The docks of Melen.

"Ah, Zephyr!" said Lance. "I saw your fight with the Hecatoncheires! I’m really impressed! So what brings you here?"

"I’m here to see about a ship."

"A ship? You going somewhere?"

"I was hoping someone could take me to Telskyura."

His face remained still.

"Is it Evilus?"

"Sadly, yes, they plan on releasing another monster."

"Like the one you fought."

"Hm."

"I see… would you want Lord Poseidon to come with us to send whatever god released the monster?"

"I was hoping so, and if the monster gets away, we need to track it."

"But wasn’t Lady Artemis with you?"

"The monster in question is aquatic."

"Then I’ll go talk with Lord Poseidon. I’ll send a messenger to Lady Astraea and inform you when the ship is ready."

"Thank you."

Cirrus bows his head and returns to Orario.

 

Once back in the city, Cirrus heads to Eupheme’s workshop to get his weapon back.

"Hey, Eupheme! Is it ready?" Cirrus said, entering the workshop.

"It's in the corner!" She shouted while hammering away.

Cirrus goes to the corner and spots his blade, shiny and sharp.

"Hey, Cirrus." She said. "Are you going away again?"

"I am, but I don’t know when the ship is being procured."

"I see. Be safe out there alright and keep Brilliant Nightmare clean and sharp!"

"I will!"

"Oh, and can you take Ai’s weapon back to her? It’s on the table over there."

"Sure thing!"

 

Taking Ai’s weapon, Cirrus stores his weapon in his shadow and leaves to go to Susanoo’s Familia’s home. Nox went to inform Lenoa to prepare some supplies.

Arriving at the Familia home as Cirrus, he opens the door to hear the sounds of them practicing.

He walks in to find Kaguya and Kushida sword fighting.

Their exchange of blows was quick and refined. They were both focused on one another.

"Hmm…"

"Cirrus!" said Ai as she came in with a headbutt.

"Guh!" They knocked him to the ground. "Ugh... I told you not to do that!" he said, rubbing his stomach.

"Did you come to spar?" she said, holding her arm out.

"Uh partially. Here is your weapon. Eupheme asked me to deliver it to you."

As Cirrus hands Ai the weapon, and she grabs it with enthusiasm, he picks himself up.

"Thanks! But hmm... if you got mine, what about yours? Are you going somewhere again?"

‘Did she develop a sense when I was going to leave?’

"I am. I don’t know when I'll be leaving, but I should receive confirmation within the week."

"Oh…" Her face looked a bit down. "Where are you going to leave?"

"Uh Melen, I’m taking a ship."

"Hm, hm… I see well goodbye." She turned her head and went back inside a bit quickly.

"… My brain got an update and yet I’m still fucking stupid or dense."

 

Inside Susanoo’s home, Ai went to her room and got out a white and green charm with characters on it. She quickly hid them in her pocket and promptly went after Cirrus.

"Huff! Huff!"

She quickly ran after him to find him just down the road.

"Cirrus!!" she called out.

"Hm?"

He turned around in surprise.

"Ai, is something wrong?" he said with a concerned look on his face.

"N-no, nothing is wrong. I just wanted to give you these!"

Ai handed him two charms, one white that had the characters 縁結び with lilac Aster flowers embroidered on the charm. The other green charm with the characters 勝守 with sunflowers on it.

"Charms?"

"Hm! I made these! Do you know what they mean?" She said it with a blush.

"I assume good luck, right?"

She made a smile as she turned around with her tail swinging.

"I'll be sure to tell you when you come back, alright! Oh, and don’t open them! They’ll lose their purpose!"

"A-alright!" he said.

As Ai walks away, Cirrus looks at the charms.

"… Aren’t these those Japanese charms they sell at shrines? Sucks I don’t know Japanese very well."

 

Walking to Astraea’s home, Cirrus buys some string and puts the two charms on as a necklace. He dons his mask and heads to the Familia’s home.

"So you are heading to Telskyura?" said Astraea.

"I wish you would have told me about Cirrus." Artemis retorted.

"My apologies, Lady Artemis, but for this, I wasn’t sure if you could track an aquatic monster?"

"…" she stared daggers at Cirrus. "I'll be sure to make your archery training as hard as I can when you come back, and maybe some Pankration."

‘I need to improve my way with words.’

"So, who is going with you?" asked Phi.

"Well, if I’m lucky, Poseidon will come."

"Ah, so the Poseidon Familia is coming with you!" said Astraea.

"Hm… Poseidon, I guess he’s pretty good at navigating the sea and fishing, I suppose." Artemis said, pouting.

"Now, now Artemis, you know it’s his job." Astraea went to comfort her.

"I know… well, in the meantime, my children could help defend this city with your and Ganesha’s Familia’s."

"Oh, I forgot to mention this, but it seems the Susanoo Familia is also helping us as well!"

"!?"

This information surprised Cirrus.

"Um, what? I didn’t know Susanoo and Ganesha’s Familia were going to help?"

"Well, Ganesha has been gathering more children who were affected by Evilus, and Susanoo joined in as his Familia used to work as the main military force for the nation, but he made a bad mistake, and it resulted in many starving. Amaterasu, feeling remorseful, locked herself away, crying for her people. The other god in charge, Izanagi, told him to repent, but he didn't, thus he was exiled until he apologized and repented for what he did. Susanoo and his most loyal children left The Far East to come here to Orario, so they have a good reason to fight for peace." Said Astraea.

"H-how do you know all that?" Cirrus and Artemis asked with some fear in their tone of voice.

"He told me, of course! That was the prerequisite to help." she smiled at them with an innocent smile. "Half-baked resolutions won't get you far."

Everyone in the room felt a bit scared of Astraea that day.