Chapter 18: The Next Steps

Ryuu took my hand.

She's really taken my hand.

To say I'm not happy at this moment would be a complete and utter lie.

I know how elves are about people outside their race making physical contact with them of any kind, Ryuu especially.

Yet here she is holding my hand.

Once again, I am extremely happy.

Standing to her feet Ryuu wiped the tears away from her eyes. Then as soon as she did so she let go of my hand.

But that's fine.

We have crossed the threshold. So now there is no going back.

"Are you ok now?" I asked her.

"Not really, but I will get there." Ryuu told me. "Also, thank you Morax."

"Don't mention it." I told her. "Like I said I want to be your friend, and your comrade. And sharing pain with one another is what friends and comrades do. Also it's not just me, the others will definitely help you out as well. Since you're going to be part of our familia now and all. You are, aren't you?"

Ryuu nodded. "Yes, I am. I would like that very much." She said.

"Great." I said. I then turned towards Athena. "So then Athena, what do you say?"

"I would be happy to have Ryuu join us." Athena said. She then stood up and walked over to us. Taking Ryuu's hand as she did so. "Come Ryuu, let's go and preform the ceremony so you can receive my falna. Also, take down that mask there's no reason to hide your beautiful face. Isn't that right Morax?"

"Yep, exactly right." I said.

"Ok." Ryuu said. She then took her mask off her face, a faint hint of pink coming upon her cheeks as she did so.

Seeing this I took a critical hit in my heart.

Normally I am used to seeing a cool-beauty type of Ryuu, but the Ryuu in front of me right now is acting shy and bashful.

It's different, but I don't hate it.

Not at all.

"Thank you." Athena told Ryuu once she took down her mask.

The goddess then started leading Ryuu up the stairs and towards her room.

After they left I sat down on one of the couches and simply waited for them to return. Humming a tune to myself as I did so.

While I did this Ryner came downstairs and walked over to me.

"Good morning." He said, stifling a yawn.

"Morning." I retorted.

"So, what were those noises I just heard that weren't part of the rain?" He asked me.

"All will be answered in due time my friend." I cryptically said.

"Sure." Ryner said. "So, whose turn is it to cook breakfast?"

"Gaul." I said.

"So a meat breakfast?"

"A meat breakfast."

Ryner shrugged at my words.

He then took up the other couch and began sleeping again a moment after he did so.

Since this is the usual with him I decided not to bother him.

That is until Ryuu and Athena returned from her home.

Once they did I moved her to Ryner and shook him awake. I then called for the others who arrived within a few minutes.

As soon as we were all gathered I went to stand next to Athena and Ryuu.

"Ok folks, I've got an annoucement to make. Ryuu has joined our familia." I told them. "Any objections?"

"Nope." Ryner said.

"I'm good." Gaul said.

"Welcome aboard Ryuu." Leonmitchelli told her with a smile.

Hearing this Ryuu put a confused expression on her face. "All of you, are not mad I am joining your familia?" She questioned.

"No, not at all." Ryner said.

"There's no reason to be." Gaul added.

"If Athena approved of you and Morax has as well then we'll trust you deserve to be in our familia until you give us a reason no to." Leonmitchelli said.

"Yes, what Leon said." Millhiore said. She then moved up to Ryuu and took her hands in her own. "Sorry if this is too forward, but Ryuu like I said I think you're really pretty. And well, if you want can we be friends?"

"I...I...sure." Ryuu said. Putting a soft smile on her face as she did so.

I also noticed she didn't recoil from Millhiore's grip.

"Ah, I'm so happy." Millhiore said. Her ears and tail moving with vigor to showcase it.

"The same. Welcome aboard Ryuu." Gaul said.

He then moved closer to her and threw an arm over her shoulder.

But the moment Gaul did this Ryuu preformed a perfect shoulder throw and slammed him itno the ground so fast its not even funny.

A second past before Ryuu realized what she did. "Sorry, I didn't mean to."

"Ow." Gaul said.

"I really didn't mean to." Ryuu said. "I don't know why I did that. I mean I just touched Morax's hand and Millhiore's so why?"

"Probably because Gaul came on to strong. Like usual." I said.

Which caused all of us to share of laugh.

Except for Gaul that is.

"Be quiet." He shouted.

"Sure, sure." I said. "Anyway, let's get down to some serious business. Ryuu, just so you know we're going to be fighting the organization that caused the attack the other day. Evilus." I explained to her.

As soon as I did so everyone got serious.

"So, you know about what happened to Leon and Gaul's parents and previous familia huh?" Millhiore asked.

Ryner and I nodded.

While Ryuu looked at me for answers.

"I'll explain later." I told her. "Suffice it to say we're going to fight the very embodiment of evil. So I ask, will you stand and fight with us?"

"Yes" Ryuu said. "I will."

"Thanks." I told her. "Now that that's settle let's move onto our next steps going forward. First, before we do anything else we need to get Ryuu used to the dungeon. We also need to increase out stats and level up as quickly as possible. And until we do the latter I think we should avoid Evilus as much as possible."

"I agree with what Morax just said." Athena spoke up. "All of you are too weak right now to fight against those foolish idiots. I don't want any of my children dying at their hands. So until most of you reach level 2, no direct confrontation with Evilus. Am I clear?"

"Yes." Everyone answered.

Even the Rois siblings.

"Ok then." I said. "With that settled I think that's all our important business for now. So onto the fun stuff. A welcome party for our newest member Ryuu Lion!"

"Yeah!" Everyone else cheered.

Even Athena.

"Am, there's no need." Ryuu said.

"No, no, no, Ryuu this is a right of passage in our familia. You can't back out." I told her.

"Yes, that's right. You're one of us now" Millhiore said.

"Fine." Ryuu said.

Once she did so we got the party rolling.

We played games, ate, drank, and generally had a good time. Enjoying our unscheduled off day.

However the very next day we got right back to business.

We started diving into the dungeon again, along with our newest member Ryuu.

In addition to that I started working on my personal skills.

Such are properly learning how to use a spear.

I bought several books filled with spear techniques and began practicing them. I also started hand-to-hand combat training.

Since seeing Shakti that one time against Evilus told me how far I can go.

So right now she is the point I am aiming for, and once I reach her I will aim even higher.

But I wasn't the only one hard at work.

The others were as well.

Then before I knew it another year passed.