Chapter 88: Finally on the surface(corrected)
--- Pov Zoe ---
Water, was a fundamental element for life, be it for living beings or the planet itself, but I found it frightening. Ever since my mother had taken me in, I had this deep terror of water, even though I had no memory of the reason. Initially, I couldn't even take a shower without having a fit, and it was only with Astraea's help that my condition improved.
"Zoe are you feeling well?" -Astraea asked, looking at me worriedly.
"It's not the best, but I can handle it." -I said smiling, trying not to worry her.
At the moment, Astraea, Ryuu, and I were standing at the shore of a small lake, with our legs submerged in the water and also the reason for my discomfort.
The night before, while we were having dinner together with the Loki Familia, we heard several noises coming from the entrance of the floor and when we went there, we saw Hestia, Hermes, and the captain of his Familia, the Takemikazuchi Familia, Ryuu and Astraea who had come to the rescue us, since we hadn't gone on the surface all day.
Astraea only managed to calm down when she saw that I was fine and hugged me all night, saying that she wouldn't let her little girl get hurt again. Of course, I was dying of embarrassment, but in her arms, I felt loved like a real daughter.
"But I have to be honest, I didn't expect you to punch the captain of the Takemikazuchi Familia." -Ryuu said with an amused smile.
"I just took Al's advice, 'if someone has wronged you, you have every right to avenge.' "
Maybe because I didn't find it fair that he was forgiven so easily or the fact that my disappearance worried my loved ones, I moved instinctively and placed a fist in his face...
"When we return to the village, I must ask Al, what he taught you." -Astraea said, shaking her head.
'cough'
"Leaving aside the story of the punch, I wanted to tell you about two events that happened to me."
Hearing my words, the two became curious. I told them about how I had used the ability that allowed me to read minds failing for the first time when I tried to use it towards Mark.
"hmm, I'd say he has a skill or item that repels mental invasions, maybe you should increase your mastery with that skill." -Said Ryuu having to think for a moment.
"Ryuu is right. Your skill is powerful, but you can't be dependent on it. There are plenty of skills out there that will counter or track your skill, so I advise you to be careful, especially towards high-level adventurers." -Seriously said Astraea.
'Now that you mention it, Aiz had some reaction.' -While we were in the tent talking, I tried to read Aiz's thoughts, and as I listened, she looked around confusedly, as if searching for something.
"You spoke of the first event, but not the second." -Ryuu said to me, seeing me remain silent.
"... I had a dream."
"But that's great! Then how was it, do you think it had any connection to your memories?" -Astraea said happily.
"I'm more than sure it was a normal dream." -I said complicatedly, looking at her excited eyes.
"How can you be sure? It's your first dream it must mean something." -Astraea asked, not understanding.
"I'm sure because the dream was... how shall I put it... it was a wedding or rather my wedding... I think?"
Till now I was confused about what I dreamed because it seemed too realistic, but at the same time, I was sure it wasn't me.
"..."(x2)
I seemed to have taken them by surprise by the way they were silent for more than a minute.
"Oh... now I see why you're convinced, but isn't that still a good thing? Maybe you're on the road to recovery." -Ryuu said to me, trying to shift the topic.
"I thought so too, but I didn't dream anything again yesterday."
I would be denying it if I said I wasn't disappointed. I had had the same hope as Ryuu, but when I fell asleep again in the evening, I found myself back in that dark space, that I was destined not to remember forever?
"Don't be in a hurry, everything has its time, but tell me... Who was the person you dreamed of marrying?" -Astraea asked me with a playful smile.
"First I couldn't make out the face and second I would never tell you, it would be too embarrassing." -Just remembering the kissing scene, made my temperature rise.
"Hehehe, you're so pretty Zoe, I'm sure the others would have liked you too." -Although Astraea seemed to smile, I could see the pain in her eyes.
Our next destination was the memorial Ryuu had made for her companions since no traces of their bodies were left.
"Then let's go, see if we can pick some flowers along the way." -Ryuu said as she came out of the water.
Following her example, we also went out, but as we were getting ready to go a problem arose.
'What is a sweaty and agitated Bell doing in front of us?'
--- General pov ---
"How is it possible that there is no normal god in this world."
After wandering around the forest for who knows how long trying to forget what he had seen, Mark returned to camp more tired than he had been at first.
The only thing that gave him a sense of satisfaction was seeing Hermes tied to a pole and brutally beaten, but he wondered what had happened to Bell.
'Did he manage to escape? If he was, then I think he has wasted a good deal of his fortune.'
With that foolish thought, he headed back to his tent to prepare himself as he would soon be starting the ascent.
He didn't have many things to set up, other than his equipment and other items, as the magic stones and the drop he had obtained from killing monsters would be carried by the hired supporters. He had also done some calculations and after paying the debt he owed Tiona, he would still have something left.
Once he had confirmed that he had not forgotten anything, he walked out of the tent and started walking towards the entrance, when he was surprised to see Bell completely unharmed.
"Are you alive?" -Mark was honest with his words.
"Is that the first thing you can think of to say after leaving me there!?"
"It's not my fault you fell." -Mark shrugged quietly at the pitiful expression Bell was making.
"Haaaa, anyway I have a message for you, Ryuu and Zoe's mother thank you for saving her. They would have come in person, but they have some trouble with their identities."
"So Ryuu is here too, I would have liked to meet her again. If you see her again, send her my regards and tell Zoe's mother that I received her thanks."
Waving goodbye to Bell, he headed towards the first group he had been assigned to and who would play the role of opening the way for the second group. When he arrived, almost everyone was present and after a few minutes, the team was complete.
There were all the main members of the Loki Familia except Riveria and other adventurers in the group. Usually, Finn would give the less experienced members a chance to fight the boss, but many had not yet fully recovered, so they would take care of it.
After the Boss was quickly defeated, the ascent presented no problems at least until the 8th floor, when an earthquake occurred. This in itself was not a strange thing, since it happened when monsters were born, but the intensity of the earthquake did not convince Finn, so he sent someone to check that the second group was alright.
Beyond that problem, there were no more strange occurrences and the group managed to ascend to the surface, where the rays of sunset greeted them, signaling the end of this long expedition.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone