Uneasiness. A strong force crushes Tomoe’s stomach. A great pressure constrains her chest. She is on the floor, stiffened to her limit, without being able to react. Her eyes wide open alongside her mouth.

He is back against a wall, feeling the wet dirt of the ground in her hands. At her feet, three people are visible: a girl facing down the ground, a guy against a tree, without the lower half of his body, and another guy, this one nailed against another tree.

A great roar agitates the air, shakes the trees. The guy nailed to one of the trees falls down.

Rain continues to fall, now with more strength than before.

In front of her, a sound of something sliding through the ground can be heard. Trees cracking, being shaken, and falling can be seen from her right.

In front of her, the figure of a snake appears, a really big snake. Then two, then tree.

A thunder comes down, throwing light to the heads. Scales, scales everywhere, and a train of teeth can be seen, sharp, with two greater fangs on the front, one at each side. A liquid that looks green drops from them.

The heads retreat, Tomoe’s heart continues to pound with desperation. The earth itself starts to tremble, more and more.

Waves come crashing to the cliff, the ocean is going wild. And then, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen…

The shadow of the hydra appears before her, each of the heads’ eyes burning like little stars.

The heads take position. Tomoe knows what this means. Not going to be eaten right away, no. Mercy is for those that aren’t fools.

“… … …” she tries to let escape a scream… or a plea… or something… what did she wanted to say, she couldn’t known.

The hydra’s eyes burnt brighter, and Tomoe closed her eyes.

A loud sound, accompanied with a strong gust.

Then, silence.

Tomoe had curled in fetal position. Was she screaming? Was she crying?

She opened her eyes, and saw it, a petite girl in front of her, white light surrounding her.

She looked back at Tomoe. She had dirt all over the place. Some parts had dangerous bruises, and she was bleeding. Still, she looked at Tomoe, and an expression of relief ran through her face. Her lips moved, and then smiled.

What did she said? Tomoe couldn’t make it.

Then the petite girl, standing her ground, faced the hydra again, and plunged ahead.

Tomoe sees her, that flash of white light, going against that beast, alone. She raises her hand, trying to reach her.

Suddenly, everything becomes more unclear. Tomoe can’t move. The image disappears, other sounds start coming to her ears. She then, finally, opens her eyes.

Tomoe wakes up, finding herself sitting in a place full of stones. These stones, all made to the same shape, are placed in an orderly fashion, names inscribed on them. In front of her, other types of stones, made of obsidian, sit, at equal distance of each other. One stone is directly in front of her, a black semblance, stabbing the image of the sun, going down beyond the Styx sea.

Donning a sky blue shirt, blue bottoms and simple sandals, her hand is still up, in the direction of the obsidian stone. Through her cheeks, flowing rivers continue to fall down. Her chest is tightened, her back in pain for the position she is in. The Aquamarine ring in her finger shines blue between the light of the sun and the obsidian, accompanying the shine of her ruby earrings.

Tomoe reaches to the stone, passing her hand through the names in it. She stops at a name, and stays there, accompanied by the song of the seagulls that sometimes rest there right at this cliff.

A woman appears at the entrance of this place, wearing a white shirt, dark brown shorts and also simple sandals. She enters, while the light of the sunset gives her brown hair a red tinge.

She gets to where Tomoe is, and crouches, putting a hand to her shoulder.

“Thought you would be here.”

“Priscilla” says Tomoe, speaking like if she was taken out of a daze.

As Priscilla takes her hand back, she says “still thinking about that day, uh?”

“I dreamed about it right now.”

“Tomoe-”

“I promised that day,” cuts Tomoe “never again, never again” she says, as she takes her hand back and makes a fist.

Both stayed there, crouched, as the wind caressed their faces, and made their hair slightly dance.

After some moments, Priscilla says “Come, we are going to be late if we stay any more time here… soon will be dark.”

“Right.”

As both stand up, they leave the Memorial Graveyard.

They continue down the streets, alongside the Old Cathedral. The plaza in front of the cathedral is full of people still, with families and their kids playing around the two old wells that are stationed there, throwing water at each other. Many others are getting up and go back, taking other streets, saying goodbye for the day. Priests and Beheaders are gathering ashen branches, to prepare for the high tide tomorrow.

As they continue, they get to the main plaza, where just earlier today was a busy marketplace, with now people starting to pick up the stalls, and safekeeping their wares. Everyone is picking up, some are already leaving. People say goodbye to one another. Some carriages are there, to help those that have too many wares to carry them by themselves.

A silence is starting to conquer the city, as the busy life is starting to settle down.

Going down the street, passing over some water channels, and making some turns, before the bay plaza, a breeze comes through. Pubs, Taverns, are opening right now, some are open even before the sun starts going down. Light comes out of the establishments, and by the sounds of it, some are already drunk, with laughter that can already be heard from the outside.

A dim smile is drawn on Tomoe’s face. Priscilla notices this, and smiles too.

As the sun finally sunks into the sea, the poles that are on the street light up, giving light to the otherwise dark city. Stardust stones are a really rare resource, but once night sets up, they bring light to the streets all night long.

Tomoe then hears it clearly: the gentle crash of the waves, and looking up a bit more, she notices the same thing that happens every night: the lower plains have been flooded. As she looks at this, she turns up a bit more, to her back, to see the moon coming up, waving back.

“Almost there” Priscilla says, as they have taken the left a bit before the bay plaza, following the dirt street. Men and women are walking this street, ones going out, others going in, no children on sight.

A little ahead of them, a long silver haired woman, wearing a single sleveless dark dress and more detailed sandals, is walking alongside a slim man with fluffy hair, wearing a tight dark blue shirt, brown bottoms and leather boots.

“Speak of the Wolf” says Tomoe.

“Lets not be too hard on him ok?” says Priscilla.

“But-” was about to say Tomoe, but Priscilla, putting a finger to Tomoe’s lips, interrupts her.

“We aren’t the ones that lost a mother” Priscilla says, with a gentle tone of voice.

Tomoe’s shoulders came down, and the pressure that was starting to brew inside her came back down “You’re right” she says, looking at him.

“That doesn’t mean that he doesn’t have to apologize though” says Priscilla, then adding “You know what that means?”

“With you, that only means one thing: alcohol, loads of free alcohol.”

As Priscilla’s lips twirl into a smug, she throttles to where the man and the woman are, with Tomoe following.

Getting closer, Priscilla calls “Lacus! Lorelei!”

Both turn back. Lorelei, the lean silver haired woman, reveals eyes color crimson.

“Ah!” says Lorelei, waving back to her “Hey there, thought you guys would be there already.”

“Hello” mutters Lacus.

“Of course!” says Priscilla, as she and Tomoe gets to where both Lacus and Lorelei where standing.

Tomoe looks at Lacus, and Priscilla was about to intervene, when Tomoe says “free?”

Lacus answers “The least I could do.”

“She gets it” says Lorelei, then adding “Lets go, I’m sure everyone is already there.”

“Yeah” Priscilla says.

And the girls and the guy start walking again, very deep into the street.

After about ten minutes of walking, and passing some taverns to the left and right, they get to their destination: The Muscle Squid, a pub in the zone of the city where the middle class live.

The pub was clearly different from the other old buildings in the city. It is clearly more recent, and was made with rocks mostly, but given a beautiful finishing with the water tamers ability to control water with precision, giving the rocks a smooth surface.

Floor made of wooden planks, two floors, a great chandelier hanging in the ceiling, and many more, little ones, in each table. The Sun has just sunk and this place was almost full.

“People, we are here!” says Lorelei, flashing a big smile as she enters first into the pub and waving with her hand.

Oscar, wearing a loose blue shirt, dark brown bottoms and boots, at the bar, talking to the owner of the Muscle Squid. Bran, wearing a dim yellow vest, blue bottoms and boots, and Amelia, wearing a single sleveless large loose sky blue dress and sandals, in a table, already with two jars empty of beer. Titania, wearing a tight shirt, dark bottoms and leather boots, getting to the table with another couple of jars.

When Lorelei enters and announces herself, Amelia turns around, with the face having a tinge of red, stands up, and comes running at a speed not needed for such a short distance, tackling Lorelei back to the outside.

Outside, Priscilla, Lacus and Tomoe were a both sides of the door. “There it is” says Tomoe.

“Why don’t we enter, and you help her out?” says Priscilla, as Lacus nods and they both enter the Muscle Squid.

Getting closer, Tomoe kneels and puts her arms around Amelia, getting her off Lorelei.

“Thanks” says Lorelei.

“One would believe that you would be prepared for this at least once.”

“Guilty as charged. At the end of a day of work, I can only think of getting rid of the stress. Always forget about this when she is present” she says as she incorporates herself with a relaxed expression.

“Come on, pull yourself together” says Tomoe, pulling Amelia up.

“Sorry” answers Amelia.

“How did you get like this? You usually can take more than four jars of beer” asks Lorelei.

“Well… I was insulted… Bran said that I couldn’t take drinks with true strength, and… I couldn’t let that stand” says Amelia, as she stumbles a bit, before being able to stand up. Then she adds “Now this is embarrassing”, taking her hands to her face.

Lorelei lets a laugh escape, then puts a hand to Amelia’s shoulder, and says “I’ll take part of the challenge too!”, to which she looks at Tomoe, and adds “You’ll be joining, right?”

Tomoe is taken by surprise. She lets some mumbles escape, but at the sight of an earnest Lorelei and the sight of an embarrassed Amelia, she sighs, and says “Well, why not?”

“Alright!” says out loud Lorelei, putting both of her arms behind Tomoe’s and Amelia’s heads “lets show that Bran what are we made off!”

“Thanks” whispers Amelia, looking at Tomoe “Don’t mind” she replies, while letting escape a smug, a smug that is nothing more than a front, a reaction to what awaits her inside.

As the girls enter, Bran and Lacus are sitting on the table, together with Titania. Lorelei yells “Bran! We are going to take part in the contest and beat you into a pulp!”

Bran stands and answers “Lacus will pay for everything, and himself will participate too!”

“Yeah!” says Lorelei, as they get to the table, and Oscar brings them more chairs.

“So… Amelia already told me you weren’t drinking beer. What are we going to drink tonight?”

Bran’s face lets escape a smug smile, and says “In this contest, we are going to drink Burning Hydras.”

Lorelei’s eyes open wide, a smug appears on her face, and she says “Oooh… playing tough are we, Tomato boy?”

Bran’s Red Aura comes out, and he says “You’re on, blue witch”, and from Lorelei’s a Blue Aura comes out.

The waitress comes around, a red headed girl with a lean body and freckles. Puts a hand on Bran’s shoulder, and says “Ready to go?”

“Bring them on” says Bran, with a smug on his face.

“You’re trying to act tough tomato boy!” says Lorelei, then adding “but you aren’t tough enough, I can see you’re breaking a sweat already.” And leaning a bit to her left, she adds “Are your knees already failing?”

The waitress chuckles, and leaning to Bran, she whispers to his ear “All well and good, but don’t forget your promise to me later.” Then, standing up and turning to the owner of the Muscle Squid, she says “seven burning hydras! We have a competition tonight!”

“Coming right up!” the owner says, then turning to Oscar and adding “Your boys always bring good fortune here.”

“If they knew how to handle a drink, they would bring even more” he answers.

As the night goes on, jars and jars start coming to the table. Every other customer that was there came around to see the competition, and yells of “drink, drink, drink, drink!” could be heard all night long, at the rhythm of the steps against the floor.

“Bottom’s up!” says Lorelei, as she takes her third jar, and drinks like if she were bathing under a waterfall.

“Ugh!” Titania lets escape, and almost spills a jar of burning hydra while hitting his face against the table “More for the take!” says Lorelei, taking her jar and drinking it too.

At the fifth jar, Lacus starts mumbling around, and falls asleep while sitting. While asleep, tears comes from his eyes, and he constantly lets escape “Mom.”

“This is for getting my cute junior into your trap, tomato boy!” Lorelei says, as she picks up her seventh jar.

“I’ll show you how much I have grown up!” yells Amelia, now completely red, sustaining herself too with her Yellow Aura.

“Bring it on blue witch!” Bran says, now completely red too, sustaining himself with his Red Aura.

As the moon is reaching its highest point, and the tenth jar comes by, Amelia says “I’m sorry master… I… can’t go on…” as she falls to the ground.

“We have a victim!” yells Priscilla.

Crouching alongside Amelia, Tomoe yells “Noooooooooooooo!”

The public, that has been following the competition through the night, and some even joined, fell silent.

Grabbing Amelia’s jar, Lorelei suddenly draws a serious expression “Don’t worry my cute junior, from now on, I’ll carry your share too”, then, looking at Bran, she says “now y’ve done it! This is my vengeance! Hear my war cry: Bottom’s up!”, as she drinks Amelia’s jar.

“For Amelia! Bottom’s up!” cry Priscilla and Tomoe, as a new round of burning hydras comes to the table and Oscar picks up Amelia from the ground, putting her in another table where Titania and Lacus are already.

From outside of the Muscle Squid, another yell could be heard “Oooooooh!”

With the moon starting to go down, the Muscle Squid had gone silent. Inside, Priscilla was at the other table, and many bodies were on the ground. On the table, more than one hundred empty jars, and Bran, Lorelei an Tomoe still stood. Lorelei was sipping one jar of burning hydra, now in silence, ears now red, and swinging ever so slightly side to side. Tomoe had both of her arms against the table, trying to not fall face flat on it. Bran had his arm over the arm chair, trying to hold himself too.

The waitress comes around and crosses her arms with Bran’s “Don’t you think its time?” says, as she smiles to him.

Bran lets more Red Aura come out, at which Lorelei retorts “look at you, needing help to make a move”, then adding “I call you tomato boy, but aren’t you a bit too green for this?”

Bran then makes his Red Aura come inside him, answers with a smug back, stands up, and says “we will need to postpone the conclusion of our battle for another night.”

Lorelei chuckles “Don mai, donmai” she says.

“Well, everyone, good night” says Bran, and around the establishment a “g’nigh!” could be heard, while Bran moves upstairs with the waitress.

“First time he put a good fight, that tomato boy. Trying its hardest to impress…” says Lorelei, letting another chuckle escape “still too earnest, and too naive” she adds, while smiling, and drinking a bit more.

“Uh?” says Tomoe, finally being able to incorporate herself “Didn’t I have a jar full in front of me moments ago?”

“An hour ago” Lorelei answers “and not anymore.” She says as she puts a hand over an empty jar in front of her.

“Yeah… well, I’m not surprised” Tomoe says, as she chuckles “not when drinking with you.”

“You went above and beyond tonight.”

A smirk is drawn on Tomoe’s face “Not enough.”

A smug is drawn on Lorelei’s face “Maybe.”

Tomoe stands up, and moving to the stairs, she asks the owner “Is there any room free?”

“Room twenty nine girl, go get a rest there.”

“Will do.”

“Lets drink together another day” says Lorelei.

Tomoe chuckles “Sure”, and goes upstairs too, stumbling side to side.

As Tomoe goes down the hallway, she reaches room twenty nine, and enters in it.

“Thank Hazuki those two weren’t here” she thinks, as she takes her earrings while closing the door behind.

Then, someone knocks the door.

“Who is it?” Tomoe says.

“Its me.”

“Ah” says Tomoe “Priscilla, come in”.

As Priscilla enters the room, Tomoe says “Something the matter?”

“Just checking on you” she says, as she closes the door behind and sits on the bed “come” she says, while tapping her tights with her palms.

Tomoe drops instantly on them, and Priscilla starts playing with her hair. She looks, and sees that Tomoe doesn’t have the Ruby earrings.

“And the earrings?”

“Here” Tomoe says, opening the palm of her right hand.

“Don’t go around pointing those toward people. In fact, watch out and you stab me.”

Tomoe chuckles “So mean.”

Priscilla then says “You really went beyond tonight.”

“I-” starts saying Tomoe, but Priscilla puts a finger on her lips and whispers “I’m here.”

There she was again, enveloped in darkness, her heart throbbing pounding harder and harder on her chest and her head. Unable to think clearly enough, she sets her eyes in one corner of the moon-lit room, engulfed in darkness. Her breathing turned heavy, her head spinning in the shadows. The sound of rain little by little reached her ears, which startled her a little bit.

“Is it raining?”

“Uh?” Priscilla raises her eyes to look out of the window, then looks back at Tomoe. Pulling her hair out of her face, Priscilla smiles warmly and says “Not outside.”

“Uh?” Tomoe says, as she sees Priscilla’s hand taking the teardrops away from her face.

“I see.” Tomoe whispers, as a knot ties itself in her throat “Yes. It is indeed raining.” and more teardrops fall from her eyes.

Priscilla starts to hum, as Tomoe trembles on her lap, fighting the tears that keep piercing her heart.