Chương 480: [Vol.4] Quest 360- A Hero’s Welcome

Ai wept for Cirrus for an hour before needing to return.

"Sniff!! Sniff!! It… It’s time for us to go back."

She picked him up in her arms and, with all of her strength, she shot back to the surface.

Another hour later, those on the surface could see a blue light coming up quickly.

"Everyone at the ready!!" shouted Finn.

Bubble~

Bubble~

SPLASH!!!

From the water, Ai lands on the boat, with Cirrus still engulfed in blue flames.

"Let’s go. The flame is safe." Ai said, dripping wet.

They all look at Cirrus on fire.

"You heard her, everyone!! Let’s return!! We completed what we set off to do!!!" Finn shouted once more.

They headed back. Malion and Ryuu came up to Ai, and they each held him dearly.

 

When they arrived back at shore, Artemis, Callisto, Circe, and Nox quickly came up to them.

"Cirrus!!" Artemis and Nox said as they hugged him dearly.

"Dad!!" Callisto did the same and hugged him as well.

"How is his body not bloated?" Circe said, looking at it. "Was it the fire?"

"Yes. Something appeared down there on the ocean floor. It had eyes like a snake. They were like Hera’s, but incredibly sharp and cunning. She also had a childish voice." Ai said.

"That…" Artemis immediately had an idea of who she was. "Hmm. We will need to get her to talk. But given how she is... it’s going to be far harder." Artemis said.

 

And so they traveled back to Orario.

They returned in under a week. At that time, Cirrus’s body was still aflame. Luckily, when they placed him in the coffin, the fire didn’t escape.

"We're almost back home," Artemis said with her arms around Cirrus, talking to him. "I know you can’t hear me, but soon... You will find out what is happening to you."

When they returned, everyone of Orario and Melen greeted them. Even people from other countries came to Orario for this moment.

They threw flowers from the rooftops as they all cheered for the great hero’s return and cried over this historic moment and his passing.

 

Miach’s clinic.

Artemis asked many gods to come and help her understand what was happening to Cirrus's body.

"Hmmm…" Miach was examining Cirrus carefully. "This is… unprecedented."

"Yeah, I've never seen such radiance," Hygieia said. "I have seen a lot of shit at work, but nothing like this."

"Very." Said Freya. "Whatever is happening, it’s going to be big. The amount of power is sealed up in him is building up."

"Ay," Hephaestus said. "It’s weird, but... It feels like his body is undergoing a forging process. The fire is not only acting as a sort of preservation but also as a sort of forge to rebuild the body."

"Yes." Said Astraea. "The flame is keeping his body in perfect condition. It even burned away any imperfections."

They all look at his chiseled body without a single scar or blemish.

"Prometheus, do you know anything?" asked Artemis.

Prometheus holds her hand out to the flame.

"It could be caused by Vesta having fully bonded to Cirrus," Prometheus stated. "I can feel abnormal energy radiating off Cirrus, yet it is beyond what I can scope out. Maybe it’s Elpis? It is our only clue left."

"Maybe Hestia could find out?" said Miach.

"I asked her, but she said she was busy," Hephaestus said. "She was even apparently sweating."

"That is a first," Hermes said.

"Say, has anyone seen Metis?" Artemis asked. "I haven’t felt her divinity."

"Maybe she is walking around the city?" said Freya.

"Unlikely," Prometheus said. "She is here for a reason. From what Zeus mentioned long ago, she was the only woman who could outwit Hera. As someone who has felt her verbal assaults, I fear that even if we find her, she will not give us the information we seek."

"She went to Ouranos," Hermes said, looking at the flame. "Seems she got in trouble for coming back to Gekai."

"Hermes, do you know why she came back? You are a craft god, so maybe you you know got a scent of what she is doing?"

"Sorry, but not a clue. Genuinely."

It was odd for the gods in that room. For the first time, Hermes was telling the truth.

"Heh. Telling the truth doesn’t suit you, Hermes." Freya said. "Anyway. Artemis go home and sleep. We will take care of the funeral. Even with this odd phenomenon happening to Cirrus, his soul is not here."

"Several of the Smith-type Familia are working in tandem to build his tomb. They even built and placed a statue of him on the Heroes Bridge." Said Hephaestus.

"Haa… Alright. I’ll be going. Freya. I expect you to not—"

"I know very well, Artemis. To do such a thing would dishonor a brave hero. I’ll be sure to make him presentable."

All the gods take their leave as Freya cleans up Cirrus.

She begins by getting a clean cloth and wetting it.

"… I will make you beautiful even in death, my first friend," Freya said solemnly.

She then cleaned his body with care and professionalism.

 

While walking back home, Ai waited for Artemis.

"So… anything?" Ai asked.

"Nothing. Freya is preparing his body for burial. Have you spoken to Ouranos? Hermes mentioned that she went to see him."

"No. I asked him, but he said she had met him and that she had already left. It seems even Fels went AWOL."

"She knows something. Dammit."

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"Can you track her?"

"I wish. I have to find something to even track her down. She is the goddess of wisdom for a reason. She leaves nothing behind that can lead one to her."

"Haa…" Ai breathes out. "… Shall we go home?"

"… Yes. There is nothing we can do for now." Artemis looked to Ai. "Ai, do you want to spend time with—"

"It’s okay," Ai said softly. "Spend time with Callisto. You can finally fully treat her as you always wanted."

"Are you sure? You were—"

"I know. But I am… I want to be alone for a bit."

"Very well. I and everyone else are there for you. Remember that."

They both return to their home.

 

Back at the Moonlight Tower.

Alise’s room.

"Sniffle! Sniffle!" Alise is crying in Ryuu’s arms.

"I’ll be okay, Alise... It'll be okay," Ryuu said, holding back her tears, but one slipped through, rolling down her cheek.

"I… I miss Dad."

"I know." Ryuu holds her closer. "I miss him too."

 

Auberon’s room.

"Are you sure you’re okay, Auby?" asked Malion, watching him paint.

"…Yeah… I just… I just wanna draw Mom." Auberon spoke slowly, painting on a large canvas.

Malion looks up as he tries to draw his father’s face.

"Here, let me help you a bit."

The two would paint with one another until Auberon was tired.

 

Callisto’s room.

"You’re not going to look for Metis?" Callisto asked as she looked out the window.

"No," Nox said while in her weapon form. "I can tell trying to get anything out of her would be impossible."

"I see. Do you have any stories about my dad?"

"Plenty."

"I hope none of them are personal," Artemis said, entering her room.

"Mom. How was… everything?"

"Exhausting." She said, sitting down next to Callisto. "But enough about that." She brought her in close and held her. "Shall me and Nox tell you some stories? I am sure you will find them amusing."

"Not me." Nox turned back to her human form. "You have your child to tend to. I have my own."

Nox left the room on a brisk walk.

"Don’t mind her," Artemis said. "She loves your father dearly."

"But what did she mean by her own?"

"Who else? Malion and Ryuu are with their kids. Who isn’t here to tend to their child?"

"… Oh."

 

Laying on their bed, Ai was curled in a fetal position. She had with her several clothing's belonging to Cirrus.

"…Sniff!"

‘Cirrus… Haku…’

"Oy!!" Nox barged in.

"N-Nox!?" Ai looked at her with a tear-stained face. "Why are you here?"

"What are you, stupid? Did those days of fasting get to your head?" Nox went over and sat next to her. "I am here for you. Remember? Cirrus ordered me to look after you, and he never rescinded that order."

"… Thank you."

"No problem. So, uh, where the hell is your kid?"

"He is coming." She gets up, rubbing her eyes. "He is in Yamato."

"There? Why?"

"He wanted to go to school there along with his friends."

"Hm…" Nox lies down next to Ai. "Guess he is rather independent, huh?"

"Somewhat. Sniff!"

Nox could see how much his death affected her.

‘I wonder. Did I look like that when he disappeared?’

The memories stung Nox deeply. But if Ai helped her if only briefly, she would repay Ai twofold.

"… Shall we head to Lenoa’s? I am sure being around family will be good."

"… Alright." Ai gets up, still holding Cirrus’ clothes.

"Come on." Nox helps her up. "I’ll let you ride on me."

"Can I take his clothing?"

"Go ahead."

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