"This feels... rather eerie."
"Well, we are in a cavernous network in winter. The cold and the dimness of the area does give off a dreadful vibe." Marion used her lantern to light up the surrounding. "Anyway, this is not as bad as the cave back in Ponterim County where we fought that Khezu."
"I don't want to imagine that, being in a dark cave with that creepy leech." Catherine shivered from the horror story. "Also, why should we hunt this annoying creature? Shouldn't we help out with the preparation against that giant dragon?"
"We are instructed to clear up as many of these creatures before the arrival of Lao-Shan Lung." Alfred recorded the ecosystem of the cave as he gathered several small fauna scurrying around the wall and several flora that grew despite receiving very little sun. "Otherwise, the Viper Tobi-Kadachi might come out due to the arrival of that dragon and caused havoc amongst the civilians whilst the military deal with the bigger problem. It is basically, removing any potential future problems before they occur."
"Alfred, don't stray too far and keep your vigilance. The creature that we are hunting is known for its speed." Scarlet, reprimanded her partner who was a little too focus on jotting down anything he found interesting.
"Hahaha, you are indeed the perfect partner for my younger brother." Alfonse directed his lantern around. "Still, to think this weapon can generate lightning on its own; the Pulsar Hatchet is made from the same beast as that bow, is it not?"
"Ah, yes! From a creature called Tobi-Kadachi!"
"Hahaha, relax. We are all fellow party members here, status has no meaning here."
"Ye, yes! Thank you for the generosity!"
"Hahaha, she is hilarious."
"!" Alfred noticed large a claw mark on the ground and a small blood stain nearby. "Guys, I found something. It seems that creature was here and dragged a large prey that was perhaps, paralysed or poisoned before being taken by that beast. The blood stain here does not look old."
"That means, we are close. The Viper Tobi-Kadachi can come out at any given moment. Everyone, be prepared." Marion reached for her sword hilt while moving slowly.
The scenery became foggy as they descended deeper, relying on their lantern, the luminous ores and the bioluminescence algae growing on rocky surfaces. Several red glowing insect could also be seen hovering around the algae, occasionally speeding off to another patch of mold.
A sudden rustle could be heard and footsteps echoed within the chamber. The entire group got ready, with Alfred staying further back while holding on to his blade. The monster sprinted out of the fog with aggression, charging straight towards Marion who happened to stand the closest to it. Without a moment of hesitation, she unsheathed her blade and slashed down, cancelling the charge of the beast. She proceeded to thrust and slash multiple times before jumping back.
"What in the world...?" Marion saw the beast and was confused. "Is that a Common Ground Hog?"
"No, that is a Bullfango. Aria and I encountered a horde of them during our travel from Lapis to the Lutem Viscounty." Catherine approached the carcass of the Bullfango. "Normally, you'd see them in packs. Is this one lost? Where are the rest of its pack mem-!"
An object was hurled towards Catherine's general direction, startling her. Upon seeing the object, she was horrified to see a half-eaten carcass of another Bullfango. With the uneasy feeling still lingering, a silhouette formed beyond the fog, slowly approaching. Its eyes glowed fiery orange as it let out a low pitched hiss with every steps. The bright reddish colouration served as a warning to others.
"I guess we've found our target. It looks exactly like the Tobi-Kadachi that I've fought, except for its colour."
The Viper Tobi-Kadachi lunged out of the fog while baring its fangs, trying to bite Catherine. The latter, however, was ready dodged sideways while taking out her arrow and slashed at the former's jaw before nocking her arrow and shoot. The crackling of lightning roared as the arrow hit the monster's right foreleg.
Marion stepped in and attacked with various slashes while Scarlet vaulted into the air and delivered several mid-air slashes. Alfonse ran around the beast and attacked its large tail with the Pulsar Hatchets that Aria lent.
The beast raised its tail and wiggled, loosening its tail barbs and spun around, shooting out its poisonous barbs all over the arena. Scarlet, who was airborne, escaped unscathed while Marion and Alfonse, who were within range, got themselves struck with its poison.
"Argh! This, feels rather unpleasant... so this is what it is like to be poisoned." Alfonse got back on his feet and rolled away to avoid the beast's claw swipe.
"Brother! Miss Marion!" Alfred threw a vial towards Marion and Alfonse, shattering on the ground nearby and releasing a green vapour that slowly healed the poisoned individuals.
"Take the antidote! Both me and Catherine will distract it for a while!"
Marion and Alfonse popped of a vial of antidote each and drank the entire content. As the bitter medicine coursed through their body, the poison was neutralised. Both fighters re-entered the scuffle with better focus and caution.
***
"From the looks of it, it seems that the report of the missing fishermen is due to a mermaid-like beast. Is that correct, miss Aria?"
"Yes, Lady Rosa. The report stated that some survivors felt sleepy after being exposed to a fog and that multiple witnesses claimed to have seen the silhouette of a large long-haired being with fins on its forearms. Some even stated that they hear some kind of drumming sound, as if playing an instrument before a bright flash blinded them, losing sight of the creature."
"A mermaid monster, huh..." Rosa flicked her hair. "It is perfect for such beautiful mythical creature to be taken down by another beauty such as myself. In fact, all 4 of us are the perfect candidates. Do you not think so as well, your highness Princess Lilium?"
"... I have no opinion on that. All that I care about is the removal of that creature from the Empire's port and ensuring that the people can continue to work for their daily meal."
"Lady Rosa, the appearance of a monster has nothing to do with who has the right to subjugate it." Alfina let out a small sigh. "Besides, that dual blades that Aria made for you in a hurry come from that scary looking Khezu."
"Oh my, young lady, that is indeed a good point, but look at this final result." Rosa took out the Khezu Daggers and proudly displayed them. "This sleek and elegant design that can generate lightning without the need for magic and even paralysing those struck by it. The ugly hide has been polished to give a scaly pattern on the hand guard; a beauty born from the ashes of a repulsive being. The beautiful sheen of the blades glow in brilliance as lightning crackle. Oh, I am in awe of such weapon."
"""..."""
"By the way, miss Aria, are you sure about lending that Pulsar Hatchets of yours to that Alfonse? It would perhaps be more useful in your hand and besides, our target is also weak to lightning."
"Yes, lady Rosa, I think that this arrangement is better since they would probably need more help in dissing out damages to kill that monster quickly; the Viper Tobi-Kadachi has both paralytic venom and hemorrhagic poison that can be a huge nuisance."
"Ours can induce sleepiness though."
"Indeed, but we can shake them awake or even slapping them. There is no need for antidote that can run out."
"Ugh, such an unglamorous way of fighting." Rosa sheathed her blades and continued walking towards the port where fishermen would catch fishes on shallow water. "That being said, to think that there are many more monsters reports coming one after another. Many of the Empire's great knights are dispatched all over the region while most have to build fortification in preparation against that incoming dragon."
"Indeed, even father was dispatched out South in order to track the dragon's movement." Alfina sighed a little. "The world is truly falling into crisis."
"Even if it is, we shall never give up, for the glory of the Empire and the survival of humanity." Lilium turned towards Aria. "We are not abandon by Lord Flare, after all."
"Abandon or not, we should strive to handle the crisis with everything at our disposal. Preserving the beauty of this world is our mission." Rosa spotted a large rocky formation looming over the shallows, akin to a roof with pillars supporting it. "We have arrived. According to miss Aria, this is the spot where that mermaid is most likely to show up."
"Stella's Roof... This place is most likely where the beast would rest and hoard its items. Also the place where many fishermen were reported to go missing." Aria took out her Steel Blade. "We should be cautious."
"Worry not. You gathered us for our magical prowess and affinity against this mermaid. It stands no chance." Rosa confidently uttered while taking out her blades. Alfina readied her glaive made out of Khezu materials as well, known as Bolt Chamber, while Lilium unfolded her Princess Arrow.
As the 4 entered under the shadow to the roof, the fog thicken and their feet went knee deep into the water. The surrounding was quiet as the citizens had been ordered to clear out from the area. The sound of water splashing could be heard from a distance and a figure could be seen swimming swiftly along the shallow. A high-pitched lullaby echoed across the area.
"It is here." Aria kept an eye on the silhouette that approached them from the deep, launching itself out and onto the shallow; it coiled itself and stood on its tail, staring at the 4 intruders and letting out a high-pitched bellow. "Somnacanth, the Soporific Siren."
"Ugh! Why is it ugly!?"
"Is that how you are supposed to react?!" Aria vaulted into the air to avoid the sleep-inducing breath that Somnacanth released and landed a few slashes.
"Ugh! Fine! This ugly mermaid shall be condemned with the Lord's wrath!" Rosa slid in elegantly and delivered several thrusts and slashes onto the monster's head in rapid succession, generating lightning with every hit.
Lilium shot several poisoned arrows, hitting Somnacanth's fins and body. "Despite being such a potent poison, it seems that it will take some more hits for the poison to truly affect this beast."
"I think it is due to the sheer size of this beast compared to a horse." Alfina rushed in and vaulted into the air to avoid Somnacanth's lunge; landing behind, she unleashed several combos of slashes.
The monster unfurled its large purple head fin and coiled up its serpentine body, standing on its tail that was half the length of its entire body. It large blue eyes sent an intense gaze upon the 4 individuals and it twirled its head around, shooting out its quills that were avoided. It dived into a deeper part of the water and grabbed a shell with its forelimbs that had 3 elongated digits on each; it surfaced and swam on its back, cracking the shells on its flat circular belly that sent out sparks with every hit.
"Get away from it!" Aria vaulted away from the approaching monster.
Alfina used her fire magic to propel herself away; the striking blue flame erupted from her feet, launching her several meters away from the approaching beast. She landed beside Lilium, who charged up a dragon piercer shot, trying to aim at the fast moving target.
Rosa, however, was less nimble and Somnacanth got close to her before delivering the final crack that sent out explosion that scattered volatile powder. The force of explosion pushed Rosa away, hurling her along the flooded surface before stopping against a rocky pillar.
"Gahh!" Rosa surfaced her head out of the cold water in anger. "This foul beast! How dare you ruin my beauty!?"
"Lady Rosa, rolled around to remove the explosive powder that latched onto you!" Aria jumped in after the explosion and slashed at the beast. "Otherwise, you will experience another explosion!"
Lilium released her dragon piercer shot and hit the monster's head, breaking its head fin. She continued pelting the monster with more arrow as she slid closer to obtain the optimal distance for her shots.
Rosa rolled around as she noticed several particles stuck on her garment beginning to smolder. She managed to quell the explosive powder on her second roll, cleaning her armour. "Pah! Now I am completely livid!"
Alfina chanted her fire magic while running around the beast, avoiding its gaseous stream and quills that it shot out. "Fire. Bless me with your glory to bathe my enemies in fire. Riviere Infernale!"
"I am going to strike you with divine punishment!" Rosa rushed in from behind and unleashed several powerful slashes onto the monster's tail that supported its entire body. Somnacanth leapt to slam its tail onto Rosa, but the latter slid sideway while chanting. "Lightning! Heed my call and strike those who violate the order! Almighty Bolt!"
Alfina unleashed a powerful jet of blue flame from her right hand that flowed along its straight path towards the beast, who was preoccupied with Rosa. The brilliant flame spun and struck with surgical precision onto the body of the monster. Somnacanth was enveloped in its scorching heat that dried out its scales, peeling off layers of its protective shells like a knife.
Rosa jumped back as she finished her incantation, witnessing the brief, but powerful fire dissipating as the beast dove into the water in pain. At the moment she landed, she called upon a lightning bolt that hammered upon Somnacanth from above, following Rosa's hand movement as she swung down both of her hands in unison with the attack.
Somnacanth was shocked with the powerful lightning that coursed through its body, leaping out of the water and struggling to get its bearing back. Taking the chance, Lilium slid closer and shot out several arrows onto the beast, finally inflicting poison onto it as purplish saliva oozed out of its bio-luminescence mouth. Aria leapt into the fray and slashed upon the ailing monster, unleashing devastating combos that broke its tail, flinching the Somnacanth as it fell for being unable to support its body.
Rosa rushed in and performed several rapid slashes that crackled with electricity. Alfina leapt in and slammed her glaive onto the head of the beast, breaking its crown and head fin.
Somnacanth, having been battered, tried to leave the area and began swimming towards the deeper part of the lake.
"Chase after it!" Rosa commanded as she ran towards the retreating beast, but was hindered by the water that slowed her movements.
Alfina and Aria vaulted over with their glaives and landed a solid hit on each of the monster's forelimbs. Somnacanth writhed in pain as both sisters attacked in unison with several more slashes that broke both of its forelimbs.
Lilium charged her dragon piercer and aimed at the monster trying to break out of the encirclement by both Aria and Alfina. The beast leapt and spun mid-air, trying to slam its wounded tail onto both sisters. However, before it could land, Lilium's arrow was released, striking the beast mid-air and launching it onto a nearby rocky pillar.
Somnacanth began to salivate in exhaustion. Fear encroached within its body as it tried to unleash more sleeping gas for defense, but was unable to. It saw lightning crackling above and noticed Alfina delivering a leaping slash while Rosa thrusted her blades from its left, electrifying the beast. Aria thrusted its glaive as a follow up and continued with reaping slash and double slash. Lilium was charging another dragon piercer in a distance, keeping an eye on the beast as the force continued to build up, needing her to tense up her arm in order to tame the arrow.
The beast crawled and lunge itself forward, away from the trio that were delivering damages. As it landed away into the open, Lilium unleashed her arrow, striking its head in-between its large eyes.
Somnacanth jolted back from the impact, falling on its back and flailing around before it let out its final screech.
"Is it dead?"
"Yes, lady Rosa." Aria walked towards the carcass, examining the specimen,. "We are victorious in this hunt, now the fishermen will no longer work in fear."
"As expected of your highness for delivering the final blow."
"Thank you for the praise, Alfina, but it is the efforts of all of us that felled this beast."
"Indeed." Rosa took out a ball from her pouch and walked towards 1 of the many holes on the ceiling and lighted it on fire before launching the sparking ball onto the sky with a slingshot. The ball reached its zenith and exploded with greenish colouration.
***
"This is annoying!" Scarlet dodged the leaping beast's tail slam. "This monster is really agile!"
"I know, right!" Catherine shot out several arrows that struck the beast mid-air. "Imagine the difficulty me and Aria had when facing against the blue version of this monster!"
"We just need to remain alert at all time! Brother, stay as far away as you can from the monster."
"I will not! I need to assist whenever I have the chance! Do not worry, I am rather fast on my feet!"
"Guh! ...Hel... elp!"' Marion was paralysed from the venom after being struck by the monster's lunge.
Scarlet slid towards Marion and gave her a kick that launched her into the air, jolting back her system and allowing her to regain movements.
The Viper Tobi-Kadachi let out a loud roar and jumped up, opening its membrane to glide across the arena before dropping down; it turned its entire body, swiping its poisonous tail in a wide sweep to take out its foes. Scarlet managed to vault into the air, avoiding the attack before sending her kinsect that pierced the tail, extracting the white essence that boosted her mobility.
Alfonse rushed in and dealt several powerful slashes while Catherine pelted the beast from a distant. The crackling of lightning riddled the monster with pain, increasing its ferociousness.
Viper Tobi-Kadachi rattled its tail before spinning around to shoot out its poisonous barbs around. Alfonse tried to evade, but was hit by one of the barbs, sending him back and retreating to treat himself with an antidote.
Marion came in and thrusted upon the tail of the beast before performing several combos of overhead and rising slashes while positioning herself behind the beast as needed. She gripped her blade tightly and focused her slashes onto a wound, dealing more damage and pain on the monster. She jumped back and perform a fade slash to avoid the monster's tail whip whilst dealing damage at the same time.
Scarlet vaulted in from above and landed a jumping advancing slash onto the head of the monster. At the same time, she sent out her kinsect that extracted a red essence from the head and boosting Scarlet's attack potency.
Marion thrusted her Mammoth Longblade onto a wound and slashed upon them with speed and precision, popping the wound and delivering large amount of damage onto the beast. She proceeded to perform a spirit thrust, spirit helm breaker and spirit release slash as the Viper Tobi-Kadachi readied its tail to swipe upon Marion.
As Marion was performing her attacks, Scarlet also perform her combo of strong descending slash and rising spiral slash, flinching the monster and cancelling its tail swipe attack, allowing Marion to finish her combo.
The beast started to salivate in exhaustion, giving both Marion and Scarlet the ample opening to recharge her spirit gauge and gather the extracts respectively. Using the chance, Catherine charged up her dragon piercer and unleashed the arrow just as the beast roared, striking the monster on its head, breaking its venomous fangs.
"Nice!" Alfonse joined in the fray after healing and curing the poison, thrusting the Pulsar Hatchets onto the forelimbs of the beast. He unleashed several more slashes before the monster jumped away from the arena towards Catherine.
"Yikes!" Catherine rolled away from the approaching beast. "I'm sorry, but don't hold it against me for breaking your annoying fangs!"
Scarlet vaulted and rushed towards the beast with her fire magic to propel herself forward before executing a strong descending thrust on the tail, flinching the beast and landing atop of it. She latched herself on the beast with her dagger whilst attacking with her glaive.
The beast swung its tail around, trying to dislodge Scarlet and slamming it onto the wall. Scarlet moved towards the back of the monster before the attack connected and continued her string of attacks. She finally managed to create a wound and drove her glaive into the wound at the monster's back. Assisted with her fire magic, she twirled around the glaive, driving the weapon deep and dealing massive damage onto the beast.
"An opening!" Marion rushed in and slashed upon the tail, performing the powerful combo of crimson slashes before ending it with the spirit release and helm breaker. As the final cut landed, the Viper Tobi-Kadachi's tail broke, shattering its barbs and poisonous sacs. "That, is for the annoying poison you have dealt onto us!"
"Agree!" Alfonse, similarly performed high speed slashes onto the forelimbs.
As the beast stood back, Catherine released her dragon piercer that she sufficiently charged, damaging the already wounded head of the beast. "Take that you annoying beast!"
The monster roared and leapt out towards the cavernous wall before bouncing off and landing deeper within the cave; it continued running away from the arena until its figure disappeared into the fog.
Marion started to chase after it only to be stopped by Alfonse who grabbed on her shoulder.
"Calm yourself. Take this chance to sharpen your weapons and recover your stamina."
"... You are right. I guess, I was a little impatient."
"Sir Alfonse is almost a year older than you, yet the difference in maturity and logic are... astounding."
"Hey! That is rude!" Marion sharpened her longsword. "Also, I have not forgotten about that kick when I was paralysed."
"I saved you. I kicked you to get you further away from the beast and to snap you out of the paralysis."
"You could have been gentler..." Marion drank a vial of potion and consumed a ration of barley stuffed with fish.
"Has everyone recovered?" Alfonse finished his vial of potion. "We will now be proceeding deeper to chase that beast. Catherine, track it and lead us to it."
"Understood." Catherine began looking for the scratch marks and paw prints left by the Viper Tobi-Kadachi. She led them deeper into the cave where it opened up into a large chamber where various bones could be seen strewn around.
"These are... Popo carcasses." Scarlet muttered in a whisper.
"There!" Catherine pointed upon the beast devouring a carcass at the corner of the chamber.
"Sigh, if it was sleeping, we would be able to perform a surprise attack on it." Marion readied her blade as the beast turned its head towards the intruders.
Viper Tobi-Kadachi roared and pounced with a burst of aggression, swiping its tail in a wide sweep. It followed up with various lunges and body slams that targeted each individuals, of which many connected and sent several of them hurling back, needing some healing.
"Let us take our time and tire it out instead of being aggressive!" Alfonse instructed the entire team after taking in another vial of antidote.
The monster continued its rampage throughout the chamber with the hunters focusing of evasion and defense. An opportunity arose when Marion performed an iai spirit slash upon the lunging beast, flinching it as it lost its vigor and salivated in exhaustion. The rest of the team, following upon Marion's attack, dived straight into the offense towards the beast.
"This guy is truly stubborn!" Scarlet continued wailing her combos after charging up on the extracts. "Too bad you are not weak to fire, otherwise I'll have you incinerated long ago!"
"It is back on its feet!" Alfonse warned before the monster let out a roar that staggered the hunters, needing them to close their ears.
Viper Tobi-Kadachi leapt out of the encirclement, limping away as it tried to escape, but was immediately struck by a flash pod from Alfred before it could jump towards the upper recesses of the cave. Blinded and confused, it struggled to steady itself and was flailing around, giving the 4 hunters the chance to continue their offenses.
Scarlet vaulted and rode upon the beast again. The monster ran amok in desperation as the other 3 pelted it with more damages while trying to shake off Scarlet, who was continuously stabbing its back with her dagger. The monster somersaulted to free itself and slammed its body towards the nearby wall. Scarlet managed to avoid being pinned in between by moving towards its tail before continuing her assault.
"Stay still and die already!" Scarlet returned towards the back of the monster and slashed with her insect glaive whilst retrieving her lodged dagger. With a wound formed, Scarlet stabbed with her glaive and spun around for a powerful drilling attack.
The monster wailed in pain from Scarlet's mounting finisher and lost its strength; falling on the ground with a loud thump, the Viper Tobi-Kadachi had finally been slain.
"Nice, Scarlet!" Alfred was ecstatic as he approached Scarlet and helping her stood back up after her last attack. "Are you hurt anywhere? Do you need a potion?"
"Hey, we are here as well..."
"Ahaha, well... let's give them their space."
"Hmm... I am sadden that you have forgotten about this big brother of yours."
"! Ah, wait, wait, it is not as if I have forgotten about the 3 of you! Here, have some potion as well! Have some well earn rest while I go and launch the signal flare!" Alfred went off to find an opening before launching a signal flare with his slingshot.
"Hahaha, even though he is almost an adult, he is still rather easy to be teased; he never really change since he was a kid and still retain a certain level of awkwardness."
"Hmm... sounds like a certain someone, but that one will lash out instead of just muttering out stuff to defend or justify."
"Hey, are you referring to me." Scarlet glared upon Marion who refused to have an eye contact.
After a rather long wait, a group of knights and workers entered the scene where the last showdown took place. They began to effectively dismantled the carcasses whilst recording the sizes. They had also gathered some bones and ores in order to bring them back for crafting.
As time went on, the entire team had finished their duty and returned back to the city where many curious citizens gathered around to catch a glimpse of the creatures. The hunters went through the strict security checks and entered the royal castle where a gathering hub under the royal family was created.
"Oh, Aria, you are already back?"
"Hmm? Oh, Marion. I am glad that all of you return safely." Aria was reading several reports on the construction of the fortress and the ecological activities around the capital. "There are several Buldromes, Bullfangos, Great Baggis and Baggis being hunted down around the city and materials from these beasts could be use to strengthen the knights and adventurers who will be participating in the siege."
"Indeed, but I guess those monsters are easier to deal with compared to what we have to face."
"Well, I am sorry for assigning you to face against that beast, but with the blessing of Angelos, I am sure you will be fine."
"It was really annoying though... I have lost count on how many times we have all been paralysed and poisoned."
"That is why I crafted a lot of antidotes and potions for your group and suggested that Alfred followed you for support."
"Indeed, without those antidotes, I would have probably ascended into the sky. Anyways, how much time do you think we have before the elder dragon reaches the capital?"
"We are not going to meet that dragon in the city. The plan is to intercept and repel Lao-Shan Lung a little further away from the capital towards the Hollow Valley west of the capital where hopefully, it will settle down there. Looking at the current speed of the dragon reported by the scouts, I estimate that it will take a week at the latest and 4 days at the fastest."
"We do not have much time left..."
"I agree, but rushing will not bring us any benefit to the current situation."
"I get it, but I cannot help it for feeling a little anxious and excited. Felling that beast would carve our names in the history book."
"We are not going to kill it. We do not have the firepower to do so. Anyways, do you want to join me for lunch?"
"I will be glad to. Let us wait for the rest, especially sir Alfonse who has to give a detailed report to the hub."
"There is no need to wait any longer." Alfonse approached Aria and Marion alongside Catherine, Scarlet and Alfred. "How about lady Rosa, your sister and her highness princess Lilium?"
"Of course we are delighted to join." Lilium walked down from a nearby marbled stairs with Alfina following closely. "Lady Rosa is currently using the bathroom after giving a detailed report, so let us wait for her before proceeding to the dining canteen."
"It is an honour your highness."
"Be at ease sir Alfonse, for we are all fellow hunters under the hunter's guild founded under the banner of the Mars royal family." Lilium sat beside Aria and beckoned Alfina to sit as well. "All military personnel transferred to this guild has been working hard lately, but the hunters who have to face off against the monsters are the few who have it the hardest. Our lives can be extinguished at anytime and as such, I believe we should cherish our lives and the bonds we make. Having a meal together is one such activities that may strengthen our sense of camaraderie."
"That is a great speech your highness." Marion praised Lilium. "I believe we share the same kind of sentiments and circumstances. I myself feel a little suffocated by the etiquette of nobility and I would rather be left free to interact with people from any background. I can be eccentric at times but, I do not think that it is a bad thing to be different."
"However, there is limit to your action."
"Hie! Lady Rosa! Since when..."
"Since the beginning of your speech." Rosa flicked her drill-like hair. "Being born under such privileged circumstance warrant a certain level of responsibilities and expectations. Running away from your home is not a statement to be free or different, it is just bad manners and selfishness disguised under a victim mentality."
"Ugh, I... I am sorry..."
"Woah, I am starting to like her." Scarlet began to admire Rosa as she watched with approving eyes.
"Hahaha, lady Rosa is quite the upright woman." Lilium stood up and dusted off her pants. "Let us make our way for a great meal together."
The entire group made their ways further down into the basement level of the castle where a large dining chamber was located. Several knights were seen having hearty meals provided by the cooks and those who had emptied their plates evacuated to allow others to occupy the now empty tables. Lilium led the entire team towards a quiet corner where a large round empty table was reserved by her maids.
"Alfina, Aria, sit next to each other."
"!? Your highness." Alfina was a little surprised that she broke her demeanor for a second.
Aria was equally confused with the suggestion, but decided to sit on the wooden bench first, giving Alfina the choice to either sit beside her or not. Beckoned by Lilium, Alfina was led to sit beside Aria while Lilium sat beside Alfina, enclosing her.
"I know it is not my place to say this but, use this opportunity to mend your relationship." Lilium whispered under her breath towards both Alfina and Aria before turning her attention towards the rest of the team who began ordering their meals with the maids taking their orders.
Aria and Alfina sat in awkward silence, refusing to make eye contact with each other and ordered their meals. Their silence stood in contrast to the lively atmosphere from the rest of the diners.