[DanMachi/Percy Jackson] Prytaneum

(Interlude: Fairy Break (2)

"Eina," The woman said, brushing back her green hair. Even for an elvish woman, she was stunningly beautiful and surprisingly tall, beating Eina out by several inches. But she supposed that was to be expected of royalty. "It's been a long time. I didn't expect to see you so soon, but...could it be that you got my message."

"Yes, Lady Riveria," She said, standing at attention. As a half-elf, she'd had her fair share of prejudice directed at her by her mother's people, but she'd never really taken it to heart—but it was hard not to feel a little inferior in front of one of the High Elves. Or perhaps it was because this was Riveria, one of the strongest adventurers in the city. While some might have thought them related, the only similarities she could see between them were their eyes.

"You've grown quite a bit since the last time we met," Riveria said with an expression that wasn't quite a smile. "I almost didn't recognize you. You've become a very beautiful young lady."

The way she looked didn't match the way she spoke, but that was to be expected of a true elf. Though she didn't look any older than Eina herself, Riveria was older than her mouther and at least twice her age. She looked the same now as she had carrying her around when she was a child.

But that was a long time ago. She hadn't seen Riveria much since he mother had fallen sick and her father had started working himself to the bone to take care of her. It hadn't been anything as blatant as shunning her, but they'd slowly stopped intruding upon her and her duties to the Loki Familia, from what she'd been told. It had likely been simple enough; as Riveria had grown into more and more prominent of an adventurer and taken a greater role in the Loki Familia, the times when she'd be occupied for a month at a time grew more and more common. The occasions where she could take the time to visit a friend outside the city dwindled and it was simply a matter of not making an effort to stay connected. For elves, who lived such long lives, perhaps it didn't even seem like so long of a separation.

...It couldn't be helped. Though it was hard on their family, she understood her mother and father's feelings and maybe even shared them. To avoid causing undue trouble for someone they respected and who'd helped them so much already, they didn't tell her of her mother's illness, so she wouldn't feel obligated to come to their aid and leave her Familia or something more important.

And yet, here she was.

"I am honored to receive such praise, Lady Riveria," She said, bowing her head embarrassedly but not leaving like a part of her said she should. "To be acknowledged by one such as yourself, I will hold your words dear—"

"Stop talking like that," Riveria said, sounding almost tired. "We aren't in the elven homeland—or rather, you've never been to the elven homeland to begin with; there's no reason for you to behave so respectfully."

"Even so, Mother always told me to show utmost respect to Lady Riveria..."

"Even Aina does such a thing? How regrettable. She escaped that place alongside me, after all, so at the very least she should know..." Riveria trailed off with a slightly wistful sigh before giving her a sharp look. "Even if a small amount of respect is warranted, anything beyond that is meaningless, and I long since grew tired of such things. If you wish to show me respect, that please understand that. Besides which, rather than wasting time on ancient courtesies, you came here for more than just a reunion, did you not?"

"I...yes," She said, keeping her head bowed. "I'm sorry to trouble you—really, I shouldn't even be here, especially not to speak to you, but...Riveria...I need your help. I shouldn't be troubling you, but there's...no one else I could go to."

Riveria watched her with one eye closed. Since she'd been a child, she'd never been able to hide anything from this woman, so she didn't even try.

"Is this a request from the Guild?" The High Elf asked and she quickly shook her head.

"No," She said. "In truth, the Guild doesn't know...or rather, I am going behind the Guild's back by asking you this."

"Ho...I thought as much and yet I'm still surprised you would do such a thing," Riveria mused, considering her. "I shouldn't have to ask you this, but...you're aware of the risks to yourself, are you not? Coming here and seeking something from another Familia...if you stop now, you could still brush it off as nothing more than visiting an old friend, but if you continue, you may cross a line. But you still wish to ask?"

"Yes, Lady Riveria," She replied, straightening and meeting the elf's eyes. "I know the risks and I'm...scared, but I still have something I need to ask you."

"Then ask," She said, opening both eyes and staring at her intently. "Certainly, if you need help strongly enough to risk this much to seek it, I will do all I can. You should have known that when you first came here."

"Yes," She said again. "But it's not for my sake. Rather, the adventurer I'm advising, Percy Jackson, seems to have gotten wrapped up in something dangerous."

Taking a deep breath, she looked around once and told Riveria what she knew about the Soma Familia and their actions up to this point, as well as the kidnapping of Percy's supporter, the invasion of his home, and his resulting actions.

"...Certainly, I wasn't expecting that," Riveria said, face unchanging despite her words. "It's true that we owe that boy a debt, but something like this..."

"I know it's a lot to ask," Eina said. "Too much to ask. But Percy's doing the right thing and I can't just stand by and watch. I understand that acting against the Soma Familia directly may be impossible, but...is there nothing you can do to help him?"

Riveria took a slow, deep breath and then sighed.

"I suppose we'll find out so enough," She said, glancing down at the clear bottle in her hands. "Whatever my feelings, I cannot do something that might endanger my Familia, but...in this case, it might be possible to help. You're lucky you brought something like that, Eina—you may have a chance."

"This Soma...?" EIna wondered, furrowing her brows. "What do you mean, Lady Riveria?"

"My goddess is a fan," She said. "I'll take you to meet her now."

"Lady Riveria...?" She asked with widening eyes, but the High Elf had already turned around and stalked towards the gates to her home. After a moment of hesitation, she followed, watching as Riveria said something to the guards, who then stood aside to let her pass. She remained silent until she was already through the doorway, but then she couldn't help but ask. "Lady Riveria, is this really okay? To allow an outsider into your Familia home...even if it may not be for much longer, I am a member of the Guild. If any of the Loki Familia's private information got out because of me, I..."

"Don't speak of ridiculous things," Riveria answered without looking back. "I wouldn't have allowed you in if I thought you capable of such a thing. Here, this way."

She fell silent again, thinking back to when she was just a little girl, clutching the hem of Riveria's robes. Before long, however, she'd been led through the hall and into a reception room of sorts, filled with scattered couches and tables, all of them of high quality. The room had a relaxing feel to it, especially with its light orange color scheme, and it gave her something of a feel for the Familia. Truthfully, she wouldn't have minded living here herself—

She couldn't help but pause at the thought, reminded again of the fact that her days with the Guild might be numbered. If she lost her job over this, she might need to search for a new one, but she hadn't given any thought to what. Could she become an adventurer? The thought was ridiculous, whatever her grasp of the theory was, but...

"Here," Riveria said again, seating herself at a seemingly random table and then reaching out to pluck the bottle of Soma from her arms as she joined her. "From what you told me, time is of the essence so there's no time to waste looking for Loki—we'll just summon her here instead. I hope you weren't saving this for anything."

Without another word, Riveria opened the bottle and set it on the table and a surprisingly sweet scent quickly permeated the room. It was almost enchanting in the way it seemed to draw her in, but she couldn't help but to shy away from it after what she'd heard from Percy. However—

"Hey, you," A voice suddenly shouted. The goddess of the Loki Familia came running around a corner a moment later. "Is that Soma!?"

"She's here," Riveria said emptily, seeming somehow exhausted by her own success. "Loki."

"I knew it!" The goddess said gleefully. "I knew it, I knew it! That's Soma alright! Did you get me a present, Riveria? You beautiful child, you!"

"It was not me," Riveria denied at once. "It's a gift from the girl beside me."

Loki turned to look her over with squinted eyes, which seemed to have no effect on her ability to find a free glass and fill it with Soma.

"And who's this girl...?"

"She's like a member of my family," Riveria said, calmly glancing towards her. "Eina, introduce yourself."

So that was Riveria's plan...

Even so, asking for help directly from a major goddess was a bit nerve-wracking. Despite that, if it was the only way to help Percy, she had no choice. She'd just have to choose her words carefully.

"My name is Eina Tulle," She said after a moment. "This is our first time meeting, Lady Loki, but it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I know that my presence here is unexpected, but—"

"No need to be so formal," Loki cut her off, looking at her—and her uniform. Slowly, her right eye opened, showing a striking shade of red. "You'll just bother me doin' that, so talk normal. Still, what's this...? A member of the Guild paying my Familia a visit? That old man Uranus makes a lot of claims about neutrality, but sends you here all quiet like, is that it?"

She opened her mouth to deny it, startled and frightened by the sudden attention—but even if she was wrong about the details, wasn't she still right about the reason she was here? But...

"This girl is my guest," Riveria stepped in, looking at Loki quietly. "I won't allow anyone to insult her."

"Ah, I get it now!" Loki said, changing her tune at once. "So you were Riveria's guest, huh? Sorry about that, Einy; my mistake."

"Please pay it no mind, Lady Loki," She replied, bowing her head. "In truth, I came here to make a request."

"Hm, mm, that's better," Loki said, taking a sip of her drink. "Enough beating around the bush, then—you're Riveria's guest and you brought me one of my favs, so I'll at least listen a bit. What is it that you're after?"

"I'd like to ask you to help an adventurer I'm supervising," She said. "From what he said, you might have met before? His name is Percy Jackson."

"Ah..." Loki said, smile turning somewhat bitter. "Hestia's new child...yeah, I remember him. Seems we caused him a bit of trouble."

"You especially, Loki," Riveria seemed to remind.

"Uu, that's not true, Riveria," Loki claimed almost tearfully, mood swinging abruptly. "At best, I made things worse; you don't have to keep scolding me. You and Aiz have been so mean to me lately—Aiz has been even more prickly than usual, you know!"

"Enough, Loki," Riveria said sternly.

"Fine," She answered with a sigh, back to normal in an instant. "What's the boy gotten into, now? If it's another group of Minotaur, we didn't have nothing to do with it, okay?"

"No, it's nothing like that, it's..." Eina paused for a moment, organizing her thoughts, before just deciding to tell the truth. "Lady Loki, are you aware of the truth of the Soma Familia?"

At that, Loki stopped and opened one of her eyes again, looking at her carefully.

"Hm...wasn't expecting that, but perhaps it makes sense, since you brought me this here," Loki replied, sloshing the bottle slightly and pouring another glass. "So you've heard? That even this stuff is just a failure?"

She nodded.

"Percy recently hired a supporter who'd been...coerced by her Familia into doing many things," Eina said, not entirely sure how to best describe what she'd been told about Lili. "In the end, she was even made to rob them, though that matter was settled quickly. When the head of her Familia intercepted her in the Dungeon, Percy and a friend of his protected her from harm and took her into their care. Percy then came to me for legal advice on how to handle such a thing and we began to investigate things."

"Ah," Loki said, nodding slowly like she understood. "Something like that...in the Soma Familia, I guess it's to be expected. That idiot doesn't know anything about running a Familia, or at least he doesn't care enough to try. What measures he did take, if anything, just made things worse...I guess problems were inevitable, but—"

"She's not done," Riveria stated.

"A short while ago, Percy and I purchased this bottle in an attempt to help look into the Soma Familia, but we were interrupted by his friend Welf, who he'd left behind to look after their supporter. The head of the Soma Familia apparently broke into the Hestia Familia home, defeated him, and then took the supporter away."

"Oh," Loki said, rocking back slightly at that. "That's...something."

The goddess fell silent for a moment and pursed her lips at that, considering it.

"I suppose you're already aware of the legal issues with that?" She asked. "Interfering with another Familia's business meanings treading a fine line at the best of times. For the Soma Familia especially, even if it was a kidnapping, a little sip of the real thing might change her mind. Even if you're asking me to, interfering directly might be a bit tricky."

"I'm sorry," Eina said. "But that's not it, either. After hearing the news, Percy and Welf went to confront the Soma Familia directly and take back their friend. They're probably there now, in fact. I wished to ask you to help them however you can, whether in the battle or the aftermath. At the very least, I was hoping you would be able to understand their reasons."

"Certainly, I understand, but..." Loki trailed off with a sigh. "It's not quite that simple, see? You're talking about Familia fighting in the streets—and asking another, larger Familia to join in on the action. I could interfere, certainly, but the simple fact that I had to interfere might make things worse. I could force things into a meeting instead of a fight, but a lot of gods might support Soma in this situation, as might the Guild. And if I did something else...it could be real bad, dependin' on how others react."

Eina nodded slowly and nearly closed her eyes before hardening her resolve.

"With all due respect, Lady Loki, I think things are already fairly bad," She said.

"How bad?" She asked. "Potential war in the streets bad?"

She wasn't sure how to answer—but it turned out to be irrelevant. In that moment, the ground seemed to shake, trembling enough that ripples spread across Loki's glass and made it clatter slightly.

Loki looked up and opened both of her eyes before narrowing them again.

"It...might be a good time to mention that Percy's friend is Welf Crozzo of the Hephaestus Familia," Eina continued, heart abruptly pounding in her chest. "He stated that the head of the Soma Familia stole his magic sword, in addition to kidnapping their friend."

"...That's pretty bad," Loki admitted. A moment later, a small horde of people came downstairs in a massive rush of footsteps.

"The hell was that?" A wolf-man she vaguely recognized seemed to snarl. Behind him, a blonde haired girl with golden eyes—Aiz Wallenstein, she realized—narrowed her eyes and frowned, looking towards the south.

"Oi, good timing," Loki said, shoulders falling. "Seems something's come up. That new friend of yours seems to have gotten into trouble again."

"...Friend?" Aiz asked, furrowing her brows.

"Is it fucking raining?" The werewolf asked, looking up at the ceiling with a scowl. "It was goddamn clear five minutes ago!"

"Bete," Loki said, immediately drawing his attention. "Sorry, but we might be in a bit of a rush. Eina, could you tell them everything important before they go."

She nodded quickly, heart nearly stopping in her chest as the ground rumbled again, shaking even worse than before. If that was what she thought it was...she had to hurry, before it was too late.

Assuming, of course, that it wasn't already.