a humble beggining

deep underground, the Floran Race resides in the underground forest with no sunlight nor water. with that, both Theia and Mei are currently researching and investigating recent events.

a large hologram made from illusionary ether crystals, displaying some sort of weapon that is shaped like a lance.

"Mei, I assume that this is already fixed?"

"yes. the anomaly has been fixed long ago. heed that no mind. besides that, there seems to be some Floran nobles calling you." Theia nodded and headed to the main hall. "Kal, please manage the flow."

. . .

Theia arrived, greeted by not only Floran nobles but also their guards and apprentices.

"greetings Lady Theia, how do you do?" Dryads, half Elvians, and Half Floretians. a rare race that is considered to be close to extinction...

"may I ask your name?" with a stern look, Theia Commanded the lower nobles.

. . .

"I see... but what do you need my help for?"

they're practically asking for support. one of the people who Theia assumes is the head of this whole operation seems to be confident but-

"I'm afraid I will have to decline of your plans. Chel-"

the man slams his fist into the ground. menacing. all of them looked as if all of them were about to stop him. "this is preposterous! YOU are the highest of all the living beings here! why do you not want to take over the world!?"

Theia's servants started cleaning around the table without even minding... "thank you- *ahem* I'd like to point this out mister Firn, what makes our situation any more different from the past and the one you dream? taking over the entire world of Laplace might be a dream a dictator may want but the story won't change." Theia was calm, collected. after her explanation, the Floran noble smiled

"but of course! you will be the highest of us yes, and the discrimination against Fallen will be diminished! you do know that the Fallen race is still being discriminated yes?"

"why of course mister Firn, that is an object that I do aim to diminish but even in my position, I have no way to fully erase that problem, nor will I probably ever will for that matter" Theia gave them an interesting look. the man, Firn, however, seemed cocky.

"if you, with your arsenal at hand, you could exterminate anything in your way! why not form an alliance with us?! it should serve that we are the strongest of the race am I not correct? with us, your goal shouldn't be a pipe dream anymore!"

with his finish, Theia chuckled a bit. for a moment there, she thought that he actually had any good points to his theories but-

"Floran will always be Floran... mister Firn, I assume that you know how many nobles have already told me this story right?"

Firn was still confident, "well of course, aside from those that I have pointed out, you shall have half the treasure our Estates here in the Underground city and we'll allow you to-" a bell suddenly rang, a man with a green strand of hair and rather formal wear enters.

"I would have to apologize for stopping this meeting, Calcifer, please lead them outside. mister Firn, I'll respond to your message on a piece of paper once we're done with our meeting"

Firn once again shouts in anger. "what nonsense! are you allowing an adventurer to stop our discussion here!? I'm offended by this Lady Theia!" without another thought, the Noble grabbed his servant's sword and aimed at Theia. all the Servants Firn had was prepared but Theia's maids and servants didn't move an inch about the ordeal, more like they didn't have any reason to.

"tch, it would seem that this meeting is adjourned" the noble aims to strike the neck but-

"I'd like you to refrain from doing so" a black knife was suddenly an inch away from Firn, stopping him without even much of a swing from a sword from his.

"ahh, Arie, it's such a nice time for you to finally pay your debt" they're talking even in such uncomfortable positions.

. . .

the Noble left with his tails between his legs, "I assume they'll be back..." Arie was cautious but- "don't be, I'll be giving them a message once I'm finished with this gentleman here. for the meantime, please head to the lab downstairs, Mei might need some assistance" Arie saluted and walked downstairs. meanwhile, Theia gave the man a sit.

"you'll have to forgive me for giving you such a situation mister Ensou..." the man sits, a cup of tea was immediately delivered to Theia's order

"no- I'm sorry for intruding you from important matters. I do hope I'm not much of a burden" Theia smiles at the man's remark

"no, no. my brother- late brother has been a big fan of yours ever since he has heard one of your songs, it's only proper for you to have proper prestige for him"

after Theia finished with his comment, a long silence stilled the room, no servants were even walking around, it's just them alone with a blank room.

the one to first break the silence was Theia, who was uncomfortable with it- "Mr... Ensou, I do hope to support you but I don't think that is the wisest choice..."

. . .

Arie, after finishing with the sudden intrusion, enters the basement filled with nothing but papers and ringing phones

"haahhh... you're messy as always Mei... why didn't Theia let her servants clean this up?" Arie started cleaning up and filing the papers, organizing as much as she can, although she didn't answer the phone immediately, she took a look on whoever it was- it was her sister- Analisse.

"I could've answered there huh? well, no time to turn that into a problem. HEY! MEI!"

she shouted at the top of her lungs, finally waking Mei to her own world "really... you could clean this up you know?"

Arie was a tad mad but Mei was a bit complacent about it, "s-sorry... I can't help it whenever there's problems occurring in this world..." Arie was confused at her comment-

"problems you say?" Arie's cleaning was put on hold when the moment she heard the word, Mei was sitting down as always bearing her posture barely

"you'll have to forgive your dear mother for her posture... I'm in a bit of a tight as of right now... back to your question-" she flips the holographic monitor, revealing some sort of measurements, numbers, and pictures. what made Arie aww was the pictures.

"M-Mei... is that-" she points at the one thing that took her interest- an island showing in the distance.

"that immediately huh? well that's not the only problem" without explaining it, Mei displays another picture, a disguise, cloaked man, the face was indecipherable but the physique was vaguely familiar to Mei-

"you might not know him but that is Shifts, the first creation to have ever been born, but not created by our creator. I won't go into details about that but considering that the Dragon mountains up north have been shown. I could only theorize that there's something going on in Laplace and I'm not comfortable knowing that the dragon mountains have shown themselves once again..."

Arie sighs out of tiredness- "so you'll ask me to investigate this? and I finally got comfortable with the mansions..."

Mei laughs. "haha- well after this, then you get to rest all you want. it's just investigation so you don't have to do anything tough. I heard that Shifts was strong from the past so I'd assume that he only got stronger... what's surprising me is he's still alive... but I'll put that aside. investigate the Mountains and nothing more, I want a thorough examination but don't do anything rash alright?"

Arie nods, but before that, she took a phone that was ringing when he came- "Mei, don't mind me alright? I'll just talk with Analisse for a second-

she picks up the phone and calls immediately. meanwhile, Mei left the room to get some rations-

. . .

when Mei left the basement, she was greeted with synthetic music and a melodic voice, even Mei was stopped midway from listening from the music-

"ahh- perhaps that is Theia's visitor? no need to intrude then" she called for a servant and-

"ahh- miss Mei, do you need something?" the maid was holding a tray-

"just leaving the room?" they talked while walking the hallway with the music-.

"that is Milady's visitor, quite a musician if I do say so myself" both of them were in their own world in the conversation until they finally arrived in the kitchen.

she thought to herself- "perhaps I'm getting to senile... meh- I don't need to trouble myself that" she took a sip of tea and stared blankly in the window, a blooming forest was outside, although she didn't think there would be a grave inside it, it looked recent too, about 5 days or so.

"hmm... something happened perhaps? no matter, they are free and that's what I should consider" she finished her cup and rested right beside the window. a calming aura resides her, without a worry in the world nor any fear left in her heart, to herself, "this is pure bliss" and took a nap. "perhaps I'm too stressed. maybe? I don't know. maybe I'd like a room for myself..." she thought to herself all the while relaxing in the dark caved in the forest.

"it's amazing that the trees have covered the sun so effectively... it gives a cool breeze along with it-" Theia suddenly opened the door, with a person right behind her-

"Mr... Ensou? ahh, right. you should be leaving now, I'm having a few more visitors today and I'd hate to trouble you any further"

with that, the man left with the parked ship in the yard. it was a daunting scene, a huge gust of wind traveled through the surroundings.

"we should be meeting up with Naoya and the rest. Mei, you should tie up your hair, I already miss your short hair, that suits you more"

"without Liliya, I can't simply trust my hair to anyone, as soon as they arrive then I'll tie it down." both of them smiled nonchalantly, it was as if there were no bandits nor fires in the forest which was a rare occurrence for both Mei and Theia.

. . .