Isabella and Cassandra had both been placed in a cell together.
This was the case with all crewmembers labeled as "Calamity-Level-Hazards."
Aldaril and Nirani, Stella and Mikoto, Sato and Nasuria. All of these pairs shared a cell.
Much to Nasuria's, Nirani's, and Aldaril's extreme annoyance.
Somehow, Isabella and Cassandra had ended up in the same cell.
However...there was certainly a justifiable reason for this. As the two of them were the Vice-Captains of the Cursebreaker. They were ranked higher than Calamity-Class. They were "Extinction-Class" threats.
The Artificer had deemed their existence as something capable of bringing extinction and mass destruction to all of creation.
The cell they were in was a maximum security circular cell at the bottom of Dominus.
When they arrived, they saw the incredible structures of this futuristic masterpiece of a realm.
The entire realm consisted of a floating mass of islands connected with energy tethers. There were thirteen islands. Twelve on the outside and one on the inside.
The twelve outer islands had massive cities on them sprawling for thousands of miles. In the center of each island was a tower reaching into the sky. And the central island was quite similar.
Walls reaching ten thousand feet into the sky blocked access to the central island on all sides. A glowing, hexagonal energy barrier covered the sky above it.
In the center within the walls, a single tower rose above all of the other structures.
The Artificer called it the Tower of Babel. Or just Babel, for short.
All around the realm, sentinels and mechanical beings buzzed around.
Currently, Isabella and Cassandra were below this tower in the maximum security area far below the other prisoners.
In fact, it was so far below the tower, that they could see out below the main island. They were surrounded on all sides by powerful machines and gigantic weapons designed for defense.
For anyone else, the situation would seem hopeless. But for the two of them...
"Ugh...so annoying!" Cassandra complained.
"Sister..."
"We're stuck here while darling could be in danger! I hate this!" She said angrily.
It was true that the possibility of Mizik being in danger was very real. In fact, it was almost certain. He had a knack for getting himself caught in dangerous situations.
But Isabella didn't want to think about this. It was too much for her heart to handle.
Ever since the end of the Reset Incident, she had felt a strong, almost obsessive desire to protect him. Secretly, of course. She had an image to maintain with the others.
She didn't want to admit to being anything like her crazy sister.
The time spent in Excelsis while he was trapped with Eris had already been stressful enough.
But at the very least, she knew Eris meant him no harm. The Hero Party was a different story.
As far as Isabella could tell, they viewed the Cursereaker as a ship full of criminals and murderers. Mizik, being their captain, was likely to be on their hit list.
In short...she didn't trust a word they said.
"LET US OUT!!!" Cassandra screamed as she punched the energy barrier over the single doorway to the circular cell.
The barrier flashed just before going back to its normal ethereal-blue color.
"It's no use, sister. Just try to endure it. We already tried to break out before, remember?" Isabella said simply.
"How can you say that!? Darling could be in danger! We need to-"
"Cassandra! Do you even know where Mizik is!? How can we rescue him if we don't even know where he is!? Breaking out will just turn their attention to us. We should wait until we can formulate a plan," Isabella said.
Cassandra frowned, then puffed out her cheeks in a pouting face.
It was kind of cute, actually. It reminded Isabella of when they were both children.
"But Isabella..."
"It'll be alright. If you want to take your mind off things, you can rest on the lower level."
The cell they were in had a lower level that contained a bed and a bathroom, complete with several necessities. The maximum security cell was a place where they would never have any reason to leave.
And this lower section was accessible via the central platform in the cell, which could move up and down.
Unlike the upper level, the lower level did not have cameras. This was for the prisoners to have privacy.
And it was quite surprising that prisoners in such a cell would be allowed any form of rights.
"I've already been sleeping most of the day. If I lay in bed all day, I might get fat," Cassandra pouted.
"You and I both have the same body type. If you get fat anywhere, it'll just go to your boobs like it always does, you dummy!"
"Isabella is being mean...but darling does like that sort of thing, right? Ah...I want darling to touch me now..."
Cassandra starred breathing heavily as she squirmed in place.
"Please stop being perverted... This is serious."
"Don't deny that you wouldn't feel the same way thinking about darling! I can see it in your eyes, sister. You're much easier to read than you think!" Cassandra said with a smug look.
Isabella felt her face heat up.
"D-does she know!? Damn!"
"Sh-shut up! You don't know what you're talking about!"
"Mmmm...I think I do, actually. But if you want to hide it, be my guest."
"I'm not hiding anything! However, I will say that it is perfectly normal to feel that way about my husband. Nothing strange about it," Isabella said triumphantly.
Cassandra snickered as Isabella spoke.
"Stop laughing at me!"
"Okay, sister~! I'll stop. Now then...when should we try to escape again?"
Before Isabella could open her mouth, the barrier over the door disappeared and the door opened.
The Artificer walked in casually before it closed again.
"Hopefully never. You two are troublesome enough even while confined to this place," he said.
Isabella and Cassandra immediately put their guards up.
"Relax, I am not here to do you any harm. I merely want to speak."
"What is there to talk about, you traitor?" Isabella said angrily.
"Evil Artificer. I hope you die screaming! Wicked, traitorous filth!" Cassandra said.
"My actions are for the good of all creation. I will not apologize. I cannot just sit back and allow thousands more worlds to fall to your might."
"Our actions are a result of the previous Oracle's meddling. They were necessary for our survival against the Source. You agreed to it, yourself," Isabella said.
"Forgive me, but I didn't think it would take twenty years to even fight him on somewhat equal footing, let alone kill him. You've wasted quite enough time and ended even more lives than I care to think about. This is for the good of everyone."
"I will admit that the method in which Difar dies is irrelevant. But betraying us in such a way is unforgivable," Isabella said as she narrowed her eyes.
"Indeed. However, I claimed to be your ally. I am sorry for this. I really did betray you. But for these past twenty years, I never once claimed to be your friend."
"Do we look like we care about that?" Cassandra said as she rolled her eyes.
"..."
"Why are you bothering us, Artificer...?" Isabella said plainly.
"I came here to check on you."
"There are cameras in the main part of this cell. You can check on us without sullying the air here with your presence," Cassandra said in a haughty tone.
"I...genuinely wanted to apologize. When Mizik returns, I plan to have the Hero Party join you temporarily to defeat both Valtheim and Difar. I want you to be cooperative when that time comes. Am I understood?"
Isabella and Cassandra froze for a moment before looking at one another.
"Hm. Sure. As long as Mizik is rejoining us unharmed, I see no problems with it. And do not worry, I will tell the crew to play nice," Isabella said with a slight smile.
"I cannot help but feel that you would like negotiate something..." The Artificer said.
"You are correct. I have a proposal if you are willing to hear it," Isabella said.
"Proceed."
"My request is simple. Give Mizik back this instant and allow us to leave peacefully. And in return..." Isabella glared at the Artificer with seething hatred as her tone lowered dramatically. "We won't be forced to raze this realm to the ground and kill everyone in it. You might even survive this ordeal if my Mizik is feeling generous."
"No promises..." Cassandra hissed.
The Artificer took a step back.
The pure murderous intent emanating from the two girls was enough to send shivers down anyone's spine. Even his.
"I...am afraid that I cannot give him to you at this time. You will simply have to wait like everyone else."
"I was worried about that. Oh well...say Artificer, why do you feel the need to hold our allies hostage?" Isabella asked.
"I will not entertain anymore of this conversation."
"Very well. Get out. Breathing the same air as us is quite revolting, to say the least," Isabella said.
"Indeed. Even looking at him is enough to make me nauseous," Cassandra said.
"..."
The Artificer turned and sighed. He disappeared from his spot without a trace.
"Sister, let us retreat to the lower level. I have something I would like to discuss with you," Isabella said.
"Of course, dear sister."
The two of them stepped onto the small platform and were lowered into the living section of the cell.
As soon as the area above them was closed off, they stepped onto the platform and sat down on the bed.
"You felt it, didn't you? While he stood within the cell," Isabella said.
"Of course. How could I not notice?"
"Mizik is nearby. In fact..." Isabella said as she stood up and pressed a switch on the wall.
The bottom of the cell opened to reveal a clear window looking directly downward.
Far below Dominus, there was a massive spherical structure. It resembled an entire world all on its own.
It was entirely gray with many uneven blocky structures on it. The surface looked very unnatural...as if it were a collection of giant blocks.
Giant blocks that may have even been capable of moving to reveal something underneath...
"Feels like it may be coming from below."
"Ah...now I want to stay down here. I'll even lay on the floor if it means I can be closer to Darling!" Cassandra said.
"No, sister. Use the bed. You'll want to be clean when he arrives, won't you?"
"Oh? You mean when we try to break him out?"
"Indeed. Mizik is in there. Of this, I am certain. And our special connections to him may be the keys to breaking him out. Such as Adoring Resonance..."
"And Obsessive Resonance..."
"Don't worry, my love. It won't be long now, hopefully," Isabella said.
The two of them had already grabbed the magical threads of Mizik's presence. And with that, they could feel their connection to him.
"Our first goal should be to disable the anti-magic barrier preventing us from doing anything. How should we accomplish this, sister?" Cassandra asked.
"I'm not sure. Perhaps we should wait a bit before trying such a thing?" Isabella said.
"Very well...I will try to contain myself. We much be patient. This much, I understand," Cassandra said.
And with that, the two girls waited for any form of opportunity.