- Ch. 26 - A Canary's New Outfit (Part 2 of 2)

While the two struggled to get a word out, Dinah watched them with raised brows and her arms crossed nonchalantly. She's been waiting for an explanation for a couple of minutes now, but it looks like their both very hesitant. 'I wonder why...?'

([Dinah didn't know it yet at the time, but these two would become very important to her in their own ways. Her physical safety was paramount to them. Her emotional well-being was already being strengthened by her son Conner, her Goddess Panacea, Faith; her Captain, and little Lianne. Her mental strength and health was being slowly tempered by the very presence of her new family. She would slowly realize over time that without them in her life, she would've been entirely lost...])

As she watched them squirm uncomfortably, she released a small *Sigh* of fondness while a smile formed on her lips. Her eyes went to the line of Canary outfits once again; her gaze intense and studious as they traced every crevice of her new dungeon diving gear.

'Hmmm... I should probably ask for a few pairs of fishnet leggings to go with it. I can see it now... durable, wear & tear proof, and able to protect my legs and shins easily. I haven't been able to find any around here.'

As her thoughts wandered, both Kim and Isabella released *Sighs* of relief. Almost everyone in the Familia noticed that whenever Dinah's thoughts wandered off, her face tilted slightly to the right while her eyes looked as if they were seeing something that wasn't there. Panacea dubbed it the 'Thinking Face'; which was aptly named. As soon as Kim and Isabella saw the signs of it appearing, they met each other's eyes and slowly backed away from the Songbird. They wanted to delay the topic of this conversation for as long as possible. Plus, they were extremely exhausted.

Kim slowly went towards the nearest bench with quick and silent steps; well... as silent as she could be. Isabella; on the other hand, just stood as still as a statue and closed her eyes.

"I want to sleep so badly...", the blue-haired teen said to herself in a whisper. 'All the adrenaline from my excitement has been drained from me.'

After some inner debate, Isabella opened her eyes and walked towards the nearest bed; which just so happened to be the only bed in the entire workshop. 'I hope Kim doesn't mind me crashing on her personal corner of the lab...'

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{Wednesday, 31st of March... 12:32 PM...}

After a lengthy explanation, another information overload, an early lunch, another magic stone to Valis exchange at the Guild Hall, and another riveting conversation with both Henrietta and Delilah, Dinah now found herself descending down the stairs of the Tower of Babel. She was ready to put her new Canary Outfit to the test. As she descended the stairs towards the entrance of the dungeon, her mind once again wandered to what she learned about her new outfit... or rather how Kimberly and Isabella got her exact sizes.

'It was... odd to say the least.', she thought to herself with a neutral look on her face. Dinah decided that she would rather not think about it too much, but she couldn't really blame them or fault them for their logic. 'I still can't believe they did it though... they could have asked...'

As she walked down the stairs, her well honed instincts told her that the few groups of Adventurers that she passed by were mostly Level 1's with a few Level 2's in the mix. She's noticed it after a while, that as she gets used to her enhanced senses and instincts... her ability to sense the auras of those around her are slowly getting more attuned. The only ones to give her the chills are those who are Level 3's and higher. Thankfully, it was still considered lunch time; which meant there were only a few dozen or so groups of Adventurers descending towards the dungeon's entrance. It suited her just fine. The stairs didn't feel as crowded as they always are in the mornings.

Earlier, when she was walking towards the Tower of Babel from her Familia's home, she was slowly getting used to the feel of her new outfit. When she first put on the Prototype Canary Outfit, she was slightly astounded how soft it felt to her skin. The crop top felt exquisite. The shorts were so comfortable that she sometimes forgot she was wearing them. The fingerless leather gloves, combat boots, and the leather jacket conformed to her body very easily. Usually; when she had to get new ones, it took her awhile to wear them out until they were comfortable enough that it didn't chafe her skin. 'It must be the coating that they soaked my outfit in.'

She was a few more minutes away from reaching the entrance when a stray thought hit her. 'I'm so glad that they didn't think it was too odd that I packed up four other sets of my Prototype Canary Outfits in my bottomless satchel.'

As she reached the dungeon entrance, she adjusted her small traveler's backpack. She also touched the dagger that's attached via belt to the small of her back; just to reassure herself once again that it's there, before she clenched her fists in anticipation. 'Once again, unto the breach...'

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{Unknown Time...}

In the Tower of Fate, locked away somewhere between his world and the realms of magic, is where we can find the one and only Kent Nelson. He's currently donned in his regalia as Dr. Fate with the golden Helmet of Nabu donned on his person. To him, it's only been a few minutes since he's sent Dinah and Conner off into a different world in a different dimension.

He felt sad... yet happy with the deed he just committed... Although, it was paid with a hefty price. With his thoughts swirling and his gaze focused on the bed where Dinah Laurel Lance used to be, Nabu began to speak to him through the helmet.

"You lied to her Kent... You'll be wearing this helmet for 2,000 years. Be lucky mortal, that I was able to use some of my favors from several other Lords of Order. I had to sacrifice 20 favors to get your friend and her child through to one of the upper dimensions alongside those gifts you've left her. They now reside in a world that resembles a small likeness to your Earth but it's way closer to the dimensions of Heaven. A dimension outside the very foundations of the 52. Be thankful that only a select few know about the Source Roof. A thinner and more complicated barrier above this multiverse..."

"Are you really supposed to tell me this?", Kent asked absentmindedly.

"We'll be spending 2,000 more years together; if your body hasn't perished until then. So why not!? Be thankful I'm not a Lord of Chaos. The Source Floor and the multiverses under that one are closer to the realms of Hell. Any type of hell you can think of are there. There's an uncountable number of them. The barrier for that piece of work is even more complicated..."

"Wait?!", Kent Nelson interrupted with some confusion. "How come I haven't heard of this Source Roof and Ceiling until now?"

Nabu was silent for a few measly seconds before he bombarded Nelson's mind with image after image. "Let me tell you the real story.. of the Source that's been told to all Lords of Order. Normally, I would just let you be ignorant of the in depth intricacies of the Source, but that option has long since passed. Now then,...-"

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{Unknown Time...}

In a far away road... 50 miles away from the city of Orario was a caravan. Now this caravan was almost like any other caravan that was heading towards Orario. It had a great number of goods to sell and auction off for either steep or cutthroat prices. However..., that's where the similarities die off.

Fact #1: This caravan of 15 heavily modified carriages and wagons had only one type of cargo that they were willing to sell and auction off. Their cargo are made up of live and chained up people from several different races from all over Eden.

Fact #2: This caravan has too many heavily armed guards and escorts for it to be a normal caravan.

Fact #3: This caravan is using what's known as 'The Eastern Smuggler's Pass' to travel. It's a heavily concealed and hidden path through a few mountains and cliffs near the borders of the Eastern Jungle.

Fact #4: The unlucky men and women that were captured and kidnapped are all utterly quiet and are all stirring in their misery. They found out early on what happens to those who don't comply. Rebelliousness was not tolerated one bit.

These four facts give this caravan a different feel to them. It's what's known as a 'Slaver's Caravan' afterall. These poor and unfortunate souls had the misfortune to be in the wrong place at the wrong time... as well as being of a certain age ripe enough to be picked up from their homes or off of the streets by malicious hearted men and women. In this new world; like the last, there's no shortage of evil men and women looking to make a quick coin at the cost of their fellows' health, wellness, and state of being.

Within this caravan; in a wagon with heavy iron bars and wooden paneling, is a young girl of only 11 winters. Just like the others, she's chained up and bound securely like some sort of wild animal. Her clothes resembled dirty rags in disrepair with stains here and there. This young girl had bruises all over her person, a swollen right eye she can't open up; thanks to a beating done to her by one of the guards, and her chains were held down by even heavier chains and weights that were made for adults five times her body weight. The guards found out early on that although this young Cait Sithe was unassuming, she was very dangerous with a blade. A few of their people found that out the hard way and perished early on, but sadly she was overwhelmed by others much bigger, stronger, and more experienced than her. And thus, she was captured and was deemed worthy to be auctioned off like a rare piece of gemstone.

To these slavers, this young girl wasn't just any other Cait Sithe like those in the the Continent of Eden. She is of the sub-species aptly named as 'Shadow Cats' of the demi-human race of cat people from the Far East. A rare find since her subspecies of Cait Sithe were thought to be extinct.

To the young girl, all she cared about was freedom. Although her breathing was labored, her posture crouched into herself, and silent shivers wracked her body, her slighly shimmering purple colored left eye swept to and fro; studying the patrols, the guards, and the other slaves with a steely gaze that didn't belong in the eyes of a young girl her age. Unfortunately, she had to grow up fast due to the unfortunate events that led to her capture. As the caravan trudged forth slowly to the west towards Orario, she could feel her heart slowly plunge into a deep and dark abyss of hopelessness. She didn't want to be sold off like a piece of jewelry. She wanted her freedom back... She's already killed off a few grown men. And in her mind she's asked herself, 'So what's a few more...?'

Only time will tell what will become of these unfortunate souls... crying out and praying for a savior to come in their darkest hour...