Danmachi: Westward Cloud [Complete]

[Vol.4] Quest 373.7- Night & ★

It had gotten late, so Gemini brought Malion and Ryuu to Elysium’s room.

“Oh, nice timing,” Gemini said to his other self.

“Yup.” His other self said holding out his hand.

The two of them held out their hands, and the moment they did, they became whole again. Their memories entwined and he knew how it went for both of his guests. Had he put in more magic in his clones they would know exactly what the other was feeling, seeing, and thinking.

“Alright. This is your stop. I will be going back to my post. Boss’s room is just up there.” He pointed to a door that was up a flight of stairs.

“Thank you for showing us around,” Ryuu said.

“Yes, you were a reliable guide.” Malion nodded.

“Heh~ don’t mention it. Actually, do mention it to the boss. I want the outdoor post.” He said it, smirking. “See ya around!” He then turned around and left, waving them goodbye.

Malion and Ryuu begin to walk up the stairs. The stairs to Elysium's own room were simple stone engraved with exquisite floral and geometrical patterns. The walls at the sides had various banners, flags, and tapestries woven with various skills. Despite that each and every one that hung had so much put into it, the two elves with their keen eyes saw some of the articles hanging had sprinkles or a splash of blood or some other liquid, others were worn out.

"He must have gone on so many adventures." Malion said.

"And so many stories. I hope there were more good than bad." Ryuu added. "Why do you think he put them here? He could have spread the around with the other art works around."

"For one the art he had displayed around are all fake, a simple touch or studious look would reveal how flat they all are. But that is beside the point, I am sure he wished to place these banners and flags with something authentic or..." Malion lips lightly dropped to make a slight frown.

"I had the same thought." Ryuu shook her head with a grim expression. "They remind me of the Astraea Familia flag I put to serve as the final resting place of..." The thought of it ached in her heart even to this day.

"We can ask him about it later." Malion comforted her with a gentle hand on the shoulder.

"Hm." Ryuu lets the emotion linger and it slowly mellowed away.

The two kept walking up the stairs.

“It’s not as long as the Familia home,” Malion commented.

“Compared to that, this is rather a brisk walk,” Ryuu had a light smile. "I still remember trying to remember the layout when I moved in."

"I as well. But it must have worse for you, I have to say it took you only one night with him to get pregnant."

Ryuu's ears turned red in embarrassment. It was natural for the four wives to have a sort of meeting every now and again and see how everyone felt, Cirrus at the time was none the wiser. Their conversations ranged from a wide range of topics, one of which the fact that Ryuu was the easiest to get knocked up and the other three lightly teased her about it.

"Hmm... At least I had those shoes Cirrus made for me, they certainly helped with weight and balance."

"Say do you remember those days where the kids would play hide-and-seek when Art wasn't around?"

"Oof." Malion immediately got a headache. "That damn Callisto, just like her mother. She knows every square inch of the tower and even the secret tunnels incase of emergencies. Ugh... It took us four hours to find them."

"Fufu." Ryuu giggled. "I remember Callisto had Auberon paint their faces to match the bushes."

"Their clothes were also covered in dirt from digging a hole and getting in it to make it harder for us to find them."

"Heheha!" Malion let out a chuckle. "After we found them and saw what they looked like we had them take a deep bath. Auby even painted their hairs to really hide them. It was a good thing the magic tool Cirrus made for Callisto ha taken into account if her hair changed color."

When they reached the top of the elegantly engraved door, they opened it to find the room littered with empty bottles of alcohol.

The bottles were the most eye-catching, but if you ignored them, you would find the room rather fancy-looking, with a wall made of glass, an exquisite bed with a canopy, a fireplace with reclining chairs, and a wall filled with books.

“So this is what she meant by improving his mood,” Ryuu said, walking through the bottles.

“…” Malion frowned at seeing so many bottles. “I do not like this. The last time I saw this was with Hera when we failed to slay the Black Dragon.”

“How bad are we talking?”

Clack! Clack!

Malion sifted through the bottles.

“…Real bad. It was the only time I had ever seen Hera lose her demeanor. By all means, it was her lowest point.”

“Let’s clean up. We will talk to him about this.”

“Sure but… with what and where?”

They looked around to find nothing to clean the bottles.

“… Let’s wait for him to come back.”

“Agreed.”

They began to look around the room.

Malion walked to the bookshelf to see what was on it, while Ryuu walked to the wall of glass to see the throne room; it was a one-sided window.

“Oh?” Ryuu could see Elysium working with Proanthos right next to him.

He was going over paper after paper. He then would stop, and she could see Sacred Energy radiate from him. He tapped the table, and a wave of circuits expanded onto the table and the ground.

He then turned around and smiled before waving at Ryuu.

"It seems he is coming.”

“Oh?” Malion walked over next to her. She could see him stretching before Proanthos bowed and took her leave. “It still amazes me that he is still working this hard.”

“Yes… there is more we need to talk about than those flags."

When Elysium arrives, he finds Ryuu waiting for him at the door while Malion is reading a book by the fire.

"Cirrus, we need to talk about this.” Ryuu points to all the bottles.

“Don’t try and lie to us.” Malion glances at him. “I have seen Hera like this before.”

“Well, I wasn’t going to lie.” He said as the bottles began to disappear.

“Then explain why you are drinking so heavily?” Ryuu said sternly.

Elysium knew that expression. He saw it on Ai and Artemis.

“…I was drinking to numb my pain.”

“Pain? From what?”

“I told you how I became a god, right? Yeah, even after so much, it still lingers. It's pretty hard to get over that. Along with the time adjustment I added to this room, I spent a quiet while here sleeping and just relaxing around before going back to work."

“!” Ryuu and Malion’s eyes widen a bit.

“I… I am sorry for not putting two and two together. "You seemed fine, but..." Ryuu’s expression grew sour. “I feel ashamed; I didn’t notice when I saw the bottles. Also, how far is the degree of time dilation?"

“I am sorry too. That didn’t even come to mind.” Malion said. “You were always mentally strong.”

“Well, I can’t blame you. Trauma in this world is rather… not developed.” Elysium flicked a finger, and all the bottles were gone. “This is why I tried to improve that to help deal with the abundance of PTSD from the people of Yamato to the adventures who can’t go into the dungeon anymore. But that was just part of it. I spent a long time traveling, so when I got back home, it was agonizing not being with you all after lifetimes. As for the time dilation of my domain and my own room, it's a bit wacky, but just know that you're not going to leave and find it's been days and months." He walks over to his bed and sits down.

"That's good to know." Malion nodded.

“Is there anything we can do?” asked Ryuu.

“Then you don’t mind if we spend the night together, right?”

“C-Cirrus!” Ryuu was a bit embarrassed by how forward he was.

“Hoh~ When did you get—Oh, right. With so many years in isolation and traveling, you must be deprived of companionship.” Malion said, liking the more forward Elysium. “Or more accurately, intimacy?”

“I only have eyes for four women, and two of them are here. Companionship, Malion, is fine; I can make do with simply sleeping if that is all you wish."

“You always did make it into a choice for us rather than a suggestion.” Ryuu brushed her hair aside and over her ear.

“With how you are now, I can see why Caesar is so good with her words.” Malion nodded. “Would it hurt to be more forward? We do love you. So tell us what you really want."

“Mmm…” Elysium puts his finger to his chin and ponders. “… I want to watch as Meadowbrook paints his galaxy-wide work of art, race in the hyper-Möbius-velocity of the Han Blue Dragon Kings tournament, and feel the speed and comradery I had with the other racers. I want another meal at Aleph Null, a restaurant at the heat-death of the universe. I want to drink the Tears of Amripple again. Then… I want the warmth of a woman,” he says, opening his eyes again. He looks at Ryuu and Malion with a smoldering and piercing gaze, tinged with longing. “and a cool set of sheets. My head upon their chest, hearing their heartbeat as they hold me. I want to sleep.” He remembers when he was a boy, sleeping in his bed with light blankets and a fan blasting at his face as he slept. “Yes… I want that.” He gave them a lighthearted smile.

“…” Malion and Ryuu looked at one another; they exchanged glances before looking at him.

“We can do one of those things,” Ryuu said.

“Do you have a bathroom?” Malion asked. “We came here as quickly as we could, so we are in need of a shower.”

“Here you go. Snap!”

A door forms at the corner of the room.

“Cirrus I have to ask, but do you take baths?” asked Ryuu, coming up to him and smelling him. “You smell the usual as you always do, but a bit stronger?”

“I can literally just snap my fingers, and I would be as clean as a germaphobe.”

“Take off your clothes,” Malion said. "You are coming with us.”

“That’s right. Just because you can do that doesn’t mean you can skip out on baths!” Ryuu said it firmly. "Besides, how can you skip out on baths? You always loved them!”

'I blame Ai, and Yamato’s bath culture.’ Elysium thought.

“Alright. Who am I to refuse?”

In the bath, they have a moment of pause to simply enjoy each other's company.

“Ahh~ It’s been a long time since I felt this relaxed,” Elysium said.

By his sides were Ryuu and Malion.

“Hmm…” Ryuu said with her head to his chest, his arm holding her close.

“Tell us, Cirrus, are you not going to wait for Ai? or even Art?” Malion said, rubbing his forearm as it was around her.

“I figure I gave you both the end of the stick with the quest, so I figured I could present to you a peace offering.”

“So you,” she said, pressing her breasts up to him. "Offered yourself to us?”

“Possibly. They say a god will fulfill a request from those who pray and call upon their names.”

'I did, however, take a lot of consideration to whatever prayer reached my ears while I was traveling.’

“So if we call your name..." Ryuu wrapped her arms around Elysium. “You will do what we say?”

“Of course.” Elysium wraps his arm around her waist. “If it’s well within reason,"

“Then~” Malion leaned in and whispered into his ear. “Oh Elysium, give us the best night of our lives ~”

'I've missed this.’

“With pleasure.”

And that was when Elysium indulged in the two elves' desires.

“Ah~♥!!”

It was a pleasure and experience that only those who have been with a god of love could have experienced.

The next morning.

“Are you sure you don’t want to stay another day?” Elysium was a bit saddened.

“As much as we would like to stay longer, we have to return to Orario,” Ryuu said, looking as refreshed as one could ever be with flawless skin.

“Yes, but we will try and see you as much as we can.” Malion also said looking refreshed with flawless skin. “Oh, and I wish to eat a golden apple pie!”

“Oh, you saw Eris’s tree, huh? Alright, I’ll be sure to keep some stored.”

“Yes!!” Malion licked her lips; the temptation those apples gave her still lingered.

“I hope to see you both again.” Elysium nodded.

“Of course, Cirrus," Said Ryuu.

“But next time it will be with the others,” Malion said. “The experience will surely be special.”

"Oh, and before you leave, Ryuu, I have to say something.”

“Um? What is it?”

Elysium comes up to her and holds her hands.

“I am sorry. Sorry, that will not be able to reclaim their bodies.”

“!!” Ryuu’s eyes widen. “Ah… I… forgot about that. I forgotten…” She clenches her fists tightly, angry to have forgotten them.

“Ryuu, I can feel the anger you have at yourself for this. But I have faith that you will carry on what I couldn’t. As shameful and regretful as I say those words, they are true.”

Ryuu simmered down, looking into Elysium’s eyes; she knew he was sincere.

“Very well. I will carry on for both of us. But when I am done, I expect you to give them a proper grave on the surface.”

“Of course.” Elysium nods his head.

“Oh yes, can you do me a favor, Cirrus?” Ryuu asked, removing her hands and gently holding Elysium’s face.

“Sure.”

“Could you place Gemini on the outside guard post? He did a good job showing me around your domain or well floor.” She lightly smiled.

“Hm.” He sulked a bit; he thought she was going to give him a kiss.

“He did a good job with me as well. I even saw some of your projects and statuses.” Malion smirks. “Caesar was very kind in showing the pain you hid from your wives.”

“Geh! You saw those!” His face turned slightly red. “Fine… Gemini will be placed outside. Oh, can you also do me a favor, Ryuu?” Elysium put his hands on her shoulders.

“Sure, what is it?”

“Can you show one of my spirits around Orario? She has been asking me daily to go and explore the world.”

“Is that so? Was it a spirit we met before?”

“Hmm… no. She is rather different. She is if I were to put it… similar to Nox.”

“Free-spirited?”

“Very. Hold on a second; I’ll go inform her.”

He took a step back and vanished.

“Oh.” Ryuu turned to Malion. “I do not think I will get used to that.”

A bit later, he returned with the spirit.

“This is—”

“Hello!!” she said, cutting him off. “I am the Spirit King of Spun Tales, Virgo★!!” She said while posing dramatically.

Malion and Ryuu stare at Virgo at how extroverted she came off as.

“…Well she certainly would get along well with Nox,” Malion said.

“Mmm…” Ryuu looked at Virgo a bit intensely. “Why do you feel familiar?”

“Hm? Maybe it’s because I was made by an image Father had in mind★!!” She pats Elysium's shoulder.

They all looked at Elysium with suspicious eyes.

"Father?" Ryuu and Malion said at the same time.

“What? They can call me anything they wish.”

“It’s true; I personally call him my king, while the others call him a combination of lord, boss, leader etc, etc. The only ones who call him father are... well, only two.” Virgo confirms.

“Anyways.” Elysium pushed the conversation along. “Could you two show her around Orario? I already gave her knowledge on the smaller things, like money and common sense.”

“Oh course! She’s technically family, right?” Malion said.

“Thank you. And Virgo, remember to not go down the dungeon unless you are—”

“I know, I know.” She nods with excitement. “Come on, let’s get going!”

She went and stood next to the two elves.

“Haa… take care. Snap!”

And then they were gone.

“…I miss them already.”

Elysium walks back to his desk when he stops.

“…Hm?” He closes his eyes and focuses.

Ripple!

The sound of a droplet hitting the water’s surface.

“So soon. Ouranos.” He said it sternly.

“Yes, Elysium?” He said it in his booming voice. “Has something come up?”

“Yes, Rifts are already beginning to form. I say within the next few months.”

“Very well. I will inform the guild of it.”