Emily’s group returns to the hotel. There she waits in her room. She prepares herself to sleep for the night, but as he is about to lie on her bed, she hears a knock on the door.

“Lizzie?” Emily says. “You’re back already?”

She opens the door and sees that it is not the pink-haired fairy, but instead Hydrangea.

“Hello,” the magical girl says. “May I come in?”

“Sure,” Emily says. “Come in!”

The two discuss their recent experiences in the Hallward Museum and the Strega Dungeon of Spurious Mundus. Hydrangea presents Emily with the Cryosphere again. “I forgot to give you this, sorry.”

Emily looks at the chilled cyan sphere, its refulgent light exhibits an icy aura. Emily takes the sphere from the child. “Thank you.”

“My pleasure,” Hydrangea says. “So If I may ask, are you missing any other Elementaltist’s Spheres?”

“Let’s see,” Emily says. “I’ve startled with the Electrospehre and Photosphere. Then got the Aerosphere and Geosphere next and then the Pyrosp—” She suddenly recalls how she had gotten the Pyrosphere and all that surrounded it.

Hydrangea notices Emily’s expression changes. “Is something wrong?” she asks.

Emily shakes her head. “No it’s nothing, anyway this makes six spheres now.”

“So that leaves the Aquasphere and the Umbrasphere,” Hydrangea says.

Emily nods.

Hydrangea looks around her room before looking at Emily again, her expression is polite and stoic, but with a small warm smile. “My friends and I look forward to our adventures together. Thanks again.”

“My pleasure,” Emily says.

Hydrangea leaves the room, wondering if something had recently happened before their encounter.

Emily begins to head to her bed but hears another knock on the door. “Come in!” she says.

She sees Esteban enter. “I hope this isn’t a bad time, Emily,” the rouge says.

“Not at all,” Emily says. “How’s Julia?”

“She’s doing well,” Esteban says. “Heard you encountered a Strega and decided to adopt the Coloraturas?”

“Did Heathcliff tell you? Emily says.

“I have my sources,” Esteban says. His cerulean suit is pristine. “Now then, I want to ask how much you know about Gatsby Tower?”

“I don’t know much,” Emily says. “Why do you ask?” She is aware that Heathcliff is interested in visiting the dungeon with Esteban and Julia in a few days.

“Gatsby Tower is a Dungeon well known for its collection of fine arts and their lavish party.” Esteban begins explaining Gatsby Tower, as well as the gregarious core, Jay Gatsby. “The fact that we know who the core is should be indicative of how secure he is in exposing himself, and the fact that the dungeon has remained standing for decades despite that should be indicative of how warranted is his confidence.”

Emily is surprised to hear that. “Is he a strong dungeon?”

“Not quite,” Esteban says. “His defenses are more fixated on his extensive treasure trove than they are on protecting him himself. His actual defenses come from Noir itself.”

“But why?” Emily is curious about that.

“I can see she has much to learn,” Esteban thinks. “While Jay Gatsby is mostly hosting these because hew ants to, these gatherings serve as a way for Elegere and Empyreans to gather among themselves and mingle,” Esteban explains how the luxurious tower became the backdrop of most of Noir’s most important business and political deals and how that gives the Dungeon a reputation for being the place to be to find connections with the elite, and also that it consequently is privy to information that its partygoers do not want in the hands of others. “…It is known as the Ivory Tower of the Ebony City for these reasons.”

“I see,” Emily is a bit confused by the explanation. “Does this mean we can’t enter the tower?”

“Not quite,” Esteban says. “It is still a Dungeon and as such will permit adventurers. They will have to earn the right to move beyond the third floor, where several of the more prominent parties and treasures are held.”

“I see,” Emily says. “Why did you ask Heathcliff for help?”

Esteban tips his hat. “I got a tip that some nefarious folk had visited Gatsby Tower. They had bargained with Jay to keep knowledge of their operations within his walls. Knowledge that could be key to stopping a prominent threat to those forced to call the Underground home.”

“A threat?” Emily says.

“The Voorhees Gang,” Esteban says. “Part of the Syndicate, the other unofficial guild of Noir.” He then explains how the Syndicate had terrorized citizens of Noir, Exsecratii, Empyrean, and Elegere alike, and had committed acts unbecoming of a normal guide such as marauding the nearby dungeons to kill or extorting unlucky Adventurers and stealing their gains from Dungeons, as well as attempts to take the cores of Dungeons themselves rouge or otherwise.

Emily struggles to wrap her head around this. “I’m sorry,” Esteban says. “For now know that they are dangerous and that it is my mission to take them down.”

“Alright,” Emily says.

Elizabeth walks in and is surprised to see Esteban in the room with Emily. “Esteban? What are you doing here?”

“Just discussing some matters with Emily.” Esteban leaves the room. Elizabeth looks at Emily.

“Hey Lizzie,” Emily says. “Are all guilds good?”

Elizabeth sighs. “That is a rather complicated question, Emily. [Adventurer Guilds] are well…” The two end up discussing the nature of Guilds and adventurers in general as well as how some can act in a malicious manner. Emily looks at the clock on the wall and realizes that two hours have already passed.

“Whoops,” Elizabeth says. “It’s getting late!”

“Yeah,” Emily says. “I was supposed to rest a few hours ago, but…”

“I understand,” Elizabeth says as she flies to her bed. “Good night Emily.”

The two turn in for the night.

✦✦✦

The next day, Minerva takes Nina, Charlotte, and the coloraturas out of the hotel to explore the surface more.

“So,” Rose says. “Does this mean we’re Elegere now?”

“Rose,” Raine says, “We’ve been over this already. Just because we’re adopted by a Dungeon now doesn't mean we’re Elegere.”

“We probably have to move out of Noir soon,” Clover says. “Emily and her entourage are visitors, remember?”

“So why are these Ex-cre-crat-tii underground anyway?” Nina says.

Minerva sighs, “I’ll tell you when you’re older, dear.”

Charlotte looks at a corner store selling flowers and fruits. “Miss Minerva, can we head there next?”

Minerva looks at the corner store. The rustic wooden exterior contrasts heavily with the glass and concrete titans of engineering that surround it. The sign reads “Florilegium” in cursive font. Likely references to the flowers on display in its storefront. The shop feels out of place within the surface of Noir.

“Hmm,” Minerva says. “Why do you want to go there, Charlotte?”

“I want to give my mother a souvenir from the city,” Charlotte says, the wind causing small fragments of her petals to be displaced.

“Ah.” Minerva looks to the other young girls in her care. “Alright then.”

The Arachne and the ten kids enter the flower store. They find the cashier is a Minotaur, to Streltizia’s surprise.

“Thank you,” the cashier says. “Come again!” His horns are adorned with a strange species of sunflower, with petals graduating from green to yellow to orange. He looks at the new visitors and sees some very unfamiliar faces among them. “Welcome to Florilegium. How can I help?”

“I’m here to help someone find a souvenir,” Minerva says.

“Tourists huh?” the horned man says. “Say no more.”

Strelitzia uncharacteristically hides behind Clover, much to the peryton’s confusion. “Stre, what’s wrong?” Clover says.

“N-nothing!” Streltizia lies.

After talking to the cashier. Minerva looks at the ten girls. “We can look around, but please try not to eat the merchandise. I can’t afford to pay for ruined plants.”

“Got it, mommy,” Nine says.

“We’ll be at our best behavior,” Azalea says. “Won’t want to be a thorn in their sides.”

Hydrangea looks over the various flora on display. “Let’s see…” She looks at a bed of hortensias on display here. One batch of the plants displays a vibrant crimson hue. “Infernal Hortensias? Those are from Yae.”

She sees a man enter the rustic building, his wooden prosthetics are visible for all to see. He takes a look at the crimson flowers before heading to one of the store employees.

Hydrangea ignores the unusual man and directs her attention to a hortensia with cyan petals. Part of the tag reads “-gea celestia.”

“Is that a Celestial Hortensia?” Hydrangea thinks. “Those certainly don’t grow here!” she leaves to find Minerva for assistance in procuring the rare plant.

Azalea, Anemone, and Charlotte look over a bed of flowers. Azalea is already eyeing a dark blue rhododendron plant while Anemone looks over a Lunar Drop plant. A plant that is used in rituals devoted to the moon and Tranquilitas.

“What do you think, Charlotte?” Azalea says. “Any of them want to make you bloom?”

Charlotte looks over the flowers. She is unsure what her mother Carla would want. She soon looks over a plant with a pair of five-petaled flowers. The petals on one of them gradiate from yellow to green, and the other’s petals shift from violet to blue. Looking at these flowers reminds her of herself and Carla. “How about that one?” she asks.

Anemone looks at the tag on the plant. “The Calytrices?”

Charlotte nods.

Azalea looks at the flowers. “They look like stars!” she says.

The three girls see an employee and ask her to pot their chosen plants.

Meanwhile, Streltizia is looking over some bird of paradise flowers, while Nina and Clover are nearby.

“Why did she hide from that Minotaur,” Nina asks.

“She’s rather shy around other Minotaurs,” Clover says.

“I can hear you, you know?” Strelitzia says. She looks over a bird of paradise flow with the tag. “Apus Astra.” The classification indicates a connection to the Cosmos. The orange and blue petals are decorated with starry dots.

“Wow!” Clover says upon noticing the flower.

“So pretty!” Nina says.

Rose and Raine meanwhile look over a bouquet of Rainbow Roses.

“You think these are real?” Rose says. “I heard stories of messengers always claiming similar plants from their old world are fake.”

“You can sense mana from them, right?” Raine says. “Of course they’re real.”

The phoenixian girl looks over some Diantha plants, her eyes gazing at a pink one with the tag “Dianthus elpis.” The pink and red petals are marked with strange inscriptions. The man with the prosthetics looks at these plants as well.

“These flowers are interesting,” the man muses on them before leaving. Raine notices the metallic elements of the prosthetic arm and the sword at the man’s waist.

A while later, after Nina asks her mother for some spider lilies, Lily asks for a sunflower similar to the one on the cashier’s horns, and Clover gets someone to pot a Jasmine plant. Everyone has selected their flowers. Minerva asks for the minotaur cashier to put the ten plants and brings them to the cashier.

“Let’s see,” the male minotaur says. “Apus Astra, Rosa iris, Jasminun arcanus, Anemone luna, Dianthus elpis, Caltryx augustus, Lycoris radiata, Azalea aquarius, Helianthus stellae, any Hydrangea celestia.” He appraises the flowers. “That will be one gold and eight silvers.”

“Thank you,” Minerva says as she hands the currency over. She notices that bags of seeds are attached to the plants and looks at the minotaur.

“We’re having a sale,” the cashier says. “Buy one plant, get seeds for them for free.”

“Ah, thank you.”

Minerva leaves and the man with prosthetics approaches the chasier.

“Got everything you need, Saizo?” the minotaur says.

“Aye,” the ninja says. He gets the plants appraised and paid for.

“Are those for Atsuko by any chance?” the minotaur cashier says.

“No, they’re for me,” Saizo says. “I want to try my hand at flower arrangements.” He then leaves.

“Best wishes,” the cashier shouts.

Minerva and the kids look at the man with confusion and intrigue.

“That man,” Minerva notices that he resembles one of the ninjas that visited the Black Box recency. A few minutes alter. She leads the children to Anesidora Park to rest.

✦✦✦

Meanwhile, Richard is busy tailoring formal suits for the incoming mission. “Those are a lot easier than my other project at least,” he says.

“Working on the party suits?” Sarah says.

“Yes, sister,” Richard says. “It’s a good thing the hotel had an empty room to use.” Richard takes a strip of black cloth and sews it into another strip with a machine. “We have the three metals right?”

“We should,” Sarah says. “Emily already learned the Oricalicum from that library trip and core at the art gallery should’ve allowed her to learn the Arcanite and Flowesium as well.”

“Even if it didn’t,” Richard says. “We still have five days to try before the party.”

Sarah notices his voice is a little relaxed. “Happy that we adopted those kids, brother?” she says.

“Of course I’m happy,” Richard says. “No one should have to live in such squalor!”

“On that, we agree,” Sarah says. She is aware that her brother still has a low opinion of the other subterranean denizens of the underground.

“Blast!” Richard realizes he forgot something. “Measurements, I need measurements!”

“You always were rather rather obsessed with details,” Sarah says. “Guess that’s why Dad taught you what he knew about goldsmithing and texting.”

Richard takes a moment to recall his father and his mentorship. A collection of happy and bitter memories as she strove to achieve the same heights his father once did. “You know, sister,” Richard says. “In honing my eye for detail, I can tell that father held an exceptionally high standard.”

“Oh really,” Sarah said. “You sure it wasn’t those times he had my first suits of mail smelted down? Or how he once had your first shirt used as a washrag?”

The two dwarves share a laugh as they reminisce about their late father. “I suppose it’s true, but I want to ask you something, do we really know anything about him, sister?”

“Huh?” Sarah is confused. “What do you mean, Richard?”

“We learned a lot from father, that is true,” Richard says. “But at times it feels like we didn’t know much of him at all. Mother told us how they met, but beyond that, we don’t know how he learned the skills he taught us or what he did before we were born.”

“I…” Sarah realizes that for all the time they spent together she doesn’t know that much about the man’s life before their birth. “I guess you’re right. I have to go, maybe Minerva and the others are back now.” Sarah leaves.

She looks at the lobby of the hotel and sees that the Arachne and the children have not returned. Instead, she sees several families moving through the hotel’s doors. She breathes a melancholic sigh as she ruminates on what her brother had helped her realize.

“Dad,” she thinks. “Just who are you?”

✦✦✦

A few days later, Emily and her group stand in front of Gatsby Tower, a tall tower that stands high in the skyline of Noir. The tower is coated in black paint and goth gold and brass decorations.

“So tall,” Emily says.

“One thousand, two hundred and fifty of sheer brass, steel, and concrete, cher,” Heathcliff says.

Esteban approaches the group with Julia in tow. “Here to earn some invitations?”

“You know it,” Heathcliff says. “Let’s see if ol’ Jay had decided to pull some new tricks.”

“He’d better,” Esteban says. “He’s still dealing with what happened after the time we stole the Galatine Proxima.”

“I thought that was water under the bridge!” Heathcliff says.

“He might be over it, but his Emperyan patrons aren’t,” Esteban says.

The now nineteen-strong group enters the tower, unaware that an orange-haired kunoichi is following them. The interior of the tower is even more opulent, with white marble floors and images showing the Administrators on the wall, each designed in an opulent style. They see a receptionist on the other side of the room.

“Good after—” The mermaid receptionist sees Heathcliff and Esteban among the group.

“We’re here to secure some invites, cher,” Heathcliff says

The mermaid sighs as she picks up a phone. “Boss,” she says. “We got a returner. The red-head knight from Charlemagne. One of the Rouges is with him as well.”

The voice on the other line reacts with a mix of surprise and a hint of fury, before giving the receptionist a set of instructions. The mermaid turns to the group. “How many, and for what date?”

“Nineteen,” Esteban says. “Two days from now.”

The mermaid talks with her boss once more. She observes Emily’s attire and the presence of a fairy beside her and brings it up with him. The man hangs up, and the mermaid faces the party. “You have to go through the gauntlet if you want these spots, but Mister Jay will set some aside for you.”

For some reason, hearing “Mister Jay” conjures an image of a maniacal clown in Emily’s mind.

The receptionist leads them to a door at the right of the room. Above the arched doors is a sign that reads, “For wandering adventurers and Exsecratii.”

“For Exsecratii huh?” Rose says.

“This door leads to one of the more…difficult layouts,” the mermaid receptionist says. “But I’m sure you’re able to prevail with the redhead with you.” She swims back to her deck as the doors open.

“Be on your guard, chers,” Heathcliff says. The group enters the door as the kunoichi sneaks in behind them before the door closes.

The door leads to a corridor with a black floor made of sleek, waxed tiles. With statues of stylized eagles lining the golden walls.

“Welcome to Gatsby Tower,” a jovial voice echoes to the visitors. “I understand how the humble folk of the underground want a taste of the high life, but do understand that I’d want to test—” He notices that eight of the Excreratii in the group are children and Magical Girls at that.

“Long story, Jay,” Heathcliff says.

“I never expected you to take up babysitting, old sport,” Jay says. “The rumors claimed you were looking to be a dungeon master.”

“And I gots me the position,” Heathcliff says.

“Um…” Emily says.

“I take it the purple girl here is your Dugneon’s core?” Jay says.

Emily is shocked to hear that. “H-how?”

Heathcliff and Elizabeth sigh as Jay chuckles. “Relax, miss. Your secret is safe with me, and speaking of secrets…”

Large fans emerge to blow away the mist. The force of the winds forces Tim to create a counter gust, but he is blown back by the stronger winds. The kunoichi’s presence is revealed.

Kasumi grows flustered as her presence is known and Emily and Tim recognize her.

“Seems someone wanted to tag along with your ‘little’ crew Heathcliff,” Jay says.

Elizabeth recognizes the girl from her prior visit to the Black Box. “One of the ninjas are here?”

“Oh boy,” Heathcliff says.

Kasumi tries to throw an ornament from her dress, but Tim makes a charging leap and grabs her hand. “Tell me why are you following us?”

The kunoichi blushes at Tim as he grips her arm. “I-I just noticed you from the hotel and wanted to ask you why you are here. Name’s Kasumi, by the way!” she says in a flustered tone.

“She’s already invited, by the way,” Jay says with a chuckle.

Raine and Sarah notice the ninja’s body language. “Seems like little Timmy here’s got an admirer,” Sarah quips.

“Knock it off, Sarah,” Tim says as he lets go of the ninja’s hand.

Emily looks at the kunoichi. “Nice to meet you Kasumi, My name’s Emily.”

Heathcliff looks at Kasumi’s unusual attire. Richard also takes a look at Kasumi’s dress with some interest.

“I heard that some styles took root in Yae Shoto,” Richard says. “I’m assuming this is one of those styles?”

Azalea looks at the dress, “I thought ninjas are supposed to be inconspicuous,” the mermaid says.

Kasumi scowls. “Well if someone hadn’t decided to blow my mists away…”

“You kids play nice now,” Jay says. The walls begin to turn and reveal a massive labyrinth to either side. The walls begin to shift and separate the group.

“The rules are simple,” Jay says. “Three groups shall find one of my Sentinels each. If you can defeat all three of them then I will gladly welcome you and the party to the erm, party. You have two hours. Good luck, old sport!”

The shifting walls separate Emily, Tim, Elizabeth, Kasumi, Richard, and Azalea into one group. Heathcliff, Sarah, Esteban, Julia, Lily, Clover, and Streltizia end up being sorted into a second group. While the others, Minerva, Nina, Charlotte, Rose, Raine, Hydrangea, and Anemone are in the third group. Gatsby Tower places these groups in different places in the maze.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

✦✦✦

The walls of the golden labyrinth stop shifting, and Emily’s group finds themselves in front of a sealed door. They see a large-scale tiled towards the left.

“The challenge is simple, old sport,” Jay says. “Balance the scales, but beware, for the weight will change periodically.”

Kasumi looks at these scales with dread. “How are we supposed to balance these?”

The dungeon doesn’t respond.

Richard looks at the left cup, seeing a large block that reads “180 pounds.”

“Guess we have no choice but to explore,” Tim says.

“I love a good exploration!” Azalea says. “But I don’t wanna be weighted down by great expectations.”

“Where do we go, Emily?” Elizabeth says,

Emily draws her twin blades as she prepares to encounter the Cells in Gatsby Tower. She jumps towards the left path. “How about this way?”

“I’ll go with you!” Kasumi says. “With my misty powers, no one will see us.”

“Assuming the dungeon doesn’t decide to blow it away again,” Tim says.

“He has a point,” Richard says.

“Yeah revealing you was a breeze for the dungeon,” Azalea says.

Kasumi puffs her cheeks.

“Don’t mind them,” Emily says. “Lizzie and I will provide some cover with my wind magic.”

The group sets off to find items that can help them balance the scales.

They soon encounter a patrolling Aureatevore—six-legged, golden, and bearing features of a reptile.

“An Aureatevore?” Richard whispers.

“Figures he’d still hold onto the things,” Tim says quietly.

“Have you been here before, Tim?” Emily says.

“A few times,” Tim says. “These creatures are usually fixated on collecting and eating gold. “They probably weigh a lot thanks to their diet?”

“So, kill it and use its corpse to weight the scale,” Kasumi says. “Got it.”

“That does seem to be the most logical plan,” Elizabeth says,

Tim sighs. “You can’t fell one easily. Their hides harden with each chunk of metal they consume. And they can launch their spines as ranged weapons.”

“Well then,” Emily says. “Is there a weak point?”

Tim tries to recall the creature’s weaknesses. “Their underbellies, but you’d have to get them to rear to expose them.”

“Leave it to me!” Emily says.

Kasumi already prepares to cloak the party of six in fog. The Aureatevore notices the fog and begins sniffing for intruders.

Elizabeth prepares a song, with three notes she beckons the air to swirl around the fog around, spreading it around their opponent and blind them to the other’s attacks.

Emily attacks the beast with her twin blades, but the metallic hide repels them. The best tries to swipe at her, But Azalea uses the water vapor to conjure up orbs of water to slow its attacks while Emily dodges. The beast launches its back spines. Azalea swims away, but her arm is cut by one of the projectiles. The beast rears up to swipe with four of its legs, but Kasumi takes the opportunity to close the gap with a barrage of punches and palm strikes. Emily then slices at the beast while parrying its claws with her blades.

The forelegs of the beast grip Emily’s swords and the two are locked at a standstill. “Now!”

Richard fired bolts from his stunner crossbows at the beast’s underbelly, while Azalea drenched it with water spells to ensure the lightning coursed throughout the beast’s body. The beast is stunned by Richard’s aim as the mist recedes. The paralyzed beast is then skewered by Tim’s Qiang and falls over, dead.

“Woohoo!” Kasumi says.

“A rather shocking end,” Azalea says.

Emily tries to lift the carcass, but they are heavier than expected. Tim, Richard, and Azalea help her lift the beast and place it on the scale’s right cup. After loading the beast onto it, the two cups become closer in altitude, but they are still not equal, in fact, the left cup is now lighter than the right.

Emily looks at the number and learns that it now reads “45 pounds.”

“Forty-five pounds?” Kasumi says.

“The dungeon did claim that the weights change periodically,” Elizabeth says,

Azalea swims to the weight on the left cup and sits on it. “I’m tired,” she says. Her added weight causes the scale to shift slightly and gives Emily an idea. She jumps to the weight and lands on a ledge overlooking the cup. She walks on top of the weight and it descends further. Richard realizes what Emily is doing and climbs up the cup. The three of them weigh down the left cup to the point where both cups are leveled. The scale locks in place as a door opens.

“Nailed it!” Emily says.

“Aw,” Azalia was hoping to use the opportunity to rest, but alas.

“Come on!” Elizabeth says.

“I’m coming, I’m coming!” Azalea swims after the others.

The group ventures deeper into the maze.

✦✦✦

Heathcliff’s group meanwhile has finished balancing the scales on their end. With Lily and Clover in one cup and Sarah, Streltizia, and himself in the other.

Esteban and Julia see a door open as the cups become equally weighed. The group prepares to enter the next section of the labyrinth.

“So,” Clover says. “What is this place like?” she begins asking everyone various questions about the dungeon.

“Gatsby Tower is a noted hub for high-class social gatherings,” Heathcliff says.

“I’ve heard from Esteban that you two used to raid the place often?” Julia says.

“You’d be surprised what you could find in a place where everyone whose anyone frequents,” Heathcliff says. “It is part of why old Jay can go around gallivanting and partying without rival dungeons angling for him. The Monsuiers and Mademoiselles here would be pretty mad if people try to absorb him.”

Strelitzia looks around as Lily paws on the floor. “Heard someone nabbed some famous sword from this dungeon’s gallery.”

“The Galatine Proxima?” Heathcliff says. “That was one of the best hauls we got from here.”

Lily continues pawing on the ground. Clover notices the usually exuberant girl quiet. “Is something wrong Lily?”

“O-oh nothing, Clover,” Lily says.

The peryton girl knows the girl long enough to know when she is hiding something. “Come on, you can tell me. We’re friends remember.”

Strelitzia notices Lily’s anxious expression. “Is it because of how gaudy this place looks?”

Lily shakes her head. “I-it’s not that.”

As the group continues, Clover and Streltiizia notice Lily is shying away from the adults in the group. Julia and Sarah also notice the filly’s shyness.

The group finds the next puzzle—a mural with yellow, orange, green, and purple tiles next to another scale. Three similarly colored statures of gargoyles are placed in the center of the room and identical ones are weighing down the cups.

“I’ve tailed this one to your elemental affinities,” Jay says. “I’m a man of honor after all old sport.”

Heathcliff sighs. He tries to cast a wind spell with his sword, but the spell fizzles as he attempts it. “You’d think I’d been capable of some magic by now,” he mutters.

Clover looks at the statues and the titles. She casts a wind spell on the corresponding statue and causes a small weight to fall on the left cup. The weight reads “5 pounds.”

Strelitzia enchants her labrys with earth and strikes the orange gargoyle with it, but the attack causes it to come alive and attack everyone.

“What the—?” Strelitzia says as the statues come to life and attack the party. She blocks the incoming attack with her weapon.

“Guess this thing wants a fight,” Sarah says. She uses her hammer in tandem with Strleitzia and knocks it down. The gargoyle statue vanishes as does the orange one in the right cup, replaced with a weight similar to the one that fell. The scale begins to equalize a little bit.

Heathcliff looks at the scale and the conspicuously purple gargoyle in the left cup.

Sarah approaches Lily. “Hello there!”

Lily is a little startled. “O-oh, hello.”

“My name is Sarah!” the dwarf says. “You’re called Lily, right?”

“Y-yeah.”

Meanwhile, Julia observes the purple gargoyle statue. “Shadow magic huh?” she thinks. She takes out her dagger and makes a magic. “Oh, santos del inframundo, dad la bienvenida a vuestra esencia en esta hoja.” She says. The dagger becomes surrounded by a dark mist. She looks at her husband, who understands what she is planning to do.

“So, you want to be a Sentinel, right?” Sarah says.

“Y-yeah!” Lily says.

“I can help arm you and your buddies up for the task if you want,” Sarah says.

“Um, s-sure!” the centaur says. She turns to Clover and Streltizia.

“Do you do wands?” Clover says. “We tend only to use those.”

“To our detriment,” Streltizia says.

“Huh?” Lily says. She sees the Hermandezes preparing to awaken the purple gargoyle.

Meanwhile, Esteban cloaks himself using his enchanted suit and prepares for Julia to rouse the purple gargoyle with her weapon. She throws the shadow-enchanted dagger into the stature’s heart. It begins to awaken, but the invisible Esteban immediately grabs it with his arm, preventing it from flying and swiping at it. Heathcliff sees what is happening and jams Julia’s blade deeper into its chest. The winged stature vanishes and the dagger falls to the ground. The corresponding statue fades and the cups begin to grow closer in weight.

“Three down, one to go,” Esteban says.

Lily takes a look at the yellow gargoyle and turns to Sarah. “Wanna help m-me take care of this one?”

“Of course!” Sarah says while punching her hand. She takes out her Warhammer. “Ready when you are!”

Lily turns to the stature and begins casting a spell. The horn on her diadem glows as a beam of light emerges from its tip. She then takes out her wand and casts another spell.

The statue remains still.

“Huh?” Clover says.

Lily tries again. The stature doesn’t move or vanish. From he scales a cry can be heard.

Everyone looks out and sees that while the stature on the floor remains inanimate, the stature in the right cup is very much animate. It flies across the room and begins to swoop down, only for Heathcliff to intercept the attack with his shield and slash at it with his sword.

The gargoyle recoils from the attack and ascends from the air, lobbing conjured boulders at the group from on high.

“This guy is tougher than the others,” Heathcliff says after dodging a boulder.

Sarah stands her ground and waits for the opponent to attack her. When it does, She grips her hammer and swings it, causing it be redirected towards the winged foe. The gargoyle conjures out a gust to assists its agility as it swerves to the right.

The yellow Gargoyle swoops down and rams Sarah to the ground. The dwarf is stunned and dazed for a few moments as the beast ascends tot eh air and conjures up orbs of light and shadow.

Julia throws a knife at the arm of the gargoyle that carried the light orb. The orb explodes and blinds it. It tries to conjure another one, but Lily aims a spell fo light at the other orb and destroyss the orb of shadow. The beast is infuriated and swoops down, but as it descend, Clover lifts Streliztia and she ascends to the air. From on high she slams her labrys onto the descending beasts and pins down one of tis wings. Heathcliff takes his sword and slices the throat of the yellow stone creature. Pinned and bleeding a glowing substance, the gargoyle keels over.

“Congratulations,” Jay’s voice echoes to the group. “Those gargoyles love taking my guests by surprise. And speaking of surprises…”

Two items drop from the cieling. One is a wight that falls onto the scales, the other is a chest that lands onto the ground. The scales are equalized as Heathcliff examines the contents of the coffer. Finding six gilded envelopes as well as a gold ingot and some formal wear. Two suits and four dresses. Three small enough for a dwarf or a child to wear.

“I’m not sure is Richard is gonna like the time saved or be annoyed,” Sarah thinks as she examines her dress.

Two doors open. “You are free to go if you wish,” Jay says.

Heathcliff lets out a “Hah, there are two two more Sentinels left, right?”

“Indubitably,” Jay says. “You wish to help your friends?”

“Of course I am!” Heathcliff says. “You think I’d leave them out to dry, Jay?”

Strelitizia looks at the knight. A little impressed by his declaration of loyalty.

“You’ve never changed, old sport.” Jay closes the door to the right. Everyone travels down the left door.

✦✦✦

As they traverse down the corridor. Streltizia looks at the red-haired knight. “Hey,” she calls out.

“Oui?” Heathcliff answers.

Streltizia expression is one of stern curiosity. She is skeptical of Heathcliff’s display of loyalty. At the same time she wants to ask the knight some questions. At the same time Heathcliff still harbors some doubts on whether Emily’s decision to adopt the Coloraturas would lead to burden later on.

“Don’t trust me, huh?” Heathcliff says.

“I have reason to not be so quick to trust someone,” the minotaur says.

“Rather smart of you,” Heathcliff says. “Trusting someone blindly will always lead to trouble.”

“So why did you become a knight then?” Strelitzia says.

“A knight, moi?” Heathclfif says.

“Don’t hide it,” Streltizia says. “I’ve seen many a gallant with that type of swordplay. Charlemagne, right?”

“Perhaps,” Heathcliff says. “But I gots my secrets, as I’m sure we all do. Though since we in the mood for questions. I have one of my own.”

“Oh really?” Strelitzia says.

“I know the underground is a lot more varied then the surface,” Heathcliff says. “But I have to ask how on earth eight little orphan girls wound up gathering in a place that isn’t an orphanage. Even with things as they were, the city ain’t as heartless as to leave children starving.”

“You’re definitively a knight,” Streltizia says. “They tend to be rather naive fools.”

Heathcliff laughs. “Rather mouthy kid aren’t you?”

The young minotaur smirks. “My parents failed to teach me proper manners.”

The knight is amused. “Well someone ought to fill that void. Now then, my question, cher?”

Streltizia recalls the time she and Clovered encountered Rose. Near the end of a dark time in her life. “I was escaping a dungeon with Clover,” she says. “Rose and her friends happened to met us along the way.”

The child’s curt but vauge respond alerts Heathcliff. “There’s gotta be more to it,” he thinks. But he accepts the answer, figuring Strelitzia’s past is a matter for another day.

✦✦✦

Meanwhile, Rose had finished defeating the last of a hoard of smaller hoard of Aureatevores, as Minerva and Nina web up the fallen.

With the beasts dead, Anemone uses her gravity magic to lift and make the corpses weightless. Raine flies them to the empty cups on the scale and places them down so that they are of equal weight.

“Phew,” Rose says. “That was an easy fight.”

“Rose,” Hydrangea says. “The Aureatevores nearly defeated us.”

“If Minerva hasn’t lulled them with her eyes,” Raine says as she continues loading the scales. “We would’ve been toast!”

The adult Arachne looks at the children with her as she helps load the scales. “Thank you, Raine,” she says.

“Mommy is very strong,” Nina says. “She’s the strongest mommy I know.”

“I’m…” Rose says. “Not in a position to test that.”

Rose slithers over to one of the corpses and places it on her back, while Anemone and Hydrangea work on helping her carry it to the cups. By the time she places the corpse in the cup, the scales are now fully equalized and the Aureatevores vanish as the doors.

“How are the others doing?” Charlotte says. “I hope they’re okay.”

Minerva leads the group down to the next room, making sure they are protected by the dangers that lurk in the walls, to Nina’s chagrin.

Rose notices that Anemone’s ears are straightened. A usual sign of her alertness. “Something’s off, Anemone?”

The wolf-eared girl searches the corridor for more threats. “I don’t think so.”

Charlotte notices something about the four coloraturas with her. “Hey, so…”

“Yes?” Hydrangea says.

“I was thinking, did you style yourselves after the spheres?” Charlotte says.

“Huh?” Rose says, looking at her magicalized pink attire and realizing it matches the color associated with lightning and the Electropshere. “Coincidence I guess?”

Anemone and Hydrangea look at their clothes and realize that they also match their respective elements of darkness and ice and that Raine’s crimson attire and feathers also fit the element of flame. “It’s a bizarre coincidence,” Anemone says.

Raine realizes that Strelitzia, Azalea, Clover, and Lily also have outfits matching their elements as well and that they all have hair colors matching them too.

“It seems bizarre,” Hydrangea says.

“How so?” Nina says.

“A magicalized outfit is determined by several factors,” Anemone says. “Personally, subconscious desires and the nature of their patron. That’s what Whisper says, at least.”

“You think they thought it was important to make the elemental affinities that prominent?” Rose says.

“It wouldn't explain the hair colors,” Raine says. “Unless everyone has been using magic dye behind each other’s backs.”

“I’m pretty sure Azalea would’ve put hair due to different uses,” Rose says. “Besides I know my hair has been pink for as long as I can remember.”

“My hair is also natural,” Hydrangea says, “but that in turn carries its mysteries.”

“That reminds me,” Rose says. “You said you’ve been dabbling in star magic Anemone?”

“Un-huh,” the purple-haired girl says. “I realized that my books had gravity spells in addition to normal darkness spells.”

“Gravity spells?” Charlotte feels a strange curiosity about that type of magic.

“Can you teach me?” Rose says.

“Umm,” Anemone is nervous about the idea of teaching gravity magic. “I’m not sure if that is possible. These spells are difficult to master and star magic in general is rather rare.”

“All the more reason to teach us!” Rose says.

“I wanna learn too,” Nina says while facing Anemone with a certain intent.

“Nina,” Minerva says with a stern glare, aware of her intention to hypnotize Anemone.

“Phooey,” the spiderling thinks.

“Y-you don’t have to if you don’t want,” Charlotte says, despite her own burgeoning interest.

Anemone considers teaching her friends star magic as she walks along the corridor.

The party of seven soon reaches another room.

“Staff is having issues with the scales here,” Jay’s voice echoes to the group. “And it came to my attention that we have a litter cheater in the group, so it’s time to mix things up a bit. Good luck old sport!”

The room depicts a mural featuring a scene of a figure hammering an anvil in a volcanic subterranean landscape, this figure is flanked by murals of a matronly figure among verdant trees and a forlorn figure beaten the waves. The images depict three of the most important and worshiped Administrators. The ceiling shows a more opulent display of a young child shining brightly while being cradled in her mother’s arms. The image is itself another mural, depicting the Sunshine and the Cosmos.

Yet these murals are but a mere backdrop. The true challenge lies in the avian creature swooping in and introducing itself with a screech.

“This Pyroc’s been couped up in its next for so long that it’s been begging to stretch its wings,” Jay says.

Raine sighs, knowing that her spells are useless against the equally firey avian. Minerva examines the Sentinel as it prepares to fight. The Pyroc uses its wings to conjure a conflagration aimed at the group which then scatters as it fires its attack.

Hydragnrea knows that as a creature of heat, its weakness is cold, and so she tries to freeze it with her spells. The Pyroc manurers around the room and dodges her attempts to freeze it. Rose tries to strike it down with her lightning, but the avian is unfazed by her thunderous spells.

“What is the—“

Raine moves Rose out of the way before the Pyroc can dive bomb into her and takes the attack in her place. The avian and phoenix clash and Raien ends up injured by burns while the Pyroc prepares another attack.

Anemone tries to pin it down with her shadow spells, but the agile firebird is too fast her her to stay in its shadow. She tries using her gravity spells, but the creature swoops in and breaks her concentration with its heart.

Charlotte stands motionless at the sight of the Pyroc, its flames remaining her last sight in Hamlin. The Pyroc sees the terrified Alraurne child and attempts to charge at her at her. Nina sees Charlotte in danger launches a line of webbing at her, and barely pulls her out of the way before the beast can sear her with its wings.

Minerva sees an opportunity and lands on the beast, her chitinous underbelly begins to warm up from proximity to the bird as she tries to pin it down and looks for its eyes. Anemone uses the opportunity to cast her gravity spells, weighing both Minerva and the Pyroc down as the Arachne woman attempts to use her Bardsong eyes to pacify the beast.

Minerva soon gets a good look into the eyes of the avian. “It’s time to go to sleep,” she says as she gazes into the firebird. The Pyroc tries to resist but her Bardsong eyes overpower its will and cause it to fall into a torpor. Minerva climes off the slumbering bird as Hydrangea encases it in chilling ice.

The boss is defeated and vanishes into gold dust.

“Well, that was interesting,” Jay says as he observes the fight. Two doors and a chest manifest on the murals, the chest appearing in front of the open depicting the Forgemaster while the doors stand behind his image and the other murals. The left one is locked, and the right one is opened.

“I have a feeling you want to try to help your friends,” Jay asks the group.

“You know it!” Rose says.

Minerva opens the chest and sees seven tickets, as well as formal attire for them and a gold ingot.

As Minerva gathers the loot, Nina Charlotte still standing motionless. She approaches her friends and stares deep into her. “Wake up please,” she pleads with her friend to awaken. Her bardsong spell compels her out of her stupor and she looks around. “What happened?”

“That’s what I want to know,” Rose says as she slithers to the Arachne and Alraune children. “You seemed totally out of it.”

Charlotte realizes that they were fighting a Pyroc before she blanked out. “I’m sorry.”

Minerva looks at the three and begins to wonder about Charlotte. She considers talking to Carla about her daughter’s moment of stupor when they return.

When eh group is ready they take the open path to the right of the Forgemaster.

✦✦✦

Emily’s group finishes another puzzle in a room filled with Kasumi’s mists. A structure resembling a coat of arms hangs onto the wall as Tim approaches one of the downed gryphon statues. It resembles a blue shield with a round silver edge.

“Well need to place these [Gryphon] feathers behind that shield, right?” Elizabeth says.

“I think so,” Emily says as he places a loose feather from the stature near her and places it diagonally behind the shield. Tim and Kasumi do the same, with Kasumi’s feather pointing straight to the floor and Tim’s mirroring Emily’s. Nothing had happened.

“Hmm,” Richard says. Looking at the golden structure. He notices that there are some details on the feathers. A variable amount of dots on them. The one Emily had placed on the left side had three dots. The one Tim placed on the right had one, and the one Kasumi placed in the center had two. He then observes the shield. He places his palm on it to feel for anything unusual, but couldn't find anything.

“What is it Richard,” Emily says.

“The feathers,” the dwarf says. “I think they are placed in the wrong configuration.”

Emily removes the feathers and notices the dots on them. She turns around and finds a similar pattern on the floor. The solution was hidden in plain sight.

She observes the floor pattern and sees that it consists of three paralleled lines. The lines are around with a total of six diamonds. The leftmost one has two, the rightmost one has three and the center has the remaining diamond. Emily approaches the shield and pits them in the appropriate order, the two-dotted feater on the left, the three-dotted one to the right, and the last one in the center, all facing downwards.

The shield changes color to match the gilded walls…before returning to normal. No passageway appears in the current room.

Emily tries to remove the feathers but they remain stuck to the wall.

“Well that is a bust,” Kasumi says.

Emily struggles to remove the gilded gryphon feathers from the shield but they refuse to be removed. “Come on!” she cries out as she struggles to remove them.

The gorup is at a loss and is forced to see if there is another route they can take. As they enter the corridor, Kasumi asks Tim about his bajiquan techniques, and Emily in turn asks the kunoichi about herself and her companions. Azalea meanwhile tries to make the others laugh with metal and gold puns.

At the other side of the corridor, they found that the previous room had drastically changed, there were no scales in sight, and the shape had changed into a circular arena with the stature of a knight in the center. “Þomas” is emblazoned on the plaque behind it.

“We’ve saved the best for last! Get excited, won’t you old sport?” Jay’s voice echoes to his fellow dungeon and her group.

Emily understands the presence of the stature and what it means. She takes out her two blades as the statue begins to move.

“Þomas here shall keep you entertained,” Jay says.

The stature begins to move and slams his fist onto the floor. A handle manifests in the golden fist and the Þomas pulls out a golden greatsword.

Kasumi takes out a bobble from her dress and uses it to refill her mists, she rushes around the circular arena and covers everything in fog. Azalea swims around and opens with water attacks conjured from the vapor.

“Hey there Tommy,” the mermaid says. “You seem like the dungeons’s gold sport.” She dodges a slash from the silent knight.

“What’s your diet? “Azalea says. “I bet you eat a lot of karats.”

Tim makes a charging step at Þomas and uses attacks with his a flurry of strikes with his knees and arms. The heavy gold-armored automaton blocks’ Tim’s attempts, but the martial artist smirks as Emily and Elizabeth use magic to attack the statue.

Kasumi charges towards the knight herself and uses the momentum to land a punch on the chestplate. The force of the blow causes Þomas to fall back a step.

Time smirks and closes his eyes as he uses a barrage of punches and palm strikes, in a slow methodical rhythm. Kasumi copies his moments and does the same. The two know the golden knight to the wall.

“Impressive,” Tim says to Kasumi. “How did you learn these techniques?”

“My teacher,” Kasumi says with a cheeky smile as she observes Tim’s movements. She knows they are similar to moves Hoshikage had taught her and knows where they differ and where they are most effective. The two land a synchronized punch that causes the gold chest piece to shatter and expose its weakness. Emily sees the opening and waltzes forward, leaping over Tim and Kasumi and jamming her two blades into the stature’s chest. The impaled knight recoils after being impaired by Emily’s swords and lets out a mighty roar, summoning a whirlwind that pushes the three back and causes the mists to vanish.

Þomas takes the two weapons piercing its chest and rips them out before stomping the ground. The shockwave causes a wave of golden cubes to ripple from Þomas and force the party into the air. Azalea tries to swim out of the way, but Knight tacks the mermaid and swats her to the ground.

Everyone but Elizabeth sustained injuries from the attack, but they remain determined to prevail. Elizabeth prepares a song to enchant everyone’s arms

“Oh blessed light, reflect the gilded radiance.” The fairy’s enchantments cause Tim and Emily’s weapons to glow with golden light. Emily rushes around the arena to grab her blades while Tim makes a charging step towards Þomas.

“What? “Kasumi says. “I don’t get supper glowy powers?”

“This isn’t the time!” Richard says as he fires his stunners at the boss’ exposed core.

Emily waltzes with her weapons and clashes with the knight. Her blades parry the opponent’s heavier weapon with grace and elegance as Tim uses the opportunity to strike the core with his weapon and the others prove cover with Richard’s stunner bolts, Elizabeth’s light magic, and Azalea’s water magic.

Emily manages to disarm the knight by slashing off the gilded gauntlet that held the great sword.

The knight recoils as Tim pushes it back. Now separated from his weapon and weakened, it makes another shockwave.

Tim and Emily leap above it and Emily combines her swords into a chakram. As the shockwave reaches the edge, Emily lifts Richard while Kasumi leaps and Azalea swims to avoid the golden cubes. Emily spins her combined weapon before throwing it into the core of Þomas. The circular chakram deals enough damage to topple the golden knight stature for good.

“Well,” Azalea says. “That’s knights going to sleep for a very long time. Good Knight, Tommy.”

The knight vanishes into dust that gleams like the glistening of gold and a chest appears in the center of the arena.

“That’s three for three, congratulations,” Jay says to Emily’s group.

Emily approaches the chest and sees formal outfits and invitations in equal measure with five of each. She also sees an equal amount of golden weapons and two gold ingots.

Heathcliff and Minerva’s groups soon converge on the arena, finding that Emily has already defeated the boss.

“Well you did it,” Jay’s voice echoes to the entire group. “I’m a dungeon of my word, I hope to see you tomorrow night.”

Heathcliff is surprised to see Emily and Tim were able to defeat a boss without him. He lets out a boisterous laugh. “They grow up so fast.”

Tim punches his mentor in the shoulder. “It wasn’t that hard.”

“So that’s nineteen, right?” Emily says.

“Nineteen?” Kasumi says before remembering that she was already invited as a result of Atsuko being invited.

✦✦✦

Everyone heads back to the lobby with their gains in tow, carried in three bags by Heathcliff and Richard.

“All my hard work, rendered redundant, “Richard mutters.

“Look on the bright side, brother, “Sarah says. “You have more time for the more important project.”

The Coloraturas look at their outfits with giddy joy, while Nina notices Charlotte’s sad face. “Something wrong?” Nina says.

“I-its nothing,” Charlotte says.

Kasumi sees Atsuko and Saizo waiting in the lobby and realizes they are here looking for her. Atsuko looks towards the group. “Ah, so that’s where you went off to.”

Kasumi begins to intentionally panic as her Lady and fellow shinobi approach them. “Crap!” she thinks “busted.”

Saizo approached the group, “I hope Kasumi hasn’t been too much trouble for you.”

“Trouble? Her?” Heathcliff says. “Wouldn’t know. Emily, Tim?”

The orange-haired ninja irrationally panics further. “Maybe I can get—”

“Kasumi hasn’t been of any trouble to us,” Tim says. “You on the other hand,”

Saizo looks at Tim and recognizes him from the Black Box. “Heh, so you came all this way here for a rematch?”

“I’m here on other matters,” Tim says curtly.

“We’re just here to visit the town, and help someone with a thing,” Emily says.

Atsuko looks at Emily with curiosity and takes something out of her pocket. Revealing one of the rabbit statuettes the ninja obtained from their trip. “Do you recognize this?”

Emily looks at the statue. “Aw, it’s so cute.” She begins to realize it was from the items she made when she was first asked to produce swords. Atsuko sees the look of embarrassment on her face as proof enough.

“I’m Atsuko,” the cat-eared girl says. Emily notices her cyan ringlets and her two feline tails as she introduces herself. “And you are…?”

“E-Emily,” the purple-haired avatara says.

“Emily, huh?” Atsuko says. “What a nice name.”

“Thank you,” Emily says.

Heathcliff looks at the Yanese girl with curiosity. “I heard someone from Yae set up shop in Noir. Tell me, cher, what brings you here?”

“Not one for small talk?” Atsuko says quizzically.

“Atsuko is here looking for something that allegedly couldn’t be found in her homeland,” Esteban says.

The nekomata girl looks at the blue-coated rouge. “So the famous Azure Rouge knows what I’m up to huh?” She turns back to Emily. “I’m indeed looking for something here, but I can’t explain it in a place so…crowded. I’d want to talk to you at the party tomorrow night if you want.”

“Um, sure!” Emily says.

Heathcliff groans, fearing that whatever Atsuko wants would further complicate matters.

“If you’re willing to help,” Atsuko says. “I’ll make it worth your while, you have my honor.” She turns to Kasumi. “Kasumi? We have much to discuss.”

Kasumi waves goodbye to her new friends before leaving with Atsuko and Saizo.

“I have to go make preparations for tomorrow,” Esteban says. “I’ll see you then, ‘old sport,’”

“Ay, don’t you go starting now!” Heathcliff says to Esteban’s amusement. He and Julia leave Emiiy’s group as they head to the hotel.