Chapter 360: [Vol.3] Quest 282- A Ephemeral Dream Of A Possibility

The next day

"Alright, well, tell me when it’s ready," Cirrus asked Circe.

"I will; enjoy your day!" she said happily.

"Try not to cause any trouble, alright?" Said Artemis.

"You’re not my mom!"

"No, but she is your wife, so listen to her." Said Rethusa.

"Pssh! You ain’t gotta listen to them!" said Nox. "Ay, just fuck shit up, Cirrus! And enjoy yourself!"

"I know you always got me!" Cirrus and Nox nodded at one another like old friends.

"Ah… That’s where she got it from." They all said as they looked at the two.

"Oh, is Ai still getting her punishment?" Cirrus looked to Artemis.

"She is."

Down in the third tower's jail cells.

"Ugh! No!! Get that away from me!! Stop throwing it!!" Ai said in the corner of the cell, her Falna sealed, covering herself.

"Eat it!! Eat it!!" Cale, Phi, and Lante, along with several others, were tossing into the cell rotten food and Ai’s least favorite food from the smell alone, Natto.

With her strong sense of smell, it was hell.

"GYYYAAAAA!!!" One of them tossed it into one of her fox ears. "NO!!!! IT’S ALL GROSS AND SMELLY!!!!"

Back up to Cirrus and the others.

"… Anyway." Artemis smiled brightly. "Enjoy your day, Cirrus."

Since this was Cirrus’s last day as a youth, he wanted to spend it how he wanted.

"Alright, well, see ya!" He gets his board and leaves.

He had the chance to claim some of his lost childhood, and he was going to claim as much of it as possible.

 

He rides through the city without a care in the world.

Flutter!

Flutter!

The gentle breeze blew through his hair and clothes. The laughter of adults and children fills his ears. He loved it.

He smiles as he goes through the city, and he comes across the Loki Familia home.

"… Hey Hecton, we have paint, right?"

"We do." He said, popping one of his heads from the shadows. "Are you thinking of—"

"Yes. Yes, I am."

 

Walking through the Familia home, Ais, Tiona, and Tione go to the courtyard.

"So what do you wanna do after practice?" asked Tiona.

"Maybe we can… Who is that?" asked Tione.

They walk out to the courtyard to see a kid painting something. The kid was wearing all black, and when they were caught, they quickly ran with a brush, leaving behind a trail of paint as he painted the walls.

"Hey, stop that!" shouted Tione.

"Kiss my ass!!" he said, running away into their home.

"He’s going to paint the whole Familia home!" said Tione, worried. "How did he even get in? Why aren’t you two angry that he’s ruining our home?"

Tione looked at Tiona and Ais, but they didn’t care.

"I think it looks nice!" Tiona said.

"Hm," Ais said. "Gives color to this home."

"Grr!! Fine! I’ll catch him!!!"

Tione gave chase, running with every ounce of her strength.

"Hm… Let's see what he drew." Tiona said.

"Hm."

They approached the painting he had created.

They look to see Loki cartoonishly evil with a crown that is X-ed out.

"Hm…" Ais looked at Tiona. "Do you think I can draw as well as this?"

Tiona looked at the painting and at Ais.

"Hmm… I think you can!"

 

While inside the home, Tione tries to catch the kid.

"Hahahahaha!!! Brush go, brr!!!"

"Stop doing that, you brat!!" shouted Tione. "You’re making a mess!!! I’m going to make you clean all this up and have your parents give you a stern talking—to!!"

Tione was so angry that she was leaving footprint-shaped steps behind.

"What’s going—!!"

Raul stepped out to get the paint across his face.

"You should have stayed inside! Hahahaha!!!"

He increased his speed a bit more.

"What the hell is going—!!" Bete got his face painted.

"Another one!!"

"Shitty brat!!! Who let him in!!" he said, chasing after him. "Shitty Amazon!!!"

"He was just here, you Shitty Wolf!! Help me catch him!!"

"♫El perro, el perro, es mi corazon.

El gato, el gato, el gato no es bueno♫"

He sang as if to taunt them.

"That little shit!! I’ll get him!!!"

Bete kicked off with more speed, and as he was about to grab his hood, he sped up just slightly more to always be so tantalizingly close.

"Nuh-Uh-Uh!"

"!!" Anger filled Bete as he ran faster and faster. "COME HERE, YOU SHITTY BRAT!!!"

They ran through much of the Familia home, coming back to the courtyard.

 

In the courtyard, they came into contact with a Pallum, High-Elf, and Dwarf with their goddess.

"So you were the one who made this mess, Cirrus?" Said Finn.

"Huff!! Huff!! Huff!!" Tione and Bete were tired from how Cirrus led them around, and they were surprised it was Cirrus.

They should have realized that a child was outrunning them in retrospect.

"Pretty good!" Cirrus removed his hood. "I mean, it should have been obvious given that I outran two first-class adventures. Maybe they should go to school and educate them a bit."

He had a smile on his face with a shit-eating grin.

"Why did you make this blasphemous art of me!!" Loki shouted, pointing at the painting he had done.

‘He looks like that old yandere bat! It makes sense now why he hid his face for so long. At least he loses it when he gets older.’

Looking at his face, Loki, Finn, Riveria, and Gareth could very much see his striking resemblance to Hera and Nephele.

"Uh, it’s called interpretive art, you rusty trickster! Plus, I’m a kid, and I figured I would do this for good ol’ pettiness' sake."

"What for?" asked Gareth.

"I’m sure you know; I am only 8 years old," Cirrus said with some venom.

"We really don’t know," said Riveria.

It has been a while for them to remember, or maybe the reason he did it has not set in just yet.

"No matter. I’ve done what I came to do." Cirrus took out a black ball. "I still need to hit you up, Freya." He smashed the ball into the ground, causing an explosion of colorful smoke that soon dissipated.

"Don’t worry, captain! We’ll get him—"

"Don’t." Finn cut Tione off. "He has his level 8 status. How do you think he evaded you all so easily?"

"Tch… I’m still going after him. He painted my damn face!" shouted Bete.

"Pfft hahaha!!!" laughed Loki. "You look good in red!"

"Um, but why did he do this?" asked Tione. "He must have done this with a reason in mind?"

"He said he’s going to hit up Freya, so I can assume he plans to do the same to her as he did to us," Finn said.

"Then it must be his way of revenge for what we did?" Loki said, looking back at the art of her, but more towards the crown crossed out. "8 years old… Ah." It finally clicked for her. "Guess it's this or violence for kicking out the last remains of the family."

"Ah… So it’s that." Riveria said, understanding why. "Well, at least he gave this place a very bright touch. It needed some color."

"So what? He’s getting revenge for kicking out some Familia?" Bete said.

"You know his mother was from the Hera Familia, right?" said Gareth. "We were lucky; this is what he did. Any younger and we would have a bloodbath."

"I still remember when he told us about the day we dealt with Zald and Alfia," Riveria said. "I guess by this point in his life he has moved on a bit from such feelings a bit."

"… Say, did you see Ais and Tiona here?" Tione looked around. "They were here when I chased after him?"

 

As he skated down to the southern part of Orario, Cirrus could feel a pair of eyes on him. He stops and glances back.

"You gonna show yourself? I don’t like eyes on me."

Coming out were Ais and Tiona, following behind.

"You're very sharp!" said Tiona, jumping down from the nearby rooftops with Ais.

"I used to have eyes on me. So are you here for what I did to your home?"

"No, we came to see you." Said Ais.

"Ah, you wanna see me in my youth, huh? Well, I’m burning daylight, and I still need to hit up Freya’s home."

Seeing him up close, both Ais and Tiona could hardly believe the boy in front of them was Cirrus. His face was more feminine than they expected.

Yet despite that, they could feel an edge radiating off him. Ais knows it well, as it surrounded her during the time Evilus was active. For Tiona, it was a lingering bloodlust, like that of Tione, when they were still children in Telskyura.

They both came to the same conclusion. The older Cirrus was like a polished blade, clean in its appearance and edge, that could cut anyone down in a single swing. The Cirrus before them was like a sharp, rusty knife.

"I wanted to fight you," Ais said with a stern look in her eyes.

‘I want to know how skilled he is. The boy who fought Ottar.’

"… I didn’t think kids these days would have eyes like mine. I’m a bit saddened by that." Cirrus had a look of dejection. "What level are you?"

"6."

"A-Ais, I don’t think you should fight him. I mean, he’s what, 9?" Tiona said. "Plus, he looks unharmed from being chased by Tione."

"I’m actually eight, and you should listen to your cute friend here. I’m on the clock."

"Then one exchange of blades is all I want," Ais said, a bit sternly.

"…Fine."

Cirrus could tell Ais would not back down easily, and that stopping her would take longer than simply giving her what she wanted.

Ais tosses him a sword.

"Oh… It’s very balanced. Very well, let's finish this." He got into Lance’s stance.

"Thank you," Ais said as well, getting into her proper fighting stance.

The two look at one another as Tiona takes a few steps back.

They stare at each other for a minute. Cirrus locked her gaze on Ais, not blinking for a second.

Then Cirrus twitched.

"Haa!!!"

Ais charged at him. If he will not attack, she will take the offensive.

Cirrus remained firm and held his ground as he clashed with Ais.

Clang!!!

Ais went with a simple overhead slash. She wanted to see where Cirrus was, exactly in terms of skill.

"Strong, but you're very top-heavy," Cirrus said, noticing Ais did not take him as seriously as she should.

Unfortunately, this Cirrus is not hiding his identity or strength and thus will not hold back.

Crack!!

Fwoosh!!

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"Eh?"

Ais’s view became slightly tilted before it turns into a blur. She focused her eyes on one thing, and she realized they threw her out of the city.

‘So quick!?’

Cirrus had tripped her foot up, grabbed her leg, spun her around, and tossed her away outside the city, breaking the sound barrier.

"Oooh." Tiona watched as Ais disappeared over the city walls.

‘Scary.’ She thought about seeing Ais get dispatched so quickly and easily. ‘I kinda really wanna see him go all out!’

"Alright, well, that’s done. See yea, Amazoness." Cirrus tossed her the sword Ais lent him and skated off.

Tiona had another thought as she watched him ride away.

"… He’s so cool! I want what he’s riding!"

Tiona then ran next to him.

"Hey, where did you get that thing you’re riding?"

"Made it."

"Can I get one!"

"Uhh, sure if you’ll leave me alone." Cirrus reached into his shirt and pulled one from a board. He quickly pulled the wheels out through his sleeves and put them on. He then tossed it to her.

"Ooh!! How did you hide it so well?"

"Trade secret. Get on with your dominant foot. You will probably fall on your butt a few times before getting the hang of it."

As Cirrus rides off, Tiona tries to get on the board.

"… Dominate foot." She would try to do this for a while.

Ais returned using her magic, Ariel, to find Tiona trying to skate.

"… Where did he go?" She asked Tiona.

"Ah, he went off to the Freya Familia home. Hey, you wanna try to ride this!"

"… Maybe."

 

Reaching the Freya Familia home, Cirrus jumped over the gate. He is a bit impressed by how it looked.

"Huh… It’s way better than Loki’s home."

"I’m glad you thought so." Said Hedin, an elf with glasses who was on guard duty for the day. "Now you must leave or—!!"

Cirrus quickly paints his face blue with a brush. He then quickly makes his way through the home.

"Hahahaha!!" Hogni behind him laughed. He was also placed on guard duty, along with Hedin. "He’s a pretty funny kid!"

"… Sound the alarm," Hedin said with spite in his tone.

Cirrus painted, but he found the home too well decorated and colored.

‘Damn, this is a really nice looking home. Kinda don’t wanna ruin it.’

"… Guess I’ll just paint the Familia."

And he did just that, and eventually, he got everyone chasing after him.

"Get him!!!"

"♪♪♪♪♪♪"

None could get him; Allan was on guard duty at Mia’s pub and Ottar was in the Dungeon.

"Haa!!!" shouted the Gulliver Brothers.

"Whoop!"

Cirrus dodges their attacks, painting their weapons.

"How is he so damn slippery!" shouted one brother.

"It’s called finesse! It’s not my fault you’re not nimble even as Pallums!" Cirrus said, running away.

"That little shit!!" shouted a brother.

"If only we had Allen or Ottar!" said a Familia member.

"Uncrowned is way too fast and small. He keeps evading even the executives."

"Hmm… He's got paint on my sword now. It can’t be used till it’s all gone." Said Hogni, trying to get the paint off.

"I just don’t care." Said Heith, the main healer of Freya Familia and one of the best in the city, matched Airmid herself. "He’s not hurting anyone, so I can actually get some rest."

"You could help in getting him." Said, Hedin. "Look at the mess he made."

"To be fair, he only painted your face. It wasn’t his fault. You guys ran around like madmen, using everything to catch a kid who has the status of a level 8. You should have known it was going to be a losing battle."

"… We will have to clean this up before Lady Freya or Ottar see it. Who else hasn’t gotten their face painted blue so he can leave us alone?"

"Should be Heith here," Hogni said, looking at an un-blue Heith.

"Blue doesn’t look good on—"

"Now it does!" Cirrus puts blue paint on her face. "… Actually, you are right, this blue doesn’t mesh well with your light red hair. Well, I've gotta get going! Thanks for the fun! Use a plastic scraper with vegetable oil and then finish it with warm water and soap!"

Cirrus then skated off.

"… He’s lucky he gave me the day off," Heith said, leaving to take a bath.

 

In some dark alleyway around Central Park.

"Sir, could you not have eaten at a better place?" said Hecton.

"Probably, but then people would find me."

"Right, peace. You even have a view of the people to watch."

"Yup. Nom!"

Cirrus enjoys something he inherited from his previous life: people-watching.

‘If only I had my phone so I can listen to fucking music… Fuck I miss the internet too… and I made myself homesick, great.’

As he enjoys his food, a quick flicker of white passes by his eyes as he sees a pair of ruby eyes meet his emerald eyes.

"Oh, Cirrus!" said Bell.

"Oh, you, the albino kid. Are you sure it’s safe for you to be under the sun? You have sensitive skin, right?"

"Hm? I never had trouble being under the sun?" Bell walked up to him. "And I don’t think my skin is sensitive. What are you doing here?"

"Eating my lunch in peace."

"Oh…" Bell looked around. "I thought I heard someone else?"

"Probably one of the people from Central Park."

"Probably…" Bell looks at Cirrus.

"What? Something on my face?"

"N-no um… Well, I’m just still surprised you’re a child again, is all."

"And how old are you?"

"I’m 14."

"14, huh? Well, that’s surprising. What’s your level and time as an adventurer?"

"W-well I’m level 4, but I need to do something to impress my goddess, and I’ve been an adventurer for about 7 months now?"

Cirrus's eyes widen as he realizes this.

"… Is that so?" His eyes gained a sharpness to them.

"Um… Can I ask why?"

"You have an air of a strong adventure, but from what I saw during those visitors, you lacked something crucial: experience and edge."

"My guild advisor and Lili said the same, but edge?"

"You don’t have to worry about that. That Pallum in your Familia has enough of it to cover you, but you are far too kind in my eyes. Know that where I come from, kids like you are easily killed or sold into slavery. Even I had to hide in alleyways like these to avoid anything like that, as ironic as that sounds."

"That’s… very terrible."

"Yup, but seeing as an adventure as… pure as you, I’m glad I would eventually help the city reach this point where even kids like you make a name for themselves." A smile appears on Cirrus's face that was transience.

Bell could see a great beauty behind him. He felt lost at this moment. This was something he would not say to his adult self.

"T-thank you! So, um, what are you planning to do?"

"Hmm… I was thinking of going around the city for a bit until the remedy is done."

"Remedy? So… you're returning to your adulthood?"

"I am, my adult self has a lot of responsibilities so when I learned that, I knew my time would be more like a dream of sorts that seemed to last rather long at first glance, but when given thought, lasted much shorter than you expected it."

"You don’t feel… Scared?"

"Scared? Of what?"

"Disappearing? What if you don’t remember these days?"

The two look at one another for a minute. Bell couldn’t see a drop of conflict on Cirrus' face. He was stone-faced through and through with his expression, tone, and conviction.

"I’m not. I have come to terms with my own death long ago."

Bell could see the coldness in his eyes. It was like Ryuu when she talked of her past, but he was more frigid and hollow, with a hint of sadness to it, and he forced himself to bury it.

A living artifact from the Dark Era stood before him. This is what the people who fought against Evilus had—a conviction that they may die the next day, a disgusting, unnerving feeling that could turn anyone’s stomach out of anxiety.

"Well, I've gotta get going. I still have much to see." Cirrus grabs his skateboard and places it on the ground. "Be careful in the dungeon, alright." He then rides off.

Bell watches as Cirrus rides away. He could see the hint of a child as he swerves around enjoying himself.

"… At least you’re having fun now. It is a shame you have to leave so soon."

It was bittersweet for Bell to see a young Cirrus leave.

 

Cirrus rides around the city, having a good time.

"Where did you get that!?" said a child.

"I made it; do you want one as well?"

"Yup!"

Cirrus made more skateboards for the children to play with. After teaching them how to use it, he went on to Daedalus Street.

"… This looks fun as hell!!"

Cirrus spent the day riding through the complicated system of pathways and grinding downstairs. He left and ate some potato snacks from the vendors and kept going exploring Orario.

 

Night soon came, and Cirrus decided he wanted to have the best view of the city.

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

Cirrus felt a strong breeze as he sat on the top of Babel.

‘It’s done.’ Said Circe.

"… I’ll be there." Cirrus gets up and free-falls down the tower.

The wind blowing in his face and the freedom he felt exhilarated him.

‘It’s time to go.’

His Stymphalian armor adorns him, and he returns to the Moonlight Tower.

 

"So… is that the potion?" Cirrus asked.

"Yup," Circe said, walking up to him. "I am going to miss this cute face of yours." She pinches his cheeks once more. "You ready?"

"Ready as I ever am."

"Then simply drink this and go to bed."

Cirrus drinks the deep red potion she hands him whole.

"Hm… it doesn’t taste so—Ugh!! Oh, fuck!"

"Yeah, terrible aftertaste. I also mixed in some stuff to help you sleep, so it should knock you out in—"

"Hmm… I’m a bit woozy?"

Ai came and picked him up.

"It’s going to be alright? He has a very high Immunity rank?" Ai asked, having taken a shower, but the scent of her punishment still burned her nose.

"I sealed off his Falna," Artemis said, walking up to Cirrus.

"Hmm…" Cirrus’s vision blurred, and his eyes weighed like lead.

"Sleep now. May you always have pleasant dreams." As he drifted off to sleep, Artemis kissed his forehead. 

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