After returning to Melen, Poseidon, along with his captain Lance, went to Orario.

When he entered the southern gate, he could see several people cheering as he had helped stop a monster, but deep down he felt unworthy of this.

When he went to the Guild, he asked Royman to let him see Ouranos. Lance stayed behind as his god went to meet the founder.

"It has been a long time since Ouranos," Poseidon said.

"It has. What brought your visit here?"

"I came to deliver a report from Nox."

"Hm?" his eyes squinted a bit. "And that is…"

"… Zephyr, your child has gone missing at sea. Nox, his spirit has been searching feverishly, looking for him."

"… I see."

In all the time Poseidon had known Ouranos, he was always a stoic god, but for the first time, he heard both a pained and relieved voice.

"I am sorry I couldn’t do more to find him, but we have searched Telskyura and the surrounding land’s coastline and various islands, but… nothing."

"That is alright, you and your Familia did their best. I thank you for this information."

"Yes, once again, I apologize for—"

"Thank you," Ouranos said. "You may leave."

"…" Poseidon nods and leaves.

"Fels… are you alright?"

From the shadows, Fels emerged.

"No... I am worried where Cirrus could have gone, Lord Ouranos, but... if Nox is still alive, then there is still hope."

 

A few days later, after Poseidon and his Familia returned, the guild posted Zephyr had gone missing at sea, fighting and killing the sea monster released by Evilus.

The news spread like wildfire. In doing so, the crime rates increased drastically and Evilus grew bold in their actions. Many of the Familia working to combat them were working tirelessly.

 

While walking back home, it devastated Ai.

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

She was walking slowly and sadly.

"… You liar." She said in a bitter tone. "I know you're still alive…"

With the way things were, Ai wanted to head out and look for him, but by Susanoo’s orders and the Guilds, no Familia were to leave the city. Seeing that Evilus had upped their activity, she was very busy, which became an unintentional way for her to channel her emotions into.

"… I will find you and bring you back." She said to herself as she walked down an alley.

"Can you really?" said a voice.

"!!"

Ai quickly turned to the voice and placed her hand on her handle, ready to draw her sword.

"No need for violence." said the voice.

"Who are you? Show yourself or I’m going to cut you down!!" she shouted.

Emerging from the shadows, Fels appeared.

"!?!?"

As Fels appeared, Ai was ready to draw her spare sword when.

"I have a quest for you?"

"… A quest?" she said, still with her hand on her sword handle.

"Yes, a quest that will let you go to where Cirrus was last at, Telskyura."

"!?!?" Ai was shocked to hear that, but it was too good to be true. "How do I know you’re telling the truth and you’re not some Evilus scum!?" The grip on her sword tightened.

"My name is Fels. I am Cirrus’s parent."

"Eh!? Y-you’re his parent! " She looked at Fels up and down and even tried to smell them to see if they had a scent, but didn’t have one.

"I am. I raised him since he was a baby abandoned in the west section of Orario. I endowed him with knowledge and wisdom, and he did the same for me. But if you still do not trust me, then shall I take you to the quest giver?"

"…" Ai got her hands off her blade. "Fine. Show me."

 

Following Fels, they led Ai into a secret tunnel. It surprised her that there was such a thing.

When she reached the end, she entered a room of darkness with only 4 fire torches illuminating the room. On a throne, a god was sitting nearly 7 feet tall with white hair and eyes as blue as the sky.

"Whoa..." Ai blurted out.

His aura was something on another level; it far eclipsed that of Susanoo and every other god in Orario. Only in the moment, that second of her memory and eye when she laid eyes on Amaterasu, could she find a match close to his divinity.

"Hello, Shirakusa Ai." He said. "My name is Ouranos."

"T-the founder!" she said. "W-why are you asking me for a quest?"

"You are the only one who we can trust to look for Cirrus. This city has gotten even more chaotic since his missing announcement."

"I-I know, but why? I heard you don’t care for much of anything since you prioritize keeping the dungeon’s monsters at bay?"

"If you were missing, would you not think your god would try to find you?"

"But you aren’t his…" As she looked up at him and then at Fels, she started to make the connection.

"I was the one who gave him his Falna. Even if he converted to Astraea’s Familia, he has always been my child, remaining loyal to bringing peace to this city by doing special jobs normal adventures can’t do."

"So… you want me to help find Cirrus?"

"Yes."

"I’ll do it." She said, with no hesitation. "I’ll go and—"

"Before you do, you must know the details of the quest, Fels."

Fels came up to Ai.

"The prerequisites are that you must reach level 5, and once you do, you will be permitted to go to Telskyura."

"L-level 5! Why that much!!"

"Telskyura is a country of blood. Given that Cirrus was famous and strong, he had no problem in the country. But for you? You must become strong enough to face their strongest warriors and establish yourself if the chances are that Cirrus is found." Fels said, explaining it to her.

"I still don’t understand why level 5?"

"You have an Amazoness friend, correct?"

"Well yes, I guess? Why?"

"Then you know that all Amazoness is… more inclined to love strong warriors."

"!!" Remembering how she met Aisha, she gained an understanding of her actions and why she continued to challenge her. "I… I see… very well, is that all?"

"Yes, we hope you will reach level 5 quickly. Until then, tell no one about this meeting."

"Hm." Ai nodded her head. "Um, can I ask who else knows that Cirrus was your child?" Ai asks Ouranos.

"Astraea knows Artemis as well, who is out of Orario doing jobs outside of the city, which are a cover for her to look for Cirrus in some other part of the continent."

"Did she like him?"

"I do not know, but they have worked for a while and, from his reports, he is one of her archery and hunting students. Is that all you wish to ask?"

"Yeah...how do you know who he is..." Ai made a rough expression at what was about to leave her lips. "H-how do you know Cirrus is alive?"

"That is simple," said Fels. "Nox is still out looking for him."

"Um... that's nice, but why does that point to Cirrus being alive?"

"..." Fels looks to Ouranos, and he to them. Fels looks back to Ai. "Cirrus told me that you knew of Nox, but... did he not tell you she was a spirit?"

"She's a what!?"

After explaining to Ai what Nox was, her mood quickly brightened.

"Hm, I have no more questions!" she said with a bright, energetic smile.

"Then I hope to see you again when you reach level 5," said Ouranos.

"I as well."

Fels shows her back through the tunnels.

 

When Ai returned home, she seiza in her room looking at the moonlight reflecting off her sword.

"Level 5... fine, I'll get there; just wait Cirrus, I'll make sure you pay for hurting so many people!"