Abyssal Terra / Floor 2

Adam's Root Station / Terminal

Morning /

Elisa walks alone to the terminal, but she will not go up to Floor 1 again. She headed up to a place where the Legendary Bird Catcher told her to. The place is east of the terminal, out from the Station wall, a quite-scary place. 

Being alone made Elisa back to her full-ego self. Though she is still kinda scared because being alone in a quiet place prone to crime.

Elisa goes out from the exit and finds herself in an open area. 

"Wow!"

It's her third time being in Adam's Root Station, but she never tried to look in another perspective of its view like now. 

"It's beautiful in here, right?"

"Yes."

Adam's Root Station is on higher ground. It needs 5 minutes to go down the lift or cornering road. Below the station is the start to Floor 2. An opening to a greater journey. 

'Wait, who am I talking to?' 

Elisa turned around and found a tall guy in pilot uniform stood close right behind her. 

"Hey!"

"Kyaa!"

Elisa quickly backed off. That was close because that man might be – 'Wait, isn't he...'

"Hey, I know I'm in my battle suit. But that's quite hurt, Elisa," said Diana while touching her right chest. 

That is the Legendary Bird Catcher, aka Diana, the Dark Elf Woman. 

"I'm so sorry, Miss Diana! This place is so quiet, and your sudden appearance made me shocked!"

Diana smiled and responded to her little companion sorry. "I'm sorry too cuz I asked you to come to this place. I don't want anyone to see us together, cuz it might trouble you in the future."

Legendary Bird Catcher targeted by many parties that wanted her 'Gryphon Whistle'. So another party might take the chance to do something to Elisa if she related to the Bird Catcher. 

Elisa comes alone without her partner. It made Diana ask: "Where is our boy? He didn't come with you?"

Elisa made a wry expression when the guy she hated being asked. Then answered.

"He leaves me a note that he already left to the Seven Colour Mountains."

"Seven Colour Mountains?! That's a one-day trip from here!"

It only takes one day's trip if you start in the morning. Last night Ars was still in lodging with them. He might leave early this morning, or leave in that night, but it's so dangerous to start the trip in the night. 

"You don't have to think hard about that guy's act, Miss Diana," said Elisa calmly. Her expression said she isn't surprised anymore by Ars' behavior. 

'She began actually look like Ars's mother.'

Diana realized something when talking about Ars' behaviour. 

"Oh ya, I heard this rumour about our boy. When Floor 1 got struck down by catastrophe, Greedy Young Master was currently in this station. But he rushed to Floor 1 by climbing Adam Tree and leap through Abyss Pit. Is that true?"

That was one month ago. 

Elisa doesn't want to admit that, but – "Yes, that is true."

After the Catastrophe and White Wood arrive, Elisa asks Latifah if that is true, and that is true. 

"Dang! He just like our Strongest Sword, Sword Saint."

"Well, despite his greatness, he is still just a spoiled, greedy boy."

Elisa had said those words twice. It proved that there is a special relationship between them, and it looks beautiful. 

Elisa felt embarrassed because suddenly Diana looked at her silently.

"W-what is it, Miss Diana?"

"No, nothing. I just think you might become a good mother, Elisa."

"Wha!? Why did you suddenly notice that?!"

Diana ignored Elisa's question. She takes Gryphon Whistle from her pocket, then offers that whistle to Elisa. 

"Want to call Griphy?"

Elisa amazed by that offer. "Are you sure, Miss Diana?"

"Why not? I like you, Griphy must be too. It might be just your one life chance."

Elisa is aware of that. After they arrive at Shield City, they might not see each other again. 

Elisa took the offer. Slowly, she takes the Gryphon Whistle from Diana's hand. Then see it long enough. Just looking at that Legendary Item gives Elisa a sense of its greatness.

[There are 13 Gryphon Whistles in Abyssal Terra. Those who hold it being called by Gryphon Rider. They fought as brothers to conquer Floor 2 in Staff Saint's command. But as they fought for a long time, they had lost 3 of their brothers. Nine of them remain, still fighting to conquer Floor 3 in Troy the Gluttony's command. And for one reason, one of them became the Bird Catcher in Adam Tree.]

Before Elisa blows the whistle, she has one question for Diana. 

"Miss Diana, why do you stay on this floor while all your companions in Floor 3?"

Diana strokes her chin as she remembers why. "Hmm, it's Staff Saint who told me to. He said it's better for me to stay on this Floor, especially in this station. But he didn't give me a clear command on why I have to stay. Then, boredom attacked me as I stayed on an unclear command. That's why I became a Bird Catcher as my part-time job."

"That is, your part-time job?" asked Elisa, as she amazed and astonished at the same time. 

After being given a clear answer, Elisa doesn't want to waste time to blow the Gryphon Whistle. She takes a deep breath, then blows the whistle as strong as she can. 

Pwiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitt~

The sound of the blow echo reached all places in Adam's Root area. Everyone knows it's the Bird Catcher called his rides. 

"Kaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaakk!"

The sound of the blow gets responded by a lion-headed eagle. The scream comes from the east side of Adam Tree. 

Elisa looked at that direction and found Griphy flying, diving in the air as it dashed towards them. 

"It's, so big."

Griphy arrived and stand tall beside them. It is roughly 6 feet height and 14 feet long. Diana directly walked to Griphy and patted its head.

"How ar you doin, boy?!"

Griphy screeching as he finally meets his owner again. 

Beside that giant lion-headed eagle, Elisa feels chill, and a little afraid to get close. 

"What are you doing? Come here. He will be our escort to Shield City."

Diana indirectly told Elisa to get close and try to touch Griphy. But as Elisa walked slowly to get close, Griphy aware of her appearance and start screeching. 

"!?"

That made Elisa shocked and back off a few steps. 

"Don't worry. He just wants to say hi."

"I'm sorry, he is just, so big."

Griphy is a lion-headed eagle four times bigger than Diana, and six times bigger than Elisa. Of course it made Elisa quite afraid of its appearance.

"Ya hear her, boy! Sit down!"

Diana pulls Griphy's body down, so it has same height as Elisa. That made it a little better. 

Elisa tries to get close to Griphy's head again and starts patting its hairy head. The touch feels delicate and gives Elisa a sense of relieving. 

A while after they prepared to ride. Griphy stands up as two women ride his back. 

"You ready, Elisa?"

"I'm, not sure. But it is okay for me to hold you tight, right?"

"Of course, if you can, hold me as tight as you can. Because our air trip will be going quite bizarre!"

"Bizarre?"

Diana whipped Griphy's saddle. "Heya!"

That is a command to start their fly. "Kaaaakk~!"

As Griphy starts running, there are people running out from the station wall, screaming: "Get them!"

That made Elisa worried, but they were already in the air, flying. She thought they already escaped, but the people, Hunters behind, started firing Griphy with their arts. 

"[Wind Arts:]"

"[Water Arts:]"

"[Lightning Arts:]"

As they fly, there are many arts that get fired towards them.

"Miss Diana!" 

"Don't worry! They won't hit us!"

Just like Diana said, miraculously, not a single arts hit Griphy. But that is still scared Elisa.

"Kyaaaaaaaaa~!"

"Let's go! To Seven Colour Mountains!"