Phew... I didn't expect that from Rishya. It was rather stimulating.

After seeing Kali pull a concealed sausage out of no-where and shove it down Rishya's open mouth, I think everyone couldn't help but laugh. I wonder if that girl learnt some tricks from Kurono?

It seems I wasn't the only one conscious of the fact that Rishya was mostly just pushing around her food recently.

Aria said she was suddenly concerned about getting fat which I thought was ridiculous, considering her smooth midriff, petite figure, and stunning curves.

I tried something to alleviate that this morning, but perhaps that just increased the problem?

She seemed happy but simultaneously terrified quite a lot.

So… Aria hatched this impromptu plan. She really cares about her best friend.

But having Rishya copy Seria's action, that I didn't expect, for sure.

We crest the ridge towards Sandy Shore temple, giving us a view over the blue lagoon in the morning light.

Set up on the few islands below, is a tent encampment, different to before.

Some adventurers are milling around.

"This is the clean-up crew. I believe that by now they should have now burnt all the bodies. Having them be consumed by the void is not ideal. That would give excess strength to the dungeon." Fortinbras comes up to me.

Right. I think Simon said something about that. Yes... all the floating zombies that I exploded are gone as well.

"They don't get buried?" I query.

Fortinbras raises an eyebrow.

"On the site of a Void manifestation? That would be asking for a rise in the undead. Even a staunch believer of Trieze would understand this. Burning them sends them to Saulm, where they can be reborn."

"Of course, sorry." I apologise.

He nods with a grunt.

"You truly are a man from another world, huh?" He whispers as he moves off.

You know what, I don't think I've ever spotted a graveyard here. I guess, with Saulm's popularity, as the goddess of creation and rebirth, cremation is very likely the norm for this world. Even mausoleums like this temple are built to contain cruxes of Void, rather than store bodies.

We head on down to the lagoon.

In the morning light, the blue seems quite serene, despite being disturbed by ripples every so often.

A short orange haired woman in a dark leather getup comes out of the tents. She very much seems like a rogue-type, with a black head-scarf and side-rapier.

"Ah! Ser Fortinbras! You arrived!" She practically coos, dashing over.

"I'm here as well, Carys." Says Jeanette, deadpan.

Carys goes 'tch' as Jeanette wanders up next to him.

Huh... interesting. However, this Carys takes on a stoic, business-like face.

"The dungeon's upper level is cleared, ser. The layout is still unchanged."

"Confirmed deaths?" He says.

"Twenty-nine. The Lightning Bruisers, Actual Gravitas, The Griffin Guards, Rex's Wanderers, and five independents are confirmed all dead." She counts them off.

"Hah... we lost some good people, then. Send a runner to Selene with the effects." Fortinbras taps his upraised visor.

She nods. "Already done. Report to the guild-master with them too. We were about to start packing up."

"Good job. Go get your contract award, you deserve it for a macabre job like this." He nods.

"Ah... the boys will appreciate that... but I'll be all alone, thinking of you." She moans.

"Ahem... that is no longer appropriate, Carys." He sighs.

"Yah, get lost and wallow. No one likes a clingy bitch." Jeanette swears.

As usual my thunder spirit wants to illustrate the atmosphere between the two women. But then Carys snorts, salutes Fortinbras, and wanders off, shouting to the others around to get everything packed away.

Jeanette appears to puff out her chest in pride and struts off to torment her little brother, causing Fortinbras to sigh heavily again.

"I am sorry you had to see that." He turns around to apologise.

"No ser, don't worry about it." I say.

"The boy was the centre of a far greater maelstrom quite recently." Seria laughs, wandering up to my side. "It is fortuitous that we have all decided to share, however. Are we not magnanimous, E-li-jah?" She reaches up and touches my face, lilting musically.

"Err... quite so, Seria." I gulp, feeling glares on me again.

"Fufufufu... it’s fun how easy this boy is to rattle, isn't it, ladies?" She looks over her shoulder, smirking.

There is joint laughter.

"His innocent adorableness just drives us mad, so we have come to terms with each other despite everything." She continues.

Hah... sometimes I wonder just what I was thinking.

"Strange. What a peculiar thing." Esraye comments.

They all laugh wryly again.

"Don't I know it..." Aria moans, giggling.

Darion looks mildly snooty as he starts walking off, ignoring his sister prattling on about her victory. Esraye shrugs to Fortinbras and he sighs again.

"Well then, should we proceed?"

"Indeed." I nod.