EVE OF WAR
“Riveria. Leave that person to me.”
It was on the eve of the second attack on Knossos that Aiz came to Riveria with that request.
They stood in the suspended corridor that ran between two of their manor’s towers. Riveria had called Aiz here so that the two could speak one-on-one, beneath the sea of stars. Both had been assigned to unit two for the operation, but the high elf didn’t answer Aiz immediately. She remained silent, her jade eyes displaying a look of worry for the girl’s safety.
“…”
The person Aiz had referred to was their most fearsome foe, the creature Levis. If it had been up to Riveria, Aiz would never go anywhere near that dangerous woman, but there were six demi-spirits to contend with, and it simply wasn’t possible to hold any forces in reserve. Moreover, it seemed the redheaded monster was targeting Aiz. The only option was to let her have her. Riveria was wise and had already considered all this.
“…As long as you don’t die out there.”
“I won’t. I promise.”
Aiz didn’t break her gaze. She was like a sword, stubborn and unyielding. All Riveria could do was sigh.
“…Very well,” she said. “Loki tells me your stats have come a long way in recent weeks.”
“Riveria…Thank you.”
Aiz breathed a soft sigh of relief.
“But I must ask,” said Riveria. “How did you improve so much in such a short time? I hear your stats increased by over two hundred fifty apiece.”
“Warlord taught me. I was practicing with him and…”
The elation of Riveria’s acceptance caused Aiz to lower her guard for a moment, and by the time she realized what she’d let slip, it was too late. Riveria’s soft smile vanished in an instant, replaced with a frigid gaze.
“I see,” she said. “I did think it didn’t match what you’d attained in the Dungeon…So that’s how you did it.”
Aiz had been training since before the first assault began, but she’d never told her fellow members about it, because she knew there was a 99 percent chance that Riveria would blow up at her if she did. It went without saying that any upstanding Loki Familia member cavorting with the backward barbarians at Freya Familia was committing a faux pas of the highest order.
Objection! Leading the witness! She set me up!
“R-Riveria, wait! I just wanted to improve!”
“How many times do I have to tell you? As a top member of this familia, you should think about how your actions will be perceived! It looks like I’m going to need to teach you another lesson, young lady.”
Even before the battle had been joined, Aiz’s screams could be heard echoing above the manor.
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