Hestia's shadows stirred.
A shadow emerged from the darkness, coalescing into a familiar form. Hestia smiled and reached for the letter it carried.
"Oh... Damien sending me another message!"
She took the letter and began to read, her expression shifting from curiosity to concern to outright horror. Her eyes went wide. She jumped from her seat.
"AISHA! Let's go now!"
Aisha rushed into the office, her hand already on her blade. "Goddess? What's wrong?"
Hestia was already moving toward the door, the letter clutched in her hands. "Damien and the expedition are in trouble. I have to go to the Guild. You go call Loki. Hurry!"
Aisha didn't ask questions. She ran.
....
Minutes later, Loki burst through the doors of the Guild Hall.
"What the hell is going on?!" she shouted, her voice echoing through the chamber.
Guild staff scrambled out of her way as she was quickly guided toward the Guild Leader's office. She threw open the door to find Hestia already there, her face grim, her small hands gripping the edge of the desk.
"Hestia." Loki's voice was sharp. "What's going on?"
Hestia turned to face her. "The expedition. They've encountered a powerful enemy that has Ais as hostage." She took a breath. "According to the letter from Finn, Riveria, and Damien... it is on the level of the Three Great Quests."
Royman Mardeel, the old short elf who served as Guild Leader, raised a hand. "Now, now, Goddess. Please, we have yet to confirm if their assessment is correct. Let us not get hasty."
Loki's face twisted with fury. "Are you doubting my Captain? And Riveria? Are you insane? Royman, you DARE!"
Her voice rose with each word, her divine aura pressing down on the room. She snatched the letter from Hestia's hands, reading it quickly, her anger growing with every line.
The shadows in the corner of the room moved.
A figure emerged—black robes, masked face, entirely covered in darkness. Fels spoke, his voice echoing strangely from within his hood. "Miss Loki. Miss Hestia. Ouranos invites you to his office. We have reasons to believe the letter is accurate. The Guild shall send out a request to other Familias."
Loki straightened. "Fels. Good. Let's go."
"I apologize, Goddess, but Royman will guide you." Fels bowed slightly. "I must go to give notice to the other gods."
Loki nodded and followed Royman without another word.
...
Ouranos's chamber was vast and silent, the air heavy with the presence of the God of the Dungeon. He sat upon his throne, his face hidden in shadow, but his voice carried the weight of ages.
"I am not confident that this Corrupted Spirit is indeed on the level of the Three Great Quests just yet," Ouranos said slowly. "But I am confident it is on a similar path to the Leviathan and the Behemoth."
He paused, letting the words settle.
"The Guild shall do its utmost best to support the Loki Familia's dilemma. Finn Deimne has confirmed in the letter that the only reason they could get the message and survive this long was due to the great efforts of Damien Ardent." His voice carried a note of approval. "So once again, we thank your child, Hestia."
Hestia nodded, her expression unchanged. "Keep the gratitude for later. For now, I want to know who will be helping."
"Worry not, Hestia." Ouranos's voice was calm, certain. "This is no longer a Familia issue. This is an Orario issue. Fels shall gather the team. He will form a team from the best in Orario."
Loki let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. "Good. Good."
...
Time passed.
Fels returned to the chamber, his dark robes whispering against the stone floor. He knelt before Ouranos.
"My Lord. I have confirmed the participation of Freya Familia, Dian Cecht Familia, the School District, Ganesha Familia, and even some independent adventurers will be joining to help." He paused. "We even had to refuse some of Hestia's allies due to their Familias being too low-leveled. It seems the city is eager to help and support Loki and Hestia Familias, my Lord."
He rose.
"We are forming a plan of action right now. We will move in two hours. The letter has confirmed that the expedition has enough resources to accommodate us, so we will not spend long preparing."
Ouranos inclined his head. "Good. May you be successful, Fels." His voice rose, filling the chamber. "Announce it to all. To raise the morale of Orario." He paused. "The subjugation of the Corrupted Spirit... a Great Quest has started."
Fels bowed and departed.
Loki stood in the chamber, her hands clasped behind her back. Some of the tension had left her shoulders, but her heart remained heavy. Fear gnawed at her—fear for Ais, for her children, for the expedition trapped in the depths.
She did not know the fate of one of her members.
It scared her more than she would ever admit.
...
An elite team gathered before the entrance to the Dungeon.
They were the best Orario had to offer. The city had answered the call, and now they descended.
Ganesha Familia moved first, their role to clear the path for the real elite team. They were not the strongest, but they were numerous, and they knew the upper floors better than anyone.
Dian Cecht Familia sent their healers, with their captain, Airmid Teasanare, joining despite being only Level 2. Her skills were unmatched, and the Guild had promised payment. It was enough.
Hephaestus had armed the entire elite team. Every weapon, every piece of armor, every tool had been forged in her divine flames. If the expedition was to face a Great Quest, they would not face it with inferior equipment.
The core of the elite team was a mix of Freya Familia's finest. Hedin Selland, the elf strategist, led the team with cold precision. Beside him, the dark elf Hogni moved in silence, his blade ready. The Andhrimnir team came as well, their medical skills second only to Dian Cecht's finest. And at the center of them all, massive and silent, Ottar descended. He had come expecting to face Balor. He did not yet know the monster was already dead.
The girls from the Hostess of Fertility had come too. Mia Grande led them, her massive cleaver resting on her shoulder. She had retired from adventuring long ago, but some things called you back....and as she said to the girls "If that boy is in danger...It's only natural we help....he hasn't eaten through the entire menu yet"
And finally, Leon Vardenburg. The Level Seven adventurer from the School District. A living legend. He stood at the head of the elite team, his presence alone enough to inspire hope in those who followed.
Fels moved among them, his dark form a reminder that this was not just an expedition. It was a Great Quest. The first since the Three Great Quests of old.
Orario was answering.
And somewhere in the depths below, Damien, Riveria, Tiona and Tione moved...On thier own secret mission, Infiltrating Thalia's Ice Garden
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