"What the hell happened to him?!" Asfi asked, perplexed at the sight of Hermes. The god wore a lifeless expression, his eyes dull and unfocused.
I knew right away: Ishtar had charmed him. Without wasting any more time on the surface, I entered the building, silently making my way through the halls. The other Familia members were fast asleep, so I took care to avoid any noise that could cause a commotion. All I needed was to get Hermes to his room.
Upon opening his door, I found that it looked just like any other standard bedroom—nothing special, despite it belonging to the flamboyant Hermes. I laid him down on the bed, covered him with a blanket, and quietly exited the room.
As I closed the door, Asfi was waiting for me with her arms crossed, her expression troubled. She had an idea of what had transpired but seemed unsettled by our visit.
"Mind telling me what happened there? Hermes looks like his soul has left his body. Did Ishtar have something to do with this?" she asked quietly.
Her voice was low, the dim lights of the main hall barely illuminating her tired eyes. Dressed in her usual attire but without her cloak, she looked like she hadn't slept in days.
"Yeah, Ishtar charmed him. I'm guessing she had her way with him until he was completely drained. On top of that, someone went missing, so we were kicked out," I replied, keeping my voice down. "It's too late to get into the details. I'm heading to the dungeon."
Asfi sighed in resignation and let me go. The moment I left, I heard the door locks click behind me, likely signaling her return to whatever tasks she had been occupied with. I, on the other hand, made my way to the dungeon—to my real home.
The city was dead silent at this hour, and I didn't encounter a single soul as I approached Babel Tower. With quick movements, I slipped inside the dungeon and headed for the stairwell. Ever since I completed my flight training, I hadn't had a chance to test my abilities properly.
As I free-fell, wind rushing past my face, I tightened my legs and, with a quick adjustment, I was flying. My descent came to a halt, and I hovered in mid-air. Unlike my first attempts, I now had better control, though I still lacked the finesse of a master.
I descended gracefully to the first floor without a scratch. If anyone had seen me, they would've been scared out of their wits.
Moving toward a secret area, I retrieved an item from my purse to unlock a hidden passage. This route was far more efficient than fighting my way through monsters, even though I did need to level up. But for now, other priorities took precedence.
Navigating through the tunnels, I eventually reached Rivira on the deeper dungeon floors. The glowing blue crystals bathed the area in a soft, ethereal light, mimicking the surface sky. I found my way through the familiar trees and bushes until I arrived at my hidden house. Before I could open the door, it swung open.
"Welcome back, dear. Would you like dinner? A bath? Or... me?" Azathoth, in her kitsune form, greeted me with confidence. She wore her usual kimono, though the scent of a delicious dinner wafted from within.
"Appreciate the welcome, but I'd just like to get inside," I said, leaning in close. "Also... what should I call you?"
She smiled and, catching me off guard, kissed me on the cheek. "Call me Yoko. Now, come in and enjoy the dinner I've prepared for you and Haruhime."
Yoko had gone all in on the devoted housewife act. As I stepped inside, she closed the door behind me and returned to the kitchen. I noticed Haruhime sitting quietly on a bed, her eyes filled with a mix of hope and sadness.
"Thank you for saving me, Sir Niall," she said softly. "I don't know how I could ever repay you for all the trouble..."
She tried to bow, but I stopped her. "No need for that, and drop the 'sir.' Just rest here until things on the surface calm down. I believe Yoko explained everything you need to know. For now, just relax."
Haruhime nodded with a small smile, her yellow tail swaying as she made her way to bed. However, I couldn't help but notice a new section of the house that hadn't been there before.
Curious, I walked over to the kitchen where Yoko was cleaning up with a bright smile. She turned around, placing her hands on my waist, a flicker of amusement in her red eyes.
"Don't worry about Haruhime; she's fine living here for now," Yoko reassured me. "I even removed her falna, so she's no longer bound to Ishtar. But enough about that—I'm thrilled to finally be here with you."
She released my waist and led me to the newly added room. "Hope you don't mind, but I added a bedroom for us," she said, opening the door to reveal a cozy-looking double bed with various decorations.
"Even if we both don't need sleep, Haruhime would probably wonder where we rest after a while," she explained. "Now, come rest with me. I can tell you have some questions."
She slipped off her kimono, revealing her bare form with a black bra and panties. I sighed internally, giving in to the situation as she gestured for me to join her on the bed.
Her soft, fluffy tail brushed against my legs as she lay next to me, her hands resting on my body.
"You won't take off your clothes, will you? Guess I'll have to do it myself," she teased, snapping her fingers. Instantly, my clothes vanished, leaving only my underwear and a green shirt.
I sighed in defeat. "Do you know what happened to me after you sent me back when we dealt with Aeshma?" My question seemed to catch her off guard, and her expression shifted.
"No? I didn't notice anything unusual when I sent you back. If I had, I would have told you immediately," she replied, concern evident in her eyes as one hand caressed my cheek while the other rested on my thigh.
"I found myself in a vast, open space filled with stars and galaxies," I explained. "I kept hearing a voice asking, 'What do we have here?' repeatedly until it grew angry and demanded I look at it. But when I turned, there was nothing."
Yoko's eyes widened, her expression darkening with a mix of anger and worry. It was the first time I had seen her so unsettled.
"Why didn't you tell me this sooner?" she asked, gripping my face firmly. Her usual confidence was replaced by urgency.
"It seems they've made their move after all this time. Niall, listen to me—you won't be traveling between dimensions or worlds for a while. Not until I figure out exactly who that entity was," she said, her tone serious.
Then without warning, she kissed me deeply. "Until then, I'll stay here with you. You're not strong enough to face the rest of my family."
There were too many questions and no clear answers. It was obvious that whatever had happened was connected to the other gods—and trouble was brewing on the horizon. For now, all I could do was prepare for what was to come.