That’s what she’d asked them as a test, trying to scare them.
“A mistake that came to pass only because we weren’t there to watch over you. Though you don’t seem all too concerned about it,” the prum captain—Finn—answered, almost sympathetically.
—This bastard!
Everything about him had rubbed her the wrong way. In fact, it probably wouldn’t have been possible to make a worse first impression.
The prum called to his dwarf friend, confirming the conditions of battle and that they’d have to defeat the two to induct them into the familia. To this, Tione was quick to reply.
“You’re the boss, aren’t you? Then stop letting others do your dirty work for you! Fight me! Or are you too scared, you cowardly prum?!”
Finn looked taken aback for a moment before that same smile from earlier returned.
“Saucy little lass, ain’t she? And here I thought Bete was bad! Are all the young folk this hotheaded nowadays?”
“I can’t say you were much different when we first met, Gareth.”
As the dwarf and elf murmured behind him, Finn took center, consenting to a one-on-one battle with Tione. Next to her and as spirited as ever, Tiona awaited her own fight with Gareth.
Tione had thought nothing of the weak, feeble prum she saw back then. There was no way, after all, she could lose to someone so tiny. And besides, while she might have fought plenty of opponents tougher than her out on the road, none of them came close to the monsters Argana and Bache had been. This had not only made her careless but had greatly narrowed her point of view, as well.
The renown of the so-called top-tier adventurers of Orario meant nothing to her.
And she didn’t know this prum’s name, either.
“”
The battle was over in an instant. Grabbing her arm, the tiny prum sent her flying through the air.
Even as she ran at him again for a second attempt, fury coursing through her, the results were the same. She was completely, thoroughly trounced. And Tiona didn’t fare much better against that Gareth character, either, having been promptly flung to the ground.
As Tione sat there on the stone cobbles, entirely dumbfounded, the prum warrior approached.
“That’s it, then. You’re to join our familia.”
She looked up to see those calm, composed eyes gazing down at her, and for the first time in her life, she felt something grow inside her. Something she’d never felt before as her heart thudded loudly in her chest.
Tione began to change after that.
Meeting Finn had birthed a change inside her.
By beating her so thoroughly, that detestable prum had punched a hole into her heart. And in that hole, love formed.
It wasn’t an uncommon thing for Amazons to get their hearts stolen by powerful men who could best even them. They all talked of one day hoping to give birth to such a man, and Tione had been no different.
If Tione had had to come up with one thing about Finn she didn’t like, it was that he was too intellectual, not wild or rugged enough—but even those thoughts would betray her, as with just one spell, Finn could turn himself instantly into a crazed warrior. Hidden deep inside him was the most ruthless soldier of all.
Shit, he’s the one—!!
As he fulfilled more and more of her requirements, she came to realize that he was truly her ideal man, a heroic warrior.
And the more she learned about him, the longer she stood by his side, the more of her heart he stole. He was so kind, so brilliant, so strong. It had to be fate! It simply had to be!
Thus, the young Amazonian girl who’d never known anything but fighting fell in love for the first time.
And with that, she revealed the blushing young maiden she’d long kept hidden within her.
“Captain!…What…what kind of girl do you like?”
“Hmm…I suppose someone who’s upfront and honest would be enough for me. Though if I had to say more, perhaps someone graceful?”
Her new life as part of Loki Familia changed her. It wasn’t just consciously, either, but subconsciously, too—the same way her sister influenced her. And though it may have made others laugh at her, she did everything in her power to be exactly what Finn wanted. Even going so far as to clean up her dirty mouth and unrefined mannerisms. She even let her hair grow long, all the way down to her waist, in hopes it would make her appear more scholarly, much like the high elf constantly by Finn’s side, Riveria.
An all-new Amazon, with love burning even brighter than that of the greatest of lovers, burst onto the scene. But this newfound love wasn’t the only thing about her that changed. She started to look forward to the opportunities each new day brought with it. She began to smile and laugh enough to annoy even her own sister.
As far as battles went, the Dungeon was enough to get her blood boiling. The very first expedition they participated in was enough of an adventure to propel both Tione and her sister to Level 4. It was within that underground labyrinth that she learned the value of teamwork—a world where not even she and her sister, let alone her by herself, could have survived—and her first bonds with other people began to form.
And then there was the mysterious girl.
Aiz Wallenstein. The “Sword Princess.” A beautiful girl with golden hair and golden eyes, whose features rivaled even those of the gods. Tione hadn’t been able to believe her ears when she was told this girl held the fastest record for leveling up. Aiz had reached Level 2 even before Tione and Tiona, which was saying something considering the two of them had been killing things since the day they were born. In a single year, the young blond swordswoman had reached Level 2, something Tione and her sister had taken five years to achieve. Finn and the others were already proof enough of the strangeness of Orarian adventurers—this Aiz girl was practically a heretic.
Even so, Aiz rarely interacted with the rest of the familia. If they did see her, it was usually out in the manor’s courtyard, training with her sword, or disappearing into the Dungeon unnoticed despite there being no expedition to join. The only ones who’d said more than a few words to her were Loki, Riveria, and the other elites.
In the beginning, Tione didn’t have any particular desire to approach the young, otherworldly girl. Tiona, however, was quite different.
“That girl Aiz. She reminds me a lot of you way back when.”
“What?!”
But Tiona had only laughed, like always, at the skepticism on Tione’s face.
“No way I can let that slide! I’m gonna be friends with her!”
Which was how, little by little, the three of them had formed a small group. Though Aiz had been hesitant to accept Tiona’s (aggressive) advances at first, it didn’t take long for the smiles to start. And soon, they’d even taken on another member—Lefiya and her undying affection for Aiz.
Tione had found someone to love.
She’d found companions.
She’d found a place to call home.
The despair, the strife, and the annoyances of her past had all been leading to this day.
It was by telling herself this that she’d been able to make a clean break from her past, or so she thought. It had seemed, for the most part, like she had.
Until now—
“It seems like before somehow…just the two of us.”
The words Tiona had muttered earlier that day echoed in the back of her mind.
“…”
Tione turned her head forward, breaking free of her memories of Orario.
Not allowing herself to get lost any further in her thoughts, she made her way back to the abandoned factory.
“Let’s go, Tiona.”
“Got it.”
Thus, the two sisters set forth, to cut their ties with fate and to free themselves from their past.
“Miss Aiz! One of the fishermen saw some Amazons down by the pier!”
Back in Meren proper, Aiz was out searching for any traces of Tione, Tiona, or Kali Familia when Narfi came
bounding toward her.
“…Keep a lookout, then, by the pier. If you see anything, shoot something into the sky—a light bullet or magic or something.”
“Roger that!”
“You’re not to engage them yourself. If you see anything, wait for Riveria or me before taking any action,” she instructed, somehow giving a rare complete set of commands.
Narfi and the other girls nodded in confirmation before quickly running off to relay the news to Riveria and the rest of the familia.
“I hope they’re…okay…”
Aiz turned her gaze skyward for a moment, thinking of her friends, before dashing off herself down the bustling street.
“According to the guards stationed along the city walls, there’s been no sign of anyone resembling Tione or her sister…nor any members of Kali Familia,” Riveria reported.
“Which means they’re still hidin’ in the city…or maybe…the lake?” Loki mumbled. The two of them were in their hotel “base camp,” out on the balcony with its panoramic view of the entire city.
“Additionally, it seems Aiz and the others have gotten wind of a possible lead down near the pier.”
“That does it, then! I’ll head to the fishing pier myself.” Loki nodded as she turned away from the balcony’s railing.
Riveria took a few steps toward her, backlit by the light of the hotel room.
“We’d best abandon our original mission. We’ve far too many matters to attend to even without our search for the violas.”
“Huh? Oh yeah. Thanks to Aizuu, that’s all covered. The strings’re all comin’ together,” Loki remarked flippantly.
Riveria sharply turned her head. “What?”
But all she got from Loki was a wave of her hand and a nonchalant “Tell ya later!” as the goddess went back to staring out across the city. “Though we still don’t know just who’s pulling those strings…” Loki muttered, eyes narrowing against the dark expanse.
“It’s quite nice watching the ants scurry about from on high, hmm?” Ishtar mused from atop her decadent chair on the highest floor of the city’s most extravagant hotel. “Taking out even one of Loki’s top men would bring with it significant advantages. As much as it might incur their resentment, she has no choice but to turn her attention toward those hillbilly hicks…And if that lot becomes useless, so be it—I’ll simply find someone else, even if it does delay my plans.”
The goddess curled her lips deliciously around the end of her kiseru pipe, gazing down upon the players of her game. Outside the window and past the haze of purple smoke rising up from between her teeth, the lake and port town lay dormant in the moonlight.
“Lady Ishtar…”
“Back already, Aisha? Is there a problem?”
“I was on my way to do as you’d instructed, but…this? What is this?”
A long-legged Amazon appeared by her side. Back from her report, she gave a tense, dubious look.
“Ah, this is your first time seeing one of these, is it?…Truthfully, I don’t know much about them, either. Only that they have some kind of connection to those constantly sneaking around.”
“…”
“You have something to say, Aisha?” Ishtar’s amethyst eyes narrowed with a bewitching edge, and Aisha sucked in her breath. Quite suddenly, her right hand gave a twitch, almost as if she was remembering something, then she yanked her gaze away.
“…I shall return to my duties.”
“See that you do.”
Ishtar watched the Amazon leave the room, a hint of a smile playing on her lips as she placed the kiseru back on her tongue.
“Lenaaaaa! Did you bring my armorrrr?”
—The voice came from a large room a short ways away from Ishtar’s top-floor suite.
The enormous Phryne was meeting with another Amazon who’d just returned from Orario.
“Your…your axes, too…”
“It took you so longggggg. Are you really ssssso incompetent? You evennnn left yesterday! You should have had plenty of timmmmme.”
“It…it took time to get out of the city! I had to use that…that company who’s getting us in and out…I’m sorry!” her younger colleague responded fearfully.
Phryne grabbed the bag of equipment out of the girl’s grip with one hand. The heavy vermilion armor glinted in the light as she eased open the bag’s tie.
“Hee-hee-hee…Thissssss time…this time I will crush you, Sword Princessssss,” she hissed. The smile on her face was a mixture of exhilaration and unbridled rage. She threw a glance toward the side of the room. “Prepare yourselfffff, Haruhime!”
“…Yes, ma’am.”
The girl responded faintly from beneath her white veil.
Arms across her chest and eyes glued to the floor, she followed solemnly behind the giant woman.
“Come on out, my little Tione…”
Argana’s voice cut through the darkness. Her eyes glittered with a kind of reptilian ferocity, bound hair swaying to and fro.
Behind her, the rest of her fellow Amazons stood biding their time in the lake’s breeze.
“Meditating, Bache? That’s rare for you,” Kali called out from her place on the floor.
“…”
Away from where Argana stood impatiently, Kali and Bache were in a large stone cavern, larger than the cave in which Lefiya was currently being held captive.
“You can’t wait to fight her, can you?”
“…”
“Heh, I can see it on your face.”
Bache opened her eyes wordlessly, her mouth still hidden by her ever-present neckerchief. In those eyes burned a desire for battle, the same as the one in her sister’s.
“I look forward to it, too…Let the feast begin.” Kali’s lips parted in demented laughter. Her voice echoed off the cave walls before melting into the shadows.
Unknowing of the matters at hand, the lake waters trembled silently, cresting against the cliff face.
The long night was about to begin.
CHAPTER 5
A DUO OF SUN AND MOON
Meren’s port lay flush with the elliptical curve around the brackish expanse of Lolog Lake. To the east of the port rose its trade and fishing piers, easily its busiest quarters, and to the west, its massive wharf and shipyard, where the giant galleons sailed in and laid anchor.
On the occasions when the wharf wasn’t full, it opened its docks to overflow passenger ships from the trade pier. Even now, enough ships to form a fleet were tethered to its moors. In the shipyard, which jutted into dry land, a number of ships in either mid-repair or mid-construction lay in wait.
Now that high-seas monster attacks were all too common, it had become common these days for shipwrights to coat ships, especially the bottom, in various types of sturdy ingots, though the most expensive (and most effective) ingots like mythril were reserved for boats of the wealthy and other large-scale vessels.
Minerals and ores from the Dungeon like the resilient noh steel sold especially well here. And because the exchange and sale of Dungeon drop items were handled by commercial familias and merchants as well, this made for some rather aggressive negotiations when it came to the minerals they bought up from adventurers.
Currently, the shipyard was devoid of shipwrights of any kind under the veil of night. The magic-stone lanterns had all been snuffed, and the warped outlines of wooden ships floated against the night sky. An eerie quiet, unsuitable for the “gateway to Orario” that Meren was, had settled over the perimeter.
It was in this shipyard that they found Argana.
“I’ve been waiting for you,” she greeted them in the tongue of their country. Behind her, a great many other Amazons awaited.
“What happened to all the people here, huh?” Tione responded in kind. Argana’s smile never faltered. “I thought they typically worked late into the night.”
“They…decided to turn in early.”
Tione scowled.
“Where’s Lefiya?” Tiona asked next to her.
“She’s with Kali and Bache. Not here.”
Compared to her crude Koine, Argana’s Amazonian language was smooth and fluent, with not a single stutter. She raised her arm, pointing off in a direction away from the city proper.
“You’re to continue on, Tiona. The way will become clear. Bache is waiting for you.”
The two sisters glanced at each other.
Then, a nod.
They had no choice but to obey their opponent’s demand and split up, effectively negating any chance they might have had to work together.
“Don’t lose, Tiona,” Tione whispered behind her just as the moon peeked out from a gap in the clouds, bathing her in its light. Her eyes never left Argana.
“…I won’t. You don’t, either,” Tiona replied briefly before running out ahead. Parting from her sister, she took off in the direction Argana had indicated.
“You’ll follow me, Tione.”
“…”
Remaining vigilant, Tione made her way toward the other Amazon.
They boarded a large galleon currently docked at the wharf, bodies melding into the darkness.
“We’re going to fight here? Don’t you think this is a little conspicuous?” Tione remarked, brows furrowed, but Argana simply laughed. The rest of the Amazons quickly disappeared inside the ship.
“Seeing us won’t do them any good if they can’t follow us.”
Almost as if on cue, the ship began to move.
As Tione gave a jump, large oars plunged out of the ship’s hold, landing in the water below, and soon they were sailing, farther and farther away from the wharf.
“It’s a bit of an impromptu battlefield, so I’m afraid it won’t give us quite as much space as back home.”
The ship sliced through the surface of the lake as the oars of the powerful Amazons belowdeck propelled it forward.
“They’ve put some thought into this, huh…?” Tione murmured under her breath as the ship shuddered beneath her feet. No way anyone’s getting between us this far out at sea…It won’t be over till one of us kicks the bucket.
Considering the ship’s “engine” was an entire host of Telskyuran warriors (each of whom was as powerful as a top-tier adventurer), even if another oar-driven ship set off from the coast now, they’d never be able to match their speed.
Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? On the Side: Sword Oratoria, Vol. 6 Page 18