Chapter 6

[Labyrinth City of Orario-Twilight Manor]

Bell looked at Aiz with worry in his heart. He has never seen her look so weak. Gone with her overwhelming confidence, gracefulness, and brilliant gold eyes. Now stood a girl who looked like she was about to fall with a single breeze.

His heart broke. The girl that was his Hero, the indomitable symbol of a Hero looked like a lost child. He wanted to go up and hugged her, but he stop himself. He didn't want to overstep his boundaries.

"...How are you feeling?" Bell said awkwardly.

"I'm…doing okay," Aiz said while rubbing her left shoulder

The air around us was the very definition of awkward. Lefiya and Bete were looking at them indecorously. Which already made Bell more nervous.

"I…would like to apologize…to you and the little girl," Aiz and Bell were left speechless.

Did…she mean Weine? Hope sprang from his heart! If Aiz was willing to let go of the hatred, then maybe just maybe others would too.

"That's good to hear," Bell said with a smile and Aiz return his smile with her own small smile.

"How have you been, Bell?" Aiz asked

"Okay," Bell said and now silence rein between them once again. Bell's mind was racing to find a way to try to find a way to keep the conversation going.

"Would you to go out on a date?" Bell said and immediately started stammering

Why mouth!?

"Yes, I would?" Aiz said with a soft smile and his heart was beating a hundred miles per hour!

"Okay…what time should we go?"

"Tomorrow!," Aiz said before blushing and she looked away while stroking her hair, and Bell chuckled at that as he scratched the back of his head.

"Oh, my fucking Gods can you please stop with this stupid romantic crap!" An annoyed and muffle voice yelled out to everyone in the court and first floor of the Twilight manor.

Bell's, Lefiya's, Bete's, and Aiz's instincts immediately told them to get ready for a fight. As they got into a fighting stance they saw where the voice originated from.

A man around the age of 20 to 21 wearing a salamander cloak with a hood and an uncanny mask that hides his face. Yet Bell could see through the gaps of the mask to see the man's eyes and he saw hatred.

It was not like Aiz's hatred that fully consumed her and turned her into a… mindless monster but a sharp hatred. A hatred that was always burning like the sun but was tempered with one's mind and will.

When the masked man turned his eyes fell on him Bell couldn't help but shake in fear.

"Oh, you masked bastard why are you here?" Bete yelled out

"Delivering a message to one Aiz Wallenstein," The masked man said with a clinical tone as he looked towards Aiz

"What is the message?" Aiz asked

"You will see her again even if it takes centuries you will be reunited," The masked man said

Bell felt confused at what the had just said but judging by the looks the three members of the Loki Familia probably know what he meant.

"H..ow?" Aiz asked

"Does it matter? Anyway hope to see you never again." The masked man said as he turned around about to leave only to block a kicked from Bete-san with his right arm.

"Really?" The masked man said before grabbing Bete-san's leg and throwing him to the ground in front of us.

"Honestly what kind of ship is Finn running here?" The masked man asked no one in particular

"What happen to my mother!" Aiz yelled out to the man and he looked at her with annoyance radiating off him.

"She's alive but injured. That's all…" The masked man blocked a Tempest-enhanced punch from Aiz

"Seriously? I'm just delivering a message and this is how I'm treated. I really should have left a note." The masked man said,

"Where is she!" Aiz said with a desperate hope filtering through her voice as long as black winds circling her arms.

"I don't know, now can you please stop attacking me?" The masked man said,

"Like Hell we are!" Bete-san appeared right behind him trying to kick the masked man but was blocked by the man's other arm.

"Whoah, if you two are this dumb then Finn has failed you…"

"Don't insult the Captain!!" Ms. Tione came rushing out of the Twilight Manor with a look of pure murderous intent.

The man remained unaffected by the killing intent and threw Aiz and Bete-san at Ms. Tione. Which led all of them to crash into each other and crash onto the ground.

As the three Loki Familia members who were thrown to the ground begin standing up to attack the man again a familiar voice yelled out.

"Stand down!" Everyone in the courtyard stopped to see Finn, the other two executives, and Lady Loki walking out of the Twilight manor.

Finn looked up at the masked man and smiled at him, "It's been seven years Failinis."

"Finn," The man gave a court nod to the Captain of the Loki Familia

"Why have you come back after all this time?" Finn asked

"Delivering a message," The masked man looked to Aiz and Finn raised an eyebrow at her

"He knows what happen to my mother," Aiz said and Finn nodded along

"Failinis can you explain how you know Aiz's mother?" Finn asked

"Not particularly, I have already done what I came here to do. So like I said seven years I hope I never see you again," Failinis said and Aiz glared at the man.

"I see thank you for coming all the way to tell us the message. I apologize for my fellow Familia members attacking you. The last person who knew something about Aiz's mother was a member of Evilus we encounter a few months ago." Finn said and Failinis body stiffen at the mention of Evilus

"...Evilus was destroyed seven years ago." Failinis said with a tone that could be only be described as arctic

"A few members were able to survive and create their organization from the ground up." Finn said

"How were you not aware of that." Failinis said as venom begin linking into his voice.

"Because I thought it was destroyed when you and Ottar killed Zald and Alfia." Finn said,

"Wait a minute are you telling this masked bastard is the only rival to the King!" Bete-san yelled while pointing to Failinis

Finn nodded as he looked up to Failinis expectedly.

"...Well played Finn. Find I will help but you know what I want."

"No questions and complete anonymity," Finn said

"Good, I will meet you at the last meeting place, and will tell me everything you know about this new Evilius," Failinis said as he jumped off into the night sky.

"Bell Cranel," Bell looked to Finn, "while I'm glad you came to check up on Aiz I will have to cut your meeting short," Finn said and he nodded.

"I understand," Bell said he looked up and waved to Aiz and she did the same.

(***)

Finn sighed after the whole mess that just happened. He and the others walked back into the dining hall since he knew there will be questions. When everyone enter the dining hall it was Bete who asked the first question.

"Who the hell is Failinis!?" Bete yelled and he sighed

"He was one of the central figures in the war with Evilius seven years ago," Gareth answered as he sip down some of his ale

"Then why haven't we heard anything about him?" Tione asked

"Quite simply he doesn't want anybody to know he exists," Riviera answered

"Why?" Aiz asked looking directly at him and he knew she wasn't asking the story behind Failinis reasoning

"You wouldn't have won Aiz. He defeated Alfia the Demon of Talent and the strongest Human sorceress in one on one combat. Dealing with three-level sixes would have been child's play for him." Finn said and none of them looked happy to hear that.

"I know you want to find out how he knew your mother Aiz but attacking wasn't the answer," Finn said and Aiz looked furious. Who could blame her, she thought her mother lost after the dragon's death yet a ray of hope appeared in front of her how could she not?

It was just rotten luck that it was Failinis was the one who delivered the message. The man was the literal embodiment of secrecy.

(***)

[Orarior-7 years Ago- Evilius War]

Finn looked at the man…no boy. The pitch of his voice and his build points to someone around the age of 14 or 15. Yet his instincts were telling him the boy is 'STRONG!' to the point that his body was shaking in the boy's presence.

It was unreal that a season Adventurer who had decades of experience was scared by a boy half his age. So many questions were going through his head but before he could say anything the boy spoke.

"Alfia the Silence and Zald the Glutton are your opponents. Since you have already decided to have the Boar fight Zald, I'll defeat the Silence," The boy said with the tone that the sky was blue.

Many people looked shocked at what the boy just said. Everyone who knew the Silence's reputation and saw the devastation she brought couldn't help but look as if he was crazy. But Finn couldn't help but believe him. "But at a price."

"How can you ask that when so many people will die if you don't help!?" the Astrea Captain Alice Lovell all but yelled. Angry at the boy who she vouched for to be on their side was asking for payment.

Failinis just chuckle, "Relax you, woman, I'm not asking for money or items just one small favor."

"What's the favor?" Finn asked curiously

"Complete anonymity," Failinis said and everyone in the room blinked

"Once this war is over I want no mention of me what so ever and if I hear anything about me once this is over kiss your lives off you, your Familia, and your God goodbye," Failinis said as he releases his pressure.

Finn and every Adventurer inside the room were on their knees. The only exception was Ottar and he was struggling to keep himself standing.

"Do you understand?" Failinis asked

"We do," Ottar said and Failinis erase his pressure.

"Good," Failinis said

As the meeting went on Failinis stand in the corner. Yet he would subtly nudge the party with careful use of words. Guiding them to the conclusion that both Zald and Alfia were sick. Zald was poisoned by the Benemouth's flesh and Alfia had a genetic illness.

The information was a morale booster for sure but that left one question for Finn, How? The only thing that came to mind was that Failinis was either a member of the Hera or Zeus Familia. It made sense and Finn want to confront Failinis about it but his body refused his order.

Once the meeting was over Failnis walked over to him and said one line, "Remember what curiosity did to the cat?"

"Satisfaction brought back," Finn said and he chuckle

"True but what would happen if the satisfaction tastes like ash," Failinis said with the threat clear as day

(***)

To this day Finn never pursue questioning Failinis ever. Not that he had the chance to do so because once Zald and Alfia died he disappeared without a trace. But he never tried to seek him out.

The overwhelming fear that Failinis generated was enough to put his ever-inquisitive nature down the drain. Yet that didn't mean Finn couldn't put the pieces he already had together.

"Aiz, I know you want to hound Failinis for answers but you will never force him to give the answers you seek. But that doesn't mean we can't get them." Finn said and Aiz perked up.

"Failinis was able to kill Alfia the Silence who was able to fight a Level Nine on equal footing," Finn said. Even if her illness weaken her and wouldn't have been too much of a problem for a Level 7 Adventurer. Aiz immediately took notice of the path of thinking he was on.

"You think he killed it?" Aiz asked and Finn nodded leaving the room in silence

"There's no way one guy could kill the Tyrant of the Sky," One of his fellow Familia members yelled out

"Maybe, or he just found your mother and was asked to deliver the message," Finn said but he believes the first theory more. He looked over the Familia and gave them a stern glare.

"I want no mention of Failinis to anyone outside the Familia!" Finn said and everyone nodded

"Aiz I would like you to deliver the same message to Bell after your date of course." Finn said as Aiz blush a bit

"WHAT!!" Everyone yelled out in surprise!