6.3 K words.
If we reach 200 Power Stones I'm dropping another chapter.
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—
"W-Who are you?!" She exclaimed as she jumped towards Silver
But Silver wasn't as eager, he closed his eyes and reached for his neck, "What are you doing screaming in the morning?"
He walked past her as she stood there in shock. She didn't know what to say, if she should point out how he looked… or if she should point out why he wore nothing but his trousers!
"#!!..."
'I have a right to be shocked and scream!'
Silver looked slightly different from what he always looked... very different if you knew him more... personally.
"Stop right there!" She exclaimed as she held his wrist, pulling him back so she could take a good look at him
'How can this be?'
His skin grew smoother and healthier, his scars mostly cleansed. Countless small cuts were now gone, the bruise marks from numerous clashes had been healed, and although she couldn't tell exactly what had changed, she felt his overall posture had shifted just slightly as his muscles… changed shape?
"You can look longer, be proud."
"S-Shut it!"
The roughness of his skin, caused by many years of training, had also been toned down. However, his hands were still a little rough, but certainly better to the touch.
"Whoa there… careful where you touch. My skin's sensitive."
"You're acting like a woman!… I'm the woman here!" She exclaimed as she clenched her teeth before letting go of his hands
His hair had grown longer, now going from slightly above the shoulder to beyond his waist...
He pinched the tip of his hair, "I plan to cut it down, it's a little too long for my tastes."
"Long hair is pretty nice. But fair enough!"
'At least this much is reasonable... but why would his hair grow?'
She looked away from his body, raising her neck. His face was also more handsome… with small details such as his nose becoming slightly more symmetrical and his eyebrows sharper... if that was an indicator of beauty.
"How do I look? Enough to stand out amidst the deities?"
She rolled her eyes and scoffed, "Keep dreaming!"
At least on that regard, he seemed to mildly agree...
Silver smiled as Hestia walked around him with a frown… "You are taller now?!" She asked in surprise as she got on her tiptoes, trying to measure his height with her hand as she compared it with the furniture around the place.
"Hm? I guess I got a little taller. I didn't even notice… a handful of centimeters?"
He looked at a mirror near the fireplace, 'I wager I'm almost 1.90 now? The height increase was likely from the muscle adjustment… it might even rise a little once I put on some weight.'
'At least the change isn't big… big enough for most people to notice, I can just say it's my shoes until people get used to me again.'
"The details… don't matter much. I'm quite surprised you actually noticed such a minor change." He said as he turned his head around
"How couldn't I? I live with you! I know your height by comparing with the things around the basement!"
"Ha… is that how you memorize things?" Said Silver as he sat at the dining table to eat
"So, will you tell me what happened?" Hestia asked in wonder as she followed him
Silver wasted little time, drinking a whole gallon of milk before replying, "Body enhancement. That's the best way to tell you what happened."
His thoughts were elsewhere, unfortunately, 'I'm starving… I think I need to eat the entire menu back at the Hostess before I feel okay again.'
"What?"
Hestia didn't understand.
Silver turned to a whole loaf of bread he had bought yesterday and cut several slices from it with a finger gesture before toasting them above his palm, "Just a blunt experiment, no need to worry. Everything worked out in the end."
'Once I study the changes and confirm the results, I can start planning for the next phase. But that can wait until I reach the limit of Level 2.'
'This was just a minor adjustment within considerable limitations, and from the looks of it, everything went perfectly fine.'
'A resounding success I should say, one that justifies letting go of some restrictions next time… but that's for later. I haven't even paid off my debt yet.'
"You..."
Hestia pouted, she was done arguing with this guy.
…
After a while, Silver and Hestia stood by the bed, she wanted to see for herself what had changed with his body!
She looked at the passing numbers and hieroglyphs, reading into the changes…
"Hm?"
But she stopped the process.
"What?"
'This can not be happening…'
Hestia's face paled as she read his Status…
Hearing her tiny gasps, Silver turned his head and reached out to her, "Did something happen? Hey, talk to me. Hey…"
'I hope I didn't do anything extreme. Everything was contained, nothing was supposed to go wrong… but if something did… reversing it might be a little difficult.'
"I-It's not what you are thinking… just… sigh."
Hestia took a deep breath and calmed herself down she inscribed his Status onto a parchment.
"Let me see just what stunned you…"
—
Mellios Silver
Level 1
Strength SS 1199 -> SSS 1200
Vitality SS 1199 -> SSS 1200
Dexterity SS 1087
Agility SS 1177
Magic SS 1199 -> SSS 1200
Mutant Body -> I
>Magic:
- Magnum Opus Ambrosia
Body manipulation-type magic?
>Skill:
- Vit Alhjin
Body strengthening-type Skill.
Raises the starting ceiling of basic abilities to H-100, reducing the difficulty of raising them by one rank in the process.
Passive magic interference from all sources, beneficial, or even self-originated.
- Oculus Davidis
Conditional and growth boost-type Skill.
Activates in challenging scenarios, supersizing rewards from a given situation.
- Neo Stur
Grants and enforces the Development Ability Mutant Body at all times.
- Argent Genesis
The effects of consumed potions are enhanced. During alchemy, grants the Development Abilities Mixing, Alchemy, Mystery, and Creation temporarily.
—
"Two new Skills? I knew I had it in me." He said with a smirk while Hestia glared at him
'This just goes to show how much of an achievement what I did was. Or maybe this action unlocked something within my Soul… whatever the Gods like to say Skills are.'
'A Skill that grants Development Abilities... It's not anything groundbreaking. I recognize most of these, but not all.'
"I'm glad you're happy. Welp, there isn't much to say about your Skills… The first gives you the Development Ability, Mutant Body."
"I can say that it increases all of your basic attributes, such as resistances, however, I can't say by how much... It's a slight increase, if anything." She said with a shrug as she sat down beside him
Silver looked at his hands, "A boost is still a boost. With everything together, I wonder how close to a Level 2 I am right now…"
"Why wonder when you can just become one yourself?" She asked as she pressed herself against him
"Haha… not yet…"
'I wonder how great this Development Ability can become. Maybe one day it'll grant enough enough power to rival a Level Up?'
'There are many types of Skills, there are many revealed Skills in the Guild's database, and I've taken a look at some of them… but how can one even begin to classify them?'
'Some can give you unique powers with certain conditions or activation keys…'
'Others can enhance something you already have, be it a stat or magic.'
'And a few can affect the system of Falna and Excelia themselves, like Vit Alhjin, Oculus Davidis, and even…'
Silver stopped his thoughts there.
"… What about the other?"
"Your other Skill, Argent Genesis, strengthens the effects of consumed potions and grants you the following Development Abilities, Mixing, Alchemy, Mystery, and Creation. There isn't much else to say about it."
"Nothing?"
"I'm not hiding anything!" She claimed as her face went red, livid at the thought of being doubted
"Just making sure…"
"You… one of these days, humph!"
Silver smiled, patting her head, "Since this is the end of it, it's time for me to go. If I'm late, Loki's never letting us off the hook again."
'I'll check the Guild's database some other time to see if I can find anything explaining what Creation does.'
'Even if Hestia can give me an overview of it, what a deity can tell is often limited by their own interpretation, knowledge, will, and a variety of other reasons.'
"I can see that… I can't believe I'm saying this, but you should hurry!"
"Then give me some time to brush my teeth and I'll be off."
"Wha… What about your clothes?!"
/Snap!/
Silver snapped his fingers, and suddenly, he was covered in full plate armor.
It was the same gray-black armor he had worn for the last few days.
"I'm done."
"… Can you help me tie my hair too before you go?" She asked with a helpless smile as she looked at her disheveled hair
"With pleasure… do you need some help to bathe too, my deity?"
"NO!"
…
/Crunch…/
"Looks like today is one of those snowy days… the snow's only getting stronger." Silver said as he stepped outside
Snow had covered every nook and cranny of the ground. And more kept falling around him.
He looked at the church and reached out for the air, forcing the piled-up snow out of the ceiling before clearing up the stairs and ground leading to the road… although he couldn't see it also.
Meanwhile, the trembling Hestia stood next to the door in her slippers and a snuggly blanket around her, holding in a sneeze, "I uh… /Sniff/… I think I'm skipping work today…"
"Work? You don't have work…"
She looked away with a broken smile, "I uh… I talked with Hephaestus and uh… she got me a job at one of her shops at Babel… but I really don't want to go!"
"What? Since when… forget it. Now's not the time to discuss that."
'Hestia spent her last month mostly with Demeter, but it seems she has finally decided to take another step in her career as a goddess… I'm proud, but this came out of nowhere.'
Silver looked at her with pity. The snow was indeed quite strong today, "Let's do it like this, I'll help you move to our other house. But you can't skip your first day of work!"
'We've mostly finished the cleaning, what little renovations were needed, and moving our stuff to the manor. Only the basic amenities remain here… with some other things I plan to buy and leave around.'
'But it just so happens my workshop is here, so I always end up spending my night here... not entirely by my will. I just assumed people wouldn't be too found of a neighbor working at 10 Pm...'
'As for her, Hestia just prefers to remain around me, and I can't complain about that.'
"That's fine by me!"
He stepped closer to her, "Then hold on tight."
"Okay!… ARG!"
"What is it?"
"Your armor is damn cold!"
He laughed awkwardly, almost feeling warm inside his metallic enclosure, "… Better now?" He asked as his armor heated up
"Yup… I'm melting…" She said as she shoved her face on his chest plate
"Sigh…"
/Clack!/
With the door closing behind Hestia under Silver's telekinesis, they vanished amidst a vortex of snow.
…
/Fwoop!/
Silver reappeared in the Church in a hurry and ran to his workshop.
He began sorting out his alchemical supplies, 'I should get my equipment with me if I can. I don't know when I'll have the opportunity to return, and I might even be unable to return at all on my own, so I might have to do some research down there.'
'Last thing I want is to be forced to do nothing but laze around...'
After he got everything he needed, he locked everything and vanished into the streets once again.
...
/Step…/
/Humming…/
A young girl hummed a song as she swept the snow from the floor in the early morning.
Amidst her song, her gaze rose slightly as she noticed a knight pass by…
"… Are you just going to walk by and say nothing?" She asked with a pout as she held the broom
Silver stopped walking, turning to Syr with some amusement, "A good morning to you as well… What gave it away?"
Syr stood by the Hostess with a long coat. By all accounts, it didn't look like she was wearing her uniform, then again, working in this cold was a bit much for a fair lady.
She put one hand on her waist and pointed at him with the upper section of her broom, "Do you think my memory's bad?"
"You already visited this armor before, and besides… I've never seen an adventurer with a cape like yours." She added with a chuckle as she pointed at the dark cape on Silver's shoulders
She then smiled and tilted her head in a light greeting, "And a good morning to you as well."
After a short exchange, Silver stretched his cape with his left hand, "What do you think, though?"
"It's too much!"
"Then its perfect. Thank you for the input."
She became a little pensive as she tilted her head, "Planning to show it to somebody?"
"You're quite perceptive. Yes, I am. I'll be going on an expedition, so I thought about making a good first impression. Do I look good?" He asked as he posed faintly
Syr chuckled again as she covered her mouth, "Maybe to the children. You're the greatest knight for them."
"Ever since you helped those kids, they always come to thank us at night. Mia just can't stand watching them in the cold, so she always warms up a little cup for them before sending them back with a bag of food."
Syr bent over slightly, as if to tell him a secret, "She doesn't like others knowing, but she donates quite a bit to orphanages around Orario. She'll even cook for them every once in a while in her free time… although she isn't that popular with the kids." She added as her expression grew awkward
She touched her cheek with her right hand, "She is fair to all… but even when calm, she's a little overwhelming for young kids to bear…"
Silver agreed, "Mia is a kind woman… if only she smiled a little more, maybe she'd be more popular…"
'Thinking about her in the middle of a bunch of kids... is like trying to put a minotaur in the middle of a bunch of goblins...'
Syr touched her forehead, sighing aloud in a manner he had never seen before.
"You wouldn't believe how many times I've said that to her. Do you even know how pretty she used to be? But she shooed all the men away with that personality of hers…"
She seemed to continue her complaint inside her mind, but with each word, her tone grew ever distant...
"I can imagine it… the latter part, not the first one though."
"Don't let her hear you! I won't be able to protect you a second time for that cheeky comment of yours."
"A second time..."
'When did the first one happen again?'
Syr held her broom tightly for a moment before stepping forward, "You mentioned an expedition… can you tell me more about it?"
"It's nothing much. I'll be working as a porter this time for a larger Familia… I have to learn the ropes somehow." He said as he pointed at the large backpack on his ground, which he promptly put down to show off
"I'll probably see little action. At best I'll fight a little on the Upper and Middle Floors, but after that… it's beyond my pay grade." He added with a dry laugh as he went to scratch his head… only for his helmet to be in the way
'Stupid thing…'
Syr was bemused at the sight, but said nothing as she tapped her coat to take off the snow.
"Even so, you should be careful. Supporters rarely get in danger, but they're the first to be cut off when trouble arrives. To some… no matter how cruel, what a porter carries is more valuable than their own lives."
"I understand that. Don't worry though, even if trouble finds its way to me, I can handle myself."
'And this might be true to most Familias, but the Loki Familia isn't subjective to this kind of thing. Not with Finn and the others around.'
"Hearing that relieves me… well then, good luck, adventurer."
"Let's hope I won't have to resort to luck to keep myself afloat… ahem, do you need some help with all of that?" He asked as he looked around
She nodded, but then hesitated, "If Mia was here, she was going to say something about paying me to do the job properly, but since she's not here…"
She clasped her hands together in request, "Pretty please?"
Silver said nothing in response, merely raising his left arm in her direction.
/Shua!/
A magical scene unfolded. The snow was brushed aside by the passing wind, flowing smoothly around her and the air as the entire Hostess of Fertility was cleaned all the way to the ceiling from the looming ice and snow.
Silver even made a small snowman on the side, leaving it next to the door opposite Syr with his own icy broom and coat.
As the piles of snow and ice mounted on the side, Syr clapped her hands in amazement.
"I still can't get used to this sight. I love your magic!" She said as she looked at the snowman in awe
"It's nothing impressive, but I'm glad others like it this much."
'Maybe she's right, I might have a knack for entertaining children... brings back some memories...'
He looked at the distant clock towers and turned faintly, "I must go now, getting late on my first day of work would be an embarrassment."
"If you see the others, including dear Mia, extend them my greetings for the day." He added as he sneaked a glance at the windows above them
'They do like to listen... or is it a natural thing with their sensitive ears?'
"I will. They may not act like it, but they enjoy your antics. Those little tricks you do are quite entertaining."
"Oi, don't call my magic, the greatest that has ever been and will be, little tricks!" He claimed as he smacked his chest, "You lack vision."
"I didn't mean to undermine it. Be they small tricks or big ones, they're a joy to us all the time." She added with a smile, slightly tilting Silver off
"I… uh… I was joking, but thanks." He replied as he grew slightly embarrassed
"Well, then… here's a riddle for you to think about while I'm away…"
He cleared his throat, "I steal your color, I bite your nose, I paint the windows with crystal rows…"
Syr didn't even let him finish, "It's Frost."
He wasn't quite surprise, slightly upset at most, "What… damn… okay. I know you're good at this, so how about this…"
"I fall like a star but leave no fire, I gather in armies yet make no sound. A million of me can bury a kingdom, yet one of me dies upon your tongue."
"Snowflake." She replied without hesitation as she looked at the snow pilling up on the ground, "You can make this harder, you know? This is kindergarten level." She said with a laugh as she looked at him with a teasing smirk
Silver's eyelids twitched underneath his helmet, "Fine then! Here's a harder one."
"I show the sky beneath your feet, I promise strength yet shatter in greeting. Trust me once and you may drown… without a single drop of rain."
"Hm…" Syr thought for a moment as she looked at her feet, where a thin layer of ice stood above the stone, "Ah… I know."
"Thin ice!"
After coughing dry, Silver walked away, dejected, "Oh dear, would you look at the time…"
As Silver ran away in shame, defeated, Syr felt faintly apologetic. She raised her hand to stop him, but he was already too far away, "Aww, wait! Don't go…"
But then, after he left, she laughed with a genuine smile, "Hahaha… he really is… atchiu!"
'I shouldn't stay around for long…'
/Clack!/
As snow continued to fall around her, she let a few snowflakes fall on her gloves before taking a step back and closing the doors behind her.
…
/Later…/
"… I apologize for not keeping up the contact. I've been busy beyond mention this past week." Silver said as he took a bag from a stall
"Don't worry about it. I know it must be difficult being the sole child of a Familia. Things have been quite busy for us too, while for me… as you can see, there isn't much happening." Takemikazuchi replied as he looked around his stall
The northern streets were mostly empty, covered in snow as workers and civilians cleared them of the ever-falling frigid rain…
Silver looked around awkwardly as he opened the bag and munched on a potato pop he had just bought, his visor lifted, "I should've at least visited you and the others once after the New Year…"
"You're here, and that's what matters… That said, do visit more often. With this cold, I've found myself with little to do at home."
"... The stall is about to close as the snow intensifies, and I'm not someone who enjoys being locked at home alone." Take added with a faint smile as he wiped his hands with a cloth
"I will! I have a lot to ask and learn from you… especially now that I've learned something new."
"Oho? I'm getting curious."
Silver raised his right hand, "According to the one who taught it to me, this is a technique that allows one to invoke their Magic or Skill and channel it through a bladed medium to release a shockwave slash outside the restrictions of Spells… I still have no idea how it works, much less why mine is unique."
Silver's hand ignited with light, the dangerous kind… flashing red and white, it seemed to be about to burst!
But then… the light faded, leaving behind only smoke as he shook his wrist.
Seeing this, Takemikazuchi smiled in wonder, "Fascinating. Mortals never cease to amaze me in their endless creativity."
"You think you can help me with this? I'm kind of lost… or rather, too new to this."
He smiled helplessly, "Just because I'm a God, it doesn't mean I've mastered it from seeing it just once, you know?"
"You didn't?"
Take shook his head, "I understand the principle, alas, it's not something I can replicate. So demonstrations aren't possible."
"What I can say is that it's a deeply individual power. Or rather, an application of one's own uniqueness by a shared principle. With such conditions, I'm afraid giving guidance could prove more poisonous than helpful."
"If you feel lost, I believe constant use and practice, together with a dose of self-reflection might provide you with some light to your troubles… aside from that though, there isn't much I can assist you with, at least with the time we have on our hands."
"Once we do have the time, I'd be more than happy to discuss this matter with you. This principle is quite intriguing and it deserves a proper overview."
"I'll hold on to that." Silver added as he finished eating his potato pop
Then he moved his hands around, acting like a martial master, "You'll teach me the Far-Eastern martial arts, right? Teach me how to manifest Sword Aura and Sword Intent?" He asked with a smile before he wiped his lips
The deity was surprised by his words, but for a moment, he almost burst out laughing.
He held the desire in with a chuckle, smiling as he raised his head to face him:
"Haha… I don't know where you heard of that, but there's no such thing. I get your feeling, though… that is a romance of many swordsmen."
Takemikazuchi grew a little serious, "Once your blade becomes an extension of you, once you're able to commune with it beyond ordinary comprehension… then perhaps what you define as "intent", may be born."
"I've lost count of how many were deceived by this." He added with some melancholy, "Gods love to chant about such to mortals, desperate or not, they love to see their reactions as they dream, strive, and eventually collapse in the face of their own limitations."
"What use is there to a teaching that can only be faintly understood or comprehended within a hundred lifetimes? To me, it is better off not spoken off in the slightest."
Take closed his eyes as he thought of the past, "The desire to cut is just like the desire to kill. Many are able to feel the latter, an instinct trained by a lifetime of warring and combat…"
"That said, I don't think you'll ever attain it in the way you envision it." He added with a playful smirk as he cleaned the counter
"That's a shame. Isn't it a man's dream to cut a boulder with a leaf?"
Take laughed as he slapped his leg, "HA! A justified dream! And one that's rather achievable… I can certainly teach you that much, but its up to you to reach it."
"Many have spent a lifetime… lifetimes trying to go that far, the end of swordsmanship… if there even is one."
"Even Mikoto, my most talented disciple in a long time, has yet to master anything near that... albeit her age provides ample space for refinement."
"Do you have the heart to go that far?"
Silver tilted his head, "That depends, I don't even know if I'm much of a swordsman myself."
"Then we must find out what kind of blade suits you best… but first, don't you have somewhere to be? You were quite in a hurry when you first arrived."
"Right…" Silver said as he looked at a distant clock tower, "I'll be on my way then."
"I'd say good luck, but you don't need that kind of thing."
Silver raised his left arm, walking into the distance.
…
/Chatter…/
People walked left and right within the Loki Familia's manor. All with their equipment on hand, they ran around hauling things and resting to prepare for the expedition.
Amidst that stood a certain red-haired Goddess, arms crossed as she tapped her foot on the ground.
"Just where is that pimp's child? We're leaving at any minute!"
Besides her, Gareth sat down with his arms crossed as he remained with his eyes closed, "The boy's not late, I told him hew as free to take his time. His role is one that can be performed swiftly without impeding on our schedule."
"Aren't you worried he might have dipped on us?"
"Are you?"
Loki clicked her tongue as she looked away, "He's too smart for that."
"There's your answer."
"But isn't it formal to arrive early?! In fact, who arrives so close to such an important event!"
'And I don't feel like standing in this cold waiting for one of hers... it pisses me off!'
"They also say its fashionable to arrive late." A voice echoed above her
"HUH??"
Gareth and Loki raised their heads, one opening his eyes slightly, the other gawking her eyes out at the sight.
Above them, the gray-armored knight stood with his arms crossed, slowly descending from above as her cape swayed in the wind.
Snow twinkled around him, shinning and reflecting light around him...
"Stand ready for my arrival…"
"Can I borrow a bow real quick?" Loki said as she gnashed her teeth, her forehead so tense Silver could see multiple veins sticking out of her skin
"It's nice to be young…" The old Dwarf added as he patted some of the snow off his beard
"Gareth! He's acting cool in my home! Only I'm allowed to do that!"
Her face grew redder, "And he's that woman's child!"
"Is that so?"
'When did you ever act cool, though? Is this considered acting cool?... I don't understand...'
As Gareth pondered over her words and Silver descended, Loki stood below him, trying to pull him down, "Stop styling at my airspace! Get out! Get through the front door instead!"
Silver landed, and immediately reached out to Gareth, "Good morning."
"Don't ignore me!"
…
/After calming Loki down…/
Gareth and Silver greeted each other as Loki glared at him in displeasure. Following that, he led Silver inside as everyone ran around them.
"… The place's even busier than the last time I was here."
Gareth replied as he caressed his long beard, "Is it? I don't notice the changes anymore. After so long, this has become far too commonplace for me."
"What is everyone even doing? I thought everything had already long been accounted for days ago."
"And it was, it's just that Finn is quite the perfectionist. Everything must be accounted for three times over. There are no excessive supplies, only contingencies for secondary plans that rarely ever come to pass."
"I like to say we always pack enough supplies for three or more Expeditions at once… each with their own circumstances."
"Of course, Finn is troubled with these excessive numbers just as much as everyone else is making them possible, but its not like anyone can complain, we haven't had a fatality in years."
"Everyone is growing, we have a dozen Rank Ups every quarter of a year. For such peace to be sustained, I don't think anyone bothers putting in the extra work."
/SLAM!/
As they walked, someone fell on the ground beside them, dropping a box full of fruits…
"I'm okay!" The person exclaimed as they scratched their head
"Most… at least. The newcomers have it the hardest, they complain and cry quite a bit for the first few months, but after a year passes, few leave. That's how things go here in the Loki Familia."
Gareth looked at the side with Silver, in no time, Loki was beside the fallen man, throwing some half-funny joke as she helped the guy up.
He seemed to smile a little under his beard, "She may not look like it, but she puts quite a lot of effort into making that happen… in her own ways, of course."
Silver smiled as well under his helmet, "It's like being told a pig can fly…"
"I HEARD THAT!" Loki screamed from the side as the others laughed
"Haha… she does give that impression to people. But don't let her antics dissuade you, she's a good deity… most of the time. Just don't get on her bad side... she'll make sure to cement that on your head if you do."
"I can understand the feeling..."
'Managing a Familia must be a pain in the ass. When I expand mine, the first thing I should look for are people who can manage it all… I don't mind putting in the work, but the paperwork is not for me.'
'Paperwork already took too much of my damn time.'
As they walked deeper into the manor, Silver continued, "When are we leaving then?"
"Soon. With the blizzard growing stronger, Finn thought it best if we accelerated things a little."
"We usually do a little parade across the city, as the Guild suggests we do… but with the weather being the way it is, it wouldn't be good if half of our forces got sick on the way to the Dungeon." He added with a chuckle as he pushed the doors open to the warehouse
"Speaking of those… I never asked how you guys do it. The expedition, I mean."
Gareth exhaled as he turned to Silver, "Aye… the specifics aren't for me, my work has always been the same, but I can explain the logic behind it all…"
"It's a team effort." He said as he looked at the people running around the nearly empty warehouse, "We're divided into two main groups, being the first and second strings."
"The first string is where most of our First Class members operate. They're in charge of spearheading the Dungeon and eventually diving for harder to reach areas. They'll be the ones to map and unveil new areas of the Dungeon..."
Gareth greeted a few people as they walked down the hall, continuing where he left off:
"The second string supports the first string. While the rest of the Familia is unsuitable to dive beyond the Lower Floors if even reaching it, someone must cover for the first string and provide support when needed."
"You could say they're the ones who'll eventually create the camps and act as a base of operations in areas where the brunt of the Familia cannot go."
"Most of the Familia can dive to the second safety area on the Lower Floors, that's where the first division occurs. After a base of operations is built there, the first and second strings split up with additional supporters and continued their dive while the rest remains within the confines of the safe zone."
"After that, the group marches to the 39th Floor and sets up base there. We've slowly been exploring and uncovering the following floors… but right now, our goal is another."
"In this expedition, our goal is to reach the 50th Floor where the last known safety region is located. Once we can claim that region, we can begin exploring the further floors without issue."
Silver nodded, impressed, "I know a lot of details are missing, but it's an impressing system."
"And Finn likes to say there's much to improve still." Gareth added with a light laugh, "He's satisfied with how things are right now, but Finn never stopped at that."
"That said… can't you guys easily reach that far?" Silver asked as he tilted his head
"We can, and we have. What we want, however, is to have a party able to reach that far with supplies to set up camp and other amenities… Finn wants to thoroughly conquer the path there, not just to reach it. Something I agree with."
"If we charge without stop, we'll either grow too distant from the rest of the Familia... or we'll end up falling to the Dungeon."
"No matter how strong you are, there will always be a floor in the Dungeon where you're no better to the monsters then an ordinary person is to a Goblin in the Upper Floors. That's the real horror of the Dungeon."
"When you dive too far down without restraint, only to figure out you're a low level adventurer amidst a swarm of dragons."
"I see…"
/Step…/
Loki approached them from behind, "Having an elite team capable of doing everything is what many Familias have, but the Loki Familia isn't like that. Our way of doing things might be slow, but we value the collective effort!"
"Not that we don't need you guys!" She said with a smile as she tapped Gareth's shoulders, "Keep fattening up so I can show off!"
Gareth sighed, "Can you phrase it any better?..."
She then pointed forward, "So don't get in our way, "Mr My magic is a cheat!" Okay?"
"I won't, the better you all do, the better I'm paid after all." He replied with a chuckle
"After everything, can't you think of something better than money?"
He went into deep thought before raising his hand in enlightenment, "… The girls are really pretty."
"Okay!! That's stepping over the line!"
Loki fumed as she put a fist against Silver's stomach, "There's only enough space for one predator here!"
"These girls are all min…"
/BONK!/
"GUAH!!"
Stepping from behind her was a tall elven woman with an ornate staff in hand…
(Image)
As she bonked Loki's head with her staff, Riveria turned to Gareth, "Finn told me to call you, we're all finished."
She then turned to Silver, "We meet again."
"Good morning, princess... Nice cape."
Riveria sighed, rolling her eyes, "Don't you go acting like her too… there's no need for such Formalities here, ma'am is fine during work."
She then raised an eyebrow at his words, "And it's not a cape, its a robe!"
"Yes, Ma'am!" He added with a salute as she sighed in frustration
She didn't know what was worse, the heavy, oftentimes senseless devotion of others... or one that faked it for amusement.
Loki crouched on the ground in pain as she held her head, "Ugh… Riveria… I'm going to have a concussion one of these days… its ringing... the echoes of my thoughts..."
"Then you should stop pestering others like that. Now, it's about time we departed."
"Don't you feel bad for me?! Oi!"
Gareth nodded as he ignored Loki, "I'll sort things out here and gather with the others."
He turned to Silver, tapping his armor, "Help me out for a bit, boy."
Silver looked between Loki and Gareth, "Sure thing… and here." Silver said as he turned to Loki
"Huh?"
Silver handed her a large ice cube, "For your head."
The veins on her forehead grew more visible... "#!! Are you mocking me?!"
"Not at all, miss… I'm making fun of you."
"Isn't that the same thing?!"
His hands danced in the air, forming another ice cube, "Here's one more… cool off a little while you're at it."
"I don't need more ice!! And where are you taking them from?!"
"I have a lot of them, I can make them dino shaped if you want..." He added as he turned the cube into a T-Rex, "Do you want a cold beer?"
"NO!!…" Then she realized it, "Wait… I misspoke. Yes!" She replied as her expression grew serene
"She doesn't want anything." Riveria said as she grasped Loki's shirt, pulling her along
"ARRRG! Riveria! My cold beeeeer…"
""…""
"Shall we get to work?"
"Just tell me what to do."
Silver and Gareth went to help the others clean the place up.
Silver only turned around once to look outside the warehouse, but with everyone busy, he did not linger.
He'd have the time to catch up once they were down there.
…
"... SET OFF!"
/CHEERS!/
Under the proclamation of the deity of trickery, the Loki Familia's expedition… began!
…
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Notes
This is the start of the next arc. I'm unsure how many chapters I'll make this one, but I plan to put the focus on the interactions.
Be it him fighting or doing something else, I wanted to add other characters reacting to him, so its not like we'll only have dialog, we could have chapters all about others looking at him as we have a fight for example.
I have several things laid out, all that's left is putting them together.
Peace!