"Here, lend me your shoulder," Bisky offered Naki some support as he could lean on her shoulder.
"Haha, I'm such a mess right now, aren't I?" Naki said with a chuckle.
"Believe me, I know how heavy Bruhne hits, so I say this with utmost respect - you handled yourself well, my teacher," Bisky smiled and nodded.
Ivy watched them relate and then turned to Bruhne.
"Pick yourself up, Bruhne. How long do you intend to lie down moping?"
She turns her back on her.
"You still have your duty as gatekeeper. Don't give me reason to strip that title away too," she added.
"Ugh! I-I understand Lady Ivy!" Bruhne said and hastily lifted herself and got rid of the chains around her leg.
"As for you 2, follow me. Emile is expecting us."
Ivy led the way, and Bisky guided Naki to follow after her. They left Bruhne behind, who was still trying to readjust her wheel and chains.
From a distance, a familiar owl was watching atop a tree, with Amber eyes.
It was Habiki's owl.
Listeria Academy - Habiki's Room
Leaning by her window, she had manifested an orb and projected the image of her owl's eyes through it.
This gave her a clear view of everything that was happening since Naki exited the gates with Bisky. The limitation, however, was that she couldn't get any sounds coming from there.
"I think Naki must've passed the conditions of the duel," she said with a smile.
"[Yet again, he rewards your confidence in him. I thought for sure the giant would emerge victorious.]"
"Hmph, I remain the only one to have defeated him, as it should be," Habiki bragged.
"[You may have won a battle, but I think you have a challenger for the ultimate prize]" Keifa said, and Habiki could insinuate from her words as she saw Bisky, attending to him.
"...Bi."
"[Yes. Your old friend. Not that it concerns me what you guys are up to.]"
"[I'm only delighted the devil kid is able to handle himself, we just have to continue playing our part.]"
"[And once I am free, I promise to return your sister back to you Habi.]" Keifa reminded her of their deal.
"...I know. I know you will keep your word. I just, I thought she would understand...she didn't understand."
Habiki watched Bisky and Naki discussing as they carried on. She had an expressive smile on her face all the way.
"...Her smile...her genuine, charming smile...I know it all too well. Bi, you've found a companion in Naki...haven't you?"
"[Habi, I've lived through numerous cycles, and one thing I've learned about humans is - many times, they don't truly understand your feelings, unless you tell them, or share it with them.]" Keifa said.
"[If you truly wish for Bisky to understand you, you know exactly what to do]"
With that, the soft glow on her earring faded, and Keifa left the discussion.
"...I wouldn't have considered it...but the duel taught me something. She still remembers, and she still cares."
Habiki remembered Bisky's hesitation in their spar and shook her head.
"Focus Habi. Monitor the situation. Stay on top of things. You can't afford to get distracted. Not now that we actually have a genuine shot at meeting our targets."
She muttered to herself and watched on.
Deep Listeria Forest - Ruined Monastery
"Welcome to our hideout, Naruki," Ivy said, pausing by the entrance.
Ivy had guided the party through the deeper echelons of the forest into the hidden ruins of an old monastery.
The walls were cracked, half crumbled. The roofs were ramshackled, and the pillars were weak. It was a structure in its dying legs, but one figure stood tall.
It was a statue, made of clay and moss. A statue of a goddess that had been forgotten here.
In front of said statue was the hero Emile, hands brought together and eyes closed in prayer. He offered no words, just silence.
Outside the monastery itself, the party of Ivy, Bisky, and Naki approached.
"What is this place?" Naki asked Bisky.
"This is where we...stole a living so to speak, before a calamity struck from the demons years ago," she replied.
"A calamity?"
"It was the first time the demons announced their upcoming raid by attacking all the various houses of worship across the kingdoms, to weaken humans by shattering their faith," she said.
"Back then, Emile was just chosen as the world's hero, and immediately, he was plunged into battle. Heh, an honorable title soon became an outlet for the selfish demands of the ruling kingdom nobles," Ivy added with a sharp and disparaging tone.
"What do you mean?" Naki asked.
"Emile was run ragged, sent from city to city, town to town, to tackle all the invading demons," Bisky replied.
"Bah, it was a call of duty, they said. Liars, all of them." Ivy added with a frown.
"Emile became a tool! He became their weapon, their defense, and their attack for their bid at expansion. Haha, I mean, how exactly do you think we got here?" she exclaimed in frustration.
"Sis..."
"(What happened in their past...how did they meet Emile?)"
Ivy sighed and brushed her hair up.
"No matter. It will soon be over. Soon we shall wrestle control, and once that has been accomplished, well, a lot will change," she concluded as they reached the entrance of the monastery.
"(Wrestle control? So the hero is after the will stones for his own agenda after all!)"
As they reached the entrance, Ivy motioned for them to stop.
"Halt. I will speak to him alone."
Bisky and Naki stayed behind as Ivy made her way in to meet Emile.
"(I better use this opportunity to switch back to Merphisto. I have a feeling I'll need his tongue for this one.)"
Naki, with guile, switched paths from Lohki --> Merphisto.
Once she got close to him, she stayed silent but was close enough to make her presence known.
"...Ivy. You were to return with Bisky alone," Emile, with a deep and refined voice, said after a short moment of silence.
Ivy bowed before responding.
"I think he will prove to be invaluable for our cause."
"Of course, he is yet to prove himself, so I brought him along for the final examination," she said.
"You think he is worthy?" Emile asked, opening his eyes.
"Yes. He managed to topple Bruhne. Granted, it only took a dislocated shoulder, but I'd say he managed the passing grade." Ivy remarked sarcastically.
Emile chuckled and turned around, "I see. Bring them in."
"Understood."
Ivy turned around and signaled for Bisky and Naki to join them.
"That's our cue, come on. I'll take care of your hand once we settle in okay?" she said
Naki nodded in response as they made it in.
Then his eyes met Emile's.
"(The hero Emile. Unlike before in the training grounds he look...composed?)"
Naki recalled when he was asking the young boy for spirit juice.
"(Did he finally get what he was looking for? the spirit juice? Wonder what that was all about.)"
Bisky guided Naki over to one of the benches
"Nice and steady," she gently settled him on the seat.
"Thanks."
"No problem, teach," she grinned happily.
"I've heard so much about you. Naruki, was it?"
Emile addressed him.
"Only good things, I hope?" he replied.
"Hahaha, that was the feeling I got, yes. It's also good to finally meet. I have been planning for your appearance ever since their words piqued my interest."
"(A plan for me?)" Naki thought as he hid his emotions with a poker-faced smile.
"Oh? That's Interesting. What do you have in mind?"
"Eh, nothing you can't handle. But first, why don't we get rid of the prying eyes?"
"Huh?" Naki was stunned by the last statement as Emile frowned, then diverted his attention to the roof.
He had spotted Habiki's owl and glared at it fiercely. A magic sphere surrounded the owl and seismic forces within shattered it into pieces.
In Habiki's Room.
She stumbled back the moment that happened,
"Argh!!" crying in pain, she held her eyes, breathing heavily.
"Huh huh...what the...how did he?" She stared at her magic sphere in disbelief.
Back at the Monastery.
"Now, with that out of the way, tell me, Naruki. What brings you before me?"
Emile asked, his face twisted into an intimidating frown.
He demanded an answer, a fast one.