Chapter 23

'Night' had fallen over the |Eighteenth Floor|. The lights coming from the massive crystals overhead dimmed once the scheduled 'Afternoon' ended changing the time immediately without any sense of red twilight between them. As if there was a power outage in the middle of a massive stadium.

Bell sat with his [Family] around a large campfire with [Loki Family] as he watched the larger [Family] laughing and cheering. Although the food is no different from what they have been eating for the past few days, the fact that they received the antidotes to be able to leave early made their spirits very happy. Not to mention that the menu was a little different, since Tamamo helped the cooks in the preparation, which was well accepted by everyone.

(Lili): "Lili thinks that going on week long expeditions a strong stomach is required." - she said as she ate the food that Tamamo made at home.

Bell just nodded as he saw the relief of the [Adventurers] around him when they ate Tamamo's food with big smiles. At the start of dinner, the [Loki Family Captain] had said that the new menu and antidotes were provided by [Hestia Family], which made some [Adventurers] come to them and thank them, some even tried to flirt with Tamamo and Astolfo.

For those who tried to flirt with Tamamo, Bell kept staring at them, and he unconsciously made the darkness in their hearts get out of control, causing fear to invade their minds and they ran away, while for those who tried to flirt with Astolfo, Nero told the truth and they went away with the eyes of someone who lost his soul with Astolfo and Nero laughing while Hippogriff was lying right behind them eating what they offered him.

Tamamo realized that Bell was staring at those who tried to flirt with her and she was happy that he was jealous. Nero and Lili also noticed and were a little jealous about this fact.

When people stopped coming, Bell turned to Welf who was sitting next to his left on the other side of Jack.

(Bell): "Is it all right to sit here instead of with your [Family]?"

The smith, who had been shoveling food faster stopped and quickly washed it down with some fruit wine and let out a satisfied burp, causing Lili to make a disgusted face.

(Welf): "Sorry. Anyway... nah it's fine. They're here on their own work and I'm here on mine."

(???????): "Yo, Welfie!"

(Welf): "Shit."

A tall dark skinned woman wearing an eyepatch had wandered over from the 'executive section' where [Loki Family] 's top three had been sitting.

From what Nero had told him, the woman was Tsubaki Collbrande and the [Hephaistos Family Captain]. Apparently she was a [Half-Dwarf] and her name made Bell wonder if one of her parents, was from the Far East.

Bell turned away from Tsubaki, who had plopped herself beside Welf and was getting drunkenly touchy feely with the obviously uncomfortable smith. His gaze landed on Nero.

She was calmly eating and talking with Tamamo and Astolfo and catching up, when Tamamo spoke of Bell's promise about the meetings her eyes shone with joy, just as when Astolfo talked about training and improvement that Bell was having.

(???): "Umm..."

A voice came from his left and Bell turned to face them and he saw that it was Ais who called out to him. Jack's gaze bounced back and forth between Bell and Ais before she stood up with her food and moved herserlf to Bell's other side between him and Lili, to Lili's displeasure, to make room for Ais, and that made Bell praised Jack for being polite.

(Ais): "Do you mind... if I talked to you... for a bit?"

(Bell): "Sure, go ahed." - he said as Lili, Nero and Tamamo leaned forward and eyed Ais with suspicion.

(Ais): "Umm... first... I want to say 'Sorry'." - she said, lowering her head causing Bell to blink in surprise.

(Bell): "Sorry? About what?"

(Ais): "The <Minotaur> two months ago."

Bell's mind immediately flashed back to the day he found the | Grail | mysteriously in the |Dungeon|... the day everything began.

(Ais): "We scared the <Minotaurs> up there... and you almost died... so 'I'm sorry.'"

(Bell): "It's fine. It was true that I became rather scared of <Minotaurs> for a while, but that isn't a problem anymore. I can defeat them with my own strength now."

(Ais): "Yes, I saw you battle against that <Minotaur>."

(Bell): "How many people saw that fight?"

(Ais): "Finn, Riveria, Bete, Tiona, Tione, me, Sab- Nero and her." - She ended the sentence pointing to Lili.

(Bell): "And how did you know about my parameters?"

(Ais): "Part of your shirt was destroyed at the end of the battle, and ended up revealing your name, level and parameters, we didn't see your spells and skills."

That was a relief to Bell to know that they saw nothing about summoning magic.

(Bell): "Can you read the blessing hieroglyphs?"

(Ais): "Yes, Riveria taught me, although I was unable to read properly since Nero quickly approached you, but Riveria did, so we knew the parameters."

Bell made a mental note to avoid this sort of thing again. He stared at Ais for a while longer.

(Bell): "Have we met before?"

(Ais): "No... the first time I saw you was two weeks ago."

It only made Bell more confused, he knew she was putting on a familiar aura, but he was unable to associate with where he felt that aura before.

(Ais): "How did you get your crystal?"

(Bell): "What?"

(Ais): "The crystal you wear around your neck... where did you get it from?"

Bell was confused for a moment because they knew about the crystal, but he remembered that she said the shirt was destroyed, so the crystal must have been on display.

(Bell): "Some friends gave it to me seven years ago."

When he said that phrase, he remembered where Ais's aura was familiar... it was similar to those of his friends, it made his eyes widen with that fact, after all it was similar, not equal, as if it had been diluted, which made Bell's head go to a possibility that he didn't think possible. He looked at Ais again with a little more serious eyes.

(Bell): "Actually..."

Bell had no chance to finish the sentence because Ais suddenly stood up, turning around at look at the entrance leading to the |Seventeenth Floor|. Bell followed her gauze and saw that Nero, Tamamo, Astolfo and Hippogriff had stood up as well.

Then, from out of the darkness, stepped several people wearing the same [Emblem] on their clothing. A feathered cap surrounded by a pair of wings. And in front of them was a familiar face for Bell.

(Bell): "Uncle Sem?!" - he asked in surprise.

Everyone looked at him and then at the person Bell was addressing, including the people who were accompanying him. The people who accompanied him were a blue haired woman wearing glasses, another woman with brown hair carrying a large backpack with a sword by her waist, and a large male [Weretiger] holding a massive sword and shield.

(Weretiger): "Uncle Sem?"

(Blue Haired Woman): "Could you explain that name to us, Lord Hermes?" - she asked while casting a sharp look at 'Uncle Sem' and moving the glasses.

(Bell): "Lord Hermes?"

(Hermes): "Your grandfather never quoted about it? It was bad. But I'm happy to see that you're fine, Bell!" - he said with a smile

Bell's mind was blank with that information and quickly, Bell returned to childhood, when the person in front of him went to visit his grandfather, played with him a little and told several stories from all kinds of places.

(Bell): "So... are you a [God]?"

(Hermes): "Yes, I am."

(Bell): "So... what are you doing here? [Gods] weren't allowed in the |Dungeon|, right?"

The people around him, who with the new information that Bell received, he realized that they were the executives of [Hermes Family], put an expression on their face that clearly said that they had been roped into escorting Hermes down into the |Dungeon|.

(????): "Indeed. Can I hear your reasons for being here in private?"

Finn appeared by Bell's side with a frown.

It looked as though the party was over.

A large tent had been set up in the place of Nero's in the [Loki Family] campground.

There, [Hestia Family] plus Welf were sitting in a circle with the smith looking as though he was feeling out of place.

(Welf): "Umm.... is it okay for me to be here?"

(Bell): You are part of the group so it's okay... Jack, can you go and listen to what they are saying? And please, don't be seen. "

(Jack): "Okay, Mommy!" - she nodded as she stood up and walked out the tent and Bell felt her dematerialize even if he didn't see her do so.

(Nero): "Umu... the |Floor Boss| hasn't spawned yet... are we going to wait [Loki Family] defeat the Goliath or are going back tomorrow?"

(Tamamo): "The idea was to wait for [Loki Family]..."

(Bell): "I hope the [Goddess] will be fine on her own..."

(Lili): "She'll be fine... probably..."

(Tamamo): "What about you Welf?"

(Welf): "It's okay. It's not like I left a fire burning or anything and I don't have anything valuable out in the open... or in general really."

(Astolfo): "Let's go to the topic of the night. Master, what is this story about 'Uncle Sem'?"

(Bell): "It was how he introduce himself when I was a kid."

(Welf): "Did you already know Lord Hermes?"

(Bell): "He was a friend of my grandfather, and he stopped by the farm from time to time."

(Tamamo): "How did your grandfather become friends with [Messenger God]?"

(Bell): "Neither of them ever explained it to me."

(Lili): "Was your grandfather a [Adventurer], Master Bell?"

(Bell): "No, he said he wasn't. Although he never said that he was never in Orario..."

(Astolfo): "So it is more likely that your grandfather owned a business and knew Lord Hermes."

They all fell silent after that as they waited for Jack to return. Then after about twenty minutes she poked her head into the tent again.

(Jack): "We're back." - she said before walking over and siting down in Bell's lap - "That [God] said that they think that there is another entrance to the |Dungeon| in the city."

Welf's eyes widened in alarm at that as he looked around.

(Welf): "Wait... why don't any of you look surprised?"

(Bell): "We had thought about this possibility before... Jack, did he say who else thought that there was another entrance?"

(Jack): "Umm... We heard 'Loki and' Dionysus' but no one else. Umm... they asked the others to search the city for the other entrance."

(Tamamo): "So Loki, Dionysus and Hermes are the ones investigating this as well."

(Welf): "This being those stories about some plant monster showing up in Monsterphilia?" - he asked and Bell nodded.

(Tamamo): "Those stories are real. Nero and I saw him on Mosterphilia."

(Nero): "Umu! And I saw even more as I went down... and... maybe part of the cause...."

(Astolfo): "What do you mean?"

Nero told about [Demi-Spirit] and how they fought. When [Hestia Family] heard about it they understood why Bell suffered so much two weeks ago.

(Bell): "I'm happy that you're okay..."

(Nero): "I wouldn't leave you so easily Praetor." - she said puffing out her chest.

(Tamamo): "From the way you talked about [Demi-Spirit], there is something else."

(Lili): "Like... in the same way that <New Species> were servants of this [Demi-Spirit].... was this same [Demi-Spirit] a servant of something greater?"

That comment from Lili made Bell's blood run cold. If only the servant was strong enough to make Nero even use her 'Noble Phantasm', then the real head was something to be avoided.

(Astolfo): "What are we going to do?"

(Bell): "Staying out... we have no way of fighting anything. Even [Freya Family] would have a problem if they became a target."

Bell wanted to help, but he was also realistic. If [Demi-Spirit] needed Nero, 4 Level 6, 2 Level 5 and one Level 3, only [Hestia Family] could not survive, after all it was just killing him to take out the most powerful members.

(Welf): "I agree. It's good to know when not to stretch your neck too far."

(Astolfo): "Alright. Shall we talk about <Monster Rex> then?"

(Lili): "Why?"

(Astolfo): "Master may have promised Lady Hestia not to face him now, but one day we will have to face him, so I want to know more."

(Nero): "Umu! The idea is good, but I didn't see the <Monster Rex>, when I went down it had already been defeated."

(Lili): "How long did it take?"

(Nero): "About five minutes for what I was told."

(Welf): "Level 5 and 6 sure are something."

(Bell): "Jack... did Lord Hermes say anything about me or my grandfather?"

(Jack): "Umm... just that Mommy's grandfather had been friends for a long time... and that he played with Mommy... but that's about it."

(Bell): "I see..."

At that time the tent flap open and Tsubaki and Tiona entered. Tsubaki walked in and grabbed Welf by the back of his collar and started walking away without a word.

(Welf): "What the hell are you doing?" - he shouted.

(Tsubaki): "Just be quiet and follow me." - she said with a cheery smile as she dragged him across the ground.

(Welf): "Hey wait-a-wait a god damn minute! Listen to me!"

She disappeared with him in the night while Tiona was at the entrance to the tent.

(Bell): "What was that about?"

(Tiona): "We wanted to know if you and he could come and answer some questions, but Tsubaki didn't even waste time asking if he wanted to."

(Bell): "Me too?"

(Tiona): "Yes!"

Bell saw no problem, if there were only a few questions, and if any reached a point he didn't want to comment on, he was just pretending he didn't know, although he didn't put so much faith in that plan, he could be good at hiding, but he was a bad liar.

(Bell): "Okay." - he said as he and Jack got up.

(Tiona): "Thank you, Little Argonaut!" - She said and left the tent to wait for him.

(Bell): "I'll be back later." - he said before following Tiona with Jack right behind him.

She guided him to a tent in another part of the camp, inside, there were Lefyia, Tiona's sister, Tione, the [Caith Sith] who was with Raul, another [Elf], a [Human], the captain of the Welf and the Welf himself who was sitting.

(Tiona): "I brought Little Argonaut!"

(Welf): "Could anyone explain why I was dragged here?"

(Tsubaki): "We want to ask you some questions."

(Bell): "Then that could have been done in my [Family] tent, right?" - he said as he went to the side of the Welf and sat down too.

(Tione): "Sorry, I didn't think it was going to be like this."

(Welf): "It's not your fault." - he said as he glared at Tsubaki.

(Tsubaki): "Let's get straight to the point. Guys, this is Welf Crozzo."

(Welf): "You!"

(Elf): "Crozzo? The same ones who made the [Magic Swords] that destroyed the |Elf Florests|?!" - she said indignantly.

(Tsubaki): "Yes, the same ones, but Welfie here hates being related to them or the [Magic Swords]."

(Welf): "If you brought me here to talk about those bastards, then I'm out!" - he said, but when he was standing up Bell took one of his arms.

(Bell): "Welf, calm down."

Welf looked Bell right in the eye.

(Bell): "They are not the target of your anger."

That made Welf calm down. Bell was right, the target of his anger was the [Magic Swords], but with the indignation of [Elf], who was valid in his opinion, he remembered the anger he had for his own family, which had abandoned the spirit of smith them only for the glory that the [Magic Swords] could bring.

(Welf): "...Okay... what do you want to ask?" - he said as he sat down and stared at Tsubaki.

Tsubaki was impressed with the way Bell managed to calm Welf, she was already preparing to tie him up until he answered the questions.

(Tsubaki): "Just the legend of your family."

(Welf): "About the [Spirit] blood that we have?"

(Tiona): "Yes."

(Welf): "Only that my ancestor helped a [Spirit], but he almost died in the process, so to return the favor, [Spirit] gave his own blood for my ancestor to continue living."

(Tione): "Do you have any idea of ​​the name of this ancestor?"

(Welf): "My surname."

(Tione): "What?"

(Welf): "My family name is the name of the ancestor who helped [Spirit], after that his descendants took his name as a surname."

(Tiona): "So you don't know any more stories involving [Spirit]?"

(Welf): "Oh, you already want to know about [Heroes] stories. I am not an expert in this type of story..."

(Bell): "I am."

They all turned to face him. He had a slight suspicion as to why they were asking those questions, but he would be silent. And calling all attention to him was going to help Welf.

(Tiona): "Do you know a lot of stories, Little Argonaut?"

(Bell): "More than most people."

After all, his grandfather was always telling stories of [Heroes] to him, and he lived with them, nowadays.

(Welf): "Is it okay if I leave then?"

Bell realized that the main reason was because of [Elf] who yelled at him, and Bell couldn't blame him, after all Welf was kind of paying for his ancestors' crimes.

(Elf): "Wait... do you really not like your family and your [Magic Swords]?"

(Welf): "No." - he said as he stood up.

(Tsubaki): "And that is why you will never get better." - She said in a serious tone for the first time since entering the tent.

Welf just looked at her but said nothing and made his way out of the tent. Tsubaki's eyes were wide open, after all Welf used to refute that statement from her. She looked at Bell wondering how much he managed to change Welf.

(Tiona): "Okay, Little Argonaut, let's see your knowledge of the [Heroes] legends. Who's the lady who Sir Garrard saves, huh?"

(Bell): "Queen Altis."

(Tiona): "Then, then, where did Giorgio, the Dragon Slayer, kill the dragon?"

(Bell): "Lake Sirena."

(Tiona): "Then, then, then, what weapon did he use to kill it?"

(Bell): "A spear-like holy sword and a maidens ribbon."

(Tiona): "Awesome!" - she cried out buoyantly when Bell answered every question correctly.

She seemed really excited for some reason as she was scooting forward with each question to the point she was almost right in front of Bell's face.

(Tiona): "Right, then, Little Argonaut! The story of Arcadia-"

(Tione): "Ahh, put a cork in it already! We have more important things to talk about! Do you know anything about a [Spirit] named Aria?"

(Bell): "The [Spirit] in 'Dungeon Oratoria'? The one that was connected to Albert the Great?"

It was a very old and popular legend, one his grandfather enjoyed telling Bell about as it was from a time before the advent of the [Gods]. Of course, being so old and popular it meant that it was one of those legends where the fine details like Albert's race was diferent depending on who told it. Of course, the 'oficial records that had the [Gods]' seal of approval were completely ignored in favor of these biased stories.

(Tiona): "Yep that one!" - she nodded, still looking impressed at Bell's memory.

It wasn't just Tiona either. Everyone else seemed surprised at Bell's knowledge. Bell was wondering what the next question would be, after all Nero said she found a [Demi-Spirit] and because they called Welf, and he was almost sure it had something to do with Ais.

(Tiona): "Then, do you know if Aria ever shared her blood with someone?"

That confirmed Bell's suspicions. Nero didn't say how [Demi-Spirit] reacted to her or Ais, but by the question [Demi-Spirit] was interested in Ais, after all Bell already had a sense of what she was... and if others discover this, her life could go to hell.

(Bell): "No. The only story I heard about a [Spirit] sharing his blood with someone was that of the Crozzo."

(Tiona): "Then how about Aria protecting a human and that human going on to having descendants?"

(Bell): "Hmm... I don't think anything specific comes to mind. Though... my grandpa, the one who told me all sorts of legends, said that Albert himself supposedly had a child."

(Tiona): "What?!" - she shouted, hands slamming against the hard ground in surprise - "I never heard of that! Did your grandfather read the original version?"

(Bell): "I couldn't say. Grandpa probably embelished a lot of things to entertain me when I was little."

(Tiona): "Do you know what happened to his child? The end of his legend says he disappeared in that battle, right?"

(Bell): "Yeah..."

The <One-Eyed Black Dragon>. Albert supposedly stood against it in his last moments and the fact that it is still alive told a lot about who won the battle.

(Tiona): "Hey... if he had a kid would have to be with someone in his party right?"

(Bell): "Impossible."

(Tiona): "Why?"

(Bell): "Because, the first is impossible to have children, the second is impossible to find out if the child is his and the last simply would not want to relate to him."

(Lefyia): "What do you mean?"

(Bell): "If I say the names I remember, do you promise that you and your friend will not want to hit me?" - he said while pointing to the other [Elf].

(Lefyia): "I don't know why all this, but yes, Alicia and I will not do anything against you."

(Bell): "Okay. The first one I commented on would be [Spirit] Aria, the second one I commented on would be the [Amazonian Empress] Ivelda and... the last one I commented on would be [High Elf Queen] Celdia. "

When he commented on the last one, he almost prepared to run, as Lefyia and Alicia had blood in their eyes.

(Tione): "In fact... as you said, it is impossible to be someone from his party, isn't it?" - she said looking at Lefyia and Alicia.

After hearing this comment, they remembered that he said it was impossible to be with someone at his party, and that included [High Elf Queen] Celdia, they quickly apologized for being angry with him.

Bell didn't worry too much about it, after all he understood why, after [High Elf Queen] Celdia joined Albert's party, some [Elfs] showed up saying they were her descendants, if Bell wasn't mistaking Miss Riveria was a legitimate descendant of her, but the others who showed up were just people trying to take advantage, and that kind of took away the prestige that Miss Riveria has. And Miss Riveria was practically an idol for all [Elfs], especially the girls.

(Tione): "Anyway... [Amazonian Empress] Ivelda, huh? It's not like she didn't have heirs but, like you said, it is impossible to know who is the father, since all [Amazoness] children are always [Amazoness]. "

As an 'all-female race', [Amazoness] always took in husbands or male partners of other races if they wanted to have children who would always be born as another 'female [Amazoness]'.

(Bell): "Did the [Demi-Spirit] you met down there talk about Aria?"

(Tiona): "So Nero told you, didn't she?"

(Bell): "Yes."

(Tiona): "She kept calling Ais Aria, so we wanted to know why."

That was all that Bell needed to confirm his theory.

(Tione): "One last question."

(Bell): "Speak."

(Tione): "Couldn't the [Spirits] who gave you their |Spirit Crystal| know anything?"

Bell was already expecting such a question. After all, if Ais saw it, so did Miss Riveria, and she should have known what crystal it was.

(Lefiya): "Do you have a |Spirit Crystal|?" - She said with surprise.

Both she and Alicia knew how much the [Elfs] tried to show their friendship with the [Spirits] just to be able to receive one of these.

(Bell): "I have." - he said while pulling the crystal out.

It had left him very confused about how his black coat worked. Even his armor would disappear if it was under the coat, but the crystal was still there. The two approached him to the point that their faces were practically glued to the crystal.

(Alicia): "It's genuine..." - she said while taking the crystal and he quickly took on the same color as Bell's coat and released it quickly.

(Lefiya): "And it also shines with four different colors."

The two started bombarding him with questions, like 'where did you find them', 'how did you become friends with them', and Bell wasn't even processing the other questions anymore.

(Jack): "Stop bullying Mommy!" - she shouted as she stood between Bell and the two [Elfs].

Bell had forgotten that she had come with him. And apparently the others didn't even notice when she entered. The two [Elfs] jolted in surprise along with the other girls. It only served to Bell to remember how amazing Jack's skills were.

(Tsubaki): "So you came too." - she said with a laugh - "Hey Cranel, why does she call you her Mommy anyway?"

(Bell): "Because..." - he began.

(Jack): "Because Mommy wants Us and didn't abandon Us. Even though Mommy knew what We are." - she said as she wrapped her arms around Bell.

(Tsubaki): "And what exactly are you?"

(Lefiya): "Wait, Miss Tsubaki-!" - she began but Jack already answered.

(Jack): "Unwanted child. Mommy didnt want Us because We got in the way of her work." - she muttered as she buried her face into Bell's chest.

The girls fell silent at that as Bell found his arms wrapped around Jack's head.

|Heroic Spirits| were supposed to be summoned in their prime. Jack was summoned as a child even younger than the fourteen year old Bell. Jack had been thrown way by her 'mother' and tried finding them again... and in the process killed several women who were not her mother all of a certain profession.

(Lefiya): "Umm... Bell? Where did you pick her up from?" - she said softly.

Bell couldn't just tell the truth, but he could say something that was close.

(Bell): "... Near the |Entertainment District| - he whispered.

Bell was naive, not stupid. He knew what went on there even if Hestia did her best to steer him away from such places. He thought it was time for them to leave.

(Bell): "Sorry, we're going to head back. Good night." - He said while picking up Jack and getting up.

(Tiona): "Ah... yeah... good night... sorry." - she said as the others were to stunned to say anything.

The two of them quickly left the tent in silence. Once they were a good distance away from the tent, Jack suddenly raised his head and smiled at Bell.

(Jack): "Yay it worked!" - she said brightly.

(Bell): "...What worked?"

(Jack): "Saying We are an unwanted child. We know that good adults always become quiet when We say that so We knew Mommy would be able to leave if We said We were one."

Bell did not believe this. After all, when she said that phrase, he felt the pain, sadness, regret and even anger in her, although he wasn't sure how.

(Bell): "Jack." - he said as he put Jack on the floor and put his hands on her shoulders - "Promise me that you will never say that ever again. About being an unwanted child."

Jack looked up at Bell, probably getting a good look at his face for the first time since they entered the tent as she looked a bit surprised before lowering her head with drooped shoulders.

(Jack): "We're sorry ... We won't lie again."

(Bell): "You better not. You are not an unwanted child." - he said as he hugged her again.

(Jack): "Unn ..." - came the nod that contained just the smallest bit of happiness.

They went back to the [Hestia Family] tent, where Welf, who had gone straight back there, was apparently taking a lecture from Nero and Tamamo for leaving Bell behind. After Bell explained what happened, they calmed down and shortly afterwards most of the camp fell asleep.

Bell was lying in bed unable to sleep, because since that statement by Jack, he started to see a kind of aura in people, and after talking to his friends, he realized that they were either darker or they were brighter.

It took Bell a little while to realize that he was seeing light and darkness in others, which were symbolized by his feelings, and the possibility of being able to control them crossed Bell's mind when he remembered that all the people he faced that they tried to flirt with Tamamo and ran away with terrified expressions.

Bell managed to get out of the embrace of Jack who was sleeping between him and Lili, and went for a walk, when he left the tent, Nero, Tamamo and Astolfo were outside.

(Tamamo): "What was Master?"

(Bell): "I think discovering another function from |Light, Darkness & Chaos|."

He told about what he started to see and his theory.

(Nero): "Umu... this is a great power... being able to destabilize your enemies can give us a great advantage."

(Tamamo): "Just as you can help someone."

(Astolfo): "Let's take the test. Master, makes me sad."

Bell didn't want to, but he knew that Astolfo would simply insist, so he imagined the aura around him start to get dark and with Astolfo sad, soon after that it really happened, Astolfo's happy expression disappeared and his aura became a little darker.

(Astolfo): "It really works."

(Bell): "I think this is a lot of power..." - he said while making Astolfo's aura return to normal.

(Nero): "Umu... but it can help you... if the Praetor knows what his opponents are feeling he can try to guess what they are thinking."

(Tamamo): "And if someone is invisible, the Master can know where he is."

(Bell): "But I don't want to be seeing these auras all the time."

(Tamamo): "Master, try to imagine yourself not seeing them."

Bell closed his eyes and did as she said, when he opened them again the auras were no longer there.

(Bell): "It worked..."

(Astolfo): "Were these auras the only thing that was worrying you?"

(Bell): "No... it's not... I'm going for a walk, can you follow me?"

(Servants): "Sure."

They walked towards one of the cliff faces a good distance away from the camp itself and far outside the range of any [Loki Family] lookouts.

(Nero): "Praetor, what is it?"

(Bell): "I told you what happened to me and Welf, didn't I?"

(Tamamo): "Yes, they called them because of the [Heroic] stories of the Welf family story."

(Bell): "Not exactly, I just met that requirement." - he said while showing |Spirit Crystal| for them.

(Tamamo): "This is the crystal that your friends gave you, isn't it?"

(Nero): "Umu... now that I remember... Riveria was interested in him."

(Bell): "Because this is a |Spirit Crystal|, and it will only shine in someone's hand if a [Spirit] gives it to you."

The three |Servants| they were surprised by that.

(Astolfo): "Are you friends with a [Spirit]?"

(Bell): "Of fours... that's why Tiona wanted me to answer the questions... it seems that all [Elfs] know what that is." - he said while guarding the |Spirit Crystal|.

(Nero): "Umu... it was because of [Demi-Spirit], wasn't it? He kept calling Ais Aria."

(Bell): "I have a theory... but I will need confirmation from it."

Hippogriff turned his head, along with Nero, Tamamo and Astolfo, and made a sound in one direction, Bell turned in that direction but had only trees, but then he thought of seeing the aura and saw that there was someone behind the tree.

(Bell): 'I won't have to worry about being ambushed about it.' - he thought as he stopped seeing the auras.

(Tamamo): "You can get out of there if you want to talk to us."

They do not hear movement for a minute, only the rustling of the leaves from a slight breeze blowing from the entrace leading up to the |Seventeenth Floor| and the howl of a monster in the forest. Then, a blond, golden-eyed swordswoman stepped out.

(Astolfo): "A little late for a walk, Miss Ais."

(Ais): "I'm sorry... I didn't mean to try and listen."

(Bell): "Is there anything you want to ask?"

Bell thought about seeing the aura again to make sure he didn't have anyone around, and at that moment he saw that Ais's aura was glowing a little gray.

(Ais): "Are you... Are Nero, Tamamo and Astolfo... [Spirits]?"

Bell could understand Nero, but he did not imagine that she would suspect Tamamao and even Astolfo as well.

(Bell): "If it is to find out if they know anything about your mother Miss Ais, I am sorry to say that they do not know about her."

A blank look appeared on Aria's face, going straight to disappointment, with all |Servants| staring at the Bell with wide eyes.

(Ais): "And... your friends?"

(Bell): "They said they were looking for someone, but if they found it, it was in the last seven years."

(Ais): "I see."

She was silent for a while, and the disappointment became resignation, as she remembered that she wasn't expecting much.

(Ais): "I... won't tell anyone. Good night." - she said as she bowed to them.

(Bell): "I'm sorry I can't help you anymore. Good night." - he said repeating the same gesture to her.

She quickly disappeared as she returned to the camp.

(Tamamo): "Mother?"

(Bell): "The reason I thought she was familiar was because her aura reminded me of my friends, but the feeling was weaker, so I thought about this possibility... which turned out to be right."

(Astolfo): "But Lady Hestia said that [Spirits] and [Gods] could not have children here."

(Bell): "Every rule has an exception... and we just found one."

(Nero): "What do we do, Praetor?"

(Bell): "Nothing. As you are friends, I don't think she will let go of her secret ... and if hers is revealed she can live hell."

After all, Nero and the others were something considered common before the [Gods] came down to Genkai, but Ais is something considered impossible... and that could cause many problems for [Loki Family] if it turns out.

(Bell): "Let's go back."

They quickly returned to the tent, Bell lay down again in his place. The moment he lay down, Jack hugged him again and he fell asleep right away.