OMPHALOS
Cloudburst (7:00 PM): Hey, sorry I haven’t been responding. Been a bit busy.
Reverie (7:04 PM): Don’t worry about it!
Reverie (7:04 PM): I’ve been a bit busy too, adjusting to my schedule and stuff.
Reverie (7:04 PM): I hope you’re doing okay?
Cloudburst (7:05 PM): Yeah, I’m doing okay.
Reverie (7:05 PM): Good!! That’s very good.
Reverie (7:06 PM): I hope you ate by now?
Cloudburst (7:07 PM): Yeah, I had some bread and salad
Reverie (7:07 PM): Yay!!! Sustenance!!!!
Cloudburst (7:08 PM): What about you? What did you have today?
Reverie (7:08 PM): I had pasta today~ and some grapes
Reverie (7:08 PM): >.< I made the pasta a bit too spicy;; I had to use up the Thai chilis though so…
Cloudburst (7:08 PM): Is your stomach okay?
Reverie (7:08 PM): For now
Reverie (7:09 PM): Might be a different story tomorrow morning but oh well, too late
Cloudburst (7:09 PM): Then I hope that your stomach won’t incapacitate you for too long
#
This was the first time Samira had woken up in someone’s arms in years— the last time being her parents when she was a small child. Adelheid continued to carry Samira even after acknowledging that her Contractor was awake. It was early, minutes before daybreak, and the university student deserved to rest a little bit more. Not to mention, the Warden had no issues with carrying Samira, who was as light as a feather in her eyes.
“When did I fall asleep?” Samira asked. She didn’t remember falling asleep.
“At the park when we decided to take a break. You fell asleep a couple minutes after sitting down on the bench,” Adelheid replied. “It’s normal. The day’s been stressful, and we walked for quite a long time.”
“Are we going to stop anywhere before we go to the tower?”
“I wasn’t planning on it— we’ll arrive within half an hour and the lobby should have a resting lounge and a food court.”
“A food court? Is that a thing in the tower?”
“It’s not a normal player privilege, so it’s not mentioned in Lasimonne’s story. The guides need to eat somehow.”
Right. Adelheid had a human body— she had the same needs for eating and sleeping as Samira. So the guides, who were in a similar position as Adelheid, would also have those needs.
『But would it be okay to use something that isn’t available to everyone else?』
“Just think of it as a Warden advantage,” Adelheid said, as if she heard Samira’s concerns. “Anyone associated with the Apostles and their kinsmen would have access to the area. Regardless of if you use it or not, the others who don’t have it won’t be able to access it.”
Samira remained silent, and Adelheid didn’t continue with the conversation. Instead, the university student looked up at the sky, watching the darkness melt away into soft pinks and oranges. The cool dawn breeze caressed Samira’s cheeks.
『Have I ever taken the time to admire this scenery before?』
It should be something that Samira saw nearly everyday, yet it felt different. Was it because she didn’t have any obligations that distracted her? She didn’t know, but she wasn’t sure if it was really something she needed to pay attention to. The fact that she had nothing else to do could be the reason. She kept her attention on the sky, watching as the stars and moon faded away beneath the curtain of light that came from the rising sun.
She didn’t notice how Adelheid slowed down to give her more time to take in the morning sky.
#
Once Samira had fallen asleep on the park bench, Adelheid laid her down on her back. She then crouched down beside Samira and began to card her fingers through the university student’s hair. It was a bit tangled, so the hitwoman took her time. It was going to take some time for Samira to wake up.
A low growl stopped Adelheid’s movements. She sighed and turned her head.
“What’s a little thing like you doing here?” Adelheid asked. It was a small Ephialtes — one the size of a raccoon. It resembled one too, except its ears resembled a bunny’s floppy ones and it had the antlers of a deer. “Are you a remnant from the last wave? I don’t see your pack.”
The creature continued to creep towards Adelheid.
“You’re pretty cute, so I’d love to keep you, but…” Adelheid stood up.
It let out a pained squeal as Adelheid’s foot made contact with its torso.
“I won’t be merciful with anything that threatens her.”
The playground equipment wobbled as the Ephialtes’ body collided into it. The chimera went limp as it hit the ground; it had become a meat pancake. Adelheid stared at the corpse with a devilish smile.
“What a perfect one hit kill.” She praised. “I didn’t even get any bodily fluids on me~!” Her eyes flickered gold. “Maybe I could go hunting? I’m sure there’s a few more stragglers.”
Adelheid could feel the temptation to satisfy her bloodlust crawl through her veins. Killing two Ephialtes wasn’t enough, not when they hardly put up a fight. She wanted more—she wanted to punch her fist through their chest, twist and break off their limbs, and rip their heads off their bodies. The stragglers weren’t going to amount to much, but she desired anything to satiate her hunger for blood.
Had she been alone, she would’ve gone hunting. Instead, the hitwoman began to trace her fingers with her thumbs as she concentrated on her breathing. She needed to collect herself. Watching over Samira and protecting her was her priority. The stragglers weren’t important, but Samira was. Her bloodlust could be satisfied later—the Ephialtes come and go whenever they like after all.
“Oh Ophelia, won’t you give me the strength to resist my mortal urges?” Adelheid prayed under her breath.
The golden hue vanished from her eyes, effectively returning them to their soft lavender color. The Warden stretched her arms and shoulders before heading over to the bench where Samira was sleeping.
“Excuse me, Shangri-La.” Adelheid lifted her Contractor up into a bridal carry with ease. Doing a bit more traveling won’t hurt, not to mention, Adelheid wanted some more exercise too.
#
Adelheid let Samira walk the last couple minutes of the trip to Khachatur’s Tower. Samira took this time to put the Azure Serpent Bracelet on so they wouldn’t waste any time at the gates. The two guards that stood at the large double doors stared at the pair as they approached the tower entrance.
“Please show us your entry token,” one of the guards requested. Samira held her left hand out, allowing the guard to examine the bracelet.
“Is Adelheid Hesse your Warden?” The guard questioned.
“Yes,” Samira answered.
“We will need to see your proof of contract as well.”
Samira unzipped her windbreaker and pulled the necklace out. The guard stared at the gem charm for a few seconds before reaching for the door handle.
“Welcome to Khachatur’s Tower; I hope you obtain your desired glory.”
“Iris, will you be our guide today?” Adelheid asked the guard.
“Please call me Lita while I’m stationed here,” the guard corrected her. “Even if we are family, there are formalities that must be obliged to.”
“Alright, alright. So? Will I be seeing you later, Lita?”
“I will be in charge of the group that starts at fourteen o’clock.”
Adelheid smiled. “Then, we’ll see you later. Let’s go inside, Cloudburst.” Adelheid placed her hands on top of Samira’s shoulders and guided her into the tower.
The doors slammed shut behind them. Samira looked around at the lobby. Gray walls, blue carpets, and oak flooring. Serpents were engraved on the marble pillars, while the furniture was made with dark blue fabrics and wood. A grand spiral staircase stood in the center of the room— presumably the way up to the next floor.
“Shangri-La, let’s head to the food court,” Adelheid suggested. “We have quite a bit of time until two o’clock, so we can relax for a bit longer.”
“Okay,” Samira agreed.
“There’s a delicious tiramisu at the bakery— you have to try it!”
The tiramisu was delectable. The way the sweet cream melted in her mouth, the sponges texture of the ladyfingers, and the hint of bitterness that came from the cacao powder— this was the first time Samira tasted such perfection. It was something she expected Vincent Ferguson, the chef of the Gardens Family, to make.
“Here, have a lemon cookie and this blueberry tart,” Adelheid said as she slid over another plate towards Samira.
“I won’t be able to eat this much,” she told her Warden.
“Just take a bite~. I’ll finish it for you if you can’t.” She said as she took another scoop of her gelato— a delightful tomato flavor with a drizzle of brown sugar syrup.
Despite Samira’s concerns, she managed to devour the cookie and tart alongside the tiramisu. The desserts were too good to pass, even after a hefty serving of rotini fiorentina. That being said, Samira didn’t think she could eat any more, and much to her relief, Adelheid didn’t push her.
The Warden herself ate a serving of carbonara and spaghetti alle vongole, and at the bakery, she had an orange tart, three yellow custard buns, and one slice of sachertorte. The tomato gelato was from the café, where she also picked up a cup of black coffee. Adelheid stretched her legs out as she finished her meal.
“Ahh~ that was good,” Adelheid hummed. “Though, they could improve on the tomato gelato.”
『I’m curious if the tomato gelato was even good in the first place.』
“If we ever meet up with Vincent, I’ll get him to make some of it for you. His is the embodiment of perfection.”
“It…just seems like a strange flavor to make into gelato.”
“It’s pretty delicious, especially if the tomatoes are sweet enough.”
Samirs was about to respond when the sound of a bell chime interrupted her.
“Players who intend on participating in the fourteen o’clock group, please gather in the lobby. I will be providing you some information so you can make the appropriate preparations before you begin.” A voice from the overhead speakers announced.
“Guess that’s our signal to get going,” Adelheid said as she got up from her seat. She held her hand out for Samira. “Time to burn some calories, and maybe a few bodies.”
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