Quest 37- The Final Nail
Two months passed since Cirrus dealt with Sungsen and word reached the Vritra’s Familia’s ears as well as Varga's in turn. Their morale quickly waned as Cirrus was spearheading the assault when he got a paid visit.
Knock! Knock!
“Boss, someone wants to see you?” Jane said, knocking on the captain's door.
“Hm? who is it?”
“He says his name is Hermes, a god.”
“Let him in.”
As Jane opens the door, Hermes and Lydia enter the captain's quarters with a young girl around Cirrus’s age.
“It's been a while Zephyr! Or should I now call you the Golden Horned Demon of the… hm? is that a Snow Owl?” Hermes said, looking at Nox.
“Hermes, if you’re here, then it seems you dealt with things on your end, correct?”
“Hm? ah yes we did! Lydia care to explain!”
“Yes, well, where should I start?”
Lydia explained that after they left, they quickly went to Orario and from there they began their investigation on Santorio Vega, taking them 1 month to find and get rid of the Familia stationed there.
After that, they found smaller places that they spread to, but one went to Athiopia first as it was one of the earliest places they spread to. There they got rid of the Familia rooted there and even took their princess, seems the royal family grew to find the Evilus-related Familia was useful except for the princess.
After a few destabilizations here and there and 5 months passed by quickly and they rushed to Sorshana.
“I see… so there are still Familia affected, huh?”
“Yes, it has turned into a pain to find them all.” Said Hermes getting a drink.
“So, how are things on your end? From what we heard, you really became a thing of legend. Even people in Orario are talking about this supposed monster.”
“Hopefully there have been no quests to hunt me, yes?”
“Except for a few, umm… more or less?” said Lydia, making and shrug.
“Oh, well… now that you’re here, we can finally deal with Vritra and lay the final nail in the coffin.”
“You sure they didn’t just up and leave?” said Lydia.
“No, we took over Ukhara and several more of their territory. They're essentially stuck in Israfan.”
“You truly are thorough.” Said, Hermes. “Speaking of which here.” He then gets up and hands Cirrus a green crystal. “From your guardian.” He then walks towards the door. “I’ll be in an inn. Call for us when it’s time to get rid of the Vritra Familia.”
As Hermes leaves, followed by Lydia, he spots their newest member, a girl with aqua-blue hair and cyan-colored eyes with a pair of glasses.
“… So.” Cirrus leaned back in his seat and looked at the crystal before placing it carefully on his desk. “Fels, can you read me?”
The orb began to shine.
“Ah, Cirrus, it would see Lord Hermes has arrived in Sorshana,” Fels said through the crystal.
“It's nice to hear your voice again, Fels.”
“I as well, so how are things on your end? Is the occulus working better now? I made some improvements to it.”
“They are good… I have been given help from the Shalzard kingdom to combat the Vritra Familia. I am sure you have even heard of the name they gave me in these lands.”
“Yes, the Golden Horned Demon of the Sands. Was their Familia that large for you to clear an entire base?”
“Yes, they gathered up what little Familia there was in the Kaios Desert and have them under their services. Since they had so many with status, I needed to thin their numbers. I did this for about 3 months until the Vritra Familia sent their captain after me.”
"A-are you alright!” Fels shouted.
“I am, but during the fight, he really did break some of my bones, but what saved me was his reliance on his ability.”
“His ability? What was it?”
“It was what the gods named him after his Snake Eyes or his ability to see the heat from there. It was easy to lose him in the city.”
“And… what happened to him?”
“He’s dead. I found an opportunity, and I took it. The only reason I’m still here was to wait for Hermes to show up and deal the finishing blow.”
“Y-you defeated a level 6!? B-but how!”
“Umm…” Cirrus looks at Nox and then back to the crystal. “I'll explain it in more detail when I’m back.”
“Very well.”
“Oh, say, how are things back at home?”
“They are fine. Orario has gained more help in fighting back the crimes. Lenoa is still… her.”
“That’s good… well, ill talk to you when I’m coming back. My time here is coming to an end.”
“I hope to hear from you soon.”
The crystal dims and Cirrus puts it away carefully.
‘So that was your parent, huh? They sound very nice!’
“They are…”
Cirrus then gets out his city plans for Varga. He has slowly gained them from his merchant friend.
“So I would like to finish this.”