As always, Giliath demands your power stones!
*****
As for the woman in question, she was Vita Clotilde, the very same woman Naoto questioned. Just how deep can she reach. Was she worth pursuing? Naoto was likely going to enter a relationship with Vita's younger sister, not bound by blood, Emma Millstein. They didn't share an ounce of blood ties, but the two still held a sisterly bond, because they were both accepted by Roselia.
"So you say. Just how in Aidios's name did you acquire the means to open this place, not seen by man for who knows how long? Out of the five of us, you are the most suspicious one. Just where did you go with Crow the first night we descended this place?", Gideon questioned. Doubt remained in his eyes. Vita frowned hearing that, only to look at Crow.
"Your lackeys sure like to bark a lot of questions, don't they, Crow? I thought you picked a good crew out that listens to orders.", Vita teased the group.
"Haha! There are already some plans in motion, but I'm with Scarlet on this one. If this trial helps bolster our strengths with what is to come, then I'm all for it. The only thing I didn't think you'd do is reach out to that boy. That girl with him with the insane hairdo, that's your teacher, isn't it?", Crow questioned.
"To an extent, yes. I've already left the village for a while. She's Roselia, my teacher. She is actively teaching the boy you saw. In a way, he is very similar to you. Just like how you are going through these trial grounds now, he too, will be doing his part in the coming future.", Vita explained.
"I knew it. So at the end of the day, we're both trial-goers. He seemed like a pretty nice dude. I'm surprised you know him on a personal level, given you know, his status and all.", Crow answered, placing his hands behind his head after he sheathed his two-bladed sword behind his back.
"Okay I'll bite. Who is it that you two are referring to? It isn't like you know that many people, Crow.", Gideon questioned.
"Oh I'm sure you all will come across him sooner than later, I bet. Vita and I even managed a tour of his castle!", Crow said with a playful grin.
"A castle? I didn't think you'd be the type to explore those types of places.", Scarlet mused. "Sounds like whoever it is you got yourself acquainted with, he's likely a Noble. Perhaps an insider in the Noble Alliance?", Scarlet questioned.
"Far from it. The guy ain't even from Erebonia. Or at least, I don't think he is. He's the current Crown Prince of Liberl. I'm sure you've at least learned of his name.", Crow explained, casually name-dropping Naoto on his companions.
"Oi, seriously? You're in cahoots with Liberl's prince?", Vulcan cursed, not expecting Crow to say that.
"Oh this is too good to be true. There's a noble out there who actually shares our ideals?", Gideon retorted.
"Hahaha! I wouldn't go that far. I wouldn't mind getting to know that prince guy better, though. There's seven of these places, and I'm only one of 'em. There's six more, and who knows how many have been occupied. From the way Vita here has explained it, this prince will be partaking in another trial ground, somewhere else, right?", Crow questioned, wanting to confirm it.
"That's the basics of it, but yes. Naoto will be going through the Vermillion Trials, just as you are currently going through the Azure Trials. Doing either one will leave a mark in history itself. What lies beneath this place will question your imagination. Just go in with an open mind, alright?", Vita warned the group.
"You got it. And this elevator's been glowin' blue for a real hot minute now. Does that have anything to do with that's beneath us?", Crow questioned.
"You'll see. Come aboard and let us descend. Just know, once you descend, there is no turning back. I want you all to be aware of that.", Vita explained with a serious look. Scarlet put on a playful grin after hearing that.
"Hehehe, oh missy, we've already touched the point of no return once we joined Crow's motley crew. There's only one path ahead of us. Going down into Aidios knows what won't change much for us, I'm afraid. If it helps take that bastard down, then there's nothing else for us to lose.", Scarlet replied with a confident smile.
"Gahaha! Well put. We sure are already on a point of no return. It's not like what we've done so far can be so easily undone either. We'll follow behind ya, Crow.", Vulcan answered with a hearty laugh.
"For once, even though I hate to admit it, we're all in agreement, Crow. I am quite curious as to what is beneath this floor.", Gideon responded with a nod of his head.
"We're all in agreement then. Ready when you are Vita!", Crow said with a confident nod of his own. He wasn't sure what was beneath this place either, but he was becoming anticipated with each passing moment. They had gotten this far, and cleared out all six floors. They might as well see this through until the end!
"Just step in the center and I'll take it from here.", Vita answered.
Listening to Vita's guidance, the four found themselves moving onto the large elevator, which was still glowing blue. Vita touched the seventh panel before them, acting as if she knew what to do already. Before they realized it, the elevator suddenly jerked in place, and activated itself. It didn't take long to see them descending downward...
Perhaps it was with the set expectations that they were expecting something extremely out of the ordinary, but what came into view was just another very similar layout to the existing six floors. Except, there were no pathways that brought them to other spots. It was just one floor. Further beyond them, there was a large, sealed door. If one had a close look, the insignia on the center of this door was exactly the same as the one the door at the entrance to the trial ground had!
If there was one difference, though, was that this giant door was enveloped in the same blue glow that the elevator currently had. On top of that, there were spinning cogs propelling the door, spinning in constant motion.
"Are those spinning cogs?", Scarlet questioned, seeing the door lit up. Compared to the other doors that took them to the rest of the areas, they didn't light up like this one did.
"We came all the way down here just to see some fancy spinning cogs?", Gideon immediately said, lodging a complaint.
"Hehehe, of course not.", Vita responded with a playful giggle. All a sudden, she parted ways from the group, and they all saw a blue swirl appear beneath her. Snapping her fingers, she issued a command. "Come forth, Grianos, my Familiar.", Vita declared, allowing her Mana to swirl around her intensely.
"The hell?", Gideon cursed, not expecting to see the same blue swirling appear around Vita. Before they realized it, space began to distort around them. Not too long after, they heard a powerful chirp, only to see a small azure bird come into view. It flapped his wings, landing onto Vita's shoulder.
"I knew you weren't normal. Just who are you, exactly?", Scarlet questioned. "And you were in on this the whole time, Crow?", Scarlet continued to ask with a doubtful look in her eyes.
"'Fraid so. I wasn't going to move a muscle until Vita was ready to explain it to you guys. I assume this is your answer to that.", Crow said.
"It is. It is a good pleasure to get reacquainted with you all. You might know me as Vita Clotilde, the famous opera singer. But that is just one of my monikers. I hail from a little village deep within western Erebonia, the village of Eryn. It's been a while since I've left it, but I'm what you call a Wandering Witch. My task here is to ensure the Azure Awakener safely arrives at the Azure Trials, and guide them through it. As you can see, beyond here lies the final area of this Trial.", Vita answered, formally introducing herself to everyone.
Not as one of the leading opera singers popular not only throughout Erebonia but most of western Zemuria. No, this woman was Vita Clotilde, a Wandering Witch!