Pavane for Living Girls, Part 2

Azu peered at the wide window with curiosity.

The sound of wind echoed ceaselessly.

They should have descended underground, yet wind was unmistakably blowing in through the window.

Beyond the window, a pale green wall stretched out.

Kazusa grabbed Azu's hand as she started to lean out.

"Don't get too close to the window. A strong gust could blow you right off."

"Yeah. What happens if you go outside?"

"Apparently nothing. No monsters out there either."

"Huh. That's weird."

When Azu stuck just her face out the window, a blast of wind strong enough to wreck her hair shoved her right back inside.

"What are you doing? Here, eat this and rest up."

"Okay!"

Alexia shoved a thin flatbread wrap stuffed with vegetables and seared jerky into Azu's mouth.

Azu held it with both hands and chewed away.

A spicy sauce gave it a nice kick. Delicious.

Kazusa sat with her back against the wall, slowly sipping soup.

Once Azu finished her wrap, she sat down next to Kazusa.

"How deep have you been?"

"Sixth floor for me. But it was pretty rough. That deep, forget defending yourself; you end up just running for your life."

"I see. What about us? Think we could make it?"

"Your party's well-balanced. You've got a cleric, a mage who swings an axe for some reason but specializes in fire, and an evasion-type vanguard."

Azu grinned sheepishly.

It felt like Master himself had been praised, and that made her proud too.

"What are you getting embarrassed about? Anyway, fifth floor should be fine. Sixth… I think you could handle it, but I wouldn't really recommend it."

"Hmm. Guess we'll explore every corner of the fifth floor first and decide after."

"Do that. Fifth floor's plenty."

Eventually they finished resting and stood back up.

Kazusa's bag still had room. Too early to head back.

The fourth floor's monsters had been hunted clean and weren't respawning.

They headed for the stairs and descended to the fifth floor.

The interior didn't look much different from the fourth floor.

Azu took point, scanning their surroundings.

Then she heard light, quick footsteps.

One set.

Tap, tap, tap.

Azu drew her sword and readied herself. What emerged from the depths was a Crocodile monster.

It stood on two legs, carried a sword, and wore light armor. Like a warrior.

Azu blinked in surprise for a moment, then quickly reminded herself it was a monster and took her stance.

"What? That thing isn't supposed to show up until the sixth floor."

Kazusa was startled at the sight of the Crocodile monster.

Apparently, it wasn't something you'd encounter on the fifth floor.

Alexia opened with fireballs aimed at the Crocodile monster, but it dodged with nimble footwork and deflected the last one with its sword.

"The hell… for a monster…"

Alexia, whose magic had been so easily thwarted, gripped her battle axe and trembled.

Her pride had been stung.

"Azu-chan, buffs are good to go!"

"Right!"

Azu moved to block the Crocodile monster's path.

Tap, tap, tap.

It closed the distance with those same light, quick steps.

The Crocodile monster's stance swayed constantly, making its sword strikes impossible to read.

To begin with, Azu had no experience fighting an opponent with a sword.

Azu's eyes tracked the Crocodile monster's blade.

Then the blade she was watching vanished.

A chill ran down her spine. On pure reflex, Azu swung her own sword.

Steel met steel and sparks flew.

The Crocodile monster pressed its attack. Azu barely deflected each strike.

Her sword was keeping up, but her skill fell short.

After parrying the fourth blow, the Crocodile monster's blade came faster still and sliced her right arm.

"Ngh—!"

Azu nearly screamed from the searing pain but threw herself backward on instinct.

The Crocodile monster moved to pursue, but Alexia's magic slammed into it again.

Its footing must have been off. It couldn't deflect them all and took a direct hit.

Alexia clenched her right fist. Yes.

But the Crocodile monster stood unfazed. It had taken damage, though.

Azu fell back to Elza.

"I got hit!"

"I'll fix you right up～"

Elza's healing miracle sealed the wound on Azu's right arm, the bleeding stopping as flesh knit back together.

The Crocodile monster had no intention of letting them regroup. It closed the distance in one nimble burst.

"Then I'll take the front. Azu-chan, don't come back until your wound closes up."

"But that monster's strong!"

"Hehe. I need to pull my weight too."

Elza cast the healing miracle on Azu, then took up her mace and stepped forward.

The Crocodile monster used its agile footwork and swaying blade tip to confuse its opponent.

Its sword speed was nearly impossible to track.

The Crocodile monster lunged at Elza.

Elza caught the blow on the flat of her mace and deflected it.

As if she knew exactly where the strike would land.

With minimal movement, she batted away the Crocodile monster's sword.

After six deflections, the Crocodile monster closed in and they locked weapons.

Its eyes met Elza's.

Elza's expression hadn't changed from her usual smile.

Elza was pushed back, overpowered.

After three steps back, the Crocodile monster put its full strength behind a shove and sent her flying.

When Elza landed, the Crocodile monster leveled its blade at her.

"Incoming magic!"

At Kazusa's shout, wind gathered around the Crocodile monster. Its sword swung down and unleashed the wind straight at Elza.

Invisible blades of wind whipped toward her, seeking to shred her where she stood.

Elza wound up her mace and swung with everything she had.

The mace dispersed several of the invisible wind blades, but the rest sliced her cheek.

Elza wiped the blood from her cheek and licked it off.

"Hehe."

Her normally half-lidded eyes opened just a fraction wider.

Those purple eyes glared down the Crocodile monster.

Something dark lurked behind them. Only the Crocodile monster noticed.

Its jaws twisted in answer.