"Mm! This place is always so pretty!" exclaimed Alise. The place she took us was a clearing between trees. Offering a splendid view of the crystal that shone in place of the sun. Hm… it seems familiar.
"A forest of crystals bathed in light. We stumbled upon this one time while we were exploring the eighteenth floor…" Ryuu muttered to herself.
"Now," said Alise. "Lion, Kaguya! Take a deep breath! That'll calm the two of you down!" She stretched out her arms and, almost proudly, took several deep breaths. As she did, her face immediately mellowed.
"There's nothing wrong with pragmatism," she said, "and there's nothing wrong with being ambitious, either. Now that we've settled that, do you think the two of you can relax a little?"
"".….…. ""
They both looked at each other. Though the intensity of their glare was no longer visible as it was before.
"…I suppose, for the sake of our captain and this beautiful place, I can forgive you."
"What's that supposed to mean?" said Ryu, pouting. But already their quarrel was behind them. The other girls grinned as they watched the two of them make up, while Lyra gave a tired shrug.
"Nicest place in the whole damn Dungeon by far," said Lyra, sitting on a tree branch and clasping her hands behind her head.
"Why did we not camp here then when we came here before?" I spoke about my doubt. As I glance at the place. It truly was beautiful.
"Because there is a higher chance of a monster hiding here than at the other place. If only the monsters didn't come here, I'd build a house." Lyra explained.
"Oh, that's a good idea!" Noin chimed in. The human girl said. And she was answered by another human girl, Ryana, whose hair was tied up in twin braids. She was one of the older girls in the group and a mage.
That would be nice, this place is paradise…If I die, make sure to bury me here, okay?"
"Wha—?" Ryuu didn't know how to respond to the girl's unusual suggestion. It was clear Ryana wasn't planning to go any time soon, but her words didn't sound like a joke, either.
Ah, now I remember, this is the same place Ryuu built their grave.
"Oh, so a grave instead of a house," Lyra responded, a morbid smile on her lips. "Not bad, not bad. Who cares about monsters when you're dead? Count me in."
"Me too!" came the quiet voice of Maryu, another of the older girls. Then came Iska, the Amazon, and Celty, the elf. "Make it a cool-lookin' grave, okay?"
"I have no complaints if it means we can stay together…"
"Lyra! Noin! Lyana! Maryu! What's gotten into you all?" Ryuu could barely keep up with the madness. Well, I, as well as they were talking about death so casually that it was making me mad.
"Don't get so upset, Lion, we're just jokin' around. Well, half jokin'." It was Lyra. She hopped down from her tree branch and shrugged.
"Besides, we're adventurers," said Lyana, wearing a deprecatory smile. "It could happen to any one of us."
"That…that's true, but…"
"Don't talk nonsense. You girls are way too young to be talking about death. None of you are dying anytime soon," my voice came out stronger than I thought.
"So you're not prepared to die like the rest of us, greenhorn?" came Kaguya's condemning remark.
"No, I am not. I want to live." I continued. "I want to live with the people I care about. So don't you ever dare talk about dying in front of me."
"We're only saying what-if, Arin, Lion," said Neze. "It may not be the Dungeon or the Evils that get us, but we all gotta go someday."
"Yep!" agreed Iska. "We're just saying where we'd like to be buried when it happens. You don't have to worry."
"…It's not right…" Ryuu said in a quiet voice. "I don't want that," she said, her voice weak. Then, in a stronger tone, she declared, "And I will do everything in my power to prevent it—to protect what we have now."
"Don't worry, Ryuu. They are just a bunch of pessimistic women. Nothing will happen to any of them. You have my promise." I won't let that happen. I didn't come to this world just to watch them die.
All the girls' eyes were on us.
Alise gave a big smile. "Is that your wish, Arin, Lion?"
"Yes. You're my only friends. Is it strange to want to be with you all forever?" Alise beamed. But before she could answer her, the other girls all began tittering, especially the pink-haired prum.
"…Lyra? What's so funny?"
"Oh, nothin'. I wasn't thinkin' about how sappy this elf and this High Human was soundin', that's for sure."
"I'm quite certain there is no other elf in this world as stubborn and troublesome as you," said Kaguya. "Is there no cure for that thickheadedness of yours?"
"What's that supposed to mean, Kaguya?! Are you mocking me? You're mocking me for caring about my friends?!" Without realizing the warmth in Kaguya's words, Ryuu flew into another rage.
It was then that the other girls reached their breaking point and erupted in laughter.
"They were being nice!" said Alise. "Your sense of justice is beautiful, Lion. Hold on to that."
"Well, it sure didn't sound like it…" Muttered Ryuu, unusually sullen. Letting out another laugh at her reaction, Allise smiled like she was gazing at the most brilliant stars.
"Oh, Lion," she said quietly. "Promise me you'll stay like that forever…"
"Hmm? Alise?" Hearing her oddly subdued words, Ryuu turned to Alise, but she was already her usual sunny self again, smiling like a scarlet flower.
"It's nothing," she said. "Break time's over, everyone! Let's head back to the surface through the Dungeon and make the next day even brighter than this one!"
.
.
.
.
.
After our return from the dungeon, I was making my way towards the library through the Twilight Mansion hallway. Approaching the library, I opened the gate and entered, only to see the usual sight of Riveria sitting on her usual chair near the huge window.
That's something I have noticed for some time, but Riveria really seems to like looking out the window towards the city and the world afar.
And as she noticed me entering, I could see her eyes observing me to look for any injuries that I might be hiding. She is such a worrywart.
"Are you okay, Arin? I heard from Finn that you have gone to the dungeon after the reports about Evilius being there came to us." I walked close, sitting in my usual seat.
"Yeah. I fine. The battle did not last long, and there were Astraea familia members, and Even Asfi was present. So it was not that risky." I explained, trying to put her worries to rest. As I have come to know that beneath that regal face resides a girl who is afraid of people close to her getting hurt. I do not know where those feelings come from. But I also do not wish to worry her for no reason.
"That's good. But we never know what those Evilius have in store for us." That is true.
"Anyway, should we start with the magic training? I feel like I might be able to conjure a magic today." I managed to change the subject from that gloomy direction.
"Oh? And why is that?" Riveria asked with an eyebrow raised.
"Just a gut feeling," I said with a smirk, and she just sighed, hearing that. Hehehe, seeing different looks on her normally regal face is always fun.
"What are you giggling for?" Riveria asked, her voice sharp, if it were me, before I would have strengthened up. But now?
"Nothing ~" I said as such. I could see her eyes narrowing.
"Don't you think you are getting a little too casual with me?" Although she said that, I could see she was not upset.
Thanks to Ais, I came to know that Riveria has at least started to develop those feelings for me that I hold for her. I think there is also some progress with the other girls, too.
"And are you not glad that I am like this?" she bit her lips, trying to control the blush creeping up on her face.
"An-Anyway, let's start, go ahead, show me," Riveria said, changing the subject.
I did not push it. Instead got ready, closing my eyes and starting to channel my mind.
It seems my magic system works differently from everyone else. That information was the information I got when I leveled up before. I suspect that every time I level or cross a threshold of power, I will get more information.
Closing my thoughts there, I started focusing on conjuring a spell. When I think of magic in this world, Bell firebolt comes to mind immediately, but I want something stronger, hotter,...cooler.
As I sink deep into my own mind, a spell name automatically comes to my mind.
"Agni O," I spoke the spell name as blue flames manifested and swirled around me. Illuminated the library in a strange blue-ish tone.
"... Beautiful," Riveria said, mesmerized by the beautiful flames. I willed them to take the form of a staff similar to Riveria's, and the flame changed into the shape of a staff. It was not exactly the same, as Riveria's staff have intricate cravings on it.
"You can change its shape as well?" Riveria said in an amazed voice, and I gathered all the flames on my palm.
"Hm… Magic is so strange, it is hot, as I can feel the warmth come from it, but I don't feel that it is hot enough for me to burn it." I voiced my doubt.
"Of course, if you get affected by your own magic, then there is no point in calling it magic," Riveria stated, still observing the flames.
"How do you feel? Is it draining your mind too much?"
"Hm… I think it depends on how strong I want the flames to be."
"Interesting. So how strong do you think you can make this flame?"
"I don't know," I answered honestly since I really did not know.
"Okay then, tell me, when you cast the spell, did any chant come to mind? Most magic requires incantations of varying length."
I shook my head. "Just the spell name itself - 'Agni O.' Nothing else felt necessary."
Riveria's eyebrows rose slightly. "Concurrent casting without a chant... that's advanced magic theory. Most mages require years of practice to achieve chantless casting, and even then, only with their most familiar spells. And their effects are also weaker."
"Maybe it's related to what I mentioned before - about my magic system being different?"
"Perhaps." She leaned forward, resting her chin on her interlaced fingers. "By the way," Riveria's voice became softer as she talked. "You seemed... different today when you returned from the Dungeon. More thoughtful than usual."
I considered her observation. She wasn't wrong - the conversation with the Ryuu and others about death and graves had left me contemplative. "I suppose I was thinking about the future. About what we're all fighting for."
"And what conclusions did you reach?"
"That I want to protect what's precious to me," I said, meeting her gaze directly. "The people I care about. This life we've built together and will build together."
Riveria was quiet for a long moment, her eyes searching my face as if trying to read something written there. Finally, she spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "Sometimes I wonder if you truly understand what you're saying when you speak of protecting others."
"What do you mean?"
"Protection requires sacrifice, Arin. Often more than we're prepared to give." Her gaze drifted toward the window, where the evening light was beginning to fade. "I've seen too many promising adventurers lose themselves in pursuit of that goal."
"And yet you still chose to be here, training me, helping all of us grow stronger."
A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "Perhaps I'm a hypocrite."
"Or perhaps you understand better than anyone that some things are worth the risk."
Riveria turned back to me, and for a moment, the usual little distance we still have between us seemed to evaporate entirely. "You have a way of turning conversations back on me, don't you?"
"Only when I think you're being too hard on yourself."
"And you think you know me well enough to make that judgment?" There was a challenge in her voice, but also something warmer.
"I think I know you well enough to see that beneath all that cold, regal composure, you care just as deeply as the rest. Maybe more."
The blush that crept across her cheeks was subtle but unmistakable. She turned her face slightly away, but didn't break eye contact completely. "You're far too presumptuous for your own good."
"Am I wrong, though?"
"That's..." she started, then stopped, seeming to wrestle with her words. "That's not the point."
"Isn't it?"
Riveria fell silent, her fingers tracing absent patterns on the arm of her chair. The library around us felt impossibly quiet, as if the very books were holding their breath.
"By the way, since Finn and the other returned from the expedition yesterday. Loki is really pushing the celebration that we put on hold since the raid." Riveria completely changed the subject. I also decided to go along with her.
"When is she not pushing for an excuse to drink?" I said with a fed-up look.
And Riveria could only give me a bitter smile.