Chapter – 88 (Ais Unstable Condition)
(*A/N: Here goes 1/3 chapter of this week. Please Enjoy.)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As the onlookers were crying and hugging each other that they are finally away from Entertainment District, the crowd outside got startled when these people all of a sudden appear out of thin air. But when they saw that how these people become happy when they are not in Entertainment District, it's not hard for them to guess that these people were present in Entertainment District before they appear here.
So, the crowd also become happy that at least there is someone who knew what is going in Entertainment and decided to get information from them. The crowd around the Entertainment District is just too big. At first, the crowd is less but it keeps on increasing slowly and slowly. Because this is the first time, something like this happens. That no matter who, no one can approach Entertainment District.
It's already been more than Eight-Hours. The sun is about to rise in another one-hour. So, everyone is eager to know the situation inside. But before they can ask, someone else approached these onlookers. To be more precise a group. When crowd see this group, they hastily make a path for them.
???: Is it being alright if you explain us the situation inside.
All Onlookers: Huh?
All Onlookers turn their gaze towards the owner of the voice. When they saw who it was and the group behind him, they hurriedly stand up and straightened their backs. The owner of the voice was is a Pallum but they didn't look down on him because he is someone everyone knows in Orario. He is not only the Level 6 Adventurer but also the captain of one of the Strongest Familia, Loki Familia. His name is Finn Deimne.
Behind him they can see all the Elite Members of Loki Familia. Nine Hell(Riveria Ljos Alf), Elgarm(Gareth Landrock), Sword Princess(Ais Wallenstein), Amazon(Tiona Hiryute), Jormungand(Tione Hiryute), Vanargand(Bete Loga) and Thousand Elf(Lefiya Viridis). Loki Familia members were going to take some rest after today's exploration but when they heard that the entire Entertainment Area has been covered by some kind barrier which makes it unable for someone to enter it, they hurried arrived here to Investigate.
Because Entertainment District is home ground of one of the strongest Familia, Ishtar Familia. When that Onlooker heard Finn question, he hurriedly nodded but he wanted to asked something before answering.
Onlooker 1: Braver(Finn Deimne), can I ask why you are asking that? Can't Loki Familia just go inside and check?
Finn: It's not that we don't want to. It's just we can't.
Onlooker 1: Huh?
Onlooker 2: What do you mean?
Finn: Why do you think there is such a big crowd here?
Onlooker 1: Huh? Don't tell me that no one can enter?
Finn: Exactly. It's been like this for nearly Seven-Hours. Let alone anyone can enter, no can leave from that place either.
All Onlookers: WHAT?
All of them become shocked and look at crowd. They saw that everyone in the crowd is looking at them. All of them understands that they all are waiting for them to answer. All Onlookers look at each other. Fear is clearly visible in their eyes. They all are thinking one thing.
'All Onlookers: It must be his doing somehow.'
All Onlookers shiver at this thought. They now fully understand that the reason they are still alive is because "The Black Swordsman" let them go since he has no interest in them. They all took a sigh of relief realizing that. They then turn look at the crowd who is waiting for them to speak before turning their gaze at Finn before saying in trembling voice.
Onlooker 1: Braver(Finn Deimne), I-Ishtar F-Familia is no m-more.
GASP!!!
Everyone present gasps. They only opened their eyes wide, and can't believe what they are hearing. Ishtar Familia, one of the strongest Familia is no more. How could this be. Finn was the first one to come out of his shock. His eyes have turned serious and he look at the onlookers.
Finn: Which Familia did this?
Onlooker 2: It was not done by any Familia.
Finn: ????? Then?
Finn and everyone become confused when they heard this. If it was not done by another Familia then who did. Finn can see panic and nervousness in the eyes of Onlookers. But he can also see one more emotion that they are trying very hard to hide and i.e., fear.
Onlooker 3: I-It was d-done by a single p-person, single-handedly.
Crowd: WHAT???
Everyone in crowd become stunned again. One of the strongest Familia is destroyed by a single person in just one night. That's impossible.
Finn: Who?
All onlookers started to tremble when they remember "The Black Swordsman". They are still afraid of him. If it's possible then they don't even want to remember him. But since everyone is waiting for their answers, they have no choice but they speak.
All Onlookers: T-The Black Swordsman
SILENCE
TOTAL SILENCE
Everyone becomes silent when they heard this. But because everyone is too shocked after this revelation, no one notice Ais who flinched after she heard the name of "The Black Swordsman". Ais clenched her fist tightly. She has met "The Black Swordsman" before and even exchanged blows with him. So, she knows what kind of monster he is.
All members of Loki Familia look at Ais worriedly. This is the worst-case scenario. Ever since Ais returned after fight with him, she has started to train like crazy. Things have gone so serious that she no longer cares about her condition or her health at all and just keeps on fighting relentlessly and reckless even in the dungeon. She is currently only concerned about physically strengthening herself and downplayed everything that had nothing to do with it, considering any other type of teaching useless.
She has even become extremely volatile and tend to be aggressive with others and disrespect her superiors like Finn, Rivera, Gareth and even Loki when they try to stop her to take some rest. They all have realized that Ais has return back to what she was when she first joined the Familia. Her self-destructive tendencies have returned. But this time no matter how much they try, they failed to stop her. Loki also realizes how serious the situation of current Ais is, so she is also trying to find a way to solve this.
Because of that she has strictly ordered everyone in Familia to not say the name of "The Black Swordsman" in front of Ais. Because of that her condition started to become stable slowly but now it all went to waste because the name of "The Black Swordsman" appears again. They really wanted to send Ais back right now, but because of her behavior they knew that she will show an aggressive front if they will try. Ais started to stare at the onlookers intensely.
Realizing that Sword Princess(Ais Wallenstein) is staring at them so intensely they all started to have a bad feeling about it. Just when Finn thought of giving a signal to these onlookers to keep quiet, Ais moves and arrived in front of them. She looks directly at them and asked.
Ais: What happens there exactly.
Onlooker 2: T-That-----
Ais: I want every information in detail.
Onlooker 2: Y-Yes.
Seeing that Sword Princess(Ais Wallenstein) is staring even more intensely at them, that onlooker started to sweat and decided to explain everything that happens in detail. Finn and Riveria took a deep sigh when they look at Ais knowing it's already too late, so they move their attention towards the information.
That Onlooker started to tell them everything in details about how the entire Ishtar Familia Tower was first cut into two. About how "The Black Swordsman" appears in front of them. About how he said he will destroy the entire Ishtar Familia, since they hurt someone dear to him. About how no one believe him at first. About how they all change their views when they saw him killing members of Ishtar Familia one-by one without breaking a sweat. About how he killed Phryne Jamil and About how he killed everyone from Ishtar Familia before they were kicked out of Entertainment District.
As the onlooker was telling the story, grave expression started to appear on everyone present. None of them expected "The Black Swordsman" to br this strong. Ais and Riveria are the only ones who have met "The Black Swordsman" before, so they knew that he was strong. But even they also never expected him to be this strong, to be able to end the entire Ishtar Familia on his own.
Even though Ais didn't show any change in her expressions, her feeling is very conflicted. She has fought Phryne Jamil three times. First, when she reaches Level 2. Second, two years after the first confrontation in dungeon. Third, when she reached Level 5. So, she knows full well how strong Phryne Jamil is. But now when she heard how easily Primis killed her, she understands that she was not Primis match in the first place. And he never once took her serious.
This frustrates her to no end. Ais has competitive nature. She always tries to compete with others in order to defeat them. So, she thought once she will put an extra effort in training and increasing her Level then she might be able to reach "The Black Swordsman" level in future. But now she understands that it's not the case. The difference between them is that of Heaven and Earth.
She turns back to left the area and to return to her Familia residence so that she can train more. She has been here with other members of Familia for at least Five Hours, now she thinks that she was a waste of time. She would have better spent her time in training rather than being here. Everyone saw how Ais left in great stride with confusion. But that's not the case for the members of Loki Familia. They realize that Ais condition has become even more unstable than before. They hurried need to find the way to solve it.
If Primis was here and saw Ais current condition, then he would have shown triumphed smile. This is what he wants from the very beginning. He has long decided to get his hand on Ais but he knew even if he offers her that he can make her stronger if she decides to follow him, she won't have agreed no matter what. The reason is because she has been with Loki Familia since she was child. And from then till now she has already grown attached with them.
So, he came with another solution and i.e., make her bond with her Familia as weak her possible. Then break her and rebuild her the way he wants. So, he decided to fight against her and defeat her. When you defeat someone than that person feeling was down. Taking advantage of Ais who is feeling down after defeat, he decided to break her by telling her that she is very weak and a disappointment.
It was huge blow to her heart. But since Riveria was there it helps Primis to take a few more steps. So, he told her that she is strong. Ais calms down slightly. But then he broke her again saying she is still weak if she thinks that she can defeat "One-Eyed Black Dragon". But he breaks her even more when he said that "One-Eyed Black Dragon" is Level-11 and Adventurer limit is only Level 9. So, even if she reaches Level 9 is future, she still won't be able to win against him.
Ais started to despair when she realizes that all of her hard-work till now was just waste of time. But before she will fall deep, he gave her a hope that he has a way to fight those who are two-level stronger than themselves. But before she could ask, he left. Since, Loki Familia was still trying to find "The Black Swordsman", Ais decided to throw herself wholeheartedly towards training and killing monsters in the dungeon in order to increase her level as fast as possible.
As a result, she started to return to her old self, the one she was when she has just joined the Loki Familia. When she was kid, her aggressive behavior was ignored by others in the Familia thinking she is still a kid. But this time, it's different. Seeing her aggressive behavior now, other members of Loki Familia except the Elite ones started to keep some distance from her. Afraid that she will lash at them. Thus, her bond with the Loki Familia started to deteriorate.
Even when the three leaders i.e., Finn, Gareth and Riveria tries to stop her, it became useless. Because currently Ais is only thinking of becoming stronger and no one else. Hence her communication between her Familia became less. As a result, her bond with Loki Familia became even more weaker. Loki understands that the current Ais is going very far away, so she is thinking of a solution to solve this.
Little did she knows that she won't get such chances. Primis way of playing with the psychology of others is so high that even Loki can't imagine. Currently Primis only needs to give Ais a little push before he can get his hand on her. But he has to give that push to Ais himself before Loki makes her move. That's why he said that he will get his hand on Ais, first thing once his work in Entertainment District is done.