The days pass by as Cirrus, Ai, and Nox explore the city while Lugh and Ibic are busy with something. In that time as well, Cirrus took note of how the city was laid out and structured, something he barely had time to do in Ukhara.

"You have everything, Ai?"

"Yup! Everything is set! But are you sure you have nowhere else to go?"

"Uhh there is the Empire but…eh? It’s far out of our way, and Hecaton Village is even further out."

"By how much?"

"Uhh…I say 2 to 3 weeks?"

"That’s…really far."

"Yeah…we can go some other time."

"Hm…right so our next destination will be Chyong, the Jade Empire. They have a port which can get us to the Far East."

"And the funds?"

"Got them all accounted for and safe!"

"Then let’s get going."

As they left their room, they were greeted by Ibic.

"Ah, Cirrus! I caught you just in time!"

"Ibic…what uhh…what do you have there?"

"It’s a gift from Lord Lugh. It seems he wanted to gift you something before you leave."

"Really?" Cirrus gets the gift and looks at the wrapping covering it head to toe.

"Hm, he asks that you open it when you leave the city."

"He doesn’t want me to return it?"

"Yup, oh and he said while we were smithing it that to be careful as it seems some goddesses are looking for you. Just a few days before you arrived, a goddess from the eastern countries came to go to Orario to find the source of the cracks on the moon."

"Ah…" sweat began to drip from Cirrus’s head. "I'll keep that in mind!"

"Then take care, Cirrus. It sucks I didn’t catch up with you much, but there can always be another time!"

"Very well, I hope to see you again, Ibic."

 

Traveling to the east by carriage of a merchant.

"To think I would be taking two famous adventures in my carriage!" said the merchant. "Now I don’t have to worry about those dam monsters or bandits on the way to Chyong!"

"So long as you keep this to yourself, and you lie about where we left afterward, you won’t have any problems."

"Of course!! A man needs to make money, after all! And well, who in their right minds would want to anger you two?"

"That is a good question? Cirrus who do you think would do that?" said Ai.

"Desperate or truly stupid people."

"U-um speaking of…there are bandits up ahead, sir."

Cirrus and Ai look to see a man in the middle of the road facing down, a common trick used by bandits to get people to stop.

"Seems I can test out the spear Lord Lugh gave me."

They approached the body, and the guy got back up as several bandits came out of the woods.

"Get off and we won't kill ya!!" said one of them.

"Kehehe!! Look at that girl! She's real pretty!" said another.

"I'm sure we can sell her for a decent amount of Valis!"

"…It seems we found some stupid people Cirrus." said Ai.

"Ah…what luck." Cirrus said, getting off the carriage and unwrapping the spear.

"Look what we have here, huh? Some tough guy?? Hah??"

As the spear was unwrapped, Cirrus found it…odd and beautiful, the shaft had the sturdiness of metal yet the elasticity of wood. Its color matched the silver and blue of the spear. The spear had with it a note on the base of the head and shaft where they met.

"Hm?" Cirrus reads the note and makes smiles. "So your name is Spekð huh?" Cirrus spun the spear around to get a good feel for it. "I see… let's see how you do!!"

 

Orario.

"So…you are the goddess of my beloved!" said Chang'e.

"U-um yes I am," said Astraea taken a bit back from how much energy Chang’e has. "His name is Cirrus Zephyr, and I should tell you that he is gone."

"Gone!? I came all the way from the east to find him! Do you have any idea where he went?"

"W-well can I ask why you wish to meet him?"

"Why? He is the reincarnation of my beloved Hou Yi! He promised me he would fire at the moon to tell of his return!"

‘Just like Artemis and…wait?’

"Change’e correct? Are you perhaps a Lunar God?"

"I am. Why?"

"…Ah…it would seem you are not the only goddess looking for him."

"I’m not?"

"No, it seems every lunar god will be coming after him, one of which is Artemis."

"Artemis…ah! I heard of her! The famed Goddess of the Hunt! She has helped our people on a few occasions, providing them with food and training on how to hunt!"

"Yes, that Artemis is after Cirrus."

"…." The color of her bright face dropped. "Get the cart!! We need to find him first! Tell me, do you know where he went!?" she said with a frantic look in her eyes.

"U-um he could have gone to several places, but he did leave with his lover. That’s all I can say about my child."

"Hmm very well, then I shall ask around!"

 

She won’t find him before Artemis does…nor will Artemis.