Sylphid's Happiness Revisited

Chapter 20

Bell looked around, hand in hand with Ryu. It was late, and he was exhausted both physically and mentally from the day's events. 'Between telling everyone the truth and the pile of dishes we did for Mama Mia...' He sighed and really just wanted to crawl into bed. But he couldn't... not yet.

Ryu shifted slightly and he could tell she was tired as well. "Do you think they'll show up if we wait here?" Her voice was low, as it echoed slightly in the small courtyard they stood in.

"I'm not sure... I hope so, because if they did... it would make it so much easier." Bell paused, he was focusing mostly on his senses to see if he was being watched or not. He glanced up to the sky, the moon hung brightly. "I think... we should probably head back soon, it's already... what three?"

Ryu glanced up, her surprise was evident. "Oh... I didn't..."

They waited another half hour before Bell noticed he was being watched. He shifted slightly, drawing Ryu's attention. "We're being watched," Bell whispered before Ryu could ask the obvious question.

Bell's eyes flicked in the direction, but nothing could be seen. "You know..." a voice broke out of the thin night air. Neither Bell nor Ryu jumped having fully expected it. "Standing around here is a dangerous prospect." The voice was dry and almost raspy.

Bell nodded, "We know. Just didn't have any other way to contact you."

The sound of Fels sighing could be heard, which Bell didn't even know how that was possible considering his skeletal form. "Well? Is there something you need?"

Bell nodded, "I... needed to ask about... Them." Bell closed his eyes for a second, "Tomorrow... or I guess later today, my Familia is re-entering the dungeon as a full group. I was wanting to know... to meet them."

The sound of something shifting caught Bell's attention, and then the explosion of fog happened. Bell wanted to sigh, he really didn't have the energy for such secrecy right now. But when Fels grabbed his arm he followed all the same, his hand tugging Ryu.

The sound of moving stone, then the pure blackness of a tunnel. "They started to head deeper into the dungeon, and there have been some unrelated developments we needed to let you know about."

Bell paused as he walked down the familiar tunnel, Ryu's hand gripped his a little tighter, "What sort of developments?" Ryu asked, the lack of energy was obvious to Bell.

Fels was silent for a minute as they walked, "How far and for how long were you planning on going into the dungeon?"

Bell took a moment to think, "At least to the water capital. I... want to thank Marie again for everything she had done."

Fels nodded in understanding. "I see." But he didn't elaborate, "When we get to Lord Ouranos' chamber, I will depart and retrieve an Occulus for you. So you don't have to stand around waiting if you really need us."

The end of the tunnel came into view, "We understand." Bell whispered, truthfully Fels was showing a significant amount of trust leaving two adventurers with Ouranos undefended.

"Besides, Lord Ouranos has several questions for the pair of you. But for you especially Bell... after what Goddess Hestia told us." Fels whispered, tapping his gloved hand on the wall with a pulse of magic.

The wall slid away to reveal the chamber of the sky god with the tiered platform and Ouranos eyeing them as they entered.

"Children of Hestia, what is the cause for being here this late?" Ouranos ordered.

Bell felt Ryu tighten at the phrasing, 'It's appropriate, even if it's a tad too early to remind Ryu of Astraea...' Bell cleared the thoughts away, "Originally we came to inquire about the state of the Xenos, but... as we walked here Fels told us you have some questions for us."