To the Depth of Abyss

Chapter 98: To Meet Again

Floor 2 / Sky Territory

To Northeast /

"Are you still there, Elisa?"

Elisa giggled because of Diana's question. "Where do you think I can go in this height, Miss Diana?"

They currently in 1000 meter height from the ground. Griphy flies leisurely. 

That question sounds stupid, but it had broken the ice in the atmosphere. 

"You are being so silent after we left the campsite! I thought you are boring!"

"No, that is not it."

It is hard for Elisa to tell her reason for being silent. 

"I'm sorry."

"No-no, why you sorry? I'm just asking how you doing? That's okay if you don't want to talk about it. It's just, don't push yourself. You are a Priest, a doctor for us Abyssal Hunters. If you are not feeling well, of course, that will make us worry."

That was so meaningful. Elisa almost forgot that Diana is a Legend who has been through a lot that makes her so wise.

"Thank you, Miss Diana."

"Ur welcome, sweetheart. Then, what makes you gloomy?"

"It's about those three."

Uilya, Max, and Dylan. The three young ex Black Hunters. 

"I hope I can stay long to see how their condition."

As their doctor, taking care of them in just one day is not enough for her. Elisa only treating their external wound without take a longer look on what has happened to their inner body.

"Ahh, sorry, I haven't talked to you about it, right?"

Looks like Diana already has a plan on what she will do with those three. 

"After they get better, I will bring them to Floor 1. Ars has given me a special service to treat them in West Station Health Center."

"He gives you that?"

Elisa didn't believe it at first. Recalling they always been fighting since getting to Floor 2, she forgot that that guy has a good side of him.

In West Station Health Center, there is also Ars's best friend, Randi. If they get the chance to meet him and have a talk, maybe they can get closer when talking about their Saviour. 

"Right? It was hard for me to believe at first. To think that complicated guy can be so nice. But that maybe is his own way on being kind to others."

That's not completely wrong though, but "He is still such a rascal."

Diana can only wryly smile on Elisa's irritation mumble.

When Diana thinks about it, Ars is only that annoying towards Elisa. They are like a couple forced to marry and make their parents happy, despite their mismatched condition.

"Where do you want me to drop you?"

They are close to their destination. 

________________

Abyssal Terra / Floor 2 

Middle of Northeast / Land of Honor

Definition / Stops of the North and Northeast track. 

Track: Ground / Air 

_________

"I think in the west outpost is okay!"

"West outpost? Got it!"

Giphy maneuvering to their destination.

_________

West Outpost of Land of Honor / 

Definition / West Outpost is a little village covering with stone wall. Like Gate Village in Floor 1. West Outpost is a place to stop and check before being allowed to enter the Shield City area.

Fighting Policy / Conditional

Residents / Outpost Guards

_________

Diana and Elisa enter the queue, waiting for checking. When it is their turn to get checked, the guards in charge being suspicious.

"Just the two of you? No party or someone more?"

They being skeptical. That is reasonable. Because Land of Honor is the place where Saint of Staff breathed his last, and the place where Saint Arcane Church is, the guard must be tighter. Recalling the incident a few days ago that happened to Blackish Mountain, making all areas more worried about the appearance of the Black Hunter group.

At that time, Diana is still in her pilot suit, Bird Catcher battle suit. Her appearance at that time was rarely known by people from outside the South territory, therefore no one mentioned her existence. Besides her, Elisa wears a cloak that covers her face. 

Their appearance is a kind of suspicious, actually. 

But Diana without doubt sending her Hunter Profile data to one guard. 

The guard immediately checking the mail he received. His friends rushed to see the mail too. Then they suddenly stared to the mail, to each other, to Diana.

Diana takes off her left flying goggles, then blinked to the guards. 

It fascinated all the guards. Making them blush, then immediately paved the way for the Legend Hunter.

Diana and Elisa could enter the Outpost peacefully. 

"Though you don't need to escort me this far, but thank you, Miss Diana." 

Diana pat Elisa's head. "Don't worry about it, sweety. Then what you need now is transport to get to the Shield City."

Diana looking at their surrounding, hoping to find a kind-looking party that has vehicle or mount with them.

"Miss Diana, you don't have to - !"

Elisa too late to stop Diana. Her guardian already finds the party she is looking for. 

"Hey, you guys! Can I ask you for something?"

The party is a little startled when someone with weird outfit come to them.

They look at each other, quite confused. The party is all female hunter, so there is a feeling of a little fear of talking to someone so tall. 

"What do you need?"

Finally, someone wants to talk. 

Diana immediately tells her reason. 

"Can you girls please bring this girl with you to the city?"

Elisa appears from behind Diana.

Diana has done that far for her. Therefore, she must not waste her guardian's kindness.

However, the female hunters being suspicious because of their quite weird appearance. 

"Well, we can do that. But can you take off your cloak first?"

Elisa knows they will ask her to do that, but she still shocked, and a little scared to do so.

Diana could feel Elisa's doubt. Then that's where she will help the little girl again. 

"Hey, I know this is not proper. But," Diana takes off her helmet, goggles, and mouth cloth. "Could you to tolerate her?"

Diana shows her beautiful-tough face, dark brown skin, and white caramel long hair.

It shocked all the girls and left them gaping in silence.

That is a weird reaction they gave to Diana. She doesn't know either they scared? Amused? Or something because of her appearance. 

"Hello?"

After a light call, they all finally showed different reactions.

"You so beautiful."

"Um, yeah, agreed."

"Agreed."

All the girls just used that word, agreeing. 

"So, you will accept my request?"

"Y-yes-yes, of course."

For some reason, the party representative spoke in trembling. 

Diana walks closer to the representative. "Oh, thank you!" Then shook the representative's hand. "I could not bear to let this girl climb the path on foot. You are so helpful."

The representative being clumsy when Diana shook her hand. But Diana did not realize that. 

After the handshake, the representative back to her party, and Diana back to Elisa. 

"Glad we find transport for you, Elisa," said Diana innocently.

"Yes, but " 

Elisa pointed to all the excited girl. One of them brings a camera with her. Then they ask a request to Diana. 

"Um, could we take a photo with you?"

That is just a simple request. Diana doesn't know why that took so hard for them to talk to her. 

"Of course."

The photo session begins with Diana taking a photo with each of the girls. 

They took the photo casually. With each girl standing side by side with Diana. Then one girl bravely asked:

"Could I hold your hand?"

Of course."

"Kyaa, thank you!"

After being permitted, the girl being aggressive somehow, then they take the picture with the girl holding Diana's hand. 

Without Diana knowing, that sparked jealously to all the girls, even with them who already take a photo with Diana. 

"Can I take one more with holding you hand too?"

"Can I do that too?!"

"Hey, get in the line!"

"I asked her first!"

Chaos occurred. All the girls start to fighting with each other over who will take the photo next. 

That attracted everyone's eyes and made them wonder what is happening. 

Then suddenly, a quick strong wind blow emerges in the middle of the group. Makes them silent at once. 

"Can you girls calm down? I will accept your request as long as you bring my girl with you to the city."

That was a gentle yet strong order. All the girls' heart melt because of that. 

-After the photo session done. 

"Fiuuhhh~! I didn't think just having a photo session could be this tired."

"That was because you kindly accept all their requests, Miss Diana."

"Haha! Maybe that's true."

That was certainly true. 

"As long as they help us. That's okay,"

Despite her strong and tall figure, Diana is so "Kind."

"Ahahaha, thanks for the compliment."

When Diana finally could take a breath, the party shout to them:

"We are ready to go!"

That is the sign for Elisa to leave with the party.

Before she leaves, Elisa immediately hugged Diana. 

"Woah!"

That was so sudden it shocked Diana. But Diana directly understand and hugged Elisa too. 

They were together in just a few days. But they had been through a lot and knew a lot about each other in those few days. They are two individuals who were born far distance away, but the bonds they have created are tight like a new plant in a jungle of feelings..

It's hard to let go, but she has to let the girl back home. 

"Thank you for everything, Miss Diana."

Diana did not answer to the girls goodbye. She let the girl back home in silence.

When the party finally departed, Diana waves her hand at them. All the girls got excited by that, but the little girl did not show herself somehow.

But that's okay. Maybe she has her own reason to do so. However  

"Don't worry, we will meet again, Vigorous Maiden. As your journey with the Man I have been Waiting for a Long Time still continues, I have my own journey to face. That is why, until we meet again, be strong."

________________

Ruins of Blackish Mountain / 

All the miners focused on digging up the Blackish Mountain ruins to find everything they can take. 

In one certain place of the ruins, one certain young man sat on one rock. 

He is still young, yet he works hard to find out about something that happened to his adoptive family.

However, he is in rest time. Drinking less water that is left in the bottle and regretted he had drink much at the beginning of the work.

He is so tired he always thinks to give up. At that time, he will take out one picture of his entire family. 

In the picture, there is he, hugged by his high temper older brother. Behind them there is his harsh but loving older sister, and shy but strong other older brother. The last, the most important figure in the family, sits in the middle of their group, is their foster father. 

None of them bound by blood. But that is didn't matter. 

"Why are you lazing around there, Liam?!"

"I-I'm sorry!"

He is so tired. Still and all, he promised to himself to always move forward. So someday, he can reunite with his family once again.