflicted with Thermoshock. The first of the Krampu?e collapsed its mind unable to properly act with its neutral pathways convulsing from the rapid temperature shifts. The other three grew more enraged, their attacks became more frequent and more powerful, and one coated its fists in fire. The other froze their fists in ice. Both aimed to take down Minerva and the Athen¨¦. The third one meanwhile tried to find Emily. The avatara had tried to strike the third beast with her swords as its back was turned, but the Krampus suddenly turned to face her and fired a blazing orb of flame at her. Emily barely escaped the fireball, her leg singed by the infernal blast. Sharp paint shot from her burned leg as she tried to move around, her vision hampered by the darkness of the night sky, with only her weapons and the moonlight illuminating the battle. The Athen¨¦ meanwhile struggled with the two equally sized opponents. The flame-fisted Krampus grabbed the pillar of fire and pinned it down. The frost-legged one froze the pillar of ice in a veil of ice. Minerva used the other elements to try to hinder her opponents, but the water spells evaporated from the heat of the flame-fisted one. The wind failed to topple them both, and the lighting had the expected nil effect on their rubbery hides. Only the darkness was able to blind them, and the earth was able to break the frozen seal on the ice pillar. Before Minerva could use the opportunity, the two Krampu?e charged at the Athen¨¦ and toppled it over. Minerva struggled to get the mech upright as the two adversaries loomed over her. Before they could fall the Sentientl, one of them was knocked on the head. The Flame-fisted Krampus collapsed under the weight of an interloping, smaller, rounder mech. Minerva used the opportunity to bring the Athen¨¦ upright and saw that the Pallant had joined her, to her shock. ¡°Leave Mommy alone!¡± the tiny pilot of the Pallant said. Grappling with the Flame-fisted Krampus, who caught the scent of the young girl and focused entirely on her. ¡°Nina!¡± Minerva tried to aid her daughter, but the frost-legged Krampus intercepted her and froze her pillar of fire. The two energies caused the pillar to undergo a Thermoshock and break off. While Nina fought the Flame-fisted Krampus with the Pallant. The mech¡¯s functions remain restricted leaving Nina with only the ability to shoot nets and eight smaller pillars. Emily barely held her own against the third Krampus. The pain of her leg distracted her enough for it to land several hits in. She stumbled around the battle, barely dodging the foe¡¯s attacks until she saw a certain mech enter the battle. Emily realized that little Nina had entered the fray and that the Flame-fisted Krampus was gaining the upper hand on her. She then looked back and saw that her adversary was gathering the suffused fire and ice mana around, preparing to launch a dangerous attack. Acting quickly the avatara positioned herself at a certain angle and prepared a defensive stance. Goading the Krampus to fire its attack. She bided her time, shifting her enchantments to earth to soothe the pin of her singed leg and waiting for the goat-like beast to trike. The Krampus finished gathering its mana and fried a large sphere of fire and ice. Emily leaped as soon as the spell was fired, and it missed her and instead hit the flame-fisted Kramapus. The beast had been inflicted with thermoshock and was spasming out of control, unable to defend itself, Nina used the Pallant to slam into the addled Krampus and it fell to the ground, unable to move again. ¡°Mommy, look!¡± Nina yelled as she used the Pallant¡¯s legs to beckon the Athen¨¦ to the fallen Krampus. Before any thoughts of a response, be it praise or scolding, could cross her mind, Minerva noticed the frost-legged one was now charging toward her. ¡°Nina!¡± she cried out for her daughter. She tried to chase the beast, but the Athen¨¦ was too damaged to move. ¡°Nina!¡± she cried out. As a last-ditch effort, she aimed the pillars of ice and water both at the Krampus and charged all the mana the mech had at it. The water and dice beams landed near the Krampus and combined to make a gelatinous barrier that caught one of its legs. The beast realized that it was stuck and quickly chilled the sticky fetter solid before punching the fragile hold and breaking it. This distraction gave Minerva enough time to try something. Using the pillar of earth she had fired a petri-beam at the large goat-like monster. The beast was caught in the spell and its body became turned to stone. Minerva exited The Athen¨¦ and skittered the Pallant, a look of both fear and anger on her face. ¡°Nina!¡± she said to her daughter. ¡°That was too dangerous!¡± The young spiderling exited the Pallant in turn. She made a pleading and apologetic face. ¡°Sorry, mommy. I just wanted to help.¡± Minerva should have expected this, but then again she was as blindsided by the sudden emergence of the Krampu?e as the others. She knew that Nina would use her new gift in battle at the first opportunity. She could barely fault her for that, given her known desire. Minerva kept her daughter close as they looked around. They saw one Krampus had been pinned down by the Pallant, another lay prone on the floor, knocked out by revolting neurons, and the third had been turned into a statue. Three Krampu?e were incapacitated at least until dawn when the Sunlight would banish them. Emily also kept track of which of the Krampu?e were felled. ¡°Three?¡± she said. A realization dawned on her. The one she was fighting, the one that attempted to inflict her with thermoshock, had escaped the battle. She looked back at the cubic building that was her true body and saw that the escaped Krampus was now closer to it than ever. ??? Emily, well aware of the remaining Krampus¡¯ approached her, and the children contained in her hastily tried to bar its path as her avatara tried to catch up. The Dungeon created walls as high as the beast, but the Krampus had leaped over them. She had compelled the trees to bar it with their mechanical brambles, but the Krampus ignited its arm and burned past the hedges. Atsuko and her shinobi had a plan to try to kill the beast, while Emily and the Athen¨¦ had kept the Krampu?e busy, they had created a miasmic bog between them and the Black Box. Atsuko herself kept watch on the approaching beast, aiming her greatbow at it. The nekomata saw the beast encroach onto the poisoned mist, seemingly unaware of its enervating effects. ¡°Alright big guy,¡± she said to herself. ¡°Let¡¯s see you handle this.¡± She fired her first shot. The long shift of the heavy arrow arced towards the large beast. The Krampus caught the glint of its arrowhead and opened its maw. Energy concentrated in its mouth and fired at the arrow. The large projectile began to become stone and collapse far from its mark. ¡°It could do that?¡± Atsuko was surprised to see the Krampus petrify the arrow. In her shock, she nearly missed that the horned monster had sighted her and began to charge another earthen beam. She fired another arrow as she escaped the beam¡¯s path and hid in the shadows of night. ¡°Something¡¯s wrong,¡± the teal-ringleted girl said. ¡°The poison didn¡¯t seem to affect it!¡± ??? Meanwhile, Carla was helping Lydia and her assistants keep the children safe, working to reinforce the walls around the room. Several of the children remained fearful of the monster that drew closer to the Black Box with each passing step. Nearby, Tim also observed the Krampus¡¯ advent. ¡°That monster is stronger than the others,¡± he said. A rare sense of worry gripped him as he gripped his Qiang. Heathcliff approached his squire. ¡°So you¡¯re going to wait?¡± ¡°This creature is different from its brethren,¡± Tim said. ¡°More observant of its surroundings, more cunning. If we fail to stall it until sunrise, if to gets that close to here, then it falls to us to stop it.¡± ¡°A real fine start to the new year,¡± Heathcliff said as he looked at the imminent threat. ¡°You scared?¡± Tim said cockily, hiding his own fear in a mask. ¡°Oui,¡± Heathcliff said as he drew his sword. ¡°But too many are depending on us for us to just hightail it out.¡± ¡°You knew the risks,¡± Tim said. ¡°And you still wanted to be a Dungeon Master,¡± Tim said. ¡°Yep,¡± Heathcliff said. ¡°What about you? You could¡¯ve left any time after he hit the shores of Libert¨¦.¡± ¡°Such unfamiliar land would have erased me,¡± Tim said. ¡°It was better by the side of an already experienced adventurer.¡± He smirked. ¡°Tim¡­¡± Heathcliff said. Aware of the young cultivator¡¯s tendencies to keep his emotions to himself. He long wanted to know what was it that kept him to Heathcliff¡¯s side, a matter he dodged with logical-sounding reasons. ¡°Heathcliff,¡± Tim said. ¡°Failure does not tarnish one¡¯s skill, nor does it tarnish their character. You did all that you could have done.¡± He said as he walked towards a hill to better observe the faraway monster. ¡°Perhaps,¡± Heathcliff thought to himself. ¡°But was it enough?¡± The pair saw that the Coloraturas had intercepted the Krampus right as it moved past the poisonous mist unhindered. ??? The Coloraturas, to Carla and Charlotte¡¯s worry, had used themselves to lure the surviving Krampus away from the other children and towards a part of Emily that the Sprites had bewitched with illusions. There they tried to stall the lone Krampus until dawn. ¡°Why is this guy so difficult?¡± Rose shouted as she avoided a punch from one of the monster¡¯s blazing arms. Strelitzia leaped into the air and attacked the gigantic goat-like beast with her labrys. The Krampus blocked the small axe with its other arm and swatted Streltizia away. Anemone fired an arrow into the beast¡¯s frost-coated thigh. The Krampus tried to attack Anemone with a fireball, but she used the sprites¡¯ dwimmers to hide in a nearby wall and emerged next to Rose. ¡°It must¡¯ve observed power from the other three!¡± Anemone said to the lamia. ¡°They can do that?¡± Rose said. A wall of ice emerged right in front of the lycanthrope and lamia. Hydrangea stood atop it and slit towards them. ¡°It¡¯s the only possible explanation,¡± the cyan-bobbed girl said. Raine and Azalea tried to hinder the beast with steam. The clionid swam to where Streltiiza landed. ¡°Hey Stre,¡± she said. ¡°Are you done decking this guy¡¯s halls yet?¡± she said as she helped her up. ¡°What do you think?¡± the minor rider asked as she took her axe. ¡°You have a plan?¡± she asked, dreading that she would answer with a pun. ¡°I was thinking something along the lines of jingle bell rock,¡± she said. ¡°And there it is,¡± the tired girl thought. ¡°Still,¡± that did give her an idea. She took her axe and used it to conjure a boulder. ¡°Hey ugly!¡± she cried out to the Krampus. The boulder hit the beast¡¯s head. The Krampus turned its head to Streltizia, who caused the earth below to spike and propel her into the air. She landed on the shoulder of the beast. Clover meanwhile used her gales to buffet the Krmapus, aiming to try to topple it with her wind magic. Lily used her light magic to create glints to direct the eyes of the beast away before charging with her spear. Through their efforts, the Krampus was locked in battle trying to catch the magical girls for an hour. Raine and Hydrangea even managed to inflict Thermoshock on one of the arms and legs of the beast. Causing them to act against their will. Rose used her lightning in tandem with Raine¡¯s flames to energize themselves and the others. Strelitzia was the first to try to fell the beast, but as she moved towards it, she noticed that the goat-like mar began inhaling earth magic like herself. The energy coalesced into a large beam that shot from the beast. The minotauride tried to get out of the beam¡¯s path, but she was too late, and what remained after the orange light subsided was a statue of Streltizia slowly dissolving into golden particles. Clover¡¯s eyes widened in shock at seeing her friend petrified before it shifted into a glare directed at the beast. She billowed with her fan to create razor-sharp winds that sliced the thermoshocked limbs of the Krampus. Lily and Rose then combined their magic to create a ray of light and lightning, directed at the sliced arm. The wounds and the light magics created an opening for the lightning to course through the Krampus¡¯s body, causing it to wail in furious pain as it turned its eyes to the source. Lily and Rose stopped their attack as soon as they saw the Krampus charge another beam, but like Streltizia, they were unable to escape and were turned to stone. Their statues began to fade away. Five of the Coloraturas remained, Azalea tried to slow the beast down both with her own water magic and by turning the ice of the thermoshocked leg into a gelatinous prison. Raine and Hydrangea tried to coordinate to hinder the beast. Anemone used the illusion to hide as she attempted to bind the Krampus with both shadow-pinning and increased gravity spells. Clover continued to furiously conjure sharp gales against the Krampus. The peryton fawn however drew too close and the Krampus petrified her and sent her crashing into the ground. Her statue broke upon collusion and dissolved into golden dust. Azalea was the next to fall. The Krampus tricked her into believing she had trapped it before it froze the chains of water with ice magic and evaporated it with steam. The clionid was frozen in a block of ice. Anemone tried to save her, emerging from illusions on the walls, but the Krampus had petrified them both mid-fall. Raine and Hydrangea were the only ones left, they realized that their opportunity was closing and so pooled all their efforts into a combined spell. ¡°Raine!¡± Hydrangea said. ¡°The head!¡± The phoenixian girl nodded. Both moved into the air maneuvering to avoid the petri-beams of the Krampus. Trying to launch their spell against it as they moved closer to the maw. The goat-like being¡¯s face was approached by the two while fired their spell as soon as they saw it open. ¡°Subzero Aria!¡± Hydrangea called. ¡°Inferno Duetto!¡± Raine followed suit. The two attacks collided with the beast. But it was able to fire its counterattack and petrify the two girls. Their statues plummeted as the monster¡¯s head was themroshocked. The beast was injured and its body is weakened and belligerent, but it would not falter in its ill-intended quest. Whereas the Coloraturas were defeated and now poised to be reconstructed by Emily¡¯s systems. The beast turned around and marched toward where its prey was concentrated. Emily¡¯s avatara meanwhile almost caught up to the Krampus. Two hours remained until Stella rises once more. ??? Emily¡¯s avatara saw what became of the Coloraturas and gasped in the horror of their petrified forms turning into dust. The Krampus meanwhile bellowed a furious rage knowing that it couldn''t claim them and turned its attention towards the purple-haired avatara for the rematch. The Krampus tried to fire an ice spell, but Emily leaped above and dodged it. The spell froze the ground beneath them and Emily slipped upon landing on the frosted ground. ¡°Ow!¡± Emily yelped as her avatara fell on her rear. Shivers were sent down her spine from feeling the frigid ground as she tried to erect herself upright. The beast opposing her stepped forward and tried to slam down on her with two burning arms. Only missing due to the thermoshocked one stopping and Emily managing to slide in that arm¡¯s direction. ¡°Vernal winds heed me, lift me high,¡± she intoned. Her spell summoned a small gust that lifted her into the air. As she descended again, she clicked on her heels and created her circular skate blades. The blades granted her the mobility and stability needed to traverse the frost and avoid the Krampus¡¯ spells more deftly. She created two curved swords from her palms. One with a blade enchanted with flame magic, and the other a blade made of ice magic. She skated towards the goat-like monster with those two blades and tried to slice it. Meanwhile, The Coloraturas were in the process of reformation in the core room. Elizabeth fluttered there to confirm their status. ¡°We have less than two hours left until sunrise,¡± she said. ¡°I hope Emily can hold out that long.¡± She checked their pods to ensure no issues arose as she took her staff and left to assist Emily. Emily¡¯s avatara clashed with the Krampus. She used her blade to further hinder with thermoshocks and stop their movements with ice. She maneuvered pieces of her other body around, trying to use illusion magic to dismember the Krmapus. She attempted to exploit the wounds on its body by paralyzing it, first by mixing her ice-enchanted sword with lightning to create a cloudy veil as she moved around the Krampus, and then by changing her blade¡¯s aspect to wind and lightning to channel storms through these clouds, targeting the wounded limbs. Lightning from the clouds had zapped the beast, but it was still able to fight. Seemingly unhindered by the thermoshock ripping its cells apart from within or by actual lightning striking its nerves at their most vulnerable. ¡°If only I can use the Last Bastian Protocols,¡± Emily said. The Krampus and Emily fought for a ferocious and long ten minutes, kept at a stalemate until the beast¡¯s leg was struck by a certain hammer and stumbled to the right, nearly falling over. The goat-like beast turned to see that Sarah had intervened in the fight. ¡°Sentinel or not, I¡¯m ain¡¯t letting you go closer!¡± she yelled. Emily was as relieved to have some assistance, as she was concerned for the dwarfette¡¯s safety. She hadn''t made her a Sentinel, and so if she fell now then it would be a permanent fall. Richard was also nearby, aiming to provide covering fire with his stunner, which Sarah hastily modified with specialized fire-aspected bolts to compensate for the Krampus¡¯ known immunity to electric magic. He provided covering fire from the cover of night as Emily and Sarah engaged the large invader in melee combat. Tim and Heathcliff looked at the battle from near the room where the children were kept. Tim grew concerned with whether Emily and the Smiths would be enough to keep the Krampus at bay. He was about to step forward when Heathcliff grabbed his shoulder. ¡°Relax, Tim,¡± the knight said. ¡°Emily has got this.¡± With only an hour and thirty minutes left before daybreak, the knight and martial artist were left to observe and to protect the children in the event the Krampus was allowed to draw closer. ??? Emily, Sarah, and Richard fought the Krampus with a ferocious desire to fend off the Unseeilie creature. Soon, Esteban and Julia got involved in the fight as well. Julia¡¯s shadow guardian grappled with the goat-like beast while Esteban unleashed blows that broke the frost off the legs. At that point, having had enough of the Krampu?e''s threat to the children, Carla sent several Cryst-slimes to assist. The blobs of clear gel had attached themselves to one of its arms. The fires wreathing it becoming nothing more than vermillion color mana suffused in the slimes. Carla¡¯s actions sparked a realization. ¡°The aqua regina!¡± she said. ¡°Lizzie, where is that being stored?¡± she telepathically contacted the fairy. ¡°A lake in the Blewmaw,¡± Elizabeth responded. ¡°Emily what are¡ª¡± ¡°Just trust me!¡± Emily said as she turned her blade¡¯s aspects to light and darkness and weave illusions to lure the Krampus away. The Krampus saw the illusions and shrugged off the other combatants. It lumbered towards the direction of the dwimmers Emily conjured until it suddenly found itself in the middle of a clear moonlit lake. The monster bleated in rage as it saw its mana become suffused in the like, cyans, oranges, and reds fading into the clear pristine liquid. It was then that Emily had struck the beast. Using wind spells to augment her speed as she zipped through the Krampus and carved a wound in its exposed hide. The horned beast clashed with Emily as she used her swords, her magic, and her control over the nearby environment to bind the beast. The others gathered at the edge of the lake and saw Emily¡¯s plan had worked. The beast was unable to move from the lake. The wounds in impairments of prior fights had hampered its ability to cast spells, the aqua regina lake reached its mana from its body and Emily had tried it at various parts as it attempted to move. Eventually, the Krampus was able to place one leg on the shore of the lake, but by then it was too late. A ribbon of pink had emerged on the horizon, and soon after that the sun had risen. Stella has once more ushered in daylight, light that began to banish the Krampu?e. The Krampus had howled its last as its body began to fade into an aetheric form of mana, what hadn¡¯t been absorbed by the lake dispersed itself into the air. Leaving only the lamentous and wrathful howls of a monster whose plans were foiled. As if they were cursing the Sunlight herself for her inevitable intervention. Later that day, Emily and her friends had assessed the damage wrought by the four Krampu?e¡¯s incursion, as well as the safety of the reformed Coloraturas. The first day of spring, and the year twelve twenty-three, had officially begun. The day went on as normal, save for many of the crew being too tired from last night¡¯s events. Most had decided to sleep in, while Emily and Carla made sure the children all had their rest. By the afternoon, Rose began her tenure helping Carla and Charlotte take care of the Tatzelwurm Vesper. By evening, a normal dinner was held in the banquet hall after the decorated Cycletree was uprooted and moved back to the Blewmaw, stripped of all its adornments. ??? The following night, Tim was meditating, or rather, sleeping. Emily¡¯s triumph and use of the aqua regina lingered in his mind. As he drifted into unconsciousness, his mind wandered in a surreal landscape. ¡°A forest?¡± he thought. Birch trees bent in various contorted patterns. The leaves an iridescent array of uncommon hues. The bark instead matched the colors the leaves should¡¯ve been¡ªJade green. He looked around and noticed cubby-like orifices in the bark, with books placed within them. As he took one of them out, the scenery shifted. The bent trees gave way to straight and narrow walls, and desks and staircases emerged from the dirt-covered ground. ¡°What in the¡­¡± Tim walked forward, but he soon grew disoriented as the library warped around him. He stumbled into a vortex of twisted shelves and floating books until he gazed at a beautiful jade tree at the center of it all. Pages flew off the shelves and rapidly orbited the tree. He then sensed several nightmarish creatures leaping at the shelves. Before he could grab his Qiang, he was jolted out of the vision and rendered awake. ¡°Morning, sleepyhead!¡± Emily called out to him. He returned to reality and the Black Box. ¡°What in Astra¡¯s name was that?¡± he groggily said as he stood up and stretched his arms. He noticed something glowing in his pocket. It was the jade slip, with the other half of its contents revealed. His eyes widened as he saw the engraved words. ¡°Find the¡­Birchbend Librarium?¡± Tim said.