Many things had changed by the time the war party returned to Orario. Loki and Hermes had been sending reports to Ouranos the entire time; when they arrived, the city had regained its spirit. A grand celebration met the weary adventurers—the last party to face monsters on the surface.
Ottar and Allen ignored the crowd entirely. Ottar paused only to pay respects to Bell before following Allen, already on his way to Freya. Asfi, used to the shadows, shifted uncomfortably next to a toothy Hermes; she quickly vanished for a well-earned rest, far, far from her god.
Welf, displaying a desire as strong as those of Freya Familia, ignored everyone as well on his beeline to Hephaestus. He didn't have to go far, though, as she found him in the crowd. "You think this will bother me?" she asked. Removing the scarf covering his old wounds, she pulled his scarred face to hers with passion.
Lili, Mikoto, and Haruhime stood shyly but proudly, though it wasn't long before they were shocked into blustering messes. All three found themselves fighting off marriage proposals, having earned the respect and admiration of nearly every man in the party. All the men were denied, but the women tried and failed to keep quirky grins off their faces.
One marriage proposal that wasn't turned down was Finn's to Tione. The happy, bouncy Amazon yelled her acceptance loud enough to burst several eardrums, the adventurers around her rubbing the sides of their faces with annoyance. Still, the crowd went wild as Finn dipped his Amazonian bride low—a challenging feat only the Braver could pull off—and kissed her deeply.
Clapping and dancing around, Tiona took in the crowd's praise and adoration with as much happiness as her sister's engagement. Smiling on, Gareth and Riveria if she'd crack open a dwarven ale with him.
"You've been trying to get me to drink that swill for years."
"You always say no."
Carefully placing jade hair behind long, elegant ears, Riveria agreed to go on a new adventure with the dwarf. Jaw dropping, Gareth let out a laugh halfway between his usual confident bluster and absolute terror. Just a glass—a small glass!—of the good stuff, he thought to himself, then I'll get her that fruity stuff she likes so much.
Shaking his head at the old man he called 'Gramps', Bete thought a drink sounded like a great idea. Pushing through the crowd, an excited Lena attached herself to his arm. Raul, Anakitty, Cruz, and the other low-leveled members of Loki Familia smiled and waved before resigning themselves to the chore of hauling in the last, meager remains of their gear. They were surprised when Finn told them to leave it. They took it from the city, after all—they should donate it back. Winking at Bell, he said he knew of an orphanage on Daedalus Street where it may do some good. Volunteering to haul the wagons to Maria's Orphanage, Bell and Ais delighted in their smiles, answering all the children's questions about their adventurer. Behind the children Maria held a steadying hand to trembling lips, but nothing could stop the tears. None of her children would die in the dungeon ever again. Smiles dipped when they asked about when Lady Hestia would return to them. The children understood the loss on the adventurer's faces all too well. Assuring the children that Hestia gave herself up because she loved them dearly, Maria ushered them away, thanking Bell and Ais for coming and for the food, asking them to please visit again soon.
Hearthfire Manor was more or less the way they left it. Takemikazuchi and Miach Familia's had moved into opposite wings to keep the place occupied and maintained. Meeting the rest of Hestia Familia there, Bell and Ais learned what happened in the city during their absence.
Dian Cecht had been given a public trial and was found guilty of treason. Exiled from the city with few loyal followers, he was never heard from again. Most of his followers had demanded, and been given, Conversion. Hearthfire Manor was much fuller than before—Miach Familia had grown greatly thanks to Dian Cecht's betrayal. The exile of the trusted god, however, was a low point for the city. Things began to get better, though. People found themselves taking a more active role on their fates, relying less on the gods to settle things. Dian Cecht's trial helped them see that gods weren't infallible.
Astrea Familia had been instrumental in keeping the city together. Even there, divine intervention was rare. The elven maidens she recruited were the face, voice, and authority of the familia. They were citizens of the highest ethical discipline and they were trusted, goddess or no.
The Guild, too, expanded its leadership. Royman now shared power with a council and Ouranos had gone silent. Nobody really knew what became of the old god...but his direction and desire to stay in power had all been in attempt to undo his mistake. Even though his system had failed, his goal had been achieved. His voice never issued a command again.
The Industrial District was working again. It wasn't the thriving industry of magic stone goods, but forges ran around the clock, bringing wealth and fame back to the city. The dungeon was still useful—the walls still bore rare and precious minerals of extraordinary value and utility, and without monsters or traps hampering access mining was booming. It was a resource that would run dry eventually, but considering the levels grew larger with depth and, past the eighteenth, each level was bigger than Orario..? It was enough to keep the city afloat for a long, long time.
All was well.
The next day, Hestia Familia was shocked to see Ryuu serving at the Hostess of Fertility. She explained being struck by an odd feeling upon returning home. During the invasion to kill Cel, all three Level-4 waitresses had been in Shield Group and had made the fiftieth floor successfully. Unwilling to leave Ryuu behind, however, they had snuck into Spear Group as they pressed downwards. All had returned to the surface...though Anya and Chloe bodies were carried on Ryuu's back. Both were long buried. Seeing Momma Mia, Syr, Lunoire and May working so hard, Ryuu approached her familia home with leaden feet. Lady Astrea offered her the role of captain since she was her strongest and longest serving follower...but Ryuu couldn't accept it. Astrea was not just the goddess of justice, but of innocence. Though she had regained justice, her innocence was lost. Even she knew innocence was a precious thing, and once lost it was gone forever. Loving her goddess so, she could not in good conscious mar her Lady's name. She requested her falna be removed—the Gale Wind no longer existed. Throwing off the weight of the past, she became Ryuu Lion again, a normal elf. Astrea had held her for a long time, wishing Ryuu the best and assuring her she was always welcome. Thanking her deity, Ryuu smiled at the thought of the place where she had been taken in, cared for; healed. She belonged at the Hostess where she could help spread the love and care she received...along with some justice, occasionally. When Ryuu showed up the second time, Momma Mia had merely grunted, asking why she was standing around when people needed served. Smiling broadly, she had gotten to work.
"You're still standing around!" Mia's deep voice boomed across the pub. "Get after it, Lion!"
Bell looked after Ryuu as she bowed her exit from the group to tend another table. It was unusual, unexpected...but his friend and companion was happy with the family she loved.
Upon returning home, Bell and the others were astonished to find a restored Naaza at Miach's side. With a little help from Airmid, the healing god had found a way to make his most faithful follower a new arm. And that was not the only new feature—a gold band set with a glittering stone rested on Naaza's left hand.
"You're engaged?!" Mikoto couldn't help but shriek with joy at the development.
"What can I say?" Naaza's tail began to wag as Miach gently scratched behind her ears. "He has good taste. Nobody is more faithful or loving than a dog-person."
Happy for her friend and ecstatic at the possibility of Takemikazuchi, whom Miach was good friends with, finally seeing the possibility of a relationship, the excited ninja practically flew to her old familia's home. Kneeling before her ex-god, Mikoto presented the female half of the sword set she had been gifted. Kneeling opposite her, Take presented her with the male half, Tenka. Rising after patting her head and welcoming her home, Mikoto knelt dazed and confused. Calling after him, she confessed her feelings and her belief that the swords they shared were akin to an engagement agreement.
Take blithely waved away the young woman's heartfelt words. "I am sorry if you took it as such," the ignorant god said. "I do love you, Mikoto...the same way I love all the children of the shrine. I feel fatherly affection for all of you. Thank you for confessing your feelings, but I cannot reciprocate."
Embarrassed, humiliated, and denied by her love, those feelings were compacted by the fact Lili and Haruhime had followed her and witnessed the entire thing; Chigusa, too. As she placed her sword on the ground beside Tenka, the three savagely berated a chagrined Take before ushering the downcast Mikoto away. Angry at herself for not seeing her love was unrequited, Mikoto found herself running blindly through tears. Running headlong into something very solid, he found herself on the ground.
"Are you alright, Miss Mikoto?"
A kind voice preceded a hand. Accepting it, the young ninja found herself facing Cruz Bussell, a Level-4 Loki Familia supporter who had been with them on the Black Dragon quest. He had always been polite and kind, and was an exceptional student when she had given out martial arts lessons on the long northern road. He had also been an admirer of her cooking, she remembered...though he wasn't one who had proposed to her the day before. Deciding spur of the moment to ask him out, she was crushed again when he refused.
Bearing the tirade from the other girls as Mikoto's face darkened, Cruz calmly waited for them to finish calling him an insensitive lout before getting a word in edgewise. "You're angry," he told Mikoto. "I get the feeling you're upset at another male. If I said yes to you right now, it would be a disservice to us both. I'd be cheapening you by taking advantage while you weren't thinking straight, and cheapening myself because I don't want to be a rebound. We're both better than that."
Shame brought a little color to the hurting young woman's cheeks, but nobody could see it her head hung so low. A chienthrope could tell, though.
"No need for that, now." Strong fingers lifted her chin. "I admire you greatly. You are a tremendous adventurer...every bit as much as you are an amazing woman." Taking a step back, the dog-person smiled. "I wouldn't at all mind taking you on a proper date if one day you're willing to give this an honest go."
Blown away and unsure what to do, he got several steps away before Mikoto called out, asking him to pick her up tomorrow night at the Hearthfire Mansion. Smiling broadly, he accepted.
Returning home in a bundle of excitement, the girls were met by a messenger with a letter for Liliruca Arde. Eyes widening as they scanned its contents, Lili finally put the paper down with a deep breath.
"Well?" The others pressed.
Waving a hand at the letter, Lili smiled tensely. "Not really sure what to make of it. It's from Finn." Leaning in towards the small prum girl, the others asked what was going on. "He says that after marrying Tione he plans on retiring from public life. He recognizes my leadership abilities and thanked me for picking up the slack where he failed." Tiny fists clenched and unclenched rapidly. The girl wasn't sure what to do. "He asked me to step up and help lead Orario into the next era. Says he believes I'm one of the few people who can shoulder the responsibility." Chestnut eyes scanned her companions faces. "He wants me to lead Loki Familia."
The ensuing discussion was loud, but quick and decisive. It was humbling, and warming—her friends also believed in her. Grabbing a pen and paper, Lili prepared a response. She would accept his offer...but not Loki's blessing. The new era, she reasoned, would be one without the gods. Besides, she thought sadly, I could never have another goddess.
Weeks went by. Lili practically lived in Twilight Manor, learning as much as possible from the legendary Braver. Raul, the second-string commander and Finn's projected replacement, became Lili's replacement. Finn couldn't help but laugh gleefully—and also slightly wince—at Lili's trial-by-fire method of tasking Raul with important things. He had to admit it was effective, though. Forcing him to attend every meeting; to take notes, ask questions, and present counterpoints, the High Novice was already vastly more confident and independent than before. It would take more time, but Lili fit in well and people quickly found themselves confidently subordinate to her leadership style.
With the others occupied, Haruhime spent most of her time with her friends in Takemikazuchi Familia, naturally falling into the same role she filled in Hestia Familia. One day out shopping, a shadow fell on her. Bete was there for her. Beyond confused, she said she thought he and Lena were an item, not to mention his disgust for weak people.
The werewolf snarled. "That idiot? She never had a chance, even before she got involved in some ridiculous plot ending in my humiliation. She's just a foolish girl who can't take no for an answer."
"...and hating weaker people?"
"Hah..." Bete's abs flexed as he laughed. Haruhime had grown accustomed to his unusual manner of dress...but now, for some reason, she found herself flushing with heat. "How many times have we met, Renart?"
"Twice," Haruhime replied promptly. "The first time when you were chasing Bell. You kicked me in the face..." the blonde fox-girl raised an eyebrow, "...and the second time was in Knossos. I used my magic to enhance your strength to fight the creature Filvis."
A shaggy head shook. "Four times. The invasion to kill Cel. You were by far the weakest member...but you didn't complain. You kept yourself together; we'd all have died if not for you. You are..." angry at being embarrassed, the werewolf trailed off in a mutter.
"What?"
"Graceful!" he snapped. Brow shading over as Haruhime giggled, he said "And killing the dragon. Again you were the weakest, lowest person there—but even when you lost that little bit of strength after your goddess died you kept fighting. You earned my respect as an opponent before. Recently, you've gained my admiration as a woman."
Flushing again, this time wasn't due to bared skin. There was a subtle strength in his words, a simmering heat that brought a blush all the way to quivering eyes. She almost missed his next words.
"I'll pick you up at eight. Be ready." Passing by, his tail brushed against hers before disappearing into the crowd. Careful not to fall flat on her face at the sudden, very pleasant touch, Haruhime picked her way home.
"Okay..." The shopping was forgotten.
Across town, Welf had borrowed Bell's knife to show Hephaestus. Laying it on her desk, he bowed before the goddess he admired. Barely looking at the sword, she pushed it to the side. Proud of him as a smith and as a man, she didn't need the blade to see the mark on the redhead's soul. The effort had changed him...he was cockier than ever. Pulling him in, she told him he was lucky she found his smirk handsome. Drawing her close, Welf put every promise he would ever make into their kiss.
Soon, it was on everyone's ears that Gareth and Riveria, while not necessarily in a romantic relationship, were leaving the city together after Finn and Tione. Gareth, mildly upset his goal of engaging in heated battles had come to an end, decided to offer Riveria protection as she finally set of to experience the world she so longed for. The high elf laughed merrily when the disgruntled dwarf resigned himself to doing 'soft, boring elven stuff'. Retorting that she had spent a lifetime following him around in the dungeon, it was time to do things she enjoyed for a change. Bickering like an old married couple, they packed their bags and prepared for a long journey.
Lefiya-Jupiter spent a lot of time in the Education District. Jupiter was a treasure trove of information about the ancient world...though Lefiya constantly had to tell the Spirit to behave. He insisted on embellishing stories, much to the elf's irritation and the scholar's wide-eyed note-taking.
Over the next several decades, one by one, the gods would begin disappearing. Gekai would gradually transfer fully into the hands of the mortals it belonged to. Some would miss their deity out of respect or faith. Some for the power falna granted. Some, the novelty of the beautiful beings wandering around their city, a point of pride against the rest of the world. Most people, however, were untouched by the radical shift, so they simply didn't care. No matter how one felt about it, none could deny the age had shifted.
A few short years into this new world they shaped, Ais and Bell would marry. Jupiter, Lefiya, and Aria helped them a great deal. It would take many years, but using their information, the two were able to begin a family. Aria shed more tears than anybody at the baby boy they welcomed to the world. Holding him close, she whispered he looked just like his grandfather, Albert. True to her word, she would stick around to witness her grandkids adventures...
...but that is a story for another time.