The Music Speaks

The elevator that sits before us emits an ominous aura, discouraging those who would dare to approach it. Except the podium which flashes a green light when the identification succeeds, there is nothing special about it. There is no display showcasing which floor the elevator has reached and no button to call upon it as needed. From what I've observed, the workers simply place their hands on the podium and wait until they are let into the large mobile piece of metal. What's more, there seems to be an even stronger odor coming from wherever the elevator leads. The closer we get, the stronger that smell becomes. It resembles the one filling the building, but much more concentrated. It is so potent that it is directly affecting my taste buds, forcing me to hold my breath when possible. Eventually, left with no other choice, and for the sake my sanity, I activate an additional feature of the suit.

"Activate air filtration"

"Command registered - Activating tactical enhancement: air filtration mask"

Ivana smirks, or at least I think she is smirking.

"Heh, seems like someone couldn't take it anymore"

"... You put yours on the second we entered..."

"Hmph, at least I didn't pretend to be someone I'm not. You try to be like Sylvia too hard."

"Wha- Never mind, I'm too tired to argue with you right now."

I turn to Sylvia.

"Do you not smell this? How are you holding on?"

She turns in my direction but does not answer immediately. She slowly exhales, activates the air filtration feature of her suit and finally responds.

"I've been holding my breath."

"Well, yeah, me too, but even the few breaths I have to take forced me to activate the air filtration enhancement."

"Yes, that's why I didn't inhale once."

"... You've been holding your breath the whole time?"

"Yes?"

I stare at her, dumbfounded. We have been traversing this plant for at least 20 minutes and she claims to not have taken a single breath during that time. She accomplished that even though we have been incessantly exploring and moving around. Perhaps if we were stationary, her feat would have made more sense, though it would still have been impressive. A mischievous smile decorates Ivana's face.

"How does that make you feel Alden? Our little Sylvia here has been holding her breath the entire time!"

Ignoring her comment, I speak to Sylvia.

"There's still something that bugs me. Why did you only now decide to activate the air filtration if you couldn't endure the smell from the start?"

She looks at me and smiles.

"I did not want to lose."

"...Seriously?"

While she does not often show it, Sylvia seems to possess a somewhat childish side. I now understand a little better why she and Ivana are such good friends. Truly, birds of a feather flock together.

With the filtration activated and the elevator right in front of us, we are closer to our goal than ever. All that remains is to find a way inside. We could slip through all at once when a worker attempts to use the elevator but that does not seem like a great idea. The elevator entrance is very narrow, making it unlikely for us to remain unnoticed no matter how absent-minded these workers are. Startling one of them or attracting their attention is the absolute worst-case scenario. This deep into enemy territory and with Sebastian so far away, our chances of survival would be slim if they were to seriously attempt to capture us. This fact is well understood by the three of us.

Exploring our options, we investigate our surroundings in search of a staircase leading to the basement, but as expected, there is none. I do not know why I even considered the possibility of this building having basic mandatory infrastructure.

For a second, I consider capturing a worker and forcing them to open the elevator for us, but who knows what kind of methods they possess to alert their comrades of our presence. As such, our options do not seem promising. After a moment, when there are no workers nearby, Sylvia speaks.

"Let's go in one at a time, all of us going at once would make it difficult to remain unnoticed but if it's only a single person at a time, there should be no problem."

I reply.

"This is how people die in horror movies, splitting up is the worst idea you could have had."

She attempts to dismiss my worries.

"We'll be fine if we keep contact, if push comes to shove, we subdue a worker and force them to open the elevator."

"Okay, but how would we keep contact, there's nothing to tell us that the basement isn't swarming with workers, if we speak, they'll hear us."

Ivana replies

"We don't speak then."

I observe her pensively, I have an idea of what she is trying to say.

"Hmmm, you mean..."

"Yeah, let's make use of my [melody]. One of you two goes down and keeps thinking about me to fill me in on the situation until another person can go down."

Acknowledging her proposal, Sylvia and I reply almost synchronously.

"I'll go"

"I'll go"

"...Alden, you stay here, I'll go down, I'm stronger and faster than you. I'll be able to run away if there's anything I cannot handle."

"Sure, but you have zero defensive abilities, what if there's nowhere to run to? I can at least hold out until one of you two arrives."

"What if they break through your aegis, what then? You'll be a sitting duck."

"They won't. I haven't met a single worker stronger than me in here"

"Yet."

Silence fills the air, neither of us wants to budge. If it continues like this, no one will ever go down that damn elevator. Recognizing the tension, Ivana assumes the role of mediator and offers a solution to this predicament.

"Alright, alright, Alden, Vivi, you both make excellent points. As such, I have an idea! You'll both think something nice about me, whichever I like most will go down!"

The ridiculous idea leaves me speechless. Both Sylvia and I turn our gaze to Ivana and contemplate her offer. It does not take me long to come up with a reply.

"What kind of-"

"Let's do it"

"... Seriously Sylvia?"

"What? It'll be fair."

"How is that fair?! She is literally your best friend!!"

Ivana, who is still supposed to be a mediator, speaks to me.

"Ohhh is someone scared they'll lose? Well, if you don't want to play, I guess Vivi just wins by default, right?"

"I suppose I do Iva"

'They're teaming up against me...'

"Okay, w-whatever, let's do it! I'll participate!"

"Hehe, of course you will. When I give the signal, you'll both think something super nice about me! 3....2....1 Go!"

This trial will decide whether Sylvia or I will go down this elevator. Despite her rebuttal, my argument still stands, should there be anything too dangerous down there for her, she most likely will have nowhere to escape to. On the other hand, there is a myriad of ways for me to stall for time. I could turtle up behind my shield or use my songs to gain time. If an enemy strong enough to break through my shield truly does appear, then sure I'll die, but so would she, and much quicker. She may have me beat in raw strength, but in terms of tricks and utility, I am ahead of her. I must win this, regardless of how unfair Ivana has made it.

'Alright Ivana, proud heiress of the Rodwell conglomerate. What if we make a deal? I don't have anything of value to give you that you don't already have, but what about this, if you let me go down, I'll.... I'll owe you one. Anything you want, I'll do it as long as it's something I am physically capable of doing.'

She pretends to remain impartial while listening to our thoughts, but I can see a slight shift in her expression when I mention being in her debt. I do not know what Sylvia is saying but if that does not work on Ivana, then nothing I will say can beat Sylvia's compliments. After a few seconds, Ivana signals us to stop and begins her deliberation.

"Hmmm, you both have performed very well. Indeed, indeed, very well. Let's see, Alden or Vivi? Which did I like most. Hmmm..."

She holds up two fingers for the what I think to be a way of representing me and Sylvia. However, even after a minute they do not go down. Something tells me she is trying to convery a message. At one point, the fingers wiggle and Ivana sneaks a glance at me.

'What is she trying to say... Wait... no way right? Ivana? You want TWO favors?! Is that what you're trying to say?!'

Pretending to stretch her neck, she nods. Sylvia appears to be oblivious to the situation,

'Ivana! One is already a lot, I said I would do literally anything!'

A third finger slowly rises.

'FINE, BUT I'M NOT OWING YOU MORE THAN TWO!!'

With a smile, Ivana announces her verdict.

"After careful consideration, I've decided to give Alden the win!"

"What? How could that be Iva?"

"Well, you know, he's quite charming, I'm starting to see what you see in him!"

Ivana's teasing falls on deaf ears. Sylvia does not even react to her comment. I'm sure she understood what Ivana was trying to say, but she is probably used to her antics by now. She simply accepts her defeat and sits down in the lotus position. She seems a bit upset.

"I guess I'll go in when the next worker comes."

"Yes!"

"...Right, but be careful"