Unveiling Shadows

As the sun began its descent, casting a warm glow over the city of Orario, Maryuu and I returned to our Familia's base, feeling a mix of exhaustion and relief.

The events of the day had been intense, and we knew we had to share our findings with the rest of the Familia.

Upon reaching the gate, our fellow Familia members rushed out of the building, their expressions a mix of worry and relief. Alise, our captain, stepped forward with genuine concern in her eyes.

"Kiara, Maryuu, are you both alright? What happened out there?" she asked, her voice filled with genuine concern.

"We're both fine, Alise," I replied, trying to muster a reassuring smile.

Lyra seemed unconvinced and chimed in, "Are you sure? You two look exhausted."

"We had a rough day, but don't worry about us," Maryuu replied. "We have important information to share with all of you."

"I see. Then let's all come inside and discuss it," Alise declared, prompting all of us to enter the base and gather in the main room.

The atmosphere inside the room was a mix of tension and curiosity. I could tell everyone was eager to hear about our encounter, but they also understood the seriousness of the situation.

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As we all settled in the main room, Maryuu and I proceeded to recall the events that happened that day, leaving no detail untold.

We began by speaking about the sinister plans of the Evils, their intentions to coerce and recruit unsuspecting adventurers and eliminate those who refused to join them. The tension in the room grew as we shared how they specifically targeted other Familias they saw as potential threats.

Kaguya listened intently, her analytical mind absorbing the information. "So, this explains why Neze and Iska were attacked. They must have interfered with the Evils' recruitment efforts."

Upon hearing that, Neze and Iska became visibly worried, now understanding the reason for the sudden attack on them.

Next, I admitted my blunder of inadvertently alerting the Evils to our presence as Maryuu and I were about to leave the warehouse, causing them to pursue us.

Lyra couldn't help but chime in with a blunt remark, "Careless move, Kiara. You could have been quieter."

Before I could respond, Kaguya came to my defense. "Now, now, Lyra, it was a tense situation, and Kiara is still a kid. Anyone could have made a mistake."

Ryuu nodded in agreement. "She's right. Kiara and Maryuu did their best under the circumstances, and despite the challenges, they managed to gather valuable information."

"Oh yeah? What's the point of that information when the Evils already knew we're foiling their plans?" Lyra retorted harshly.

"Lyra, that's enough. Blaming Kiara won't change what happened," Alise intervened, trying to mitigate the argument before returning her attention to me. "Now, tell us what happened next."

Maryuu volunteered, recounting our desperate attempt to lose the hooded assailants in the labyrinthine alleyways of Orario. However, she also mentioned that the Evils were relentless and cornered us, forcing us to defend ourselves.

Kaguya's concern was evident as she asked, "Were you both alright? It must have been harrowing."

I admitted that the two of us managed to hold our ground for a while, but we were ultimately overwhelmed, recounting the tense moments we faced in the alleyway.

Ryuu inquired further, "How did you manage to escape such a dire situation?"

Finally, I shared the crucial turning point in our encounter - the timely arrival of Ais and Althea Wallenstein of the Loki Familia. I told them how the sisters intervened just when things seemed dire and drove the hooded assailants away.

Alise nodded, understanding the significance of their intervention. "So, the Wallenstein sisters saved you both. We're fortunate they arrived when they did."

"Yes, they saved us, just like they did with Neze and Iska," I said, looking at my werewolf and amazoness Familia members.

With the whole Familia now aware of the Evils' plans, we knew that our next steps would be crucial in facing the challenges that lay ahead.

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With Alise's decisive voice leading the way, we felt a renewed sense of purpose and determination. "Alright, we have valuable information, and we cannot let the Evils' plans go unchecked," she reiterated, her eyes scanning the room to ensure everyone was on the same page.

"I agree," Kaguya said, nodding thoughtfully. "Informing the Guild is our best course of action. They have the resources and connections to spread the word and keep other Familias vigilant."

Lyra added, "Plus, they might be able to identify the Evils' members and leaders more quickly with their extensive network."

Ryuu chimed in, "And we should also inform the other Familias, especially those who have been targeted by the Evils. Their cooperation and unity are crucial in dealing with this threat."

Alise nodded in agreement with the Familia's suggestions. "That's settles it. We'll report everything to the Guild tomorrow, and I'll personally request their assistance in investigating further. We cannot allow the Evils to grow stronger or endanger anyone in Orario."

Neze and Iska looked relieved, knowing that their dangerous encounter had not gone unnoticed and that action would be taken to protect others.

As the plan took shape, Maryuu spoke up, "Kiara and I can continue our efforts to gather more information from the healers. They might know about the Evils' activities, and it could lead us to more clues."

Alise nodded appreciatively. "Yes, that's a vital role, and you two have already proven your dedication and resourcefulness in this task."

With a renewed sense of purpose, we all agreed on our next steps and divided the responsibilities among ourselves. Alise emphasized the importance of caution and teamwork, reminding us that we were stronger together.

As the evening wore on, Alise dismissed everyone from the main room, and we prepared ourselves for tomorrow's plan.

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With the intense discussion finally over and exhaustion setting in, I decided to retreat to my room for some much-needed rest.

As I made my way through the familiar hallways of our Familia's base, my mind was still racing with thoughts of the day's events but I'm relief it's finally over.

"Kiara!"

While lost in thought, I heard a voice calling my name. I turned around and saw Neze and Iska approaching me.

"Ah, hello there, you two," I greeted them with a warm smile.

"Hey, we heard you and Maryuu got saved by the Wallenstein sisters, correct?" Neze asked, her werewolf tail wagging with curiosity.

"Yes, that's right," I replied with a warm smile. "Ais and Althea Wallenstein came to our rescue."

Iska's elegant amazoness face brightened up. "That's impressive. What are they like?"

"They are quite the pair," I said, recalling my encounter with them. "Ais Wallenstein is a formidable and stoic swordswoman, while Althea Wallenstein is a mischievous and quippish mage."

Neze's eyes sparkled with interest. "Do you think they're as formidable as the rumors say?"

"They absolutely are," I confirmed. "Their skills are exceptional, and they work together seamlessly. Honestly, I don't think I could have asked for better saviors in that situation."

Iska nodded elegantly. "Having allies like them is reassuring, especially with the threat of the Evils."

"I couldn't agree more," Neze chimed in. "Let's hope we can work together more in the future to keep the city safe."

Iska and I shared a nod of agreement, and we continued to talk about the Wallenstein sisters and our plans for the next day.

As I finally made my way to my room, I felt a sense of gratitude for the strong bonds within our Familia and the respect we had from the Loki Familia.

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The next day, our Familia put our plan into action.

Alise, Kaguya, and Lyra headed to the guild to share the information we had gathered about the Evils' plan. The guild was the best place to spread the word and gather support from other Familias.

Meanwhile, the rest of us were assigned to patrol the streets and keep an eye on any suspicious activities in the alleyways. The city was vast and bustling, but we knew the importance of staying vigilant.

As for Maryuu and me, we continued our task of gathering information from the healers. This time, however, Alise had assigned Neze and Iska as our bodyguards. She didn't want to take any chances after what happened the last time.

Walking through the city, Maryuu and I were grateful to have Neze and Iska by our side. Their presence added an extra layer of protection and reassurance.

Neze, with her wolf-like senses, scanned the surroundings alertly. "Don't worry, Kiara. We've got your back. No one's going to get past us."

Iska nodded in agreement. "That's right. We'll make sure you can focus on gathering information without any interruptions."

I smiled, feeling grateful for their dedication. "Thank you, both of you. With you watching over us, I know we'll be safe."

As we approached the healers' quarters, I couldn't help but think back to the day before and the encounter with the Evils. I knew the danger was real, and we had to be careful.

Inside the building, Maryuu and I spoke with the healers, exchanging information and listening to any rumors they might have heard. We kept our ears open for any mentions of the Evils or their activities.

Neze and Iska stood by our side, their presence both reassuring and imposing. It didn't take long before we heard whispers about a group trying to recruit adventurers in the dark corners of the city.

"Sounds like the Evils are still at it," Neze growled softly, her ears twitching with alertness.

Iska's grip on her spear tightened. "We should report this back to Alise immediately."

I nodded in agreement. "You're right. Let's not waste any time."

With the new information in hand, we hurried back to our base to inform Alise and the others. The pieces of the puzzle were slowly coming together, and we knew we had to act swiftly to protect the city and its adventurers of Orario.