“I swore to my master that I would lead him to the Spire and I don’t plan on ever going back on my word. I would have gone there with just him and our companions no matter the result of the War Games. The aid of the military was only a secondary objective that could help us, the valkyrjas, secure the Descending Spire after my master is done with his business inside of it. We don’t need to retake it. We can leave right after we are done. Yet, he is willing to lend us his power for a righteous cause, even though he has completely no obligation to do so. You didn’t try to sabotage me. You tried to sabotage our entire race. Our hope.”

  A heavy silence filled the chamber, broken only by barely audible sobs coming from the woman in front of Bryn. A few tiny droplets fell to the ground, splashing themselves on Rota’s elegant boots.

  “I… I’m so sorry, Bryn… I didn’t… I just wanted to protect you… I don’t want you to get hurt… or die… You’ve always been my best friend so—”

  “I know,” Bryn interrupted her with a gentle tone, finally making Rota raise her face, which brightened up just a little bit. “That’s why it hurts so much more.”

  Rota’s face fell again and she hung her head low. Bryn tensed her lips and squeezed her friend’s shoulder while listening to her quiet sniffles. She took a deep breath and let go.

  Turning around, Bryn walked a few steps ahead and stopped. “Let us discuss how we should proceed with the plan tomorrow. Since I have close ties with the offender, I shall abstain from partaking in the matter of their misconduct. I trust that the assigned punishment will be adequate and fair.”

  Kara, Eir, and Hilda nodded, though Bryn couldn’t see it. Just as they couldn’t see her trembling lips and multiple streaks of tears running down her face. Asterios showed a gentle, comforting smile as he stepped aside and gestured at her to continue walking. As she passed by him, he and the girls left too, leaving the two bound valkyrjas, Krev, and Skodul behind.

  As soon as the doors closed behind them, he slowly extended his arm over Bryn’s waist and rubbed her side reassuringly, pulling the Valkyrie to rest more on him. She didn’t reject his offer and leaned into his shoulder while trying to control her expression and tears.

  They walked in silence until Miria broke it in a quiet tone. “She didn’t seem like a valiant warrior…”

  “Miria!” Selene berated her friend in a hushed whisper.

  “Sorry…” Miria’s ears flopped down as she cast her gaze to the ground.

  Bryn took a deep breath and shook her head. “It’s alright. She didn’t say anything wrong. Not all valkyrjas possess the spirit to face all the challenges head-on. Rota is a great mind but she does lack a bit of bravery.”

  Nobody said anything else as they continued ahead. It was hard not to spew out empty words that could make their friend even sadder. They didn’t exactly know how she felt at the moment, only recently learning how close the two women were. Out of all of them, Asterios was the closest to experiencing anything seemingly similar.

  And that was why, after they walked out of the grand coliseum into the streets, the girls shared a nod with Asterios and left the two alone. Bryn glanced behind them as they headed deeper into the city but he squeezed her side a little bit, capturing her attention again.

  “Would you like to take a break in some quiet place?” he asked with a caring tone.

  She wiped off some of the tears still hanging in the corners of her eyes and nodded. “I know just the spot.”

  As she prepared her wings to take flight, Asterios hastily brought out his own. They soared into the sky almost at the same time. She led him throughout the city, flying close to the sharp roofs of the golden and silver buildings. Bryn slalomed between various towers, spikes, and pillars, taking quick and agile turns. She seemed to use flying as an outlet for her turbulent emotions.

  They soon reached the park they had walked through during their brief tour of the flying fortress. Bryn descended close to a small faucet pouring water into a decorative dish. The beautiful, artsy monument was located on the far side of the garden, standing between two apple trees just next to the outer wall.

  She looked around, paused at Ast’s face to give him a soft smile, and grabbed the pretty faucet. After giving it a few tugs in various directions, she let go. The front of the sculpture clicked and jerked inside, creating a shape of an archway around its inner edges. She pushed the heavy door and stepped inside.

  “Watch your step, please. Water runs down the stairs all the time,” Bryn said, extending a hand to Asterios.

  He received her help and joined her in a narrow tunnel leading down at a steep angle. Just as she had said, water quietly poured over the metal steps, creating small waterfalls. They descended for about three minutes before the light of faint, sporadic gems was replaced by the glow of much stronger crystals.

  They walked into the open, but they weren’t outside. A round platform greeted them, with four columns connecting it to the same shape at the ceiling. Bright crystal torches were attached to each of them but they couldn’t illuminate all of the chasm spanning past the ledge’s edge.

  With his enhanced sight, Asterios could make out shapes of giant cogwheels, pistons, springs, and plenty of other mechanisms. The distant noise of their work echoed throughout the seemingly unending space. He followed Bryn as she neared the edge and sat down with her legs dropping past it. Not wanting to make her wait for long, he joined her and they both peered into the machinery which was clearly connected to the operation of the ARK.

  “Every ARK has hidden service passages like these…” she began quietly. “This is a place only I know of besides… my friend… the one scholar from Brage that I mentioned before…”

  Asterios gently placed his hand over hers. “You don’t have to force yourself to explain, or talk in general.”

  She glanced at him briefly and nodded faintly. They sat like that in relative silence for a few minutes, listening to the calming sounds coming from all around. Asterios kept delicately brushing his fingers over the top of her hand, not wanting to go too far. But, after a while, Bryn scooted closer to him on her own and he tenderly wrapped his arm around her as she leaned into his side.

  “I really would have never expected that it would be her…” Bryn whispered, starting to sniffle a little, quickly wiping her tears before they fully formed up.

  “There’s no one around so it’s alright.” Asterios moved his hand to her hair and threaded through it gently. “You don’t have to act tough in front of me. I know very well how strong you are. It’s good to let it out from time to time. It must have been hard to remain impartial and professional back there.”

  With a few more withheld sobs, Bryn finally relented and stopped holding herself back. Asterios kept caressing her hair as she cried quietly on his shoulder. It took a few minutes for her to fully let everything out and he was there for her the entire time. As Bryn’s sniffling toned down again, he summoned a delicate handkerchief from his ring and tenderly wiped some remaining tears off her face before she took it from him to finish the job herself.

  “Sorry…” Bryn apologized with a weak smile.

  “You have nothing to apologize for,” Asterios replied softly.

  “Then… Thank you…”

  “You are welcome.” He smiled back at her. “I’m sure you already know that after observing me for some time but I will always be there for you. No matter what you need, even if it’s just my silent presence. Just say a word. Or don’t.”

  Silence fell between them once more. Asterios gazed far into the distance, never stopping his hand from moving. Bryn also peered into the mechanisms, though her eyes skipped to his calm face now and then. She turned her palm over and entwined her fingers with his, squeezing Ast’s hand in return. He looked at her and she smiled gently as their eyes met, before turning her face to the front again.

  “I thought it was Hilda from the moment we found out…” she admitted quietly.

  “We assume incorrectly from time to time,” he replied softly.

  “I seem to have a tendency for that.”

  They chuckled faintly together, recalling their first meeting.

  “It just shows how important it is for us to know the others better,” Asterios replied.

  Bryn sighed softly and turned her face to him. Asterios met her gaze and watched her uncertain expression as they stared at each other from up close.

  “Am I a bad person for wanting it to have been Hilda?” she asked anxiously. “I could have just brushed it off like nothing that way for sure.”

  “No,” he answered shortly, slightly shaking his head. “We are driven by emotions and bonds, no matter what we say. You can’t hate your friend because you know that, even though she was horribly wrong, she wanted the best for you, in her own way. It’s rather natural since I assume Hilda has never shown compassion or affection toward you directly. But now you are hesitant because you aren’t sure anymore, afraid of assuming incorrectly again.”

  She searched his eyes for a few seconds before letting out a wry chuckle. “I’m pathetic…”

  “No, you aren’t.” Asterios shook his head again. “Why would you think so? Because you are sad? Because I’m here to see it? You held yourself incredibly well the entire time. Someone with such composure can’t be pathetic. You care about others too much for that. Much more than you do about yourself. And don’t tell me that it’s not true. You even worry about your partner having to accept a Valkyrie with a big chest instead of worrying about your own unfortunate predicament, ignoring that you shouldn’t even think like that in the first place. That’s how deep it runs.”

  A faint rosy flush tinged Bryn’s cheek as he spoke. She couldn’t really rebuke any of Ast’s words. It was pretty clear that he had sensed some of her concerns through their bond, consciously or not. It was most likely her who had leaked them through while unaware but he hadn’t said anything to avoid making her feel embarrassed.

  After a few long seconds of silence, she broke it once more. “Would it be alright… to get a hug?”

  Asterios showed a warm smile and nodded softly. “As many as you want.”

  She sat up from leaning into his shoulder and he took his arms back. Asterios waited for Bryn to make the first move as she still hesitated a little. When she pushed herself closer, he opened his arms for her but paused for a moment as she slowly climbed up on his lap while still facing forward. Nevertheless, he lovingly hugged her from behind, embracing Bryn gently. She fidgeted slightly, especially her wings, tickling his face and skin constantly.

  “I don’t think it was a good idea…” She chuckled awkwardly.

  “Turn around,” he whispered and supported her sides so that she didn’t slide off.

  Albeit a little reluctant, Bryn obliged and they ended up in front of each other after some changes, with her sitting on his legs. Asterios opened his arms once more but her gaze wandered down over her front.

  “My breastplate…” She smiled wryly.

  He sighed softly at her unnecessary worries and placed a hand on the metal armor. With a faint red flash, it disappeared into his spatial storage, revealing Bryn’s ample bust hidden behind the quite deceitful piece of equipment. It was naturally still modestly covered by a piece of thin, durable material. The lack of any additional bra underneath it was more than apparent though.

  “Now there is no problem.” Asterios smiled, looking straight into Bryn’s eyes.

  She blushed heavily and nodded. Warily observing Asterios, she leaned onto his chest and rested her head on his shoulder, putting her forehead against his neck. He wrapped his arms around her and gently stroked her back as she grazed his front with her hand. A soft smile curled the corners of Bryn’s lips up as she gave into the pleasant warmth and closeness. For a moment, it didn’t bother her even if her big breasts were pressing into him heavily. She didn’t even notice when she dozed off.

  Opening her eyes while taking a deep breath, Bryn felt a little bit limited. As the slight grogginess receded from her mind, she quickly realized why and sat straight up in a flash, getting all red in an instant.

  “I’m so sorry, Master!”

  Asterios placed a hand on her lowered head. “I already told you not to apologize.”

  “For how long…?” She peeked at him from below.

  “About an hour or two,” he replied with a smile.

  “That long?!” Bryn’s eyes widened greatly.

  A soft chuckle escaped Ast’s lips. “It’s alright. You needed it.”

  “But… The others…”

  “Would have told you to take it easy for much longer.”

  After a few moments of them just looking into each other’s eyes, she sighed heavily and nodded.

  “If you are feeling better, we can join them at any time,” Asterios said, brushing a lock of her hair to the side.

  “I’m alright now. Thank you, Master.” She smiled warmly with rosy cheeks.

  “I’m glad, then.” He smiled back. “The others will definitely be happy to hear that too. Let's go and meet them.”

  Chapter 19

  The First Wing

  After Bryn stretched her wings a little bit, she stood up from his lap and Asterios accepted her hand to do the same. They smiled at each other softly and turned towards the mechanical chasm as he returned to her the breastplate he had stored earlier.

  “I see that you are curious about this place,” Bryn said, recapturing Ast’s attention. “I don’t know as much about it as my scholar friend but we are inside one of the major service shafts. Similar to the arena you fought in, the entire ARK has many mechanical elements and sections.”

  “I figured it was like that.” Asterios nodded while looking around. “All these cogs and pistons must be very important.”

  “While the Heart is the most important part keeping us in the air, all these moving parts are connected to it. Besides a few things, a lot of maintenance is automated so that even if the knowledge on how to operate and properly take care of the ARKs is lost, they can still function properly. These flying fortresses are our only hope of surviving the end of the world as many call it,” she continued, following his gaze.

  “It’s extremely fascinating and depressing at the same time. I can’t help but admire the craft while also feeling bad because it was possible to achieve only under such unfortunate circumstances.” He shook his head.

  “That’s just how it works. Necessity is the mother of invention. We should be glad that things worked out in the end. If they didn’t, we wouldn’t be able to be here or admire this fine craftsmanship and ingenuity.” Bryn placed a hand on his shoulder.

  “Right. Instead of wasting time worrying about the past, we should focus on making the future better. And what is better than reclaiming one of the most iconic structures your race is aware of.” Asterios turned to her and smiled.

  “I think that getting rid of all the monsters once and for good would fit that category.” She did the same. “But, killing off a decent batch of them and taking the Spire back isn’t that far down on the list.”

  “Let’s put some effort into crossing it off, then.” He chuckled softly and they both turned away from the edge.

  Giving one last glance to all the metal and mechanical marvels all around them, they headed towards the stairs that had led them to this hidden place. The water still ran down the steps so they had to be careful not to slip. Thankfully, the corridor was pretty narrow so they were able to support themselves on the walls.

  Reaching the top, Bryn found the switch on their side and the secret entrance opened once more. She quickly jumped outside and Asterios soon followed her. The front of the faucet returned to its dormant state right after they left the passage, turning back into a neat piece of artistic architecture. Without knowing that it was just a facade, no one would be able to find out its real purpose.

  Asterios and Bryn shared a nod and they soared into the air together. As they passed over various buildings and open parts of the flying city, they could still spot the lively, enthusiastic movements of the valkyrjas down on the ground. It looked like the news was still being spread after about two hours. From what they could see, people were getting quite excited about it, which wasn’t that surprising considering the topic.

  Thanks to that, nobody stopped them on their way to their residence and they landed on the open balcony without any interruptions. Asterios dematerialized his wings and they walked inside, finding Miria and Grea by one of the coffee tables in the living room on the first floor. The panthergirl noticed them first and she immediately jumped up.

  “Master! Bryn! Welcome back!” Miria beamed a beautiful smile at them and jogged closer, stopping in front of their Valkyrie friend. “How are you feeling? I’m glad to see that you are doing better now.”

  Bryn showed a warm expression in response. “Thank you for worrying about me. I’m alright now. A moment of rest with Master by my side allowed me to calm down the chaos that was my thoughts.”

  “Yeah. He can have that effect on people.” Grea snickered while moving closer too. “Words or actions?”

  A faint flush surfaced on Bryn’s cheeks as the frisky demon lady kept wagging her eyebrows at them. Asterios sighed quietly and bonked her on the head, making Miria giggle. A pretty smile showed up on Bryn’s lips too and Grea pumped her fist, making it clear that evoking it was her goal from the very beginning.

  “I appreciate you trying to improve Bryn’s mood with your usual jokes but you could try to tone the implicative ones a little bit. I hate to be the one to break it to you but most people don’t choose to jump on a cock to deal with their sadness or tough situation as their first choice,” Asterios said.

  “They haven’t even tried, then.” Grea huffed, crossing her arms under her perky chest. “There’s nothing better than getting dicked in to make you forget about all the heavy shit. Especially when it’s done by such a handsome cookie.”

  “Enough.” He chuckled and shook his head.

  “It’s alright,” Bryn said. “I don’t mind. And while I can’t speak for that method personally, just talking with you, Master, is a great way to relax and… lose track of time.”