Dungeons, Idiots, Treasures, How Hard Can It Be?

Walking down the loud streets of the city all of them felt like outcasts due to the fact there were blood stains, dirt, and mud all over their faces and clothing. The only one who looked somewhat approachable was Sticky, and even then that was a stretch due to the language barrier.

To make it worse there was one member that wasn't with them, and practically the only person that made everything seemed alright. Aralia who had never escaped her spark form; thus she never left the cave.

When entering a inn not a single soul minded how they looked except for a few, yet it was still only a small amount of people who cared how they looked.

The reason of the indifference was that to the fact there were more pressing matters at the moment. Such as: the awakening of the Ocean Goddess, the two sons at war, and the preparation for the Moonlit Festival.

"Three rooms."

Theo placed a small pouch on the front desk wherein the receptionist a woman took the pouch inspecting it. Nodding her head she tossed three keys at the group.

The group separated from each other and into the rooms they chose. Theo entered the room with Jae while Volhcard and Idol entered their room.

"We need to find Aralia" gurgled Sticky whilst Yuni slumped down on the bed while clicking her tongue in annoyance.

"Do we have to?"

The moment they heard her tongue clicking. Sticky gave her a look of pure indifference.

Seeing the look made Yuni more annoyed before she jumped off the bed, and when she grabbed the door knob she gave a eye roll towards Sticky.

"I'm only doing this because you care for her."

Yuni by far was the outcast of the group due to the fact she hated everyone, but Sticky. Her hatred for all of them was like a massive wall of flames which burned brighter with each day passing.

Exiting out of the room she looked around to see a couple in a corner making out causing her to groan.

While she walked down the stairs, and into the bar area she could hear muttering from the few people around her.

They were all about her past as the Lord Commander of Kroma, and a person of very high influence in the continent.

Walking over to where the barman was she took out a cigar before lighting it with a nearby flame pencil.

"One glass of blood from a thunder drake mixed with a moon fae's particles."

She ordered whilst letting out of puff from the cigar; her eyes darted around the ceiling with her eyes fluttering in and out.

"Rough day is it?"

The barman wiped a glass whilst asking the question. His face was stoic combined with the eyes of pure steel it was if the man never had emotions in the first place.

"If you're offering some kind of witty speech. Then, I'd suggest that you can go fuck off."

Yet the barman chuckled at this reply making Yumi's annoyance grow further. Pouring another bottle of what she ordered on a much larger glass; the barman looked up at her with a small smile of wit.

"Well, Ms. Crossbell I'd suggest that you control your emotions. We wouldn't want the Lord Commander in jail for destruction of property now would we?"

Those words caused her to slam the glass on the table making it crack slightly before giving the barman a deathly glare.

"Why don't you keep to yourself, you annoying fuck."

The barman simply chuckled before wiping more glasses, and taking orders from other customers.

The title of Lord Commander has haunted Yuni for over 8 years now as she felt horrible from the White Lotus War. A war that lasted for over 50 years, and only ended when she entered the fray.

Because of this she was given the epithet of "Iron Wielding Storm" for her skill in all types of weaponry except for the bow was far superior than anyone else's..

"Look if you're looking for a way to relieve some stress. Go to the northeastern part of the city there is a place called Immortal Lust."

He immediately followed it up before she could question him.

"Not that type of lust, for a person like you let's just say blood."

This barman knew exactly what type of person that Yuni was, and that somewhat scared her especially when the man kept a stoic look with that eerie calm smile.

Yumi could only respond with a nod before taking a sip of her glass. 

"So will you take my suggestion, lord commander?" 

He slid a piece of paper towards her with the insignia of the Vermont family crest. A three headed lion with skeletal wings sprouting from its back.

She was very familiar with the crest since it was the crest of the 5 glorious families of Kroma.

Vermonts being famous for their skilled use in mana crystal carving, and powerful summons.

Mana crystal carving was a technique created by Dr. Thedore Leywin wherein mana crystals were to be carved into different shapes, and be sold to rich investors. Mana crystal carving was a delicate, and hard technique to learn as one wrong move can cause the crystal to explode heavily injuring the carver.

Yuni knew all of this since she learned the basics of mana crystal carving as it was tradition for her family to learn all different techniques to manipulate mana.

Of course she didn't advance far into the different techniques as she was busy in mastering all forms of weapon arts.

She looked back at the barman who was currently taking an order. Her eyes going back to the paper he slid her.

Consuming the drink she took the paper and walked out of the inn. Everything looked so peaceful unlike the grimy crime filled city that was Cerrix.

This contrast bothered Yuni as she was not used to any of the calm sounds from vendors selling at a reasonable price to children running around.

Although, you could see that in Kroma it was much more common in Altissa rather than Kroma. It was a surreal sight to see, but a sight that somewhat eased Yuni.

"Where the hell would a humanoid rat be?"

....

At the inn and in Theo's room he rested whilst writing down on a journal of his. He took a glance to his left to see a sleeping Jae on he bed which sent a shiver down his spine.

Afraid of the future, afraid of death, afraid of the mark he bares, and afraid of the worst demon unimaginable.

These thoughts have haunted him since the Umbral Incineration in Keseon his home country. Thought to be a place far from corruption and sin, yet that was far from the truth.

For only one singular being there was able to absorb all that corruption, and that being Theo's uncle the man who killed his family, colluded with Aldir, and used the Umbral Curse on him.

"For better or worse... I must push forward."

Muttered Theo while he wrote those exact words on the journal before closing it, and letting a sigh of exhaustion out.

Standing up he walked towards the window and slid it up taking the scent of the fresh ocean breeze.

He could feel the umbral mark working its curse around his body. The horrific sharp attacks as if he got stabbed by thousands of blades, and the burning sensation as if a ball of flame had hit his lungs.

However, he was already used to the pain so he managed to hold himself back from grunting or screaming. 

Right now he was thinking of Aralia, and where she could be after all the man did had a sense of love for her.

He walked out of the room wherein Volhcard was leaning on the railing by the stairs with a bottle of wine in his left hand.

"Let me guess, Aralia?"

He simply nodded in response before Volhcard chuckled. The dwarf downed the whole bottle of wine before tossing it to Theo who quickly caught it with his right hand.

"Yuni was sent by Sticky to find her, so let's go help her out."

....

Somewhere in the dark corners of the ocean was Aralia unconscious being dragged by a tall pale skinned man who had long flowy blue hair which reached the ground. 

He was naked with a dark blue trident in his left hand whilst dragging Aralia with his right. Reaching a massive room which a divine presence flowed around it.

"I'm home mother."

His voice cold and raspy before tossing Aralia to the floor, and raising his arms he proudly proclaimed.

"I have returned oh great Goddess of the Ocean!"

The room shook before shifting wherein a throne emerged in the middle with another pale skinned man who had the same blue hair. However, he looked weak as if all the energy in his body was absorbed.

"Have you had a nice good's rest, brother?"

His eyes glistening with cruelty whilst staring at the almost dying being.