As they each headed their way, they both were resoundingly happy since they found someone to take care of them. Bell was on his way back to his familia house ready to accept his fate knowing he had someone he could fall back to in Ais wallenstein. Ais went back to her base not expecting the chaos that was about to ensue. As soon as she approached her base she felt the tension of the guards get relieved as soon as they saw her. This made her question them.
Ais: why the long faces?
Guard: lady wallenstein, The executives were worried about you and… especially lefiya
He pointed at the sleeping lefiya on the bench who was waiting for Ais since yesterday. Ais couldn't blame her for worrying so much because to Lefiya, Ais was like an older sibling. Someone who would come to her aid no matter what happened.
Ais: o-oh i see, please take her back to her room and put her to bed.
Guard: yes ma'am!
Ais headed back inside and was surprised when the both the twin sisters jumped at her as soon as she arrived.
Ais: guys are you okay? Did something happen?
The twins: DID SOMETHING HAPPEN?! YOU'VE BEEN GONE FOR NEARLY TWO DAYS AND YOUR ASKING IF SOMETHING HAPPENED?
Ais: Gasp* t-two days? *bashfully* I didn't know we were out that long! Its just he was so cute and it was a really important moment for us.
Her voice trailed off with each word leaving the twins very confused as to what she was saying.
Both: what did you say? All we heard is that there is a we. SO YOU WERE WITH ANOTHER PERSON?.
Ais: s-s-shhhhh don't be so loud! People will misunderstand, besides you might be hearing things as I don't know why you would think that (besides me saying it)., so just drop it okay?
The twins: alright i guess. But next time you gotta be more careful.
Ais: got it, thank you so much.
The twins: sure thing.
Ais headed back to her room
She slept for a while but she had a certain dream…
Back with bell
He decided to face the music, he decided to be ready to give up everything just to be able to live happily. He threw his life up in the air just thinking to himself.
'If they dont want me anymore I can't do much about that.
If they decide to give up on me I don't care.
I would rather die alone than have fake friends.
I had to grind for everything I ever had.
Im not just gonna give up on myself just because im not popular with people.
I grew up a loner anyway so its fine as long as i have one person with me.
All these thoughts were ringing in his ears as he went neared the hearth mansion. Just trying their hardest with any type of hallucinations to attack his mind and drown it in despair.
He saw the figures of his familia and they had a certain face to them. He couldnt quite tell what the emotion behind that face was, but as soon as they spoke he knew instantly. It was a face of worry and distress. He wanted to feel bad because they seemed worried but remembered all the bad emotions and hateful things they said to him. It was an awkward silence until they all leapt him with tears in their eyes.
Welf: *worriedly* where were you?! Why did you disappear?!
Bell: what?
Hestia: Why did you leave? You had us so worried for you!
Bell: but i thought you guys hated me?
Lili: why would we hate you?
Bell: I don't know! Thats why i was really depressed ever since you guys told me to kill myself…
Them collectively: WE WOULD NEVER TELL YOU THIS. WHERE DID YOU HEAR THIS?
Bell: well i kept hearing it everyday/
Them: that is why we arranged for a physiatrist for you, come on inside!
Bell: cautiously* o-ok.
Inside the mansion, it was all of them in the living room but the doctor had requested that bell be taken with him alone in bell's room while the others waited in the living room.
Doctor: nice to meet you bell, my name is julius and i'm your doctor, specializing in mental health.
Bell: nice to meet you julius-san
Julius: great, with the introductions out of the way, why don't you tell me the past few weeks from your perspective, I have already heard from your familia on how you've been acting.
Bell: well for the past few weeks, all i have hear was how bad of a person i was and how I should commit suicide, and it felt really bad.
Julius: sounds like you've endured through terrible events. Please continue.
Bell: well yeah and it all led up to yesterday morning, I left the mansion at dawn to go meet up with the love of my life at a wonderful place ONly i and her now know of.
Juluis: why? Were you going to propose?
Bell: *embarrassed* n-no nothing like that! She didn't know I had feelings like that for her, so no.
Juluis: So then why did you invite her?
Bell: well to be honest, it was because i wanted to her how i felt before i
Julius: before what mister cranel?
Bell: I had wanted to invite her out to that hidden place, because i had wanted to confess my feelings for her and then,,,
Juluis: then?
Bell: After i had confessed my feelings for her whether or not she rejected me, I had planned to take my own life.
juluisL why is that mr cranel?
Bell: because I felt like it was too much.
Juluis: I'm here to listen, please tell me about it.
Bell: I'm tired of how people keep looking at me, they all give me this envious look just because I level up faster than the rest. It really isolates me and makes me feel alone in a gigantic world.
Juluis: what does it feel like? How is that tied to your past?
Bell: It feels like i'm endlessly speaking, I wonder can they hear me? I miss my parents so dearly it really stings.
Juluis: how does it feel mentally? How would you describe it?
bell:Everyday is a battle. I'm exhausted and I'm so weary. I've been trying to stay on the low until I become stronger. I've been through many battles physically and mentaly and I fought through it all but it hurt me severly.
Juluis: hmm… have you tried talking to others about it?
bell: No, because every time my Anxiety keeps killing me, I just want to leave this earth, and i can't seek help especially because when I try to explain my feelings, it sounds fake and rehearsed which makes it feel ingenuine.
Juluis: have others tried to check on you? How have you coped?
Bell: Yeah, but whenever they ask me if i'm okay it makes me realise that this situation might be much worse than what I think. I have coped by going to places that have intoxicating smells and aura's to hide away from these insecurities.
Julius: how have you hid this in public?
Bell: whenever i'm in public I make sure to smile in public but whenever i go back to my own privacy I cry almost endlessly.
Julius: 'this sounds very familiar to a patient I had 20 years ago…' bell did this new wave of emotions cause you to have any new pet peeves?
Bell: now that you mention it, I really do hate sudden and loud sounds.
Juluis: 'no way!, could they be connected somehow?' bell I have heard of this before, when did this first start happening?
Bell: well it started after I had survived the juggernaut monster.
Juluis: I see… well theres good news, bad news and a solution.
Bell: o-oh, Let's start off with the bad news.
Julius: well the bad news is that I can't cure you at the moment. The good news is that I have encountered this issue before so we are not completely in the dark here.
Bell: and what's the solution?
Juluis: the solution for now is to head to a village far from orario. There is a patient who dealt with the same issue as you do, she dose have coping mechanisms so i'm sure she will be able to help you, but…
Bell: but what juluis-san?
Juluis: I don't know how willing she will be to help you because she really hates people and noise
Bell: but still, I need to at least try… What is the name of the village?
Juluis: the name of the village is… Zedal village
Bell: *shocked* h-huh!? But that's the name of the village I grew up in!
Julius: really? How did you not notice her then? She is a level seven.
Bell: SHE'S A WHAT?
Juluis: honestly… how did you not notice her?
bell: i don't know.
Juluis: so now all you gotta do is go home and find her.
Bell: sure, but is it okay if i take a 15 day break first?
Juluis: sure, if that's what you need to be calm and collected to be able to deal with this problem then go right ahead.
Bell: thanks julius-san, I really appreciate this!
Juluis: no problem bell, you can call me anytime if you need any help.
Bell: thanks i will! Thank you so much! Now I have to leave.
juluisL alright have a good time bell!
Bell headed to the living room to confront his family.
Bell: hey guys… I'm sorry if I have been acting weird. It turns out Something is wrong with me and I will be heading to my village to learn to deal with it until the doctor can cure me.
Welf: that's alright man, you want us to come with you?
Lilly: yeah! We would love to help bell out!
Bell: no thank you guys, I have to go on my own anyway.
Mikoto: thats fine, when are you headed out?
Bell: in 15 day.
Haruhime: Okay then i can prepare dinner and clean your bed!
Bell: ah, that wont be necessary but thank you for the food.
Haruhime: why is that?
Bell: because i will be leaving this place tonight to go to a place where i can relax before my trip, sorry guys I really need this.
The familia: that's fine, if that's what you need then it's alright.
Bell then ate dinner and headed out to the hidden palace, not before sending ais an invite letter to go with him in 5 days, why 5 days? Well it's because he was going to prepare the palace, their hidden palace for her and him.
Back with ais, she was dreaming about a very cute bunny which then turned into bell. She was hearing a certain sound, almost like a song. It was a peaceful and lovely song that could just describe so many feelings. The song was being played out all over her dream.
(here is the song if you want to listen. song)
She then saw herself surrounded by her and what she assumed to be her children. (if you wanna see the inspiration for this scene). She felt this lovely feeling all over her dream and place. She realized that she was in the hidden palace and everything seemed so perfect, she just wanted this moment to last forever so that she could endlessly love and be loved away from all the monsters of the real world. Away from all the competition of the real world, and away from all the cunning people, how many of them are selfish, right here and right now… she was with bell and their children in a very comfortable environment away from the world but yet still in it. But like the saying goes… all good things must come to an end… and she woke up.
When she woke up, she felt a sudden peace that she hasn't felt since being with her parents. When she went to the dresser with the mirror on it, she saw how calm her complexion was and she also saw…
Ais: tears? W-why am i crying? Why did I wake up with a stream of tears? Is it because of that dream? wait…*recalls her memory from the last two day* Hold on…*realizes what she was dreaming about* I-I-I-I *face beet red* I was dreaming that b-b-b- bell and I h-h-had - a- a f-f-amily!
*Her door unlocks and in comes riviera*
Riviera: hey ais you should head to loki's office to get your weekly status update/
Ais: s-s-sure give me a minute
Riviera: hmmm? Why is your face red? And why are you stuttering?
Ais: eeeeK! No reason at all! Ill be there now!
Ais left hurriedly to loki's office to get her status updated. When she was in there, she was welcomed by loki and was told to sit down and take off her blouse, exposing her back to get the update.
Loki: hmm, seems pretty average for you ais-tan
She then noticed a new skill has developed in Ais.
The skill read, Lovers embrace: whenever the wielder of the skill is near the love of their life, their stats become boosted by 65% and they user is put at peace, this skill can be acquired when the user encounters their love on the verge of death, and they save them.
Loki: AIS-TAN YOU GOT A LOVER?
Ais: w-w-w-what are you talking about? I don't have a lover right now!
Loki: 'hmm im not sensing her lying' whats this?
Lovers embrace side effects: can fool anyone when asked about said lover.
Loki: AWWW I cant tell if your lying or not!
Ais: a-a-Anyway i have to leave bye!
Ais left the office and headed down to the cafeteria when the mailman of the twilight mansion called out to ais.
Mailman: hey miss wallenstein!
Ais: hmm? Yes what is it?
Mailman: you've got mail my lady. *hands her mail*
Ais: O-oh thank you very much.
She opened the letter and it read"hey ais it's me bell, I have seen a doctor and I was told I have a mental disease that could have been caused by my fight with the juggernaut, might have been its last attack that caused this. Thankfully my familia being horrible was all in my head but i will be staying at my- no our hidden palace for the next 15 days before setting for my village because there may be a person who can help me with coping mechanisms until we can find a cure. When you visit the hidden palace, You will find a surprise there so be ready for the best time you've had in a long time."
As she read the letter she became much more relaxed and grew much calmer with each explanation of her love's condition and her heart fluttered when he called it their hidden palace and she was so curious about the aforementioned surprise that she was daydreaming and didn't realize that lefiya was talking to her.
Lefiya: so what do you think miss ais?
Ais: …
Lefyia: miss ais?
Ais:...
Lefiya: MISS AIS ARE YOU THERE?
Ais: o-oh Im so sorry lefiya i was thinking about something. What were you saying?
Lefiya: hmm? Is something on your mind miss ais?
Ais: no no its nothing don't worry about it. As you were saying?
Lefiya: r-right… me, tiona, tione, and alise are going shopping later, do you want to go with us miss ais?
Ais: yeah sure I don't have anything else planned so might as well right?
As they finished their talk, the food that they had each ordered arrived, Ais was having a premium stake while lefua was having the usual meal for the elves, medicinal herb, salt and other different types of seasoning to add onto her salad meal which this time was filled with chicken, tomatoes, and cucumbers. After they finished they left for babel tower, meeting up with tiona, tione and alise at the front.
Tione: hey guys whatsup?
Lefyia: nothing much what about you?
Alise: were pretty good lefiya just ready t-
Tiona: You guys are right on time this time!
Ais: huh? Why wouldn't we be?
Tione: Ais… you are always late, doesn't matter who comes with you..
Alise and lefiya: that's true!
Ais: Really? Sorry guys *awkward laugh
Tione: hmm.. Are clothes ironed today?
Ais: what? I guess
Alise: woah! Your hair is also done much better than usual!
Ais: D-did I have bad hair before?
Lefiya: No but- even the bags under your eyes are gone too!
Ais: R-really? That's good i guess
Tiona: hmm ais… you seem much very anxious lately…
Lefiya: yeah I noticed that too! You seem to be much more flustered as well!
Ais: w-what? I-I don't know what y-you guys are talking!
Alise: why is your face red!?
Ais: I-I uhh umm *blushing badly*
Through all the questioning and teasing, one of them was quiet, and this time it was the usually plain faced ais wallenstein, but it was tione Hiryute, the older sister of the Hiryute twins. When she spoke her words struck as almost foresight.
Tione: Ais… did you get a man?
Ais and the others: What!? What does that have to do with anything!?
Tione: well… I mean look at the signs… she is dressed nicer, she has lost her bags as if she was sleeping comfortably with some type of new calmness...she is anxious and seems flustered… she is blushing when we ask her about it… she even did her hair nicer than it already was! Ais! Who is your man!?
Ais's lover's embrace skill activated at that moment and she was able to lie.
Ais: *stoic face* I don't have a man, as i don't have time to focus on romance.
Tione: stop lying! Who is he huh? What dose he look like? What's his personality? How big is his d-
Ais: *blushing* ANYWAY LETS GO INTO THE SHOPS!
Tione: YOUR STILL BLUSHING!
They decided to drop it for now but they all were very curious about it and they gave each other nods without ais noticing and that signaled that they will be meeting up later to form a plan to follow ais and discover the truth. Was it basically stalking? Yeah, yeah it was, but they did not let that stop them.
As they headed inside they were pleasantly surprised as the shops were having a weekend sale where everything is 25% off. This lead to the girls wanting to buy many things but ended up not having a person to carry it so they were stumped until…
Back with bell
He left the hearth mansion to go prepare for the 15 day stay in the hidden palace so he of course headed to the place with all the needed supplies in it, the babel tower. Bell went in to buy some camp equipment to set up in the hidden forest until he can fix up the hidden palace. He saw that everything was 25% off as they were having the usual weekend sale. He went ahead and bought everything he needed which included armor, weapons, tools, wood, brick, and narnine (like diamonds but you can build with them) and special potions that allow you to work much faster than average. it was too much for him to carry at the moment so he paid a little extra to have someone deliver the stuff to the hearth mansion. All in all it cost him about 125,500 valis leaving him with only a little bit for food later if he was hungry. He walked around a bit just looking around and was on his way when he bumped into a woodland fairy. It was lefyia of the loki familia and with her was tione, tiona, alise and ais. He and ais hadnt noticed each other yet…
Lefyia: Ow
Bell: o-oh im so sorry lefyia
Lefyia: i-its okay…
He helped her up.
Tiona: Argonaut-kun! What are you doing here?
Bell: oh I was just getting some shopping done for a special trip Im goi- *him and ais notice each other*
A clear blush forms on their faces which they can barley cover causing the others to look in confusion as they both looked away sheepishly.
Ais: h-hi bell h-how are you
Bell: H-hello ais im g-good what are ya up to?
Tiona: hmm? Guys stop being weird, anyways Argonaut-kun are you free right now?
Bell: huh? Ah i guess i am yeah, why?
All the girls looked at him in unison with an evil smirk on their face.
In unison: bell your going to be our bag carrier! NO DEBATES!
They dragged bell off with them for the next two hours as they visited every shop an adventure might want from clothing and armor, to tools and weapons, to potions and perfumes, they did not leave a single type of spot left for another day as they kept loading bell with bags which made him feel like his arms are about to fall off. At the end of the day they were right outside the shop when they heard a distraught bell.
Bell: g-g-guys… p-p-please... take this load off of me.
They then each took their own luggage wich let him relax.
They started to walk down the main road of orario until tiona, tione, lefyia and alise were told by a guild member that they have to go report what happened on the 56th floor from their recent expedition. Thus leaving bell and ais alone.
Lefyia: what are you going ot do now you two? *jealousy*
Ais: Well just go around orario seeing what there is to do.
Tiona: okay! see ya later Argonaut-kun! *waves goodbye*
Lefyia and alise: see ya at the mansion miss ais!
Tione: *comes close to them* listen you two, there better not be any funny business alright!? If you come back preg-
Bell: Hey ais we should go haha!
Ais: y-yeah see ya later tione!
Tione: *fading voice* IF YA DO ANYTHING FUNNT I PROMISE I WILL…
….
Ais: S-should we head on?
Bell: y-yeah let's go.
As they walked on, the different sights and smells hit them both simountiunalsy almost syncing their wants and needs so they decided to hit up most food stands and souvenir stands.
Ais: Ooh that one looks delicious, should we try it bell?
Bell: yeah, we should also get that one too!
Ais: Ohh what about that flavor!
Bell: OOOWWW its to spicy!
Ais: no way! Your lyi- H-H-HOOOTTT!
Bell: quick get the ice cream
Ais: FOUR ICE CREAMS PLEASE!
Ice Cream man: R-right away!
As they both cooled off from the spicy juggernaut sensation, they laughed to themselves creating this sweet and innocent auroma around them so thick in the air that any couple passing by would be intoxicated in love cause of this aura.
It got late and they were kinda lost.
Bell: ughh How did we get lost in orario?!
Ais: I dont know ive lived here for almost all my life :(
Bell: what should we do now? (he knows fully what they need to do next alright? He just didn't wanna be the one to say it)
Ais: Hmm… w-w-we should get a place to sleep for the n-n-night.
Bell: O-oh yeah, we should do that I guess haha
Ais: h-how about this one?
It a place called the lover boy's dome. It was an inn with a bar and a place for lovers to go and have one night stands. Bell and ais did not know that and just wanted a place to sleep for the night.
Bell: Hello! Can we please get some serves?
The inn keeper came to their aid.
Innkeeper: hi how may i Hel- Wait sword princess?! And Rabbit foot?! Are you guys dating? I Didn't know you were lovers!
Both of them were blushing madly and then they explained to the innkeeper their situation. Luckly everyone at the bar was too drunk to recognize them when they walked in and by the time the innkeeper came it was just them and the innkeeper so no one else heard.
Innkeeper: o-oh so that's how it is. I'm sorry for the assumption. I would offer you guys two different rooms but unfortunately, they are broken down because we had a drunk incident recently so we can only offer one bedroom with a shower.
Ais: t-t-that's fine, well manage.
innkeeper:Thank you so much for your patronage, by the way, do you guys know what this place is most famous for?
Bell:no
Ais: no
Innkeeper proceeded to explain to them that this inn was famous for its one night stand and that the people who come here often have some crazy story to tell after coming here the next day.
Innkeeper: so thats why i was surprised when i saw you guys together.
Bell: yeah sorry for the confusion
They had dinner but the innkeeper accidentally put strong wine in the food and didn't notice it yet.
Ais: ill head in first.
Bell: a-alright see ya in a bit.
Innkeeper: *pulls bell closer* listen kid! I don't know if your parents taught you this but do not let this chance get away!
Bell: w-w-what do you mea-
Innkeeper: now go!
Bell remembered that this was one of the lessons his grandpa always taught him, "if you have the opportunity to strike when the time is right with the lady, you must absolutely become a man then and there!"
Bell reached the room a bit later…
Bell: *knocks on the door* hey its me bell
Ais: come in!
Bell: h-hey so uh is everything checked out?
Ais: y-yeah everything is good so uhh let's head to sleep.
As they were about to fall asleep, ais speaks.
:
Ais: hey bell, would you still love me if I told you im different?
Bell: ais, I will always love you, you saved me so many times and I won't ever forget it, I promise
Ais: Thank you, *gets closer to bell*
They started cuddling and bell eventually rang.
Bell: ais…i love you… and you know… one day when We finally beat our inner fears and were stronger… I ask you to marry me…
Ais: and i'll say yes bell, we'll have 2 kids, one boy and one girl and well give them beautiful names and raise them to be the likes of both of us.
Bell: mmhh and i'll show you all the finer things in life such as beautiful waterfalls, rivers, well get on boats and sail, and well reside in our hidden palace.
They both fell asleep in eachothers embrace with the curtains closed only leaving a small bear spot for the moonlight to shed in.
*The innkeeper knocks on the door*
Innkeeper: dear adventures, I want to apologize for accidentally putting wine in the dinner.
He noticed no response and opened the door to find them in an embrace.
Innkeeper: oh no what have i done? Hmm. oh well at least they won't remember much tomorrow.
They had many surprises after that. They had something happen to them in their dreams and they awoke to many surprises including ones at the window that was left partially uncovered. As they didn't realize the magnitude of what really happened last night. Find out next time folks!
A.N: A special shoutout goes to the first few comments on my previous chapter, thank you so much to Infinity1412 for helping me with what place to post the fanfic in, go check them out they have great stories too!. Also shoutout to walshbrandon2002, soundsmusic53, Prince Tsukune Pendragon and amazing for their support. Thank you so much. I will try to update this again soon but don't expect another one for at least another week or two. Thank you for reading and have a good day!