POV EROS
I don't remember what happened from the last few hours, but I knew I was safe. How could I tell?
My head was laying on something, I don't know what, but I don't intend to find out. Yet, it didn't last long.
"Had a good nap, sleeping beauty?" I opened one of my eyes and glanced at the source of the voice.
"I'm assuming I went blank?" Bai Yi had a small noodle cup in her hand, and was slurping some noodles.
"Yup, scared the fox girl so much, she looked like she was about to pass out." She tossed the cup of noodles to the side, and soon left.
Now leaving me with the person who was cradling my head. Looking up, I saw that it was Belle, who was looking at me with concern.
"Hey, feeling any better?" She asked, with her hands on the side of my head. I could feel her fingers running through my hair, combing it.
"Yes, but I'll need some time to get back on my feet." I chuckled, trying to lighten the strained atmosphere. But she didn't smile, she kept looking at me concern.
"I've never seen you act like this, I've seen you smile, laugh, heck I've seen you cry silently to a good movie, but that..." She bit her lip, not knowing what to say.
"I was something else." Belle didn't say anything at first, but she nodded her head, causing a few strands to move forward.
I only smiled and raised my hand, brushing her hair behind her ear, while also accidentally brushing her face.
"It's fine, I chose to learn." I reassured her. "I didn't want to become a liability for them."
As I gave her a sad smile, I saw her widen her eyes. She then turned away and I saw a red hue slowly form in her face.
"That's… that's good to hear." She whispered, and a smile began to form on her face. But it soon turned stiff as she saw something.
I then turned to look at where she was staring at, and saw Summer, wearing a bright grin on her face.
"Oh don't mind me, do continue with your slice of life slash romance." She giggled and walked away, but not before peaking behind the corner.
Before I could say anything, the lap my head was on soon slipped away. And I saw Belle chase after Summer.
"I swear I'm gonna toss all your sweets out to the streets!" She yelled, while I heard laughter from Summer.
"You can try, but you'll never find them!" Both their voices soon faded away, leaving me alone.
It was peaceful.
Too peaceful.
"May I come in?" A new voice spoke up, and I saw that it was the woman I fought. Behind her, were three other people.
But I soon looked closer at the woman, noticing how her ears are slightly slumped forward, even her companions didn't notice.
"I'll admit, I didn't expect you to visit me, though judging on how your ears are slumped, I'm guessing you are here to apologize?"
Hearing my question, the woman soon turned stiff, and her ears were now standing up straight. The companions then looked between me, and her, surprised on how I correctly deduced her thoughts.
"Nagi, how did he know, how did he know what the boss was thinking?" The blue skin child asked, while clinging to the pink haired ladies sleeve.
"Soukaku, let the chief Miyabi speak." Said the woman with a whisper.
"Your assumption on why I am here is correct, though I am now curious on how you were able to come to such a conclusion." She said with the same neutral face as Anby, and Ellen.
"Body language, and those ears of yours exposed you." This time, her companions began to look between me, and Miyabi's ears.
"Woahh, that's so cool, no one could ever know what the boss is thinking, not even Nagi." Hearing Soukaku say that, I couldn't help but chuckle and take pride.
That's when I noticed Nagi, at least that's what Soukaku calls her, looked at me with a hint of respect.
"Anyways, I'm guessing Summer told you who I am, I'm Eros Voss, Chief of the MBCC." I held out my hand to Miyabi.
"Hoshimi Miyabi, chief of section six." She took my hand gave it a firm shake. She then placed her arms to her side, and legs close together, bowing her upper body in front of me.
"I wish to apologize about my behavior, it was very unfortunate that I met you though a misunderstanding." Her companions, minus Soukaku, looked surprised
I on the other hand shook my head, knowing why she acted like that. "It's fine, you didn't know at the time, and only focused on the mania that lingered around me."
"Still, I attacked you, there must be some way for me to atone for my actions." This caused all of us, except Soukaku, to panic.
"C-Chief Miyabi, you don't have to go that far!" Nagi waved her hands in the air, while the archer approached me.
"How about we do you favor, and we can call it even." He said and tried to wrap his arm around my shoulder.
"Harumasa, Yanagi, stand down." Was all Miyabi said, and the two of them stood behind her.
"This sin is mine alone, so I shall be the one to atone." I sighed at the situation, and didn't know what to do.
On one hand, I could ask them for help on fixing the base. On the other hand, I could ask for resources for food, medical supplies, even clothing.
But that would be a problem. I didn't want them to think I was desperate, nor do I want them to think badly of me.
So, I decided to do one thing. "Can I have some time to think?" I asked and soon shifted my body, where I could sit up.
"Of course, may I borrow your phone?" Miyabi held out her hand, yet, I didn't have it on me.
"I'm afraid I can't do that, is it alright if you give me your contact information?" I asked with a smile.
Miyabi raised her head and stared at me in silence, her red eyes staring at me with no emotion.
"That is fine." She then made her way to Yanagi, which is her actual name, and held out her hand.
"O-oh, right away!" As the two of them were busy, I noticed the child was sitting next to me, staring at me as if I was something interesting.
"Hello there, why do you work for section six?" I asked, curios to see what Soukaku will say.
"Oh, that's easy! It's because Nagi can't find find anyone who can take care of me, so she has me join her on these cool adventures!" She said with a bright smile, a smile that was similar to many children sinners that I was forced to detain.
'I'm really jealous of this world.' The more I hear her stories, the more I feel envious.
The children could be saved, they have the resources to locate them, and bring them to safety.
While the children in my world are forced to carry a disease, forced to lose their sanity, and become a monster in the eyes of many.
"And then Nagi was able to stun the big bad ethereal, giving me the chance to run with my big hammer, and slam hard against it." She said, all the while keeping her bright smile on her face.
Seeing her smile, I couldn't help but unconsciously place my hand on her head. Which caused her to stop and stare at me with wide eyes.
"You're really brave to face all those ethereal's. You'll inspire a lot of kids to protect the people of New Eridu." I praised her, like a father praising his child.
Soukaku then giggled, wrapping her arms around me, and nuzzling her head against my chest.
While her tail wrapped itself around my arm, squeezing it tight. Yet, I didn't feel bothered by it.
"You really think so?" I nodded my head, and patted her head.
"I know so." Soukaku then gave me one last hug, and soon ran back to Yanagi's side, who now looked at me with a new form of respect.
Miyabi soon approached me again, with a small piece of paper in her hand. "This is my contact information, when you have made your decision, let me know."
"Thank you." I took the piece of paper from her hand, but the second I touched it. I felt a huge weight suddenly land on my shoulders.
It felt as if something was holding me in place, yet, they weren't really above me. Infact, I felt someone, or something, watching me.
My eyes soon followed the source, what I saw was something that shouldn't be possible.
The source of the stare, was coming from her sword. Something was inside the sheath. Something that was alive and sentient.
Our hands soon pulled back, and both our gazes were staring at the sword. After a few minutes of silence, we stared at one another.
Her hand was already on the handle of the blade, preparing herself for another fight. I however stood up, already feeling my body move normally.
"You carry a heavy burden as well." I said, my voice coming out in a low whisper. Which was enough for her to hear.
Her ears lowered slightly once again, and her hands returned to her side. "Do not take long for your request, we shall meet again."
As she left, Yanagi, Harumasa, and Soukaku said their goodbye's, leaving me alone to recover.
I stared at the piece of paper in my hand, thinking on what I could ask. Yet, no matter what I thought, it felt as if I was trying to take advantage of her.
I didn't have time to think when I heard someone called out to me. Looking up, I saw that it was Belle, who had a smile on her face.
"Whatcha got their, Eros?" She asked, skipping towards me and soon sitting next to me.
"Just this." I showed her the number, and she soon stood up with shock on her face, staring at me, and the paper repeatedly.
"Y-y-y-you got the number for THE Hoshimi Miyabi?!" She screamed, and I looked at her with confusion.
"Yes, though now I'm curious as to why you're screaming." I said, rubbing my ear from the pain.
"That's because Miyabi is a void hunter, a title that's given to hollow raiders with immense strength, and Miyabi is the youngest one!" She gripped my shoulders and began to shake me back and fourth.
So, I have the number of a void hunter. A person that has immense strength. Feel's like a Monday for me.
In fact, all I see is political problems heading in my direction. Once Belle stopped shaking me, I slipped the piece of paper in my pant's and looked around the room to look for my coat.
Once finding it, both me and Belle made our way to the outpost, where we both saw most of the sinners standing inside what looked like a large operation tent.
"Welcome back sleeping beauty. Had a nice nap with your Prince Charming?" Bai Yi teased me, I however wasn't fazed.
"It was a good nap, I'd do it again if I had the chance." I said with no hesitation, and didn't see Belle blush and smile.
One hand was twirling her hair, while the other hand gripped the edge of her jacket. "O-oh, if you want…" Her voice softened to the point I couldn't here her.
I was about to ask her what she said, but my attention shifted to Summer calling me. "Chief, you're gonna want to see this!"
The two of us soon arrived in front of Summer, and next to her, where three people, two were woman, and one man.
"So, you're the chief Summer's been rambling about, I have to admit. I'm impressed." Said the first one, who pulled out a hand held device.
A scanner more specifically, and began to wave it across my body. Muttering to herself as she soon began to tap onto a tablet.
I soon pulled back as soon as I saw a robotic arm trying to reach for me. "Excuse me, but who are you?"
The woman then pulled back and adjusted her glasses. "Ah, pardon me. I tend to focus more on my research than human interaction, please, call me Ray."
Ray herself was what I can assume, is a researcher. Because she was now talking to Summer, comparing information and Data.
"I apologize on her behalf, she works for the Whitestone industry, and is… passionate about her work." The man then extended his hand, and I took it.
"Call me Roland, and welcome to the Scott outpost. I wish we had met under different circumstances, but the situation at hand requires our attention." He then extending his arm towards the exit, leading me outside.
"As you may know this is the very first hollow that appeared, hollow zero. Destroying Old Eridu, and has caused multiple casualties." Roland explained, staring at the hollow with a clam look.
"The hollow in front of us is like a camera." He explained and soon faced me. "It records any ethereals that form within a random hollow, copying it and soon forming it within itself."
"So that means any elite ethereal's we encounter, will be found in the hollow zero?" Roland nodded at my question and soon motioned at a monitor.
"We've seen a few elite ethereal's in the past, and the most recent one, was the dead end butcher." Roy then made her way to a keyboard, and soon pulled up a photo.
On the screen was a large etheral, its legs bent in reverse like an animal, it had the same stone like skin. However, its upper body was the covered with more stone.
The core must be hidden behind all that stone, making it impossible to strike it. I'll need to ask Nicole on how she was able to defeat it with her team.
"Before you and the sinners arrived, we planned on having volunteers to help us explore, but Roland was against it." Roy pointed at the man, who only scoffed.
"Involving civilians would cause multiple problems, and I do not wish to have to tell their families if they pass." Roy only rolled her eyes.
"Anyways, since the appearance of mania, and finding an expert, we had an idea on what to do." Roy then typed a few more times, and a video was seen.
"This was the last video we took before Summer advised us to hold off on any operations." Looking at the video, I expected to see old buildings, rubble, and ethereals.
Instead, I saw a white wasteland. And above it all, was a black moon, with the edges glowing red.
"The illusory moon." The second I spoke, Roy was in front of me, with her hands in my shoulders.
"Tell me everything." Was all she said before she was pulled back by Bai Yi.
"Okay, don't get your panties soaked, give the chief a chance to explain." She giggled, while Roy herself struggled to get out of her grasp.
"Anyways, the Illusory moon is a different plane of existence." I said and began to recall the first time I was sent there.
"When I first arrived, it was like I was there, not metaphorically, but literally." I could see Roy typing, her fingers furiously typing on the tablet.
"That's when I encountered, them." I stayed silent letting them process the information on what I just said.
"Five people that belonged in the past, way before any of the sinners were born. One was a researcher, studying the first black ring, the second was a naturalist, the third, was a diver, the fourth was an engineer, the fifth was a priestess." My tone changed from calm to anger, as I recalled the sixth person,
"And the sixth, is someone I want to keep locked away for all of eternity."
[Hi hi, ohhh things are really getting dangerous, but I have no worries at all, because the chief is the best, nothing can harm him, even if he already died once! So, to those who know about my universe, get ready!! As for those who are riding along, make your guess.
Who are these beings, what are their names, and what is the black ring? All will be known in due time.
Bye Bye!]