CHAPTER 201(Wino)

Please read the author's notes. (Examples and explanation of moves and appearance+ Monster Sources)

Discord: https://discord.gg/K7f8qGpvuk

pat.treon:/Keanu_Eugene

CHAPTER START---

"This would have gone a lot faster if you didn't stop so much to observe every new monster we find," Thalie says as the Trifecta finally enters the floor eighteen safe-zone.

They were all wearing simple combat attire instead of their unique armor, Yang wearing his Zinogre Coat atop everything.

"Those notes I take go into the Monster Manual and can save lives, plus I theory craft what the deep-floor versions would be like so we're never caught off-guard," Yang says before giving her a mischievous look, "You're just grumpy because you miss Mikoto."

"That's adorable," Welf doesn't even try to hide his cackling as Thalie glares at both men. "We'll be on the surface before lunch so relax."

"Whatever," Thalie mutters under her breath as they continue walking, moments later she glances over to Yang. "What notes did you get from that weird cow thing anyway?"

"Not much," he says. "Wider shoulders at the front, strong front legs, and a weak lower back so it's not gonna be standing upright at all. Horns blocking the side view from its eyes so it's not gonna be charging since it would have to hit snout first at that angle. Thich shoulder muscles and skin plus those bones felt tougher even with an extra layer of fat, probably shoulder charges to fight a lot. Under the hooves had soft pads like mountain goats so it can climb and it had square teeth so unlikely that biting is its main skillset."

"Uh-huh, 'Not much' he says," Thalie shakes her head.

"Goats use soft pads under their feet to climb?" Welf blurts out, this one point interesting him.

"Yeah basically..." Yang says as they walk to the entrance to the upper floors.

Approaching the entrance Yang groans as he sees a familiar group exiting the tunnel, "let's just avoid them," he says.

Looking into the distance both Thalie and Welf spot the Loki familia executives, the larger group still oblivious to the Trifecta's presence.

"Agreed," Welf says.

"Actually, this could be fun, for all of us," Thalie says with a glint in her eyes that made Yang nervous.

"Don't..." he says quietly, warning her against whatever she was plotting.

"C'mon, it's just your ex-girlfriend...and her mom who happens to want to crawl into your bed."

"Ugh, I hate it when you say that, you know that."

"You'll get over it," she turns to look at the other group of adventurers before waving. "Hey, Loki familia!"

Closing the distance between the groups Yang just shakes his head and lets Thalie takes the lead, Welf falls a few steps behind, as usual when they speak to this group. Awkwardly trying to become invisible and avoid the Elves.

"Trifecta, always a pleasure to see you three," Finn says with a professionally faked smile. Behind him, Gareth, Riveria, Tione, Tiona, and Bete stop in their tracks.

"You guys going on an expedition or something?" Thalie asks, taking the lead for her team.

"Not quite yet," Finn says. "I don't think our familia is ready to handle the new threats between us and floor fifty, even with my level-up I can't cover all angles in the dungeon."

"Well that's easy to fix," Thalie says before gesturing to Gareth and Riveria, "just help these two to level up, go throw them at Balor or something."

At this suggestion Gareth looks unphased and even a bit vindicated, this had been his suggestion weeks ago. Riveria on the other hand is justly apprehensive at the idea of the duo clearing Balor.

"Lives are worth more than stats," Finn curtly says.

"Uh-huh, well anyway I've got something for all of you, try these," Thalie reaches into a small pouch behind her back and takes out what appear to be a handful of red marbles. Holding one between two of her fingers she squeezes it slightly and it shatters into a fine powder and falls to the ground. "It's a new type of candy," she says.

"Really!?" Tiona asks eagerly while everyone else gives it a skeptical look.

"Yeah it's actually candy," Yang puts their minds at ease

Tiona immediately shoves Finn aside and puts her hand out, receiving one of the items in her palm, delicately putting one in her mouth.

"Mmmmm, it's sooo....mmmm," her taste buds are assaulted by the delicious and indescribable flavours that bombard her. As if everything she'd ever eater or will ever eat was dirt in comparison.

Seeing her reaction Everyone takes one and is given a moment to appreciate the taste. As Thalie looks around one more time she realizes someone is missing.

"Where's the brick?" she asks.

"The brick?" Finn responds.

"Wallenstein."

"Ohhh, I get it," Tiona speaks up. "Brick because her name is Wall-enstein, right?"

"No, brick because talking to her is like talking to a brick," Thalie corrects. "Why isn't she here?"

"Ais is still choosing to remain at our home and perfect her swordsmanship," Finn lies effortlessly, a lie he's had to tell countless times to explain her house arrest. "Besides, we're only going to floor twenty-three to collect some drop items for a small quest. We won't even be in here for a few more hours."

"Well, have fun with that," Yang says. "We should get out of your hair anyway."

"We best not keep you any longer as well, have a safe trip to the surface," Finn says politely as both groups part ways.

"WAIT!!!" Tiona yells out, causing everyone to look at her. "Can I please have more of that candy?"

Thalie gives her a bored look, "mine is reserved for someone already, if you want you'll have to just go get your own Coral Nectar, or ask one of them- "she gestures to Yang and Welf, "-to give you some. Unlikely since we don't have much but---" she locks eyes with Riveria, "they tend to play favourites for some people..."

It takes a moment before the Elf catches her subtle messages and gains a slight blush, now knowing that more than only she and Freya were in on her shameful secret, desiring someone already spoken for and ignoring royal tradition along the way.

"Where can I get Coral Nectar?" Tiona asks, Urga in her hands and ready to charge into the dungeon.

"Just make a quick trip and clear floor one hundred...well, after your familia figures out how to get to floor fifty, have fun," Thalie says with what would have been a devious smile if not for her metal prosthetic hiding her mouth completely.

As the Trifectar wordlessly retreat Loki Familia feels the hit to their pride once more, as well as shock at the confirmation that floor one hundred has been cleared, all the while they couldn't reliably get to floor fifty...

"You're such a dick," Yang says to Thalie as they begin walking through the upper floors.

"Oh please it was funny," she says.

"Yeah, but still not cool."

"I liked it," Welf says, not even trying to hide his smile.

"You aren't the one dealing with Freya and this whole mess," Yang runs a hand through his hair. "She's already trying to pressure me into this and now Thalie is being a pain in my ass, why?"

"That's simple really," Thalie shrugs her shoulder and gives him a small glance. "You're always calm and collected even while staring down Tiamat, but these women make you squirm, I think that's hilarious," she says before devolving into a roaring laugh.

Beside her, Welf joins in on the fun at Yang's expense as a grim frown forms on Yang's lips, "can't believe I'm friends with you assholes..."

A while later the Trifecta finally exit the dungeon and step out of the base of Babel. Taking a deep breath to allow their lungs to enjoy the fresh air instead of the somewhat stale dungeon air for the first time in weeks.

"Alright," Yang turns to look at his team, the midday sun above Babel shining down on them. "Let's go debrief and get updated, I'm itching to lev---"

"Mister Yang Shen?" A new voice calls out to them.

The Trifecta all turn their attention to the guildsman approaching them, a man looking somewhat distressed.

"Uh, yeah, can I help you?" Yang asks, not at all enjoying having someone from the guild interrupt him day.

The man wastes no time responding, growing more and more nervous under the annoyed gaze of Yang and the absolutely murderous rage in Thalie's eyes. "I was tasked to inform you that Lady Freya request your help at Folkvangr, I was told it's an emerg---"

Before the man can even finish his sentence Yang rockets into the air, knocking him onto his rear and not surprising his friends in the least with his immediate response.

"So..." Welf looks to Thalie, "debrief and update statuses tomorrow?"

"Yeah, I'm gonna go find Mikoto," Thalie says.

"The Champion of War and such a doting mother," Welf teases the woman and receives a cold glare in response.

"Mmm, why don't you just go put a rod in Hephaestus's forge."

"You know what, that's exactly what I'm gonna do right now," Welf gives her a victorious smile causing her to roll her eyes at him.

While Welf was off to properly distract Hephaestus from her paperwork for a few hours and Thalie was going to check in on Mikoto, Yang landed roughly in the Folkvangr courtyard.

Cracking the stone floor and stopping his flames he looks around to see only Ottar and Allen staring back at him. He'd apparently interrupted a light spar they were having, judging by all the sweat coating Allen and the bored, completely clean look Ottar was sporting.

"Uh, I was told Freya had an emergency and needed my help, was that real?" he asks.

Both Allen and Ottar look at each other perplexed. Before they could answer Heith spoke from her spot atop the stairs to the courtyard. The second-best healer in the world had no bags under her eyes and looked well-rested for a change.

"I sent that message mister Shen," she says. "Please come with me, our lady needs you," she gives Ottar and Allen a stern nod for them not to pry.

Feeling the awkward tension in the air Yang awkward ascends the stairs and falls into step beside the healer. "What's the emergency?"

"Lady Freya is dealing with an unprecedented situation within our familia, unfortunately, I'm not allowed to discuss it with you," Heith says as they navigate the ghostly hallways of Folkvangr.

"Then how am I supposed to help, and is it really big enough that most of your familia is out?"

"Your help isn't needed in resolving the situation," she says as they arrive in front of two large double doors with a massive golden sigil of Freya familia on their front. "Lady Freya hasn't left her chambers in weeks. She's taken to...unhealthy coping habits with the issues this situation may cause her. I believe you are better equipped to help her than I am," she begrudgingly admits.

"Coping habits?"

"Wine...she's determined to make Lady Demeter's vineyard a business rivaling lady Hephaestus at this rate."

"And I take it she's been less than gente when you try to take it away."

"Somewhat," Heith unconsciously raises a hand to rub her cheek, the ghostly sting from where her goddess struck her still on her skin, the first but very far from the most recent of Freya's lashings.

Yang frowns at this, not that he holds gods to as high a standard as mortals. In fact, he's willing to ignore most actions if it's at the whim of a god, one can't expect a god to value mortal lives as much as mortals after all.

"I'll go talk to her," he says.

"Thank you," Heith gives a respectful bow and all but runs away from the doors.

Taking a deep breath Yang pushes open the massive doors and is immediately assaulted by the scent of stale wine. The ornate chamber was still well kept, likely thanks to Heith. The bedside tables both had a few bottles of wine each on them and there were empty glasses around the room, the bathroom door had one broken bottle to the side and a stain of red wine on the wall above it.

Looking at the bed as he approaches Yang saw a pile of blankets with one slender hand poking out, firmly grasping the neck of another wine bottle.

'I knew you liked wine but c'mon...' he thinks to himself as he quietly sits on the bed and shakes the pile of blankets.

"Nmmm," Freya groans as he shakes her.

"Get up," Yang commands.

"Mmmmm," she groans again.

"Fine," he says, his patience already running out with this nonsense.

Digging a hand into the pile of blankets he finds Freya, reaching his other hand in he holds her by the shoulder and separates her from the pile, with her eyes still mostly closed he throws her out toward the middle of the large room.

"WAHHH!" as she screams in mid-air a sphere of cold water forms around her completely jolting her awake.

As she panics in the water prison Yang makes a simple gesture with his finger and brings Freya forward so her head breaches the surface and exits the water.

Freya, who was apparently sleeping completely naked, finally catches her breath after a few desperate gasps and looks at him with narrowed eyes, "C-c-cold!" she says with quivering lips.

"Woke you up didn't it, now, care to explain?"

"Cold," was all Freya said in response.

With a small exhale and roll of his eyes Yang walks forward, dropping his coat on the bed and removing most of his clothes he shifts the water from a floating sphere to a large rectangle on the floor and enters, the water immediately heating up as he makes contact and allowing the goddess to relax.

"Better?"

"Better," Freya says as she tries to get close to him only to be kept at arm's length by an outstretched arm. "Not better?"

"You smell disgusting, like stale wine and sweat," Yang says flatly.

Freya looks away in embarrassment, "you weren't supposed to see me like this. Why are you even here?"

"When I got back from the dungeon a guildsman said you need my help, apparently Heith left a message for me," he said.

"Oh, and how did your expedition go?"

"Well, I would be getting a level up right now if you weren't such a wino, what the hell is going on with you anyway?"

"It's complicated..."

"Uncomplicate it for me."

"It's a familia problem, that's all."

"Ahh, I see, that's fine," Yang relents, knowing how serious people take their familia secrets in this world. "Can you at least tell me why you went this far with the wine?"

Freya ponders his question for a long moment, then sinks all the way up to her chin into the warm water. Staring down at the still surface rather than looking at him.

"Because I needed something...something in my control. I lost control of one of my adventures, and my hope is...slipping."

"Your hope?"

"Please, don't play dumb," she raises her eyes and locks onto his. "You know me, what kind of person I am. I knew you'd level up after this expedition, and take one more step toward leaving me forever, and I feel like I haven't been able to do a damn thing to make you stay," she immediately takes a dip in the water, wetting her face to mask the tears flowing down her cheeks.

Looking at the crying goddess, part of Yang aches to tell her that he'll never leave, that he'll stay forever. But that familiar pain in his chest stops him, and he does the only thing he can do.

With a command to his magic he moves her through the water and presses her back against his chest, holding her close as her tears keep flowing.

"I hate this so much," her shaky voice echoes out as she trembles in his arms. "I love you, but I hate this, this waiting for you to just throw me away like I'm nothing and leave me behind, I hate it..."

"That's not true, you're not nothing to me---"

"Then why can't you stay, why leave me?"

"..." Yang had no good response to that, not that she'd be able to understand in her current state at least. Smartly deciding to simply hold her tighter and let her burn herself out.

An hour later Freya wakes up even more tired than before in another room of Folkvangr. Looking to her right she sees a small fireplace beyond the white sheets of this large bed, she immediately recognizes this as one of the many high-end guest rooms of the mansion.

"You cried yourself to sleep," Yang's voice speaks from the other side of the bed.

Freya's head snaps to the other side to see him sitting on a chair beside her bed. "I-I'm sorry, you had to see me like that," she raises the blankets to hide under them. "Not very Freya of me..."

"What?"

"A noblewoman, that's what Freya means... I was unbecoming of my own name, in front of the man I love no less, can we please forget this ever happened?" she pleas.

"No, I'm gonna go ahead and cut you off from all alcohol---"

"No!" she throws the blanket aside to reveal the white silk nightgown Heith had dressed her in after cleaning her up. "That's not fair."

"Don't care, you're going to be completely sober from now on."

"You can't do this!"

"Just did, and don't sweat the name thing, I don't know about gods but I at least don't put much weight in names, especially considering what mine means," he shakes his head and gives a light chuckle at how ridiculous it was the more he thought about it, especially considering who he was talking to.

"Yang Shen?" she asks.

"Yeah, Yang means light, fire, heat, things like that. And Shen...means god."

"Hahahahaha," Freya's laughter echoes out like a sweet melody to his ears. "Your family name means god, how blasphemous," she says while barely containing another laughing fit.

"Yeah, and God of Light is a hard name to live up to," Yang jokes.

Freya gives him a bored look in response, "says the man who can illuminate a midnight sky as if it were noon."

"Well, when you put it like that...I'm an idiot."

"My idiot, can we go home now?" she asks.

"Home?"

"Your apartment," she explains.

"That's 'home' for you?"

"It's where you live, so yes. I need maybe half an hour to leave proper instructions for my familia, then I can meet you out in the courtyard. Can you get us food from the hostess while I do that? Then we'll go home and spend the day in bed," she says with a sultry smile.

"A day in bed sounds really good after all that time in the dungeon, see you in half-hour," Yang gets up and gives her a gentle kiss on the lips. "You still taste like stale wine," he says while walking away.

"I'll fix that before you get back!" she calls out to his retreating back.

Exiting the guest room Yang quickly makes his way down to the courtyard, only to come face to chest with the massive Boaz -boar demi-human- Ottar.

"Yang," the man greets him with a stern nod.

"Ottar, uh, you're in the way, can I get p---"

"You're going to level up soon, yes?" Ottar asks.

"Uh, yeah, why?"

"You said when we are the same level you'd be willing to fight me."

"I said I'd consider it," Yang reminds him. "That means I can still say no. I don't like fighting people, even if you're probably one of the two people I can really hit without them instantly dying, still doesn't mean I want to be fighting you."

"One of two?" Ottar narrows his eyes at the possibility of another rival.

"Thalie, if she goes all out with her magic, but don't fight her. I'll hurt you, she'll kill you, what she lacks in my power she makes up for in lethality."

"She's only level six, I am level eight," Ottar reminds Yang.

"Yeah, and our team specializes in punching high above our level."

"I'll keep that in mind," Ottar says.

"Anyway, gotta go, if you can make the fight worth it for me I'll consider it," Yang says as he walks past Ottar.

The man sees him enter the courtyard and take to the air on a small stream of blue flames.

On the second floor of Folkvangr Freya watches Yang leave through the window. The now-lit fireplace is at her back as she ponders this day's events and all the embarrassment it caused her.

"You summoned my lady?" Heith asks as she politely enters the room.

"Thank you Heith," Freya says, still not turning to look at the woman.

"Pardon me, my lady, what do you mean?"

"For everything, for taking care of me and for bringing him here to get me out of this pitiful state, thank you," Freya says.

"It is my pleasure, Lady Freya."

"Yes," Freya turns around to look at Heith, slightly narrowing her eyes at the woman. "I'm truly grateful for you, but you understand I must punish you now, yes?"

Heith's eyes go wide as she takes a fearful step back, "what? B-but, you said I helped, I did good!"

"Yes, you did...but unfortunately you embarrassed me in front of him, now, I assume you wrote a formal request to the guild for that message to be delivered so efficiently, which hand?"

"P-pardon me, my lady?"

"Which hand did you write the request with, if I have to ask again your punishment will be much more severe I assure you," Freya says in a calm voice, her eyes only narrowing dangerously at the end.

In response, Heith raises a shakey right hand, "please, my lady, I only---"

"No more talking Heith, don't speak. I only need you to understand. I need you to use the pain as a teacher to understand, and the scars as a reminder, that nothing must get between Yang and me." Freya saunters over to Heith and gently cups her face. "You really are beautiful, fiery red hair and porcelain white skin, you would have been my first and only choice. I would have had Yang breed you every year till you were baren, and you would have gladly agreed, right?"

"Of course, anything for you my goddess," Heith said, absolute honesty in her words.

"Because you love me, right?"

"Yes, my goddess."

"How much?"

"More than anything, more than life itself," Heith blurts out with no hesitation.

"Good, now prove it, punish yourself and the hand the embarrassed me, or I'll personally flay you and rub you in salt with the treacherous bitch Horn, as soon as they bring her back," Freya gently holds Heith's chin and turns her head, drawing the woman's gaze to the lit fireplace. "Remember to leave the scars when you heal yourself, I'd rather not have you forget this lesson."

Walking back to the window Freya looks up at the clear sky, raising a hand instinctively to her chin she looks down at her empty hand.

'Hmm, usually I'd have a glass of wine as I enjoy a view, maybe I do have a problem...when was the last time I drank anything that wasn't wine?' she ponders her habit. Thoughts accompanied by the sounds of pained howling and screaming as well as the popping of burning flesh.

Heith strains her lungs as she holds her hand in the fire. White porcelain skin becomes red then black, blood boiling below the surface causing the skin to form bubbles and rupture. Unspeakable pain shoots through the doctor's body as she uses all of her training, will, and love for her goddess to keep her hand in the fire against her very instincts.

"RAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!" she releases one final desperate cry before succumbing to the pain and falling onto her back away from the fire.

The last thing she hears before everything fades to blissfully numb darkness was her goddess's voice.

"Please don't make me do this again Heith..."

As the healer lost consciousness Freya walked down the hallways to summon one of Heith's assistants to take care of the head healer.

Walking down the hallway Freya stops and leans against the wall, closing her eyes and focusing on her own heartbeat. Hearing the blood rushing through her ears she holds her breath to calm down.

The part of her that she least wants Yang to see was once again rising to the surface. The desire and instinct for violence, the part of her that she once confessed to him she relished in. The longing to strangle someone with her own hands, feeling their pulse weaken and watching the life drain from their eyes.

The kind of excitement she hadn't felt until a certain Elementalist entered her life.

"Calm down Freya, Yang will be back any minute, don't let him see you like this..." she mutters as she straightens her gown and fixes her hair, calming down her excited breath, and continues walking down the hallway as if nothing happened.

The perfect image of a noble and elegant woman...

END CHAPTER---

On this day one year ago I began the first draft of chapter one...then stayed awake 36 hours and wrote all of volume 1 which is why it's all so trash compared to chapter 1 of volume 2 :/

Happy anniversary

Freya best girl :)