"Yes, they did." Ceraunius said, not denying it. "It would have been unnecessary had Loki and Freya not driven us from our home. We were still actively fighting Evilus up until that point. So from our view, everyone that supported them was basically asking for it." He explained with annoyance. "Even so, I protested Zald's involvement. But it wasn't enough, so I had relented but insisted that no effort be spared in keeping certain people alive."
"You did?"
"Yes, Ceraunius and I made a list of names for Erebus, ones whose deaths would leave Orario permanently weakened."
"Would you mind sharing that list?"
"Yes, we would mind. If Lady Astraea asks us for it, we might reproduce it. But know this, there were people on that list that still fell to some stupid death." Ceraunius said, glancing at Ardee for a moment. "So it wasn't a guarantee. Even so, there are people who are alive today because of it, and their good fortune."
There was a pause in the conversation, but they kept walking. There were some thoughts going through everyone's heads, this information was not easy to digest. At first, everyone was upset with the two love birds. But it was Alise who finally broke the silence, as well as the first who pushed away the angry thoughts.
"You're saying that you could have been on their side during Evilus' assault, and yet you didn't. Even still you did do something to help us, even if we didn't realize it at the time." Alise said.
"Correct."
"You didn't join Orario in the fight, because it would have been pointless. Erebus' goal was to test Orario, not you two."
"That's right."
"It was the fault of the city for pushing you out, and thus we had to take responsibility for what was done. To rise and fight against the evil forces on our own, no longer wrapped up in the protection of Lord Zeus, and Lady Hera's familia."
"You're right again."
"There's something I've become convinced of recently." Kaguya spoke next… "If Alfia, and Zald were even 10% of one of you two. The city would never have stood a chance." She clicked her tongue. "Alfia took it easy on us back then."
"Of course she did, she was level 7, you were level 3s."
Kaguya blushed and turned away, embarrassed at the notion. A rare moment where she was actually embarrassed.
"I had thought it was odd that Ottar was able to defeat Zald." Ilta finally said.
"Oh, he most definitely did not defeat him. If he actually had, Ottar would have achieved Level 8 minimum by now. That's just how much Zald going all out would be worth to the falna." Ceraunius answered. "No, my uncle purposefully, and willfully tested Ottar, pressing him to push beyond his limits. Only then did he willingly throw himself upon Ottar's blade."
"Why?" Ilta asked in a moment of shock.
"Because our uncle Zald was dying, a slow, and painful death." Gamelia answered, with a small tear.
"Big sister Alfia was also dying. She… She'd been blaming herself for everyone's death at the claws and fangs of the dragon."
"Those two being kind and warm isn't easy to imagine."
"Well, they were. They were so kind that they decided to sacrifice everything, just to give Orario a chance to grow." Ceraunius added shedding a tear of his own. "Right now, I can confirm one of their sacrifices hasn't been in vain. I will see to it that it never does. As for the other… I'll have to test him myself. He better not disappoint me."
The rest of the return trip was spent talking about different topics, everyone knowing that the Alfia and Zald topic was incredibly difficult for everyone. Ilta in particular made a silent vow to see Ganesha as soon as she got the chance.
Once they reached the top of the dungeon where the main, and only entrance was located… It was clear that some kind of funny business was going on.
"What's going on here? There isn't a single adventurer in sight?" Alise commented, now feeling a significant degree better after walking off her headache.
"Hmm, it seems there's some people waiting outside, they're probably fully armed too." Gamelia noted with a cute half pout showing her annoyance. "Do those idiots have to ruin everything good with their antics? So annoying!"
"It's fine, they can't beat us, and now that we're this close, I can tell… Ottar has utterly wasted Zald's sacrifice."
"Huh?" Ryuu and Celty reacted in the same manner.
"Hmm? Are you alright over there Ceraunius?" Neze asked, with a swoosh of her tail, and flick of her ears. "I can smell many people gathered outside. I'm certain one of them is Ottar…"
"You're right, Neze, Ottar along with the rest of those fools are out there. A bunch of wastes giving first class a bad name." Ceraunius' brow shifted, he was ticked, no, he had passed that already. "Alise, you and the others should remain here while Gamelia and I go deal with the ones who tormented us as children by robbing us of our home, just after we lost all of our loved ones."
"Will you be alright?"
"Heh, they have nothing on me. Under the sky, challenging me is suicide… Well, if someone was as strong as Zald, they'd actually give me a decent fight I guess."
"Plus, we have each other. We've always been together, and will remain that way." Gamelia smiled, placing a couple of headpats on Alise. "Be a good girl and wait for the storm to pass."
"No, if you are to soon be joining our familia, then as your captain I can not let you go it alone."
"Oh? You're a respectable captain, you have mine." Ceraunius said, with a slight motion of his head, showing his profile to those behind him. It was then that they saw his eyes sparked with lightning. "My respect, that is. So you may watch what happens."
"Wait for me darling! I can't wait to see how they justify everything they've done to us."
"They probably think they can take us as long as they have Ottar with them. We'll show them just how wrong they are."
They ascended the manmade staircase rounding the walls, while the others followed behind with a mix of expressions. The married couple of Ceraunius, and Gamelia exited the dungeon, into the large open central square, a place that was almost empty.
…