Silence settled over the two adventurers as the sounds of bustling trees, stirred by the wind, echoed around them in gentle harmony. Leaves rustled in layered whispers, creating a steady rhythm that filled the open space. Above that natural chorus, birds sang beautifully, their melodies compensating for the restless murmur of the trees surrounding them. Together, the sounds blended into a peaceful backdrop that should have eased any tension.
Yet the two companions remained locked in silence, standing as though nothing in the world could pull them from that still moment. The air between them felt suspended, heavy with unspoken thoughts neither seemed ready to voice. Even with nature performing its calming symphony, their quiet stance refused to break.
Aurelius, in particular, held an expression that clearly communicated a single thought. His face alone spoke volumes, narrowed eyes and tightened lips forming a reaction that could be summarized in one word—and one word only.
"Bruh."
It was the word that should have left his mouth. Sadly, it never did. Instead, his face delivered the message in its place, conveying the sentiment perfectly without a single sound.
Zephyra turned her gaze toward the towering man, her face tightening into a frown. One eyebrow twitched ever so slightly, betraying her irritation. "What?" she asked flatly. "Is there something the matter with me being a guy in my past life?"
Aurelius reacted immediately, shaking both hands rapidly in front of him. Panic flashed across his features as he rushed to clarify, not wanting his stunned reaction to be mistaken for disgust. "No, no, no!" he insisted. "There's no problem at all! In fact, there wouldn't be a problem in the slightest even if it were the other way around!"
Zephyra studied him closely, suspicion written plainly across her face. Her frown deepened as she stared at the Hestian, her gaze sharp enough to feel as though it might bore straight through him. She held that scrutiny for a long moment, weighing his words and expression in silence.
Eventually, she let the tension slip away, releasing an exhausted yet relieved sigh. "Well," she said, her voice softer now, "at least you didn't react disgustingly to who I really am. That's a good start."
She turned her attention back to the landscape, her features relaxing. A calm expression settled over her, the weight she had carried easing now that her truth was shared with someone who understood. The scenery stretched before her, and for the first time in that moment, it felt lighter.
Aurelius, hearing the peace in her words, allowed himself a sigh of his own. Relief washed through him, grateful that the wrath he had feared never came. With the tension gone, he too shifted his gaze toward the view within this floor of the dungeon, letting the quiet atmosphere finally settle over him.
...
...
...
...
...
"Sooo, are you gay in your past life or-"
*WHACK* *ECHO SFX INCLUDED*
*CA CAW*
*CA CAW*
*CA CAW*
________________________
After spending some time relaxing on the cliff they were perched on, the pair eventually decided it was time to head back to the surface. Without much hesitation, they began moving toward the entrance leading to the floor above.
The seventeenth.
The quiet calm between them contrasted sharply with the visible bump sitting squarely on Aurelius' head, a clear reminder of the mighty empress' earlier retaliation.
As they walked, their conversation drifted back to the topic of reincarnation. The silence between steps gave Aurelius time to organize a question that had been lingering in his thoughts. Curiosity ultimately won.
"Not to pry into your business," he began cautiously, glancing at her, "but… why did you decide to pick a female gender instead?"
Zephyra raised an eyebrow immediately. The sudden and oddly specific question caught her off guard, leaving her momentarily confused about what the Hestian was trying to imply.
"What do you mean by that?" she replied. "Didn't you spin a wheel or something to get your perks?"
Hearing her answer, Aurelius shook his head slowly, his confusion now matching his curiosity.
"What wheel?" he asked. "I got wishes. There wasn't any wheel for me."
Zephyra's eyes widened in complete shock. She stared at him as if he had just revealed a universal injustice.
"Wait, really?!" she exclaimed, astonishment clear in her voice. "I had to spin some stupid wheel to get what I wanted! Even the gender too!"
Aurelius blinked in surprise, his own eyes widening slightly as the information settled in.
"Wait," he said, processing her words, "even your appearance as well?!"
At that moment, Aurelius genuinely began to suspect something about her/his past life as they might be a LGBTQ+ supporter. It was just an an inkling suspicion, but might possibly be a reality for all he knows.
"Not at all!" Zephyra shot back immediately, understanding his implication. "The appearance I have is default like this. I didn't even get to make my avatar…"
Her voice softened, and her expression carried a hint of solemn disappointment, as though the memory itself still annoyed her.
"Oh, thank the goddess," Aurelius sighed in relief. Now confirming that his new friend here is not a prided flag wielder in their past life. "Here I thought you designed it yourself because you loved looking like a milf."
He delivered the statement flatly, completely unaware about how it would land.
A metaphorical tick mark appeared on Zephyra's forehead as the words struck her deep.
"Do you want to get hit on the head again, big man?!" she snapped while facing the Hestian.
Aurelius instantly raised his arms in a frightened defensive guard, instinctively protecting the sore spot atop his head.
"I'm sorry! I won't bring it up again! I swear!"
Zephyra inhaled sharply, then exhaled with equal intensity. She paused, drew in a deeper breath, and released it in one long motion, visibly forcing herself to calm down.
"I think it's a bad idea now telling you this," she muttered. "I can already see the amount of teasing that I would get from you here on out."
Even though her words are quite to hear, Aurelius still indeed heard them. "Don't be like that…" Aurelius replied, his guard almost down..... almost. "I was just joking…"
Another sigh escaped Zephyra, this one heavy with frustration instead.
"Why is my luck this bad, honestly…"
They continued their walk toward the entrance leading to the seventeenth floor. Despite the brief sourness caused by Aurelius' banter, the tension gradually faded. It didn't take long for both of them to recognize that the exchange had been nothing more than playful teasing. Their mood lightened as they moved forward, their steps falling into a comfortable rhythm once more.
Aurelius, reassured by the restored peace between them, released a quiet sigh of his own. Confident that no sudden wrath was coming his way, he allowed himself to relax. However, there was now something else that had made his mind questioning.
'That's weird.' Aurelius thought, thinking back on their conversation that they had. 'Why is it that her methods of obtaining perks that she gained different than mine?'
Aurelius thought deeper into this predicament. The more that he thinks about this, the more it became a dilemma. 'Eh, either possibly a different outer being of some sort or her deeds wasn't good enough to get my treatment. Either way, it's not something important to think about right now.'
'Though, I should keep this detail in mind.'
After his little session of theorising and summarizing, his gaze drifted toward the expansive landscape of the dungeon floor around them, taking in the scenery as they continued onward.
________________________
After a while of steadily ascending through the dungeon, they finally reached the surface. Even though their trip had been meant purely to "warm up their muscles," they had inevitably picked up every dropped magic stone and monster item from the creatures they defeated along the way. After all, who would willingly pass up what was essentially "free" money? To them, it practically was as given how easily they handled the middle and upper floor monsters.
When they returned, the stares they received were noticeably fewer than when they had first descended. Without lingering, the two made their way toward the hall inside the tower. There, they proceeded to exchange their collected magic stones and monster materials for valis. The total they received was substantial. At least, That's what the standards of the Hestian would suggest. For the Freyan, however, that amount only accounted to her weekly groceries. Her familia could generate more than what they conjured combined for today.
Once their transaction was complete, they stepped away from the exchange counter. Behind them, the guild staff quietly whispered and gossiped to their co-workers, unable to resist commenting on what they had just processed. Neither the Freyan nor the Hestian paid any attention to the murmurs, leaving the chatter behind as they walked away.
They exited the tower shortly after, only to find that the day had slipped almost into night time. The sky was painted in an almost dark hues, signaling the approaching night.
"Well," Zephyra said, breaking the comfortable silence, "I guess this is it, huh? It's nice spending time with a fellow friend today."
Her voice carried a deliberate emphasis on the word "friend", and Aurelius caught the implication immediately.
"Yeah," Aurelius replied with a nod. "It was nice talking to you, Zeph."
Zephyra raised an eyebrow, a sly smile forming at his casual nickname. "Seriously, Zeph?"
Aurelius looked mildly confused towards her question. "What? It's easier to call you that," he explained plainly. "If you don't like it, I'll just use your full name."
She shook her head, accepting the new nickname without resistance. "You can call me that. Whatever makes your life easier, I guess."
"In return, though, I get to call you Aure," Zephyra added, proposing the deal with playful seriousness. She extended her fist toward him, inviting a bump.
Aurelius smiled and met her gesture, their fists connecting in a brief, friendly tap.
"Alright then," Zephyra said as she glanced down the stairs ahead. "I better get going. I need to get ready for the banquet tonight."
Aurelius' eyes widened as the reminder hit him. He had completely forgotten about the banquet.
"Oh shit!" he blurted. Now remembering his promise towards his familia. "I need to hurry. I promised my familia we'd finish early so we could head there together!"
Without wasting another second, he rushed down the stairs toward the street below. Just before sprinting off, he turned back toward her.
"Hey, thanks again for today! If you ever need a drinking buddy, just come find me, alright!" He shouts, giving the Freyan a wave of goodbye with a wide, bright goofy smile.
Then he faced forward and dashed off into the horizon.
Watching the titan of a man hurry back toward his familia, Zephyra found herself smiling warmly.
'I guess becoming a girl in my new life isn't so bad after all, huh?'
Fragments of her past life briefly surfaced in her thoughts. She shook her head, forcefully pushing the memories away.
'Why am I worrying about those horrible moments now? This is a new life. I've got everything I've ever wanted here. Not to mention more. Plus, a new goofy friend to add to the list.'
'Yeah… there's nothing left for me to be sad or heartbroken about. I should cherish what I have now instead of dwelling on what a lie that I had before.'
With that decision made, she let the memories settle. Her calm demeanour returned as she began walking home, her thoughts growing lighter with every step. The past faded once more, leaving only the present, as well as the quiet promise of what lay ahead.
________________________
Aurelius, after rushing back home, finally arrived in front of the abandoned church he called home. Without pausing to catch his breath, he immediately stepped inside, unwilling to waste even a second. His pace remained hurried as he made his way through the worn-down interior and toward the basement of the aging building.
As he entered the room, he was greeted by the sight of his Familia members along with Hestia, all of them in the middle of preparing for the banquet. The atmosphere was busy yet familiar. Their attention quickly shifted when they noticed the towering man stepping into view, his sheer size occupying a noticeable portion of the room and naturally drawing their eyes toward him.
"I'm sorry, you guys!" Aurelius said, urgently announcing his return. His voice carried a hint of urgency. "I got caught up on time in the dungeon with a friend."
The three of them exchanged glances almost immediately, a silent conversation passing between their eyes. Each shared the same sentiment upon hearing his explanation, their expressions subtly tightening with curiosity and suspicion.
"Who's this friend of yours, Aurelius?" Hestia asked, her tone light but probing as she looked up at her Familia child. "Is this someone I need to be worrying about?"
Aurelius continued walking toward the closet without much concern. He reached inside and unhooked his tuxedo, carefully sliding the hanger free. "There's no need to worry," he replied calmly. "She's a good person."
Hestia's eyes narrowed into a frown. The single word she immediately raised red flags in her mind. Her posture stiffened slightly as suspicion crept into her expression. "She, huh?"
Lili turned toward her captain with a similar frown, her gaze sharpening as she silently aligned with Hestia's thoughts. The shared scepticism between goddess and the familia child was unmistakable.
Bell, on the other hand, tilted his head slightly to the side. He looked between them, puzzled by the sudden tension directed at Aurelius. Though confused, he chose not to say anything, not wanting to draw their attention to himself or interrupt the moment.
"What?" Aurelius said, glancing back at Hestia and Lili with confusion and mild annoyance. "It's just a friend. I'm not dating her or anything. You thought I was some scummy playboy or something?"
Hestia and Lili maintained their frowns, their suspicion not fading so easily. They looked at him as if weighing every word he said.
"Right…" they replied in unison, their voices thick with scepticism as they addressed their captain.
Aurelius let out a small breath and shook his head. "Jeez, you two. You'll see her at the banquet. I'll introduce her to you guys. Trust me, she's a good person," he said while beginning to change into his attire, his tone firm but reassuring.
Hestia and Lili held their expressions for a moment longer before exchanging another glance. Whatever silent discussion passed between them ended just as quickly as it began. With a shared shrug, they let the matter drop for now, redirecting their attention back to their preparations.
Soon, the room returned to its earlier rhythm. The lingering curiosity faded into the background as all of them focused on getting ready for the banquet that awaited them that night.
________________________
Now, the scene shifted to the streets, with them heading toward the fountain in front of the Tower of Babel. They had been informed beforehand, during a time when Aurelius was not around, that any attendees would be picked up at that exact location.
So they made their way toward the pick-up point on foot, dressed in their attire. The group walked together at a leisurely pace and surprisingly relaxed for people heading into what could be considered enemy territory, prior to incident happened two days before. Hestia led the way, naturally taking the front as the patron goddess of her familia.
As they continued walking, Aurelius decided to ask a question regarding the procedure for the pick-up. "So," he said, breaking the calm rhythm of their footsteps, "how exactly would accept us to be picked up? Is there some card or something?"
Hestia, wearing her beautiful blue off-the-shoulder dress, glanced back slightly to give her attention to Aurelius' question.
"Yup. They said there would be carriages with their familia logo and members waiting at the destination," she explained. "For the procedure, just show them the invitation they gave yesterday."
Aurelius nodded, now understanding how attending the banquet would work. With that clarified, the four of them continued walking, taking in the scenery that Orario offered.
The streets were lively, illuminated by lights that brightened the night and cast a warm glow over the city. Voices, footsteps, and distant laughter blended into a steady hum of activity. Eventually, they arrived at their designated location. There, they saw several carriages bearing the Apollo Familia logo, neatly stationed beside one another. Some were already moving away from their positions, likely escorting guests to the banquet.
Hestia, acting as the leader of her group, signaled her familia children to follow her toward one of the available carriages. As they approached their chosen ride, they noticed a man standing nearby, dressed in a white formal outfit with a small emblem on his right shoulder displaying the insignia of his familia.
"Hello there," Hestia greeted him.
The man turned his attention to them as he was addressed. Hestia presented the invitation for confirmation. "This is the letter your familia gave us. An invitation to your banquet."
The man accepted the invitation with practiced elegance, displaying clear professionalism. He read through the letter carefully. While in the midst of reviewing it, a slight frown formed on his face.
Aurelius, Bell, and Lili noticed immediately. As if moving in perfect sync, they became subtly cautious, their posture tightening as they stayed alert to protect their goddess.
Once he finished reading, the man's expression shifted into a cheerful, welcoming smile. "Very well," he said politely. "I may now escort you to the venue of our event."
He opened the carriage door for them.
The three members of Hestia's familia allowed their visible caution to ease, though they remained quietly alert for any sudden trouble.
With the door open, Hestia entered first. Bell followed, then Lili, who took her seat beside their goddess. Lili sat to Hestia's right, Bell to her left. Both Lili and Hestia wore dresses of a similar style, each a beautiful dark ocean blue that complemented the evening atmosphere.
Aurelius entered last. Seeing that the carriage was quite large, he stepped inside without hesitation. He was briefly surprised that he fit comfortably, though the thought only lingered for a moment as he sat on the cushion opposite his comrades and goddess. His size took up most of the remaining space that might otherwise have accommodated four people.
Once they settled into their seats, the Apollo member gently closed the carriage door. He moved to the front, mounted the driver's seat, and commanded the steed. The carriage began its journey toward the banquet.
After some time traveling through the city, they arrived at their destination. The Apollo member stepped down from the driver's seat and opened the door for the Hestia Familia. One by one, they exited the carriage.
Aurelius, after stepping down, took in the sight before him. His gaze settled on the structure ahead—
A mansion.
Apollo's mansion.
'So this is it,' Aurelius thought. 'This is the mansion we're going to get in the near future, huh?' The thought strengthened his resolve, filling him with quiet confidence as he looked toward the entrance.
Hestia, Bell and Lili maintained faint frowns for a moment before exchanging a glance. With a shared understanding, they let the tension pass. Together, the group prepared themselves for the banquet that awaited them that night.
However, All of them, even for Aurelius himself, did not know that an event of catastrophic chaos would soon befall their familia.