Chapter 5

Sitonai frowned at her hand, brows furrowed.

The energy was there. The power of Kamuy Yukar—the ability to call upon the strength of spirits—still flowed through her. But something was… different. It was like trying to use a familiar tool, only to realize someone had swapped out the battery pack.

Instead of divinity, it was mana.

Weird.

But whatever. She'd just roll with it.

"Alright, let's give this a shot." Sitonai grinned, placing a hand on Alfia's shoulder. "Worst case scenario, you explode."

Alfia gave her a blank stare. "…Reassuring."

Sitonai ignored her, closing her eyes.

The energy stirred, pulsing softly as she called upon the spirits.

Power gathered in her fingertips, wrapping around Alfia like a warm breeze. It seeped into her body—into her very being—like ripples in a pond, flowing along the natural pathways of her existence.

It wasn't just healing by speeding up her natural healing speed.

It was rewinding.

Alfia's breath hitched.

Her whole body felt—

Light.

The constant weight in her chest, the dull ache she had known her entire life, the exhaustion that clung to her every motion—

It was fading.

Not disappearing.

But reversing.

Like someone had taken her illness and wound it backward, erasing its progression until it had returned to its earliest stages.

She inhaled sharply, eyes widening.

It was easier to breathe.

Her limbs no longer felt like lead.

Her very existence felt… free.

Sitonai opened one eye, watching her reaction. "Sooo… did it work? Normal healing seemed like it wasn't working so I tried something else~"

Alfia clenched her fists.

The familiar weakness was still there. The same limitations still bound her.

But they were no longer the suffocating chains they had once been.

"…You did not cure me," Alfia said quietly.

Sitonai tilted her head. "Yeah, I figured that much. But you feel different, right?"

Alfia hesitated.

"…Yes," she admitted.

Sitonai grinned. "Ha! Knew it."

Alfia looked down at her hands, flexing them experimentally. "It is as if… my condition has been reset."

Sitonai crossed her arms. "Yup! Looks like it got sent back to version one or something before all the trash updates. You still have it, but it's like all the years of wear and tear just got erased."

Alfia processed the information carefully.

Her illness was still there.

But if before she had been an ember flickering in the wind, now she was a flame given fresh kindling.

Not eternal.

But extended.

"…Hmph." She exhaled, lowering her hands. "A meaningless delay."

Sitonai pouted. "Jeez, tough crowd. Most people would be grateful after getting magically rejuvenated."

Alfia gave her an unimpressed look. "I still remain as I am."

Sitonai smirked. "Yeah, but now you won't keel over if we have to run, right?"

"And if you feel more sick again, I could just do that again and call it a day!"

Alfia was silent.

She didn't want to acknowledge it.

But…

She truly did feel better.

And she couldn't remember the last time that had been the case.

Sitonai stretched her arms behind her head. "Welp! That was fun. Too bad I can't just delete it, but I'll take the small victories."

Alfia studied her carefully.

This girl…

She wasn't just strong.

She wasn't just strange.

She was something else entirely.

And for the first time in a long while, Alfia felt a flicker of something unfamiliar in her chest.

Not distrust.

Not indifference.

Not suspicion.

But something akin to…

Hope and... affection.

"…We should move," Alfia said, pushing the thoughts aside. "The Dungeon will not remain silent forever."

Sitonai grinned. "Oho, look at you! Moving without looking like you're about to die! I really am amazing."

Alfia sighed. "Do not make me regret this."

Sitonai smirked. "Too late~"

And with that, they pressed forward.

The descent back to the 50th Floor was mostly silent.

Despite Sitonai's usual tendency to chatter, even she had to admit that traveling through the Deep Floors wasn't something to take lightly. The Dungeon here felt alive in a way that sent shivers down her spine, as if it was constantly watching, waiting for them to slip up.

Still, with their previous battle and her impromptu healing session, they both needed a break.

So when they finally arrived on the 50th Floor—an expanse of grey trees and the feint sounds of water—Sitonai stretched her arms above her head and plopped down onto a cold, smooth rock.

"Alright, I'm calling it. Break time."

Alfia exhaled through her nose as if exasperated at her unserious disposition but didn't argue, settling down gracefully beside her.

Sitonai rocked her heels against the ground, glancing at the older woman. "Hey, you hungry?"

Alfia hesitated for the briefest of moments before giving a small nod.

Sitonai grinned. "Cool. Gimme a sec."

Before Alfia could question what she meant, Sitonai clapped her hands together. A faint glow shimmered around her, and within moments, a platter of steaming, freshly made food materialized before them.

Golden-brown loaves of bread, thick slices of roasted meat, and even a goblet of something fragrant and sweet.

Alfia's eyes narrowed slightly. "...How?"

Sitonai, looking rather proud of herself, waved a hand. "Oh, you know. You know how I said I was a Heroic Spirit?"

Alfia nodded.

"But I'm somewhat different, I'm made up of 3 different spirits, and one of the three is the divine spirit Freyja." She smirked. "Goddess of love, beauty, and abundance. So yeah, I can whip up a feast pretty easily."

Alfia stared at her. "You can conjure food?"

Sitonai nodded. "Yep! And not just basic rations, either. This is top-tier stuff." She picked up a piece of bread, biting into it with a satisfied hum. "Mmm. Soft, warm, and just the right amount of butter~."

Alfia remained skeptical. She knew that some magic users had means of summoning sustenance such as water, but to conjure something like this—fresh, rich, and filled with warmth—was something entirely different.

Reluctantly, she reached for a slice of meat, taking a small bite.

Her eyes flickered.

…It was good.

More than good.

It was perfect.

Sitonai smirked. "Told ya."

Alfia ignored her, taking another slow bite.

The warmth of the meal seeped into her, driving away the deep, ever-present chill of the Dungeon.

For the first time in a long while, eating felt less like a necessity… and more like a comfort.

Sitonai, watching her, rested her chin on her palm. "Y'know, you really don't let yourself enjoy things, huh?"

Alfia glanced at her. "There is little reason to."

Sitonai sighed dramatically. "Ugh, that's so depressing. You should really lighten up."

Alfia huffed. "And you should learn restraint."

Sitonai grinned. "Not happening."

Alfia shook her head but didn't argue, taking another bite.

For now, in this brief moment of quiet, she supposed she could allow herself this much.

Just this once.

Alfia quietly ate the food before her, the warmth of the meal spreading through her body.

It was remarkable—divinely made, undoubtedly—but what truly occupied her thoughts was the name Freyja.

She set down her goblet and turned to Sitonai, studying her with newfound scrutiny.

"You said one of your alter egos is Freyja."

Sitonai tilted her head. "Yep. Goddess of love, beauty, war, and fertility. Y'know, the Freyja." She grinned. "Pretty cool, huh?"

Alfia's expression remained unreadable.

"Are you certain it is Freyja and not Freya?"

Sitonai blinked. "Uh… yeah? Pretty sure I know my own identity."

Alfia exhaled through her nose.

Freya.

The goddess of beauty, Orario's untouchable queen, and the most enigmatic force within the city.

Alfia had never cared for the gods. Even when she was in a Familia, she had no reverence for them—only acknowledging them as beings who bestowed power. But she had heard things about Freya.

A goddess who saw the world as her garden, plucking adventurers like flowers and discarding those who failed to bloom.

Yet the girl before her, the one claiming the name Freyja, was entirely different.

Alfia regarded Sitonai carefully. "…How does your Freyja compare to Orario's Freya?"

Sitonai chewed on a piece of bread, considering the question. "Hmm… well, my Freyja was big on love and beauty, but she was also a war goddess. Lots of battlefield stuff, warriors, that kinda thing." She smirked. "She wasn't just a pretty face—she actually fought."

Alfia's eyes narrowed slightly. "And you claim to possess her power?"

Sitonai grinned. "Yep! That's why I can do this." She gestured to the meal. "Abundance, wealth, pleasure, and even magic—Freyja is all about giving."

Alfia hummed in thought.

It was odd.

If this girl spoke the truth, then her Freyja was not Orario's Freya.

The similarities were there, but the way Sitonai described her…

They were fundamentally different.

Freya of Orario was a goddess who took. She sought the finest treasures, collecting those she deemed worthy while discarding those who failed to meet her standards.

But this Freyja—Sitonai's Freyja—was a goddess who gave.

Alfia's fingers lightly traced the rim of her goblet.

A goddess of love who gathered versus a goddess of love who bestowed.

"…Interesting."

Sitonai tilted her head. "What? You thinking something deep?"

Alfia glanced at her. "…Simply comparing the two."

Sitonai smirked. "Lemme guess—your Freya is more possessive?"

Alfia gave a slight nod. "That is one way to put it."

Sitonai leaned back, resting her hands behind her head. "Well, if she ever tries something weird, I'll just smack her with my Freyja's blessing." She grinned. "Gotta show her who's the better goddess of love, y'know?"

Alfia shook her head. "You are insufferable."

Sitonai pouted. "Hey! I just fed you the best meal you've probably had in years."

Alfia did not respond.

Because, for once…

She could not refute it.

Sitonai stretched out on the cold rock, patting her stomach in satisfaction. "Ahh, that hit the spot. Nothing like a divine meal to make you forget you're stuck in a creepy underground death maze."

Alfia quietly sipped her drink, unfazed by Sitonai's relaxed attitude.

Sitonai peeked at her. "Y'know, I've been wondering…" She sat up, resting her elbows on her knees. "Just how strong are you?"

Alfia barely reacted.

Sitonai continued, undeterred. "I mean, I didn't really see you fight that Cadmus, but you were calm the whole time, even when it was right there. I feel like a normal person would've been freaking out." She grinned. "You've got that vibe. Like a boss monster in human form."

Alfia sighed. "You ask ridiculous questions."

Sitonai pouted. "Oh, come on. Indulge me a little. I did just feed you."

Alfia exhaled slowly. "Strength in Orario is primarily measured in levels."

Sitonai raised an eyebrow. "Levels?"

Alfia glanced at her. "You truly know nothing."

Sitonai shrugged. "I just got here, cut me some slack."

Alfia let out a quiet sigh. "Levels are the mark of an adventurer's growth. They are granted through the Falna, a blessing given by the gods."

Sitonai blinked. "So the Falna is like making a new account?"

Alfia blinked at the unfamiliar term before assuming its definition.

"In a way," Alfia said. "The Falna allows one to grow beyond their limits by accumulating excelia—experience gained through battle and achievements. Adventurers use it to increase their abilities, their skills, and their magic. The stronger one becomes, the closer they are to Level Up."

Sitonai hummed, processing the information. "Sounds like a divine power-up system."

Alfia nodded slightly. "Most never rise beyond Level 2. Those who do are already stronger than the average person. Few reach Level 4. The currently from what I remember, the strongest in Orario are Level 6."

Sitonai tilted her head. "And you?"

Alfia looked her straight in the eye.

"Level 7."

Sitonai blinked.

Once.

Twice.

"…Seven?"

Alfia gave a slight nod.

Sitonai stared at her for a long moment before letting out a low whistle. "Damn. No wonder you were all the way down here by yourself."

Alfia remained silent.

Sitonai leaned forward. "So, what Familia were you in? If you're that strong, your group must've been crazy powerful."

Alfia hesitated for a brief moment before answering.

"We were once the strongest."

Sitonai narrowed her eyes. "Were?"

Alfia didn't respond.

Sitonai let out a huff. "Man, you sure have a packed backstory."

Alfia ignored her.

Sitonai smirked. "So, if you're a Level 7, that means you're, what, one of the strongest people in Orario?"

Alfia remained silent for a moment before speaking. "…There are few who surpass me."

Sitonai grinned. "Sounds like a roundabout way of saying you're at the top."

Alfia exhaled. "Strength is not determined by levels alone."

Sitonai chuckled. "Yeah, yeah, you sound like a wise old master."

Alfia sighed.

It was going to be a long trip back.

--+--

A/N: Ottar is level 7.

I know that, but he only leveled up after the events of the great feud, so Alfia wouldn't know that Ottar is level 7, only remembering him as a level 6.