Years ago, Ophelia Salvadori was all alone, and she hated it. But one day a boy approached her, and rather than go crazy and try to ravage her due to her succubus pheromones, he’s not affected at all. Having passed his self-appointed test, he takes a shocked Ophelia’s hands in his and declares them friends.
It’s another reminder that while she was introduced as a two-dimensional villain, there’s a lot more to Ophelia, and there are tight-knit groups of friends in Beverly other than the Sword Roses. As Oliver, Nanao and Chela continue their descent through the second layer with Vera, we learn more about this strange place.
For one thing, the fake sun in the sky that never sets is a piece of ancient technology that cannot be replicated. I’m not sure if that nugget of info will ever be crucial to the plot, but it’s still neat. They also make use of Guy’s toolplants to build bridges and his delicious cakes to fill their bellies.
While they and the StuCo take different paths, we also see that Stacey is in the Labyrinth to retrieve her beloved Fay, with her fourth-year half-sister Lynette escorting her. Finally, Teresa is also lurking, and is extremely pleased when Oliver asks her to serve as an advance scout.
While Teresa takes care of quite a few magical beasts on her own, eventually Oliver’s party has to confront one. In this case, it’s a gorilla-type beast that has been wounded by the chimeras. Nanao calms her heart, gets right in the beast’s face, and asks nicely if they can pass without violence, and the beast lets them.
However, that beast is soon gruesomely beheaded by a giant mantis-like chimera with razor claws. Vera falls back and lets this be her underclassmen’s first big test. Oliver, Nanao and Chela work well as a unit, mixing up elemental spells in order to discern weak spots.
That said, the chimera is not only full of surprises, but surprises specifically designed by Ophelia to affect those looking for those weak spots. As a result when Oliver goes for the head, he’s met by a fusillade of spikes. Vera suddenly rushes in, worried that he might have been killed.
But alas, Oliver is fine; he used a chunk of the chimera’s own exoskeleton as an improvised shield. The three complete their takedown of the beast, and Chela is so happy they defeated it together she gives Oliver and Nanao a big ‘ol hug. With their first test passed, they continue their journey, cutting down any chimeras in their way.
While resting in a cave for the night, Vera asks Oliver why the he and the others are going to far to save Pete. Oliver recalls how the six of them were the ones who didn’t run away when the troll nearly crushed Katie. That includes Pete, which doubly impressed them because he’s so new to the magical world. He didn’t run away, so they won’t run away.
Vera legit admires what a beautiful friendship the Sword Roses have, but there’s something else piquing her curiosity: Oliver’s whole deal. She can buy both Chela (extraordinary family) and Nanao (extraordinary place), but she doesn’t understand how such a perfectly average and ordinary mage like Oliver is a match for both in combat.
Naturally, Oliver is coy, and Vera can sense she’s hit a sore spot and decides not to dwell on it. She needs Oliver and the others to be on top of their game both physically and mentally as the near the far more dangerous third layer. Meanwhile, Joseph is the first of the captured males to come to.
When he learns that Pete is currently a woman due to his Reversi status, he helps him in he only way he can (with most of his mana sucked away): by digging his hand into his own chest and pulling out three magic orbs he keeps there for emergencies. One is a bomb, another a smoke bomb, and a third a distress beacon.
Finally, because he’s relying on this “nobody” to save his life and the lives of the other captives, he does Pete the courtesy of asking for his name. Pete steels himself and gives it, with a resolve and determination that makes me confident that combined with all the outside forces nearing their location, this is all going to work out okay, and maybe Ophelia won’t have to die for that to happen.
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