63 Chapter 63

After a while, it seemed that Bahamut, my goddess, had left, leaving me standing below the towering structure called Babel. I gazed up at it, my mind filled with questions about what had transpired on the surface while myself, Ais, Riveria, Gareth, and the Astraea familia members ventured into the depths of the dungeon. The curiosity gnawed at me, but for now, I had more pressing matters to attend to.

As I stood there, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. I hoped that the actions of Bahamut wouldn't have any negative repercussions on our familia. The safety of my fellow familia members weighed heavily on my mind. Determined to ensure their well-being, I quickened my pace and made my way towards the Ganesha manor, eager to meet them and address any potential concerns.

A few minutes had passed since I arrived, but what I saw before me was far from pleasant. The scene was a gruesome one, with countless bodies scattered around and various remnants of viscera strewn about. The once pristine Ganesha familia manor now lay in complete disarray, a somber sight to behold.

Just as I was lost in my thoughts, a voice abruptly snapped me back to reality. It was Ardee. I quickly composed myself and responded, removing my cloak hoodie in the process. However, my concern for the situation at hand outweighed any personal comfort.

With a blend of fear and worry evident in my voice, I mustered the courage to ask the question that weighed heavily on my mind. "Do you happen to know the whereabouts of my familia members?" I inquired, hoping that Ardee could provide some much-needed answers in this chaotic and unsettling moment.

Ardee's eyes softened as she nodded her head, her voice filled with a mix of concern and relief as she said, "Yes, they are currently at the inner part of the manor, where it's safer." Grateful for the update, I expressed my thanks to Ardee and began to make my way towards their location with a sense of urgency.

However, before I could take a single step, Ardee's voice stopped me in my tracks. "Wait," she said, her tone filled with a hint of hesitation. "One of your familia members, Michalis, I believe, is with my sister. He saved her." Intrigued and worried about what had transpired, I paused to listen to Ardee's account of the events as we walked towards Michalis' whereabouts.

As we continued our journey, a sense of unease crept over me. Michalis was known for his composed and cautious nature, so what could have possibly driven him to take such a daring risk? My mind was filled with questions, but I knew that the answers awaited me at his location.

Finally, we arrived, and my eyes immediately locked onto Shakti as she came into view. Relief flooded through me as I greeted her, grateful for Michalis' bravery and the safety of our loved ones. Soon she departed and left me alone with Ardee and Michalis. Shakti had other duties to perform as the captain of her familia.

Looking towards Michalis, I noticed his disheveled appearance and the deep furrow in his brow, indicating that he was in a state of utter despair. A sense of unease washed over me, causing a shiver to run down my tail as I had an ominous feeling about what might have transpired.

"Michalis, what happened?" I managed to utter, my voice trembling with concern. Ardee, who had been observing our interaction, seemed puzzled by the sudden change in my demeanor. However, Michalis, upon hearing my voice, looked up and a flicker of recognition crossed his tear-filled eyes.

"Draco nii, sorry, sorry, sorry," Michalis stammered, tears streaming down his face like a torrential downpour. He repeated the same words over and over, as if trapped in a loop of remorse.

Desperate to make sense of his distress, I firmly grasped his shoulder, urging him to share with me the details of what had unfolded, as his words were currently devoid of any coherence.

"Look at me, Michalis," I urgently asked, my voice trembling with fear. I couldn't help but think that something terrible had happened. His eyes met mine, filled with sorrow and anguish.

"It's Clair," he choked out, his voice filled with grief. "She's... she's gone. I couldn't protect her, I couldn't do anything to stop it. It's all my fault." Each word he spoke hit me like a devastating blow, leaving me speechless. I slowly released my grip on his shoulders, my hands trembling with shock.

In that moment, I realized that I had feared the worst. I had thought that our entire familia, besides Michalis, had been lost. A wave of relief washed over me, but it was quickly overshadowed by the heart-wrenching news of Claire's passing.

She was not only my childhood friend, but a beloved companion to all my siblings. The mere notion of her absence engulfed me, leaving me with an overwhelming sense of helplessness. I couldn't shake the feeling that there might have been something within my power to alter the outcome.

I felt my throat close up, constricting with a mix of fear and anger. My fists clenched tightly, my knuckles turning white. Within me, a swirling storm of emotions raged, each one vying for dominance. It was as if something primal within me wanted to break free, to unleash its fury upon every last trace of evil that existed.

Emotions I never even knew I possessed were now manifesting themselves in the physical world, while my mind remained trapped in a chaotic whirlwind.

Questions raced through my mind, each one adding to the confusion. What went wrong? Did I not prepare enough? Why did fate choose someone from my own familia to suffer? The haze in my mind only grew thicker, clouding my thoughts. My body, on the other hand, seemed to burn with an intense heat, as if my very essence was slipping out of my control.

"Draco, Draco!" Ardee's voice pierced through the chaos, her tone filled with horror and desperation. Her eyes widened as she watched in disbelief at Draco's transformation. The air surrounding him crackled with heat, as his body contorted and twisted in monstrous ways.

Wham! A figure suddenly came hurtling down from the sky, crashing into Draco with incredible force, rendering him unconscious. It was Bahamut, the mighty goddess herself, who had descended from the sky.

As the dust settled, Bahamut let out a relieved sigh, her gaze fixed upon Draco's motionless form. Ardee, standing bewildered on the side, could only watch in confusion, uncertain of what was unfolding before her eyes. All she knew was that Draco had suffered the loss of a beloved familia member.

Bahamut muttered under her breath, "That was a close call". She felt a wave of relief wash over her, knowing that she had sensed the danger in time to prevent a potential rampage by Draco.

Michalis, with deep concern etched across his face, hurriedly rose to his feet and attempted to approach Draco. However, as he took a step forward, he felt an intense wave of heat radiating from the ground surrounding Draco's fallen body, creating a barrier that prevented him from getting any closer. The air crackled with an otherworldly energy, adding to the sense of urgency and danger in the situation.

"Bahamut sama," Michalis called out, his voice laced with worry, "is Draco nii okay? What happened to him?" It dawned on Michalis that he hadn't yet informed his goddess about what had transpired with Clair. The weight of the unspoken words hung heavy in the air, adding to the already tense atmosphere.